Columbia Association to hold woman-only swim times

baltimoresun.com ^ | Nov.14, 2011 | Jessica Anderson

[Free ThinkerNY]

When Shehlla Khan's husband became ill, it fell on her to take their three children to the pool. But for Khan, who is Muslim, the task was difficult.

The Columbia resident said she was concerned about people watching her swim in the conservative, cover-all dress required by Islamic dress codes, and thinking: "What's wrong? Why can't you take it off?"

So Khan, 39, brought the issue up with members of her Dar Al-Taqwa mosque in Ellicott City. The mosque, along with members of a faith-based county group, People Acting Together in Howard, met with the Columbia Association to create a twice-weekly, women-only swim time, a trial that is scheduled to be announced Tuesday.

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The Columbia Association, which operates 23 pools in Howard, will join other communities that have made similar accommodations to create a more welcoming atmosphere for Muslims and other female swimmers.

New York City's recreation and parks department offers a women-only swim time at the Metropolitan Recreation Center. Pools around Toronto and other cities have also offered similar options, according to news reports. And at a swimming pool in Seattle, Muslim woman have used brown paper to cover glass windows, providing privacy from the lobby.

Several private universities, including Harvard and George Washington, also have provided female-only swim times, with several hours a week set aside. But occasionally, such programs have run into opponents who suggest they unfairly cater to one group. At George Washington some complained, citing concerns over the program infringing on American liberties.

"It's a positive thing," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Not everyone has the same needs. It's just expanding the level of interaction with the local community and recognizing that people are different.

[Marine_Uncle]

I lived in MD from 1966 to 1979. I can remember when Columbia first opened to the public. My wife and I checked it out early on.
Now as you say, section 8 stepped into the picture and changed what years back was a nice place to shop etc..
As for as the will to submit to Islam, indicative of this article. Shame on America. Why don't the super rich Arabs, Iranian, other Muslim controlled peoples, who have taken up residence in the country build private swimming pools for their kind. The bull shit just keeps piling up.

[ottbmare]

I’m a woman. I wonder how the muz women are going to feel if I show up in a string bikini at female-only swim times. Maybe I should try it and we’ll find out. (When it’s warmer, thanks.)

[Bellflower]

I’m a woman. I wonder how the muz women are going to feel if I show up in a string bikini at female-only swim times. Maybe I should try it and we’ll find out. (When it’s warmer, thanks.)

I wonder what these so politically corrects will do when a cross dresser or transvestite shows up? Won't they be in a quandary! Will Muslim trump all?

[markomalley]

Those who live in Columbia Maryland have to pay a association fee based on the value of the property, even though it's not tax deductible. They also set the rules of house and paint colors and what you can put in your yard. And this is ontop of the local HOAs for condos and Townhouses.

And the one thing that absolutely fascinated me about these little planned communities is that there were no churches. None. Yes, I know that there have been some churches that have gone up in formerly agricultural areas.

But part of the "plan" was to have "interfaith" centers. My guess is that they were rented out by whatever congregations wanted to hold services (though I don't know for sure). Anyway, I could picture a scenario where the King's Contrivance Interfaith Center could be rented by the Catholics at 10 o'clock and the Wiccan coven at 11.

Shudder.

Columbia has no soul.

It shows me what the dhims would love to do everywhere if they had half a chance.

[Realman30]

Where’s the comment from the ACLU?

[bgill]

I demand better swim toys, too!

[MinuteGal]

"Everyone knows if a conservative Christian group went to ask for special treament because modesty forbids them doing something - the Gov't would have laughed and told them to get stuffed."

In a slight variation (substitute "the Bible" for "modesty"), this has just happened in Illinois.

Catholic Charities in Illinois has had to abandon its foster care placement because the gubmint now mandates it must place children in the homes of homsexual unions. Rather than go against its collective conscience and religious teaching, the CC is dissolving this service and laying off all involved employees.

This government mandate fulfills two purposes.....it will cause the number of children raised in religious homes to decline sharply (the government doesn't want a religious America)......plus satisfy the homosexual recruitment agenda for the sake of gay community votes.

Too many unfortunate Illinois children are now at risk by being placed in radical homosexual environments. This is sickening and frightening.

Those politicians and bureaucrats who contrived and supported this law are not only corrupt, but diseased moral lepers as well.

Leni

[PapaBear3625]

I’m a woman. I wonder how the muz women are going to feel if I show up in a string bikini at female-only swim times. Maybe I should try it and we’ll find out. (When it’s warmer, thanks.)

I wonder how the Muslim women will react when a bunch of transvestites show up and demand to be admitted according to their gender identity. The lawsuit would be fascinating.

[BlueLancer]

Then, again ...

[the OlLine Rebel]

“And the one thing that absolutely fascinated me about these little planned communities is that there were no churches. None. Yes, I know that there have been some churches that have gone up in formerly agricultural areas.”

“Agricultural area” doesn’t count within the confines of the Columbia stronghold. Only the very late “River Hill” (taking over the legit town of Clarksville) could possibly fall under that. There are now more churches in Columbia which often are just houses taken over, right in the middle of developments.

‘But part of the “plan” was to have “interfaith” centers. My guess is that they were rented out by whatever congregations wanted to hold services (though I don’t know for sure). Anyway, I could picture a scenario where the King’s Contrivance Interfaith Center could be rented by the Catholics at 10 o’clock and the Wiccan coven at 11.’

This is how my church started - renting in the Oakland Mills interfaith center (for some reason, this 1 is specifically called “The Meeting House” - oh, that Columbia! Can’t even be consistent with their own concepts! LOL). They’re now renting in a business park. The funny thing is 1 of the elders in the church told us some history (I wish I could remember it better) - he said essentially the Methodist (big surprise - about the most liberal Christian types you can get) was becoming very powerful at the IC/MH and basically our church could not get what they wanted and the rents kept going up partly because of demand for the Methodists. So they left.

My best friend got married at that very “Meeting House”. (Yikes)

(BTW, there is no IC at King’s Contrivance. ;-) )

[the OlLine Rebel]

Mark that in favor of men-only times.

[the OlLine Rebel]

What’s funny here is YOUR comment seems to better address her issue.

The 1st sentence of this article indicates the Moslem woman will be embarrassed by people pointing her out and possibly harrassing her and making fun.

What has that to do with men vs. women? Seems to me she’d be asking for MOSLEM-only time slots. We women can still make fun of her for her dress.

[Impy]

Homeowner’s associations sound unconstitutional to me.

[jimtorr]

the apartments in the older areas are taken over by Section 8 housing and it's not pretty.

I live in one of those older complexes. While what you say was true 5 - 6 years ago, it has been greatly cleaned up since. The problems were created by, first, not doing proper background on prospective tenants, and then not requiring them to abide by civilized rules.

Most of the problems were solved simply by enforcing the rules, and evicting people who refused to follow them. The Section 8 people who remain are those who simply and genuinely needed a helping hand to get them out of the cesspool of the inner city. I have little problem with them, and there is hope for their children.

[sickoflibs]

RE "The problems were created by, first, not doing proper background on prospective tenants, and then not requiring them to abide by civilized rules. Most of the problems were solved simply by enforcing the rules, and evicting people who refused to follow them. The Section 8 people who remain are those who simply and genuinely needed a helping hand to get them out of the cesspool of the inner city. I have little problem with them, and there is hope for their children. "

And lots of local police attention.

If continued full time employment at a job for any adults living in a Section 8 household/apartment was a condition, that would help the surrounding neighbors alot. That just leaves their kids to worry about. I know, their kids have to show up for school too and get good grades. After all, it's our money.