Mark, do you think they should let her compete?

[zulander]

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/0...-rules-debate/

What's wrong with letting Muslim women compete, how is her attire an advantage?

[Mark Rippetoe]

No one is keeping her from competing except her. She can follow the technical rules and compete this afternoon. The singlet rule is obviously designed to allow the judges to see her elbows, knees, and buttocks so that her compliance with the technical rules can be evaluated. Muslim women are free to compete just like every other person that wants to comply with the established technical rules of the sport.

But I don't think that's your question. You want to know why we should make a person who doesn't wish to follow the rules if they offend her sensibilities follow them anyway. Right?

[ChrisGibbons]

There is a ridiculous inconsistency here. When I was fencing competitively many muslim women fenced in the required uniform which is tight and form fitting on the body. They were allowed to cover their hair but her than that they competed in the same gear as everyone else. Why is this any different? Freedom starts and stops with how we allow ourselves to be constrained by the dogma of others who want control. Like Mark says the only person standing in her way is her.

[Frankie]

Seems like more drama-bait journalism, who cares? Just another reminder of how much I miss Hunter Thompson...

[Frankie]

Also, everyone wants to talk shit about her turban or elbow garb or something...No one has asked why she feels the need to wear Rogue Do-wins...

[AdamW]

I'm with Rip 100%. This is almost as bad as when the Muslim community in Quebec were protesting because the government wouldn't allow them to wear their head dresses that COVER THEIR FACES in their DRIVER'S LICENSE photos...

[cutlet#]

This is not 'nam, there are rules!

[Cheech32917]

Nobody wants to wear a singlet. I bet if we all had our choice we'd compete in something different. Why should she be able to dress any different?

[Greg C]

Enough interest for this to make a national reporting medium.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/09/geo...html?hpt=us_c2

[Mark Rippetoe]

The real question is this: will the brave defenders of religious freedom in the USAW permit her menfolk to honor-kill her for her unseemly participation in a sport? Putting herself on DISPLAY for other men to see? On a platform that focuses the attention of men? This is blasphemy, and if we're going to assign enough weight to her religion to permit her to compete without following the technical rules the rest of us infidels must obey, then I think we must get out of the way while they drag her out behind the building.

These things can get complicated.