eating restrictions do apply to both sexes

Submitted by Cynthia (United States), Aug 24, 2009 at 14:06

I am not commenting on the policies described in the email article, just making a little correction to what you said about them---

"Comments: (1) At the Camp Patriot swimming pool, within sight of Kuwait military offices on the second floor of a nearby building, I deduce, sailors may eat, drink, chew, and smoke during Ramadan, but females must always cover up at the pools and may never horse around with men. The U.S. Navy, it seems, takes sexual taboos much more seriously than Ramadan restrictions." No, sailors can't eat drink etc., outside; the restrictions you cited say: "

20 AUGUST - 19 SEPTEMBER FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET..... 1. Do not eat, drink, chew or smoke anything outside (even while riding in a car). 2. FEMALES ONLY: Do not show any part of your arms, legs, abdomen. Wear long pants and long sleeves at all times. ...

So #1 applies to all personnel, #2 to "FEMALES ONLY". As to the wisdom, & even the pragmatic results long-term, of complying with other cultures' strictures just because they go crazy and violent when the strictures are not observed, that is another matter. But we'll do anything to keep those bases.

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