Chastity belts and the foundation of civilization

Warning: Post not suitable for work

I was rushing this morning to do several things and managed to finish well ahead of schedule, but I wasn't planning to post until later. Then I came across a news item that made me change my mind.

Also, I don't post when I'm angry, but right now I'm making an exception.

First, for a definition:
civ-i-li-za-tion

An advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions.

The basic premise of civilization is that men (and I mean men, not mankind, not men and women) can control their instincts and impulses in order to achieve an advanced state of development.

What, then, do we make of this?
Malaysian Islamic cleric proposes chastity belts to stop rape

Kuala Lumpur - A leading Malaysian Muslim cleric has suggested that all women should be fitted with chastity belts as a deterrent to rape and incest, a news report said Friday.

Abu Hassan Al-Hafiz, an influential cleric from the northeastern Terengganu state, said that women were most safe from sexual predators if they donned some form of barrier to their sexual organs.

Ponder that for a moment. This sorry excuse for a man is saying that it's the women's fault because they're not donning a Medieval artifact of torture.

It's clear he doesn't think the predators are to blame.

'We have even come across a number of unusual sex cases, where even senior citizens and children are not spared. The best way to avert sex perpetrators is to wear protection,' Abu Hassan said in a sermon late Thursday, quoted by the Star daily.

My idea of protection would be firearm. Or a taser gun. Or a sharp enough knife.

I don't believe that thought ever entered the cleric's mind, though.

The cleric says he means well,

'My intention is not to offend women but to safeguard them from sex maniacs.

but here comes the real reason,

Besides, husbands could also feel more secure, if you know what I mean.'

We know exactly what you mean - that the little bitches can't be trusted. That's why they must be mutilated before they even reach puberty.

But hey, it's part of the cultural landscape, isn't it?

Abu Hassan said that the practise of women wearing chastity belts in Malaysia could be traced to as recent as the mid-1960s.

I want to know, where are the Monologuers?
Where, indeed?
Fjordman

other feminists in academia assert that the veil, or even the burka, represents "an alternative feminism." Dr. Wairimu Njambi is an Assistant Professor of "Women's Studies" at the Florida Atlantic University. Much of her scholarship is dedicated to advancing the notion that the cruel practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is actually a triumph for Feminism and that it is hateful to suggest otherwise. According to Njambi "anti-FGM discourse perpetuates a colonialist assumption by universalizing a particular western image of a 'normal' body and sexuality."

Because what it all comes down to is that, in the long run, we're all "uncovered meat" for those intent on taking us back to the Dark Ages.

PS Meanwhile in Sweden...

Update, Saturday, 17 January Just kidding?
The women don't think so:

"We hope he realises that he is definitely insulting all men by suggesting women have to be restrained because men are incapable of controlling their lust," SIS said in a Press statement.

Give Sadr the Treatment, and today's other items

Give Sadr the Treatment: How to beat Iraq's Shiite extremists

What I'm trying to say here is that the military component we need at this particular stage should be different from the routine military operations that U.S. and Iraqi military had been conducting so far.

The new military component should be designed to create a friendly climate where politicians can strike deals and reach compromise without coercion from radical extremists.

And so if more boots are to be added on the ground then the mission will have to include freeing politicians and parties such as Nouri al-Maliki and Tariq al-Hashimi (of the Dawa and the Islamic party respectively) from the ropes that bind them to Muqtada al-Sadr and harmful elements in the Sunni political scene.

Right now is a good time, perhaps the best time we have, to launch this effort since there's already a large front forming from the parties that are willing to talk against the extremists' camp.

If the way forward requires maintaining the basic course of the political process and empowering (and cleaning) the current government and its head then the only way to do this is to relieve Mr. Maliki, his party and the rest of the Shia alliance from the dominance and influence of Sadr, and there are two ways to accomplish this: either persuade Mr. Maliki and his team and promise them great support and protection from Sadr's reach, or deal a lethal blow to Sadr and his militia in order to render him unable to inflict harm on Mr. Maliki and other members of the United Iraqi Alliance.

Now really, it shouldn't be that difficult to figure out that the first way isn't working out right, what's needed now is to take the decision to try the second way and deal with the biggest threat to stability in Iraq in the way we should.

Holidays in the news:
Via Bill, Kwanzaa -- Racist Holiday from Hell

John Kerry wasn't in a holiday mood ...

An exercise in arrogance: The Beeb's Channel 4 presumes to tell Christians what Christmas is about by having a Muslim woman deliver an "alternate" Christmas message. Here's the video:

The Hajj starts tomorrow. Will the Beeb's Channel 4 have a Christian woman give Muslims an "alternative" pilgrimage message?

Point - counterpoint on Indonesia:
Friendly Muslims vs. Here Dhimmi Dhimmi Dhimmi...

Books, and other items from Larwyn, Cinnammon and Maria
Austin Bay reviews Lawrence Wright's book, The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11

Alexandra and Dr. Sanity ponder Iran.

Via Larwyn, Books on my Amazon Wish List
and
Now, Murtha's Lobbyist Connections Come Into Question. Now isn't it precious, as the Church Lady would say, having a lobbying group's acronym spell P-A-I-D?

Via Cinnammon, The Sandy Berger Experiment: Bush Official Destroyed 9/11 Documents

Via Maria, the US Navy Presidential Ceremonial Honor Guard Drill Team:


More blogging later.