Is There An Islamist Attitude In The U.S.?
 

I often referred to jammers and "half pants" (that are passed off for men's shorts) as "leg veils".

However, take look at this:

http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/veils/

Scroll down to the paragraph "Do men have a dress code as well?" and there is a rule that men are not to show their bare legs or the lower part of their body in public.

People in the U.S. a quick to condemn the Mid East for their sexist/fascist policies, yet we've got the same thing going on right here!!! :mad:

big issue....
 

If attitude means practices the answer must be yes.
If the American Constitution allows freedom of religious belief and expression (as I believe it does) then there will inevitably be associated minority behaviour and social rules to be observed - and as such, seen and tolerated by the majority.
Such toleration is being stretched to the limit in non-Muslim countries in many instances however and conflicts with the laws of the land are, and will increasingly be, IMHO, a big problem. When we hear a resident declare that he/she recognises no law but that of Allah then an alarming breakdown in society as we know it is in prospect.
(the bit about Satan in the article is incomprehensible to me, though the modes of dress listed will help in my current confusion)

The Islamic man is supposed to cover himself from navel to knee and may prefer to cover his chest as well. He must also avoid tight clothing. It seems as if there will be few orthodox Muslims in performance swimming.
I have noticed a trend among Asian men to swim in tee shirt and baggy knee length shorts.
In the early 20th century Britain developed the concept of Muscular Christianity, the Christian soldier should he mentally, physically and spiritually healthy and set an example to the world. This is the story behind Eric Liddell and Chariots of Fire.
The private and state school systems plus many voluntary youth organisations accepted the concept of muscular Christianity and mixed education, sport and worship. As sport became more competitive sports clothing became briefer and sometimes tighter, and after sport showers were considered healthy hygiene, all this was accepted as good muscular Christianity.
In the 21st century many homophobic Christian groups have connected wearing brief/tight clothing and taking public showers with child protection issues, maintaining that those that encourage young people to take part in sports that require performance clothing are corrupting them. The result has been long baggy shorts, fat children with reduced life expectancy and rickets.

I was thinking about visiting Dubai next year, although I was only planning on swimming at the hotel pool, not a beach.

"homophobic Christian groups"?

Are you serious? In Muslim countries, men (and women) are STONED to death for homosexuality. And you are worried about some elderly Christian woman clucking her tongue at you for wearing a thong on a U.S. beach? The narrow-minded, anti-Christian bigotry of some people on this board is shocking to me...

Dubai
 

Wise to be cautious - but a westerner on a beach in boardies should not cause a problem. You might also get some discreet tips on bars in town serving alcohol (but avoid Ramadan).

Christians
 

When it comes to bigotry I think that what wore down the recently retired Archbishop of Canterbury was not so much disapproving old ladies but African bishops of the Anglican Church.

In Britain we see American "Christian" groups demanding that homosexuals be executed.
A few years ago a local primary school (5-11 yrs) headmaster had a heart attack and retired after allowing a troop of Hindu dancers perform at his school in front of the children. A local Christian group declared the Hindus to be Satanic and publicly tried to evict the headmaster until his health broke.
The more extreme Christians are able to damn those of whom they disapprove.

Not to forget the Westboro Baptist Church which demonstrates at funerals of deceased US military, saying that God killed them because the US tolerates gays. This might be the most unpopular group in the whole country. In a way its nice they're there, they show people the depth and insanity of prejudice. In fact, in San Diego when a human rights ordinance was being considered by the city council, grotesque testimony by anti gay witnesses pushed the ordinance through; they proved protection necessary.

The US had the misfortune to have been founded by the pilgrims, to whom everything fun and human was sin. Thats the original public morality and you see it in everything from Prohibition to the War On Drugs to obscenity laws to prostitution laws and of course making a moral issue out of swimwear. And its a free country.

The Pilgrim Fathers
 

Disgraceful homophobia also stirred up by government in Uganda
(its origin? - way back to British colonial law)
India is thankfully more enlightened.
Off topic however - CD's post was Islam and the USA , not worldwide
muscular Christianity.