Take from the Soapbox

Post #20,899 by bepatient 12/10/01 12:02:40 PM Reply	Take from the Soapbox [link\|http://www.geocities.com/wshingleton/soapbox23april2001.html\|Pretty much where I thought the conversation should go] You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]
Post #20,900 by bepatient 12/10/01 12:07:29 PM Reply	More info [link\|http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/2001-04-24-mcsally.htm\|Has better info on other guidelines] You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]
Post #20,970 by Ashton 12/10/01 11:51:05 PM Reply	It becomes more apparent that, the State Dept. presumes its employees are capable of common sense in matters of social intercourse - the military presumes they are not. Men in shorts could be considered offensive in this milieu! and probably: people with fair hair and blue eyes. (Those should be covered too, lest they tempt a bagged, sacked female into Western excess. And ____) If the Saudis (officially!) can live with State's policies, as obviously they do: McSally's complaint remains justified and also her means of expressing it - through channels, so as to have the effect of requiring the military (which remains under civilian control, last I heard) to modify its obtuse position; that of requiring a US Colonel to dress in a sack. You like the Soapbox argument because it comes from the same brand of er 'Conservative' view of all things, as yours. If it's present policy? Why on earth should we ever Change it? Especially towards anything less.. Authoritative too! I demur, and look forward to seeing how the courts handle this question. It has little to do with the sort of Murican jingoism as you and Soapbox are so instantly ready to equate it to. This until - you start attacking the State Department as, too 'Liberal' for your taste (?) No actually: even after you start attacking the State Department as too Liberal for your taste. My taste is different. Ashton beware of Conservatives whose breath smells of sucking on sour lemons.
Post #20,999 by bepatient 12/11/01 10:13:13 AM Reply	No...actually... ...I like the more simple approach. She's a soldier. Her superiors have issued an order. End of story. Since that seems a tad to simple...we can add that she's a soldier stationed within spitting distance of Riyadh, one of the most conservative locations in Saudi territory. And even the State Department suggests the wearing of an abaya in this area. So...while the State Department may be a tad more lax in some of the more progressive areas (they >still< don't suggest slacks or a military uniform)...their policy mirrors that of the military in the location whare the military are stationed. You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]

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