Rasta

No? Ok. Perhaps there are differences in opinion about what constitutes a "good" solution? Perhaps the will is there, but they disagree with you?

d'artanian

And would you feel the same if the woman was a nudist? If she were a nudist every day of her life, and living in a nudist colony, should she be forced to wear clothes in court? I think most nudists would say the fear of walking around naked is an ingrained fear, a cultural pattern, and he/she should be given respect. Do you agree?

Marius

I'm all for people having the right to practice whatever religion they choose. But when your religious practices contradict the established laws of the land, well, too bad for your religious practices. Law comes first.

This really shouldn't be an issue.

Rasta

Precisely. This isn't even a religious commandment. It's a cultural preference.

vera

Sure. I think you have understood my meaning, but I am willing to be more specific.

Whenever a solution serves ONLY the interests of ONE of the two parties involved - it is NOT a good solution. MY opinion is quite irrelevant here. It is not me who was forced here to subordinate myself to the solution proposed.

Can you state that this is not a case where the interest of only ONE side were served? That the interests of the woman were not in any way reflected in the solution? How is that a matter of MY difference of opinion with YOURS? How are the two even relevant to the case? I know perfectly well most people differ in opinion from me, it is not news to me, but it isn't about ME, so why make it a matter of ego?

vera

Yes, if she really does, as your "hypothetical" example suggests, go nude every day of her life and being clothed offends her - yes. I would work out a solution where she may be nude, but still not offend the others. Like, a screen which hides most of her from view of everybody else.

vera

How good it must feel to be secure in your belonging to the majority always. To be secure in your knowledge that you and yours will never be subjected to a humiliation by others, just because their culture is different. It is usually that feeling which results in such a statement. There is, after all, strength in numbers.

Yes, everyone must follow the final decisions. It is the manner of making these final decisions that require openminded people who love other people, are sensitive to the feelings of others and are interested to arrive at solutions which are some sort of compromise, some type of consideration for the individuals in question, and not only the "good of the group" and damned the minorities. Their own bloody fault for being ones, after all.

It requires better people, actually.

Ri Fhionngaill

This has nothing to do with culture. I can't even use my native language in court. I don't complain about it - it makes perfect sense, as how else is someone to evaluate what the person is saying? They might be obviously making stuff up as they go along, but how could you tell if you couldn't see their face, or the meaning of different pronounciations of the words? The law should be the same for everyone, the courts included.

daftone

As long as they require it of everyone regardless of religion or race then its fine. Nudists have to wear clothes in court, hindus have to remove their turbans etc.

d'artanian

Actually, I don't think my example is altogether hypothetical. Seems I remember something similar, a few years back, in California. They seem to have a good number of nudist colonies there.

Anyway, I only meant to point out there are so many situations where the law might find themselves having to make adjustments, especially in widely diverse societies, that the law itself would cease to have any authority.