I'm confused. The US is supposed to be an open and free society that is also free of discrimination. Yet, by the very nature of a womens only time, that is discriminatory. If it were male only, or whites only, Christian only, or any other group these same people would be outraged.

This is a whole-lot-of-nothing that people are making a big deal out of. Women should have their opportunity to swim with only women. Has anyone looked at the statistics for the pool's usage on those days and hours? If the time is during a low usage point who cares?

women should be allowed to swim without men looking at them. I think it's a great idea. Men should also make a similar group. And there would also be the regular hours for those who want to mix. If America is a free society than that is just, and gives an opportunity to all . I am sure a lot of women don't feel confortable wearimg a swimsuit in front of men, just like some gyms are for women only.

There is no place for religion in public facilities. This is an open society, and we have no obligation to cater to any religious need. You can say that this is for all woman, but we really know what's driving this. Come to America, learn the language, practice whatever religion you want, just don't expect the government or, in this case, CA to make special accommodations for your particular beliefs. Imagine ifCA lein paying white supremacists said they wanted their own pool time so they would not have to swim with Jews or Blacks. If there was unused pool time, would you grant them special time based on their beliefs? The problem is you have to start negotiating what are "right" and "wrong" belief - that's why we have a separation of church and state in this country.

Sadly, if we are to follow the path of a fair society, what Phil says is correct. If you are going to provide a time catering to one group you need to provide time catering to others. Although I am all for allowing people the freedom to practice their own beliefs, they must be prepared for others to do the same (within the limit of the law).

Either we are a society that allows (legal) segregationist practices for ~everyone~... or we are a society that abolishes all such behaviors. Can't have such acts only occur when one group is in a more favorable light.

A few facts (there were *not* in the article).

1) This is being done at the Program Pool at the Swim Center, which has been closed during this time period before. No one's access to any current programming is affected by this.
2) There is a charge being paid for the women who come to this. This is to offset the additional cost of lifeguards, staff, etc, during this time. No one's fees are affected by this.

So, if you're not using this program, you are not paying for it nor do you lose any access to anything.

If you're offended by folks how cannot use standard programming based on some criteria (their religion, a prior history of sexual assault, etc), then fine; that is your opinion and you are welcome to it. But don't hide behind claims that this is impacting you in any negative way. The only thing that results from this is that folks who wouldn't swim with you anyway are now doing so at times you wouldn't have been swimming anyway.

This “Female/Muslim” swim time is nothing but more absurd "political correctness" being thrown on the already irrational PC pile.

"If anything, the backlash tells me how right we were to do this,"

When I read that quote in this article, I wanted to puke! Howard County, and the entire State of Maryland, is filled with people whose only desire seems to be changing society into some kind of liberal misanthropic anti-establishment wonderland. The Muslim swim time will be just one of many PC actions that have already come to fruition. And on a national scale, it’s become epidemic.

Columbia is already a conspicuous, but unspecified, sanctuary city for illegal Hispanics. And Maryland has a governor, Martin O’Malley, who is passionately enamored with granting illegal aliens statewide sanctuary, and seems to have an obsequious desire to give them whatever they want.

And now we have those in Howard Co. who think it’s a good idea to eliminate reading classes for children in middle school. How brilliant does that sound? They’ve already stopped teaching geography in school and now most high school kids can’t point out Iowa on a U.S. map, or Japan on a world map. They have no clue how to read a roadmap. Without GPS on their cell phones, they are lost.

It’s not just me. There are a lot of people who think something in Columbia, in Howard County, in Maryland, in America, is really screwed up.

I agree, and it shouldn't stop here. We should get rid of gender-segregated locker rooms, too. Forcing boys and girls to segregate at any time is discriminatory liberal misanthropic anti-establishment hogwash. And why have gender-segregated bathrooms? And why do colleges segregate dorm rooms? I think you should be randomly paired with a person, regardless of gender.

And I agree that schools should bring back old subjects like geography. And we should bring back lessons on how to kill a chicken and fix a fence and chop wood. My kids can't even slaughter a cow. Without a supermarket, they would starve.

I live in Michigan, and all these Canadians come over the border and steal our jobs. Yes, they're legal, but I think that this discussion of illegal aliens whitewashes the problem of any aliens in America. And they're the ones pushing for things like segregated swim time--liberal freaks. Drinking their caribou coffee and eating Tim Hortons Donuts. What happened to American institutions like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks? That's what the founding fathers had.

I think America should be kept for the original Americans, which means anyone who came here on or before 1971, the year I was born. That's when America was real. After that, it's all gone to crap. The golden age ended precisely after I was born.

Awesome work, Dad [Wendel Thompson]! I was wondering how they were going to make the MAIN pool private. Program pool is the right choice. I remember many long days swimming there as part of CAA. As for the backlash comment, that itself seems to have created its own source of backlash. Sad how people still celebrate the corporate "melting" pot idea of America when really it's always been more of "Tossed Salad". How can you enjoy the flavors of each ingredient when they are all blended into a primordial soup? The answer is you can't! Celebrate the differences!

Michael, you are making some broad and inaccurate statements. I especially challenge your claim that geography us not being taught in Howard County schools. Check the Hoeard County Social Studies curriculum. Geography skills are included in all grades, with the focus of sixth and seventh grades are world geography. Kids are being taught to locate places and read maps. In addition, in the new proposal (not yet approved), reading will still be taught in middle schools, just not as a stand alone subject. Luckily our Social Studies curriculum also includes critical reading and analysis so our students can pick apart weak arguments like yours.

MARYLAND LAW ON PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS:

"It is unlawful for an owner or operator of a place of public accommodation or an agent or employee of the owner or operator, because of the race, creed, SEX, age, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, to refuse, withhold from, or deny to such person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of such place of public accommodation. State Government Article, Section 20-304, Annotated Code of Maryland.

State Government Article, Section 20-301 et seq.

There are several ways to file a complaint:

You can file a complaint right now, by using the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights' online form, by calling the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights at our MD toll-free number, 1-800-637-6247, or writing a letter to the MCCR at 6 Saint Paul Street, Suite 900, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-1631. In your letter please include at least the following:

Your name and address
The name and address of the company your complaint is about
The name of the City or County the violation occurred
The date when this incident occurred
A short description of what happened

Reminds me of the times of racial segregation in Maryland. Back then it was the black citizens who weren't allowed to use swimming pools because of white racists.

Today, male citizens aren't allowed to use swimming pools because of Muslim racists.

(Lonesome v. Maxwell, 123 F. Supp. 193 (MD 1954) racial segregation public beaches, bath houses and swimming pools by the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore upheld.)

The Columbia Association is a PRIVATE ORGANIZATION exclusive to Columbia area residents and workers ONLY.

You would need to understand the vision of James Rouse, how the Town of Columbia was developed, the establishment of the Columbia Association and the role it plays in the community to understand why this decision is right in line with their mission statement to be an inclusive organization that is responsive to the citizens it serves.

Each resident and business pays a yearly assessment to CA, and in return, they may have access to the facilities for an ADDITIONAL FEE, like a country club of sorts.... and just like a country club, it's members have the right to make certain requests of the organization.

Columbia Association has 23 swimming pools. ONE of the TWO pools at Wilde Lake was hardly being used before the women-only swim times were established. The swim times are only 2 hours a day, 2 days a week. This leaves PLENTY of time for patrons to enjoy both pools for co-ed mingling.

For 10 years Columbia Association has had women-only work-out rooms and times. Now they have women-only swim times. Yes, some Muslim women will use the pool. So will my daughter and I. We are Catholic. There are conservative Jewish women who will also be swimming. This is also an opportunity for women who have been traumatized by sexual assault to be able to exercise and stay healthy without fear.

There are businesses all over the country who cater to women-only fitness.

Here is some additional information for those who wish to learn more about CA's women-only swim time pilot program- http://bit.ly/vlTksx.
Thank you,
Kelly Cooper
Columbia Association

Ohai,

Are you seriously so outraged at the idea of women (for a variety of reasons) being allowed to swim without men from 12:30 -2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a pool that was previously CLOSED during those times for lack of use, that you are still trying to pick a fight about it on the internet ?
Now who has the sad life ?