Der Tzitung, a Yiddish language newspaper for Hassidic Jews in Brooklyn, New York (like you were expecting a Hassidic newspaper in Omaha, maybe?) did a weird thing today. They printed that photo of Obama and staffers glued to the screen, watching the raid on Osama
The Kosher Version
The original
bin Laden’s compound in real time, (which come to think of it is pretty awesome, right there, it’s kind of like with the moon landing, that was the amazing thing about it, that it was all on television, that’s something that none of the science fiction writers predicted…that’s a bit of a digression and perhaps I am old and easily dazzled by modern technology, but there is something amazing about witnessing the unfolding of dramatic events, live, at a safe distance), but they airbrushed out the two women in the photo: Hillary Clinton and counterterrorism director Audrey Tomason, who was hanging out at the door.
Their explanation is that it’s a religious thing, they never show photos of women because they might be “sexually appealing.”
There is certainly more than one aspect to this case. First, I think Der Tzitung is probably within their rights. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion. After all, they weren’t claiming that Clinton and Tomason weren’t there, they just photoshopped them out of the picture. Also, it’s a newspaper meant for a specific and, thankfully for the world of fashion, small group of people. If they want to blot out the existence of women, more loss to them.
On the other hand, this is blatantly sexist, and proof that the Hassid’s are as nutty as the Arabs on the subject of women. Of all the people in the world I would not want to be, a Hassidic woman is right there near the top of the list, and a Hassidic man not far behind.
So, I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to alter the photo, and I’m not saying that women aren’t justified in being pissed off.
What I’m saying is that this whole idea that it’s bad for women to be “sexually appealing” is nuts, whacko, crazy and totally counterproductive. What the hell is wrong with you people? If you don’t allow yourself to look at women, what in the world do you look at? If your religion is at odds with your basic, primal, physical instincts and natural biological urges, don’t you think maybe it’s your religion that’s the problem?
Also, one thing that Muslim and Orthodox Jewish men should realize is that if they liberated their women – let them dress how they want, fool around a bit on the side, dance and get drunk in public, drive, vote, hold public office, and so on – they’d get laid a hell of a lot more (and better) and God wouldn’t punish them even a little bit.
I swear.
www.gurukalehuru.com 
It’s a Hasiddic thing. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but it doesn’t warrant the false equivalency that Hassidic men treat their women as badly as Arabs: I don’t recall reading of Hassidic women being stoned to death, lately, for some transgression.
As for biology, you and I are in agreement: these urges are the way we’re built and how the species propagates. However, I don’t hold it against them that they try to minimize the more base behaviors of Man: if more people were better behaved, I think we’d all be better off. I refer you to your recent excellent critique of Berlusconi. Now there’s a guy who could use some restraint.
Something I neglected in my first response: their point might carry more weight if the women in question were alluring in the first place. What am I saying?! I’ve always had this fetish for women, fully clothed, holding their chin, looking concerned. And a woman almost out the door, in the background, all but invisible, anyway, just gets my blood flowing like nothing else.
You’re right, I forgot about the whole stoning thing. But still, they have to wear ugly clothes, sleep with a stinky old Hassidic man, be a baby factory for life and wash two sets of dishes.
Not exactly the same set of opportunities available to most western women.
I agree! Just be wary of your use of the word “muslim.” Just as not all jews are sexist assholes (mostly just the hassids) not all muslims are either. In fact, most aren’t. But anytime people go all fundamental about their god they suddenly look like a bunch of screaming naked banshees- Even if in reality they would stone screaming naked banshees.
Or in this case…photoshop them out of the picture.
Whoops, I just realized I also misspelled Hasid and Hasidic throughout my article. One s, not two. Sorry, crazy people! I will spell it correctly in future.
And apparently they’ve apologised somewhat, after reading the fine print that the image was not to be altered…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/10/jewish-paper-apologises-hillary-clinton
Thanks for the link, Joe. I can’t help thinking, though, TV must be hell on them.