Curtain falls, what’s next?

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 21/2/2011
Curtain falls, what’s next?

Who is going to pay for the on-going up-keep and maintenance of the curtain at the Clayton Swimming Pool? The ratepayers, of course!

Every dollar spent on the curtain is a dollar sacrificed on other items such as maintenance of roads, street lighting, tree pruning, rubbish collection, etc. Now that this matter is so publicised, the flow-on negative effects will outweigh the benefits. There will be additional financial cost on security in addition to cost stated above, and social cost such as racial/religious harmony.

The next DEMAND will be prayer room and special toilets in all public facilities in the City of Monash. Some larger organisations have bowed to pressure to provide special prayer rooms, and companies must make allowance for workers to pray during work hours. Some religious believers DO NOT use toilet paper, but wash the soiled bottoms with water instead.

While I was assisting in a project in a middle-eastern country, my colleagues and I were advised to be sensitive not to eat in front of fellow colleagues at lunch break during the fasting period!

Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 20/10/2010
Title: Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!

Monash Council last week moved towards having women-only swimming and exercise sessions at the Clayton Community Centre once a fortnight.

I strongly oppose gender segregation whether it is religious base or otherwise.
This is a bad precedence for future argument about separate workplace offices, classrooms, buses, train carriages, taxis, restaurants, cinemas, hospitals and the list just goes on.

Imagine in a crowded train or bus, aren't women in closer contact with men? Will there be enough female gynaecologists to help pregnant women or deliver babies?

I'm a Chinese by descent, and there are a lot of differences between my beliefs, values and the Australian way of life. I choose to be an Australian, and therefore I can't be dogmatic expecting the country / fellow citizens to change for me. I have to adapt or compromise to some extent. In the worst case scenario, I avoid!

Some women chose to walk 10km each week to swim at Kingston Council's Don Tatnell Leisure Centre instead of using the Clayton pool, that's their prerogative. There are different modes of transport, or they can carpool with friends. On the positive side, walking is a good form of exercise.

It will cost City of Monash $45,080 to restrict views from outside the centre into the Clayton pool and exercise room during the program.

Who pays for the $45,080? All ratepayers including myself do. I don't expect the Mayor or the City to waste my money in such proposal.

Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!