Hi Valerie,

I see that stating, "What is it about this culture...." disturbed you. Perhaps, by me rephrasing, you wouldn't be deflected so much from the actual point I was raising.

So, to rephrase for clarity:

Why is it that we find, in countries whose legal system is based on Moslem philosophy, such repressive laws designed to prevent sexual expression?

Note, too, that merely critiquing another culture doesn't automatically mean that I don't have criticism for my own culture or that I'm not open minded and am ignorant. To say so indicates that you may be suffering from that which you accuse since there is not only nothing wrong with valid criticism but this type of exchange may, instead, serve to illuminate and connect since it asks for information based upon what most anyone can easily observe and, if denied, leads one to wonder what biases may exist in the mind of the one doing the denying.

Questioning is not indicative of close mindedness or ignorance.

Also, good to be thought of as a "typical" male, something that no one who knows me ever accused me of! :)