Women reporting on Mike Pence's Israel trip forced into second-class status behind a fence

[applegrove]

By Laura Clawson at Daily Kos

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/23/1735362/-Women-reporting-on-Mike-Pence-s-Israel-trip-forced-into-second-class-status-behind-a-fence

"SNIP..........


Mike Pence visited Israel’s Western Wall on Tuesday, yet despite the fact that women were relegated to second-class status in covering Donald Trump's visit to the same site last year, Pence did absolutely nothing to ensure that female reporters were able to do their jobs this time.

For Pence's visit to the wall, the [Western Wall Foundation] set up two platforms side by side straddling the barrier. As Pence prayed on the men’s side, however, it was impossible for the female journalists to see above the cameras and microphones held by their male colleagues.

“It was the same situation during President Trump’s visit to the Western Wall in May 2017,” said the foundation in a statement. “We reject any attempt to divert the discussion from the important and moving visit of the US Vice President and his wife at the Western Wall.”

And if it was the same situation then, you knew this time what the problems would be and had a chance to think about how to treat women as professionals for Pence’s visit. Yet you did not. And, more to the point, he did not insist on behalf of the woman covering his trip or general decency.

............SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. According to the 'Pence rule' women should have been allowed as he had his wife there

to protect him from the hoards of women who want to get with him.

[kairos12]

6. Pence is a vile religious bigot who prays for the end of days when the Rapture will

carry him away.

I retch while writing this.

[applegrove]

7. Carry him away and set all the unbelievers on fire. That's so Christian. Not. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

8. I pray for the day when the Rapture will carry him away too.

Him and every other republican and religious nut-case.

[MLAA]

2. Mother said they had to be 200 bible widths away.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Pence got the vapors when he learned the female reporters had to take their bras

off to get through security, so they were herded out of view.

[MLAA]

5. Lol

[ProudLib72]

3. Pence sez

"I like this mechitza. Maybe we ought to implement the idea into American religious values."

[crazycatlady]

9. Chant at the women's march

"Build a fence around Mike Pence"

[Igel]

10. Of course.

https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/no-mixed-gender-prayer-space-at-the-western-wall/531645/

When in Rome.

Two options: Accept local political and cultural arrangements or avoid the Kotel.

If you look at pictures of President Obama's "surprise" visit to the Western Wall, you'll find that he's surrounded by men. No women in sight. The photographers I can see were all men.

If you look at pictures of HRC's visit to the Western Wall, mysteriously she's only being photographed there by women reporters. No men in sight.

Look in the background for both sets of pictures. You'll see the fence.

[applegrove]

11. It was too good an option to makes a joke. I'm sure pence did not suggest women

stand behind men.

[Igel]

12. Yes, it was.

But really, the issue of sex segregation at the Kotel has been an issue for a long time. Look around in, in fact, it was an issue back when Obama went. But it's one that Obama strictly stayed out of. When HRC went, nobody objected to no men being allowed around at the time.

However, going in and saying, "I really don't care about ultra-Orthodox Jews, you get to ignore your own people because our culture is so much superior and you need to get in line" is rude. Very rude.

It's an issue for those belonging to that culture or set of cultures to resolve.

(It's the same issue in many mosques. Fewer get bent out of shape over that. But some do.)

[applegrove]

13. Oh I think you can criticize countries or religions for how they treat their people.

I don't believe we on the discussion forums should bite our tongues on the issues. And Pence could share his unhappiness with the rules behind the scenes. Don't know that he did. Or Trump, Obama or Hillary Clinton. Every moment is a chance in politics. A chance to change the world. That is if you want to change the world. Do you?