[Cody Dawg]

Honestly, I thought that this was in poor taste. Link

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's biggest theme park has called off the country's first "National Muslim Fun Day" because of lack of interest, the park said Wednesday.

Alton Towers in central England was to open on September 17 for Muslims -- with halal food, a strict dress code and prayer areas.

Music, gambling and alcohol were to be banned for the day and theme park rides such as "Ripsaw," "Corkscrew" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" all segregated by sex.

But the park said the event's organizers, Islamic Leisure, who rented the park for the day and were marketing the event, had called it off due to "insufficient ticket sales."

"Alton Towers is disappointed that the planned Family Fun Day Sunday 17th September has had to be canceled," the park said in a statement. A park spokeswoman said Islamic Leisure would refund those who bought tickets.

Islamic Leisure's phones were not being answered on Wednesday.

Organizers had hoped to fill a niche for Britain's 1.7 million Muslims, some of whom may be uncomfortable with mainstream entertainment.

But the fun day had caused some consternation: a non-Muslim couple scheduled to hold their wedding at the park's hotel complained to newspapers that event organizers told them the bride and female guests would have to cover up.

The park promised the party would be exempt from the rules. A park spokeswoman said the wedding would take place as planned.

I cannot imagine Disney having "Muslim Fun Day" or "Catholic Fun Day" or even "Jewish Fun Day." It's just in very poor taste.

Anyone else agree or disagree?

This thread isn't about Muslims, either - it's about the idea that institutions start tailoring their activities to reflect religious ideologies. That includes theme parks, restaurants, and yes, even schools. I don't care for it.

In this instance a wedding being held at the park was going to require the non-Muslim guests to pretend to be Muslims in their dress code. That is an infringement I personally believe - and offensive. The park then backtracked and said that they could come as they wished, but only after the wedding party complained to the media. It shouldn't have happened that they were told this in the first place.

It reminds me that once I was in East Africa and was staying at a hotel while working. On Thursday of that week a large tour group of Indians came to stay at the hotel. Immediately the menu changed to reflect only Indian food from breakfast to supper - we no longer could order from the menu but were required to eat from the Indian buffet. One day was okay, but day after day after day until they left? It was annoying - and there was no forewarning.

[evfish84]

I've heard from Jewish friends of special days in places like Six Flags where Jewish teenagers go on a specific day during Passover. They serve Passover food at (I think only a single) food service. This is apparently a big deal for Jewish youth organizations, but I don't think they go nearly as far as they seemed to take it in your story.

[Cody Dawg]

Yes, well, I can understand having groups go such as Catholic or Jewish or Christian youth groups and even designating a single kiosk to serve those groups.

But, changing the entire park to a particular religious theme?



I mean, what if the Southern Baptists decided to descend on Disney for the day and wanted the park to serve nothing but barbecued pork for the day? There are a lot of people who wouldn't be happy - especially some kosher Jews and Muslims.

[evfish84]

Oh, I agree. I think it's very odd to change everything like that. Also, that's pretty much a guarantee that non-Muslims will avoid it. Dress codes? Segregated rides? That defeats the purpose of an amusement park.

[Kerrigan]

Segregated by sex?

[belfast-biker]

A stupid idea that deserved to go down burning.

[Doofy]

Right. I live 5 minutes away from this theme park. Having a muslim-only day is nothing to do with the park at all, and everything to do with the organisers - the park will rent itself on non-peak days to any organisation which wants it. If that organisation happens to be attempting a muslim "fun day", the park ain't gonna turn down their money.

Although, as a local who's been to the park on many occasions specifically to drink beer and have a bit of traditional British slap 'n' tickle with the girls, I'm not quite sure what would have been fun about having a day without such activities.

[Kerrigan]

Sunnis were afraid they would get into the same line as Shi'ites and vice versa, which is why nobody showed up.

[Pendergast]

I say let's have a Cannibalistic Day only. The more the merrier! No popcorn and trans-fat allowed, nooooo sir!

[Doofy]

If memory serves me, the whole park was rented one night for a wedding.

I can't remember much about it (over a decade ago), but someone (who was apparently miffed at my apparent elevated status that night) informed me that I spent most of the night drinking large amounts of beer whilst sitting at the Mayor's table in the reception marquee. I have no idea why I was at the wedding or why I was sitting at the Mayor's table... ...probably some political stuff the then girlfriend was pulling. Still, rock and roll.

[Cody Dawg]

Kerrigan

Sunnis were afraid they would get into the same line as Shi'ites and vice versa, which is why nobody showed up.

That was very funny!

[SSharon]

I don't have a problem with people renting out a place and enforcing their own rules. It's when they want their beliefs imposed on others when they have no right to do so. Separating men and women at a park you rent out = OK. not sitting next to someone of the opposite sex on a plane/bus (public, not rented) and asking them to move = not OK.

Tradition is great but in this multicultural world people need to stop secluding themselves and pretending that everyone else doesn't exist.

[rambo47]

I don't know. I'd kinda like to see Goofy with a suicide bomb vest strapped to his body. And Donald Duck with an AK-47 screaming, "Death to the infidel Mickey!!"

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by rambo47

I don't know. I'd kinda like to see Goofy with a suicide bomb vest strapped to his body. And Donald Duck with an AK-47 screaming, "Death to the infidel Mickey!!"

How about sterilizing Goofy and the Dwarves?

[hey!_Zeus]

Muslim fun day? I wonder who the dumb fekk was that thought that up?

The 'automatic head chopper-offer' would certainly scare them away.

Please leave head at gate.

Muslims aren't allowed to have fun are they?

[Cody Dawg]

Let's see, hey!_Zeus.

You made anti-Semetic comments in another thread and now you apparently hate Muslims also?

Maybe you're at the wrong forum? Even own a Mac by the way?

[hey!_Zeus]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Let's see, hey!_Zeus.

You made anti-Semetic comments in another thread and now you apparently hate Muslims also?

Maybe you're at the wrong forum? Even own a Mac by the way?

I'm not choosey...I hate everyone just like you.

[Ulrich Kinbote]

It's as incongruous as Disney Day at a Mosque.

But they might like this:

[Kerrigan]

That was a good movie.