Howard Co. Muslims already had a special private swim time arranged at a pool in Jessup. It's posted on the front page of their website. http://www.taqwa.net/ There was no need for Columbia to comply with Ms. Khan's demand. The CA using the excuse of other women who feel uncomfortable in bathing suits to justify their action is nothing more than a ruse.

I am a CA member absolutely do not agree with this new segregation rule. The
residents of this county and organization should not be forced to
modify our lifestyle to accommodate the Muslim religion. Swim at the Muslim pool. What about the male members that may be affected
by this decision? If this was the only time that their schedule would
allow them to come to the pool. Do they get a discount? A refund for
being locked out of the pool they pay to use? What are you going to do
when the male Muslims want their own private pool time, ban the
Christians??

I'm a republican and I THINK some democrats may look at while I swim and silently judge me. Do I get my own time block twice a week for me and my fellow republicans? What about Democrats? Liberals? Red heads? Brunets? Skinny men? Overweight men? Hairy men? Everyone should apply for a protected pool time for the same reason to show the Columbia Association how stupid it is to pick and choose who to serve instead of the community at large. This is a stupid decision
by the CA to exclude every other member to accommodate a very small
minority.
What is the CA going to do if the Muslims complain that they THINK people are looking at them and their excessive attire when it is 100 degrees outside at the local parks and lakes. Are they going to ban men and or non-Muslims from the lakes and parks because of what they MIGHT be thinking about overdressing?

Forget the women only swim sessions, my parents were immigrants and we were told we are Americans and we would adhere to American rules, ideology, and speak English. Our home would be were we kept our ethic proud heritage, our language . Our religion would be practiced in our choosen place of worship. My parents made sure we did not try change what makes America great .One of their examples was we are all different vegetables put in the stew, the end result is it is always stew. I really agree with the comments of Michael and K.

This is stupid. I guess now we should have a couple of hours of day for fat people only swim time? Sure, fat people are embarrassed to be in bathing suits too. When will this stop? Slowly, sharia law is coming to America people. . . . Wake up!

On more than one occasion I have seen a presumably Islamic woman swimming fully dressed with a child at the Dancel Y in Ellicott City. I was impressed with her willingness to stick to her religious beliefs while she taught her child how to swim. If that works for her, it works for me.

I don't see what the big deal is. There are secular women-only gyms. If you want to attend/swim, do. If not, don't. No skin off your gendered back.

I live in Baltimore county but I can feel for those of you in Columbia dealing with this situation! This past summer we dealt with Muslims being fully clothed entering our pool. It made everyone feel very uncomfortable to say the least and I wonder if this is not a health issue -- wearing undergarments in the pool. There is an EXCELLENT book written by a Muslim woman, Nonnie Darwish entitled "Now They Call Me Infidel" that should be read by all of you who disagree with the new female-only swim.

Regarding the comments above: this is not a case of discrimination at all...that's ridiculous and shows complete ignorance.  This is just like the case of having a woman's and men's restroom, and women's and men's gym.   If there are a group of men who feel they cannot benefit the use of the co-ed swimming pool for the reason of modesty in front of women (no matter their religion) then they also deserve some male-only swim time allotted  to them.

Seeing women dressed in fully covered swim suits these days may seem strange to some people, ok, most people. When beach swimming became popular in the 1820's women wore "swim dresses" and bonnets, and would swim amongst other women.  (btw, this was in the USA, and they weren't muslims) They were modest and God concious, and protected themselves from shame, and gossip. As time passed, did God lower His standard on "shame and modesty"?  No, of course not! People did.  As people saw others becoming less modest, they joined in on it.  public display of sexuality has been growing like mold.  It was because of Good 'ol peer pressure. Nowadays we tell our children not to be sucummed by peer pressure, but when their daughters go out of the house half naked, they  say..."Can you believe it,  that's what ALL the kids are wearing these days! - bye kids, have fun!"  Now who are the strange one's? The ones who have persevered through the peer pressure, preserving their modesty, or the ones who have succumbed to the peer pressure by baring their bodies and completely forgetting about the day that God will judge? As I remember this is a nation built on a belief in God. 

I have a lot of respect for these women who behave with modesty.  I'll bet their fathers are proud of them. Where are the fathers who LIKE to see their daughters showing their bodies to strange men? They're everywhere! (is this you, Mr. Republican who commented above?) Fathers don't care!  (I have a son in high school, i've seen the way their daughters are dressed.)  This goes for the rich, the poor, all nationalities and all  religions.  People say they believe in God - but where is their shame! They don't actually believe they'll be judged I guess.  I'm pretty sure if public nudity was legal, that too would become a popular trend.  There's obviously no limit to what  is acceptable..."they're all doing it these days!" And the modest women are the strange ones.  Go figure! May god help us all!