Quote:
Originally Posted by Jane
When my husband was stationed near Riyad (sp?) in the early 90's, he witnessed a group of women publicly beheaded in the town square. Why? They saw UK and American service women driving and tried to drive too.
I object to the lack of choice these women have. When they don't agree, or choose to speak out, they are forced and sometimes killed.
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That would be horrific to witness. I would be danged if I would do anything that would/could result in my head being chopped off - they were/are awfully brave to take the risk <shudder> We are lucky we don't have to face such a thing. I would like to see oppressed peoples everywhere given the right to speak out without some harsh punishment. But I also believe that whatever country you are in you must stay within the laws of that land, if you feel you can't live in such a manner then you must leave. Yes we as foreigners can chose to do that, and the women ( in particular) very often don't have that choice. It will take many a brave soul I think to bring about change. That has always been so. Even in the west, thank goodness I never lived in a time when I didn't have the rights I have today!
I look at Australia, America and South Africa in the not too distant past the rights of the aboriginal people here, the African Americans, and Africans of Sth Africa were totally oppressed and degraded. So the wests human rights/womens rights record is not exactly clean.
In Indonesia one often hears the Indonesians say that the west should butt out of others affairs and clean up their own backyards. Sadly I do agree quite often about
that statement. The western world gets their knickers in a knot about rights elsewhere, but we do need to look deeply into our own cultures with eyes wide open and underneath all the political correctness etc one will still find areas that need change.
I agree we should be prepared to support those who stick their necks out (excuse the pun) - But not in such a way where we can escape the chop and leave others to pay the price. I know our "western" way is often abhorrent to Muslims yes even the women, but having said Muslims I must also say non Muslim Middle Eastern and some Asian folk, especially older generations. To be truthful I also find some Western culture rather embarrassing. Having lived so long in a Muslim country and also being married to a Malaysian Chinese, I see the best and worst of both worlds, and try not to judge. I tend to vent and stand up for the rights of animals who can't speak for themselves.
OK I think I should just creep away now
