Originally Posted by KuteNurse

A'isha,

I do have a difference in opinion on one topic. I believe Some middle eastern women in Some countries do not have a choice whether or not to wear robes and veils...They do not have the choice and if they do not wear the appropriate garb, they are severely punished for it.

A'isha writes- That is certainly true in Afghanistan, which is NOT an Arab country. But, I also do not have choice of wearing appropriate garb and will be arrested for indecent exposure if I go out dressed in garb that is not considered decent in this country. AND men who are not dressed decently in those countries get punished also. Sometimes this means if they leave home without a hat.

In America and in some other countries, there is no required dress code. A woman at Mardi Gras in New Orleans can show her breasts 3 times before she is arrested. (According to a documentary I saw on an educational television show.)

A. writes- I wonder how many times a man can show his chest at Mardi Gras before HE is arrested!


Also, there are legal nude beaches lined across the United States and other countries, giving women the choice to lose her clothing if she so choses to do so. One other point is: I do not think it is a good analogy to compare women wearing robes and veils to women going topless in public.

A. writes- Why not? This is a cultural issue, not a god made mandate, about how much skin it is okay to expose in public.

It would be better to compare dressed women of one country with dressed women of another country.

A. writes- Same thing.

I do agree with you when you say terrible things go on everywhere, whether it is verbal, physical, sexual abuse. It happens in every age category and gender. It is wonderful that the Princess of Saudi Arabia was generous to give UNICEF money. Good deeds such as this are done all over the world however. I believe it is one thing to give money to abused children, yet another thing to actually get down into it and take care of our abused children.

A. writes: For me, one is just as important as the other. Because of his generosity, UNICEF was able to immunize children who would perhaps otherwise died at a very early age, or out a well in a community that did not have one before, or by grain for farmers in a Third World country so they could grow their own food, or any number of other good things that could happen because the funds were there. I see this as every bit as valuable as a one on one situation.

That is what we need to see to have lives rebuilt and old wounds closed by our abused children. For example: my sister donates her time to the big brother/big sister program. She has a little sister whom was abused and in foster care. She takes her out once a week or more often sometimes. They go shopping, crafting and just spend quality time with one another. This is where differences are made in the lives of an abused child. The money does help to get children out of poverty, but it is the caring that matters.

A. writes- I think one has to care to give in the first place, and it is not a contest to see which caring is the best. It is all good! Even in the case of big companies who give to improve their image, the result is good, regardless of their less than altruistic motivations. Not all people are in an emotional position to deal with abused children on an individual basis.. I know I am not. But, I once contributed a good sum of money to my local crisis center and they were able to take care of the physical needs of some abused kids because of it.

Something else for thought. Americans are truly givers. Look at the positive reconstruction efforts that are happening in Iraq. Girls can attend school once again. Correct me if I am wrong, because I believe girls could not attend school before the second Gulf War.

A. writes- Acccording to David Lamb, who wrote "The Arabs", before the first Gulf War, literacy in Iraq was at 70% and both males and females were equally educated. the book was written sometime in the late 1980s, if I remember correctly.I can quote you from the book if you like, but I would have to find where the info is, and the book is WAY over there on that bookshelf, (I hope). Both girls and boys went to school I am not sure, but I see no reason why this would have changed between the first and second Gulf wars. I see how it would have changed all together after the infrastructure that Saddam Hussein built was destroyed by the invasion of Iraq. If Americans and their buddies destroyed the schools, then it is not so strange that they should rebuild them,

Look at the aid that the United states sent to India during the Tsunami a couple of years ago. Not only was money sent, but important goods such as water and food, blankets and clothing. Basic human needs! The United States sent more money and Aid than any other country sent during that catastrophe. My point is, there is more positive that United States has given than negative...As in all countries. The United States people are about giving. I am not talking about government here.