Amazing video about women in Saudi Arabia

[Mosaic]

This is a touchy subject, and an interesting one. It is difficult for people raised in the ideology of a western culture to understand/accept the ways of another culture/ideology, and yes I understand where all respondents are coming from, we all seem to have strong views and I believe we could argue these points until the cows come come so to speak ( I believe this is a very "Kiwi" term - and probably used by other countries as well - LOL) Anyway, I am sure no one here believes it is right and just to honour kill a family member, nor do they believe it is right or just for someone to murder another for whatever reason. It is neither right nor just to say another culture is wrong/ right because their ways/beliefs are different to one's own. It is a matter for each individual to choose to live their lives justly and with compassion and understanding or to not do so. It is up to the individual/or individual culture or groups within a culture to stand up and push for change and yes that happens. I really do not believe all our talk heated or otherwise here will change a thing, we will walk away with our beliefs and probably some anger or hurt because another is not understanding where we are coming from.... the reason for that is absolutely due to where and how we have been raised, and yes we can live full and productive lives within a culture that may seem strange and very foreign to us, but in doing so, one must accept the way of that land, whether you approve/agree with whatever the issue is or not. We cannot force our own values/beliefs on another. That does not cause change, but only wars and recrimination.

Sure I would love to have the power to go out there (wherever there is) and create a world of peace/harmony/acceptance etc, but greater people all over the world greater than I have been trying for many, many years, yes small and some large changes have occurred, but some thing are very unlikely to change - One of those things is forcing others to follow another's rules when it comes to culture, unless they wish to do so with all their heart, and we see that all the time, individuals take risks and change beliefs/religions and countries and take their new cultures mores as part of their own cultures mores that they wish to hold onto, and that is how it should be. Each culture has its good, bad and ugly, but I believe is good/bad/ugly may not be as another see's it, so who am I to say they are wrong and who are they to say I am wrong. I am a strong believer in human & animal rights and justice for all, no matter where you come from, believe in. If someone comes to me and asks for help I will fight for their rights the best way I can, I will also offer help if I believe that it is needed, but if that person says no thanks then that is their right and even if I think they are "wrong" I don't have the right to interfere, unless there is likely to be harm done to others.

As I have mentioned previously, I lived for 11 years in the most populous Muslim nation in the world, and yes I thought some things were strange and sometimes shocking, but it wasn't to them, and if my "rights" were stepped upon, I did indeed speak up and asked for respect, and strangely that request was always honoured, because the people whose country I shared for a short while knew I respected them and their cultural beliefs and religion.

It was probably the best 11 years I spent, I learn't so much, I also taught others who had a very wrong perception of Western culture, and I never put one culture/belief system above another, they are all equal, and the sooner humankind learns that lesson the happier the world will be ... well that is how I see it. having rambled on about nothing LOL! I will say I do not, nor ever will condone the taking of another persons life, no human being has that power nor the right, and it doesn't matter where you come from, what you believe, no so called mainstream religious belief honours or calls for killing of another, so murder/honour killing etc is just plain out and out wrong!

Before i slip out of here, I must tell a little story of an Aussie expat new to Indonesia who had that arrogance of a 'white christian memsahib'. She decided to go to a local market, and asked me to go with her, so agreed, as I was concerned about her attitude and thought I may keep her "out of trouble". Anyway she had a spaghetti strap top on, and jeans, and yes that is fine in Aussie, but I told her in concentrated Muslim areas where there are a few Mosques, you must cover your arms and have a reasonable neckline ( you didn't have to have long sleeves, but at least a short sleeve top that was "modest". She refused to change, so i said so be it! Even her husband tried to tell her. Well with her cloak of arrogant superiority wrapped around her we set off, and things were going OK, (a few frowns had been cast her way) until we got to a part of the market where there was a Mushollah ( prayer room - an area where you could go to pray if you couldn't get to a Mosque). She very loudly commented on things like why do these women wear hijab/white robes to pray, a few other things, next thing I saw 3 or 4 young men and 2 young women walk towards her and they all spat on her, and told her she was dressed like a whore. She was really, upset as one would be, and I apologized to the Indonesians for her manners and the way she was dressed ( actually i was embarrased about her and for her) I quickly got her out of there and we went home. 2 days later she left Indonesia, as she couldn't stand the "muslim" restrictions or the people. So sad she could have learnt such a lot and grown to appreciate a culture steeped in history and come to understand Islam as well. But some people just don't want to understand. So you see, this woman was of my own culture but she was wrong and she was arrogant and thought she was better than the Indonesians and I was deeply ashamed of her. That may seem horrible of me to say that. But we were living in another culture and we expect those who enter our cultures to be respectful, and that was all the Indonesians expected as well. They were not nice spitting on her but she had been disrespectful, she should be thankful they didn't slap her, as that has happened to some disrespectful foreigners.

OK enough of my ramblings. I have a 1001 stories about my life in Indonesia, some good, some bad, but all very interesting and each added so much 'colour/ acceptance/tolerance and love' to my life.
~Mosaic

 

[charity]

hmm...i never said change occured in upheavals. i said that things change by small tweakings at a time...did i not???

i do not believe my reaction was uninformed, i think most my statements were common sense, no brainers, dont need a text book to surmise the obvious.

no i did not go all in depth, explain every detail or facet of my opinion, i had no idea that was even necessary.

but yes the website you cited, what do you think a website devoted to gendercide is going to say. in the fourth grade, when i wanted to change the world, i believed what those publications told me whether it be on human rights, global warming, politics, poverty...whatever, in fact even recently i quuoted a human rights pub...ohmy bad, i like to play devil's advocate, i'm flexible, but i believe what i believe...hold on, i hav yoga to go to. finish this later.

 

[da Sage]

hmm...i never said change occured in upheavals. i said that things change by small tweakings at a time...did i not???

Charity, this is your quote I was responding to (emphasis mine): "if peoples were being abused and oppressed for 2000 years, dont you think the time would come sooner or later that they would rebel? just because we cannot see the reasons why it would be a choice, does not mean that it is a forceful way of life."

My point was that the Muslim culture in the Middle East is often (not always!)abusive and oppressive to women, and that women as a group do not rebel in the same way that an ethnic or religious minority might (and have, throughout history). So the lack of a large, organized rebellion, is not indicative of the absence of oppression on woman.

but yes the website you cited, what do you think a website devoted to gendercide is going to say. in the fourth grade, when i wanted to change the world, i believed what those publications told me whether it be on human rights, global warming, politics, poverty...whatever, in fact even recently i quuoted a human rights pub...ohmy bad, i like to play devil's advocate, i'm flexible, but i believe what i believe...hold on, i hav yoga to go to. finish this later.

I picked that website because it was on the first google page, and it mentioned how the King of Jordan himself must stoop to trying to tweak public opinion on honor killings (and the prosecution thereof)...he cannot simply lead a direct movement to change the law. That indicates a deep intrenchment of the idea of women as "not independent entities worthy of respect" - because sons of families are not subject to the same threat of honor killings, as the daughters are. I can get you another website, I just thought the bit about how the King (THE KING!) has to be so conservative in trying to make change was particularly illustrative of my point about the local culture.

As for devils advocate...it may not be that these honor killings are any more prevalent in Jordan than in other ME countries. It may be that they are better documented, and have received more international notice because of the nation's own attempts to address the issue and create change.

EDIT: Maybe you will like this Reuters article better:
Reuters AlertNet - JORDAN: Special report on honour killings

 

[charity]

in regards to oppression, murder was never on the subject. murder is not about oppression, that is some other human sickness irrelevant to culture or religion. yes yes i know there are fundamentalist and extremist who exercise murder or death as part of some religious doctrine, i'm not talking about "those" people. crazies exist everywhere.

all i'm saying is wearing head gear, made to cover up in public and different cultural/religious customs does not make for oppression. like i tried to say sometimes it is a sacrifice, willingly made in devotion to ones faith, family, and culture. these are things americans cannot understand.

dont get me wrong, if a woman chose to assert her independence from faith, family, and culture, she should have that right. anyone should. but the fact is for any given woman in the ME, in any number of situations, each decision to practice these customs or each decision to rebel against their own culture is a personal one. there are so many factors involved that NO ONE can wrap up a single culture into one and say all these women are oppressed. i have met, i have seen, i have known ME women...they are VERY spirited, VERY.

have you ever tried to give a cat a bath? thats a woman in general. they cant be forced to do too much against their will for too long. they just cant unless they too can benefit or see the advantage to their situation. maybe that is naive, i dont know.

 

[da Sage]

in regards to oppression, murder was never on the subject. murder is not about oppression, that is some other human sickness irrelevant to culture or religion. yes yes i know there are fundamentalist and extremist who exercise murder or death as part of some religious doctrine, i'm not talking about "those" people. crazies exist everywhere.

all i'm saying is wearing head gear, made to cover up in public and different cultural/religious customs does not make for oppression. like i tried to say sometimes it is a sacrifice, willingly made in devotion to ones faith, family, and culture. these are things americans cannot understand.

dont get me wrong, if a woman chose to assert her independence from faith, family, and culture, she should have that right. anyone should. but the fact is for any given woman in the ME, in any number of situations, each decision to practice these customs or each decision to rebel against their own culture is a personal one. there are so many factors involved that NO ONE can wrap up a single culture into one and say all these women are oppressed. i have met, i have seen, i have known ME women...they are VERY spirited, VERY.

have you ever tried to give a cat a bath? thats a woman in general. they cant be forced to do too much against their will for too long. they just cant unless they too can benefit or see the advantage to their situation. maybe that is naive, i dont know.

As far as I'm concerned, legal murder is oppression. And the legal requirement to cover one's head, is part of an oppressive system common in primarily Muslim countries. I never said "all ME women are oppressed", or "all ME are spiritless". But parts of Islam (like parts of Christianity) are regularly twisted to support oppressive, unfair legal systems. The system is oppressive, even if not all within it are downtrodden.

I'm a big fan of women wearing whatever they want on their heads...or not. I regularly wore headscarves for YEARS, and I was not oppressed...because I was free to wear them (or not) as I chose. Likewise, the Muslim women I've worked with in the past were not legally oppressed, because they were free to wear their hijab in public, and at work. I understand the choice to wear (or not to wear) a headscarf, even though I'm American. But when it becomes a legal requirement (or a practical requirement, to avoid harassment), and that's only the beginning of the restrictions on women, it's part of oppression. Because the restrictions and unfair treatment never stop at mandated hijab.

 

[charity]

i dont know. i guess i took something different from my experiences. dont get me wrong, i see areas of improvement but like has already been said, in time these things will be weened out, i do believe, by those who are immediately involved.

 

[da Sage]

i dont know. i guess i took something different from my experiences. dont get me wrong, i see areas of improvement but like has already been said, in time these things will be weened out, i do believe, by those who are immediately involved.

Sorry, I missed the part where you said what Middle Eastern country you had visited?

 

[charity]

thats because i dont relay personal experiences online. opinions are one thing, my real life is not up for discussion. but yes i've been to 3.

 

[gypsy8522]

My point was that the Muslim culture in the Middle East is often (not always!)abusive and oppressive to women,

If our religion was that horrible 1.8 billion people would have abandoned it a long time ago. Surprizingly, Muslims now make up one fourth of the world population and are ever growing, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so why doesn't everyone just face it and get on with life.

Arab cultures are still highly bound with traditions, some of these have existed for thousands of years, long before Islam, and if "they" the Arab people want change they have to do it on their own. If the Jordanians or Saudi Arabians decided that they didn't like your way of life, or that they didn't like the way your judicial system is run, wouldn't you mind if they tried to interfere? The problem is that you are indoctrined from birth that your way of running society is correct, when it clearly isn't from the social problems we keep hearing about like street crimes and kids going to school and shooting at other kids. It is not up to you or "anyone" to tell people what they are or aren't supposed to do with their own society, especially if the person offering this "friendly advice" may not have any traditions or heritage to begin with, especially if this person is from a completely different region like Midwest, USA, never lived in any of those countries that she/he is criticizing, doesn't speak the language of the people she/he is criticizing, doesn't quite understand the religion, the culture or the mentality of the people she/he is criticizing, trust me any "efforts" in this case, (not necessarily "my" opinion, I am speaking from Arab/Middle Eastern people's point of view), regardless what one's intentions are, they are useles and comes off as bigotry.

I am assuming you haven't visited the Arab world, because the only country where it is a legal requirement for women to cover their heads is Saudi Arabia, so this law isn't common as you think it is. And if the laws in Saudi Arabia (the closest ally to the United States in the region) are bothering you, and you truly want to help change them, why don't you ask the US government to stop stealing or "buying" the Saudi people's "cheap oil" and in return keeping their dictators and oppressive regime in power- as long as it supports this oppression to save the interests of its own multi-national coorporations, the silent majority in Saudi Arabia who do want a change, and this includes WOMEN, will have the right to NOT have any say in anything whatsoever.

 

[da Sage]

I feel that you hear me saying
"1. Middle Eastern people are uniformly against women's (general and individual) rights,
2. the lives of all women in the Middle East are miserable,
3. Middle Eastern and Muslim women should not wear head scarves, and
4. there is something terribly wrong with wrong with Islam."

That is not what I am saying at all! Nor is it what I believe.

I am saying that
1. many Middle Eastern and majority-Muslim countries have laws that are outright biased against women, or their enforcement is biased against women, so as to make the laws irrelevant,
2. many women who are miserable in the Middle East, either because of cultural-specific reasons, or universal reasons, have fewer options to solve their problems because of culture-related legal restrictions on women, and practical restrictions on women.
3. Wearing head-gear (or not) should be a personal choice, unless you are on a construction site, or operating a vehicle.
4. There is something terribly wrong with the way that certain people wish to force everyone else to adhere to their own interpretation of Islam

EDIT: This post was in response to Charity.

 

[Caroline_afifi]

If our religion was that horrible 1.8 billion people would have abandoned it a long time ago. Surprizingly, Muslims now make up one fourth of the world population and are ever growing, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so why doesn't everyone just face it and get on with life.

Arab cultures are still highly bound with traditions, some of these have existed for thousands of years, long before Islam, and if "they" the Arab people want change they have to do it on their own. If the Jordanians or Saudi Arabians decided that they didn't like your way of life, or that they didn't like the way your judicial system is run, wouldn't you mind if they tried to interfere? The problem is that you are indoctrined from birth that your way of running society is correct, when it clearly isn't from the social problems we keep hearing about like street crimes and kids going to school and shooting at other kids. It is not up to you or "anyone" to tell people what they are or aren't supposed to do with their own society, especially if the person offering this "friendly advice" may not have any traditions or heritage to begin with, especially if this person is from a completely different region like Midwest, USA, never lived in any of those countries that she/he is criticizing, doesn't speak the language of the people she/he is criticizing, doesn't quite understand the religion, the culture or the mentality of the people she/he is criticizing, trust me any "efforts" in this case, (not necessarily "my" opinion, I am speaking from Arab/Middle Eastern people's point of view), regardless what one's intentions are, they are useles and comes off as bigotry.

I am assuming you haven't visited the Arab world, because the only country where it is a legal requirement for women to cover their heads is Saudi Arabia, so this law isn't common as you think it is. And if the laws in Saudi Arabia (the closest ally to the United States in the region) are bothering you, and you truly want to help change them, why don't you ask the US government to stop stealing or "buying" the Saudi people's "cheap oil" and in return keeping their dictators and oppressive regime in power- as long as it supports this oppression to save the interests of its own multi-national coorporations, the silent majority in Saudi Arabia who do want a change, and this includes WOMEN, will have the right to NOT have any say in anything whatsoever.

I believe that most societies and religons dont do women any favours. I would not defend any of them actually. Women all over the world are oppressed.
What is going on here? Men still rule the roost and many women have fought back but people around the world face different issues so it is not always possible.
Battered women often defend their partners when the police come around.

 

[charity]

If our religion was that horrible 1.8 billion people would have abandoned it a long time ago. Surprizingly, Muslims now make up one fourth of the world population and are ever growing, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so why doesn't everyone just face it and get on with life.

Arab cultures are still highly bound with traditions, some of these have existed for thousands of years, long before Islam, and if "they" the Arab people want change they have to do it on their own. If the Jordanians or Saudi Arabians decided that they didn't like your way of life, or that they didn't like the way your judicial system is run, wouldn't you mind if they tried to interfere? The problem is that you are indoctrined from birth that your way of running society is correct, when it clearly isn't from the social problems we keep hearing about like street crimes and kids going to school and shooting at other kids. It is not up to you or "anyone" to tell people what they are or aren't supposed to do with their own society, especially if the person offering this "friendly advice" may not have any traditions or heritage to begin with, especially if this person is from a completely different region like Midwest, USA, never lived in any of those countries that she/he is criticizing, doesn't speak the language of the people she/he is criticizing, doesn't quite understand the religion, the culture or the mentality of the people she/he is criticizing, trust me any "efforts" in this case, (not necessarily "my" opinion, I am speaking from Arab/Middle Eastern people's point of view), regardless what one's intentions are, they are useles and comes off as bigotry.

I am assuming you haven't visited the Arab world, because the only country where it is a legal requirement for women to cover their heads is Saudi Arabia, so this law isn't common as you think it is. And if the laws in Saudi Arabia (the closest ally to the United States in the region) are bothering you, and you truly want to help change them, why don't you ask the US government to stop stealing or "buying" the Saudi people's "cheap oil" and in return keeping their dictators and oppressive regime in power- as long as it supports this oppression to save the interests of its own multi-national coorporations, the silent majority in Saudi Arabia who do want a change, and this includes WOMEN, will have the right to NOT have any say in anything whatsoever.

thank you.

edit: nevermind

 

[belly_dancer]

I believe that most societies and religons dont do women any favours. I would not defend any of them actually. Women all over the world are oppressed.
What is going on here? Men still rule the roost and many women have fought back but people around the world face different issues so it is not always possible.
Battered women often defend their partners when the police come around.

exactly... who is the kettle to call the pot black???
& most battered women defend the man, cause otherwise it is out of the frying pan & into the fire (OOPS... must be getting hungry w/ all this reference to cookware!)... many of these women think they will have a worse life without that man, due to financial reasons stemming from lack of education/children to raise/the fact that a woman still makes about 70 cents to the dollar/etc etc etc/(& oh yeah... there is somewhere a disturbing statistic I read that most women are who are MURDERED by the abuser, are murdered AFTER they leave... not while they are in the relationship)... but hey... WE can walk down the street in a mini skirt!!
ooh one more disturbing statistic that I read (just today) 4-8 PERCENT of pregnant women in AMERICA are abused by their "intimate partners".. that means that for those of you who have children... 1-2 (assuming you have the "small" class size of 25) of your school age children's classmate's moms were abused while pregnant... lovely...
(hey charity... does this post make my butt look fat???:lol

 

[da Sage]

If our religion was that horrible 1.8 billion people would have abandoned it a long time ago. Surprizingly, Muslims now make up one fourth of the world population and are ever growing, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so why doesn't everyone just face it and get on with life.

Arab cultures are still highly bound with traditions, some of these have existed for thousands of years, long before Islam, and if "they" the Arab people want change they have to do it on their own. If the Jordanians or Saudi Arabians decided that they didn't like your way of life, or that they didn't like the way your judicial system is run, wouldn't you mind if they tried to interfere? The problem is that you are indoctrined from birth that your way of running society is correct, when it clearly isn't from the social problems we keep hearing about like street crimes and kids going to school and shooting at other kids. It is not up to you or "anyone" to tell people what they are or aren't supposed to do with their own society, especially if the person offering this "friendly advice" may not have any traditions or heritage to begin with, especially if this person is from a completely different region like Midwest, USA, never lived in any of those countries that she/he is criticizing, doesn't speak the language of the people she/he is criticizing, doesn't quite understand the religion, the culture or the mentality of the people she/he is criticizing, trust me any "efforts" in this case, (not necessarily "my" opinion, I am speaking from Arab/Middle Eastern people's point of view), regardless what one's intentions are, they are useles and comes off as bigotry.

I am assuming you haven't visited the Arab world, because the only country where it is a legal requirement for women to cover their heads is Saudi Arabia, so this law isn't common as you think it is. And if the laws in Saudi Arabia (the closest ally to the United States in the region) are bothering you, and you truly want to help change them, why don't you ask the US government to stop stealing or "buying" the Saudi people's "cheap oil" and in return keeping their dictators and oppressive regime in power- as long as it supports this oppression to save the interests of its own multi-national coorporations, the silent majority in Saudi Arabia who do want a change, and this includes WOMEN, will have the right to NOT have any say in anything whatsoever.

Hi gypsy8522,

I feel that we got off on the wrong foot because I defended KuteNurse's right to express her honest opinion a while back. That is not because I agree with her on all (or even most!) things, but because I believe that hiding opinions so as not to offend just breeds more ignorance and separation. Frankly, I was disappointed with several of her opinions (how they seem not to change), and more importantly, her actions. But I think her honest response was valuable.

I was indoctrinated from birth that the Westerners running the USA are fallible, sometimes foolish, and often make poor decisions. That social conventions are sometimes silly, but inescapable.

And I'm not "telling" Jordan or Saudi Arabia what to do. I am stating my opinion of what sometimes happens there. If you want to talk about American kids shooting other kids at school, hey...at least they are prosecuted for it. I think how the legal system works is very important, both here and abroad. If the laws hurt people, or I feel they are not enforced fairly, I get frustrated. Unfortunately, I get frustrated a lot.

And sure, I'd mind if another country tried to interfere with our legal system. Interference is one thing...stating their opinions is another.

I supposed you are against Amnesty International as well? I for one support their efforts of "foreign conscience", even....especially when it is levied against the criminal acts of my own government. I think in some cases, foreign opinion has helped tip the balance towards a positive change.

And if you check my posts carefully, I've made repeated references to the de-facto (not always codified in law) requirement that women wear head scarves - if going bare-headed isn't really an option for women, because godly men (and women) will harass them, I feel that is linked to other institutionalized restrictions on women. I don't believe that all the hijabed women in Iran for example, wear hijab out of religious conviction. I think at least a large minority simply wish to avoid harassment. I think the idea of "she is not my religion or she's not moral enough, therefore she's fair game" is very damaging and wrong. Many people here have that feeling, and I feel some people in other countries have that feeling, too (but towards different groups).


While I haven't sent any letters specifically requesting that the USA get out of Saudi Arabia, I have sent many letters to my legislators about particular energy policies, trying to reduce our dependence on oil. And the US is trying to get out of Saudi Arabia...that's the other part of what the Iraq war is all about. The criminal idiots in the executive branch thought we could just replace our old Saudi military bases with new, Iraqi ones.

By the way, I'd love to hear what you have to say about the silent majority in Saudi Arabia. If you'd be kind enough to tell me.

I'm sooo not anti-religion. I'm anti-religious-bias, though (and also anti-atheist bias, incidentally). I'm sorry I look bigoted. I know that I do have prejudices, but I try to keep an eye on where I'm coming from, and where I'm going, and keep them to a minimum. I talk with people who challenge my point of view. I work very hard to treat people with respect. I also try to be honest about my opinions, and sometimes that comes off as disrespectful. Some people don't feel I am entitled to have -- or voice -- an opinion about another country. From where you stand, I will always be wrong - partly because of where I'm coming from. Even if I go abroad again, or learn Arabic, I will still be American. I know I can never learn enough to have a valid opinion in many people's eyes, and that I will always be a product of my own culture (and yes, I do have one). That won't stop me from trying to understand how things work, though.

I'm sorry if I offended you, or made you feel badly. That's not what I was trying to do.

I think I am going to start a new thread. I hope you will come and join me there, and bring your honest opinions.

 

[Aniseteph]

Anyone else seen this report - it was in the news here recently.
Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia

 

[charity]

exactly... who is the kettle to call the pot black???
& most battered women defend the man, cause otherwise it is out of the frying pan & into the fire (OOPS... must be getting hungry w/ all this reference to cookware!)... many of these women think they will have a worse life without that man, due to financial reasons stemming from lack of education/children to raise/the fact that a woman still makes about 70 cents to the dollar/etc etc etc/(& oh yeah... there is somewhere a disturbing statistic I read that most women are who are MURDERED by the abuser, are murdered AFTER they leave... not while they are in the relationship)... but hey... WE can walk down the street in a mini skirt!!
ooh one more disturbing statistic that I read (just today) 4-8 PERCENT of pregnant women in AMERICA are abused by their "intimate partners".. that means that for those of you who have children... 1-2 (assuming you have the "small" class size of 25) of your school age children's classmate's moms were abused while pregnant... lovely...
(hey charity... does this post make my butt look fat???:lol

HAH...Oh no...kiss my butt...hehe.

 

[da Sage]

Anyone else seen this report - it was in the news here recently.
Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia

There's 52 pages in that report...I don't think I'm going to get through that anytime soon. Did you read it?

 

[KuteNurse]

If our religion was that horrible 1.8 billion people would have abandoned it a long time ago. Surprizingly, Muslims now make up one fourth of the world population and are ever growing, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so why doesn't everyone just face it and get on with life.

Arab cultures are still highly bound with traditions, some of these have existed for thousands of years, long before Islam, and if "they" the Arab people want change they have to do it on their own. If the Jordanians or Saudi Arabians decided that they didn't like your way of life, or that they didn't like the way your judicial system is run, wouldn't you mind if they tried to interfere? The problem is that you are indoctrined from birth that your way of running society is correct, when it clearly isn't from the social problems we keep hearing about like street crimes and kids going to school and shooting at other kids. It is not up to you or "anyone" to tell people what they are or aren't supposed to do with their own society, especially if the person offering this "friendly advice" may not have any traditions or heritage to begin with, especially if this person is from a completely different region like Midwest, USA, never lived in any of those countries that she/he is criticizing, doesn't speak the language of the people she/he is criticizing, doesn't quite understand the religion, the culture or the mentality of the people she/he is criticizing, trust me any "efforts" in this case, (not necessarily "my" opinion, I am speaking from Arab/Middle Eastern people's point of view), regardless what one's intentions are, they are useles and comes off as bigotry.

I am assuming you haven't visited the Arab world, because the only country where it is a legal requirement for women to cover their heads is Saudi Arabia, so this law isn't common as you think it is. And if the laws in Saudi Arabia (the closest ally to the United States in the region) are bothering you, and you truly want to help change them, why don't you ask the US government to stop stealing or "buying" the Saudi people's "cheap oil" and in return keeping their dictators and oppressive regime in power- as long as it supports this oppression to save the interests of its own multi-national coorporations, the silent majority in Saudi Arabia who do want a change, and this includes WOMEN, will have the right to NOT have any say in anything whatsoever.

Who are you to think you know the ways of the world. Have you ever traveled to the States, Europe, Canada? Quite frankly, your posts are vulgar and discriminative against Americans. I have never heard you say one kind thing about anyone on these forums and your name GYPSY carries quite a reputation in the belly dance community. I have heard from more than 5 people now how you have degraded them.

Perhaps you have had a bad childhood filled with abuse with little love? Perhaps this is what happens to some women who are treated badly? They become bitter and angry at others and the world? I feel badly for you for having to live life in such a situation that makes you unhappy and makes you want to lash out at others. I am sure others would be willing to be supportive and to help you sort out your angers and problems along with myself. But remember that others who have lived such lives, are not resentful and spiteful people.

I have a right to state my opinions. I could also state the same for you Gypsy that you not know anything about the United States and the ways of Americans. As I have stated in other posts, I have no prejudism against you or other Arabic women. What I have a problem with is the way the women are being treated and by some of the laws that govern them to be treated in such a way.

I am going to ask you at this point to please do not PM me any longer. Your private letters are not well received by me unless you have something nice to say.

 

[KuteNurse]

Anyone else seen this report - it was in the news here recently.
Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia

All I can say is Unbelieveable! I really do feel badly for those women who do not have the right to say what medical procedures are right for them...Their guardian has to be the one to decide for them.

 

[gypsy8522]

Regarding the PM: I believe I only sent you ONE message, and that was almost 3 months ago, Here is what I wrote:




"I noticed your 'interest' in Islamic laws since you keep bringing up the issues about stoning of women and capital punishment. I did research as well, and I would really like to know your thoughts on this. Does God approve of capital punishment?
Since both of us speak english, there shouldn't be a misunderstanding this time due to wrong translation. I didn't want to post the link publically on the forum, knowing that it offend other members. I hope that you answer me the same way I have done. However, if you don't want to be questioned about it, that's fine with me as well.

Have a great day!

Gypsy"



I don't know what "private letters" you are referring to because that was it. If there was anything "not nice" like you claim about that PM, you would have reported me, the same way you reported me before for supposedly using "inappropriate language". When you ignored my PM, yet continued to reply to me here, I automatically got the message that you are not interested in a private discussion, so I left you alone. I am terribly sorry that your attempt to turn this topic into a Islamic/ Quran bashing session backfired on you, and instead you got all these unexpected questions about Catholicism. It is NOT my problem that you like to attack other people's religions but on the other hand do not like to be questioned about your own faith! Just a reminder***************** I have not made one single degrading comment towards anyone's religion, and I will never do that.********

Now regarding the rest of your post...... I say it is better you calm down, I doubt very much anyone cares what you have to say about me, this is just an online forum, so relax.




And to answer your question, yes, I have actually travelled across the United States, I have been to California, Michigan, West Virginia, New York, Washington DC and Florida and I have been to Europe, I visited the United Kingdom more than 8 times, I lived in the city of Lisburn in Ireland for 4 months with my extended family, I've been to Scotland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, The Czech republic and Hungary.


Thank you for letting me know that "GYPSY" is now a well known name in the (cyber?) bellydance community, it's an honour.





edit: I think it's "prejudice" not "prejudism", LOL, I'm not trying to act smart, but I see you've written it more than once and I went hmmm.... that doesn't look/sound right. WARNING: Not a native speaker, so there is a BIG chance I could be wrong! Any english teachers here?


This was a response to KateNurse