tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post9150169164990294533..comments2024-03-11T12:49:08.014+03:00Comments on SUSIE of ARABIA: Saudi Arabia Wastes Biggest Untapped Natural Resource: WOMENSusie of Arabiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315336613944665651noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-75232636292643285792013-01-16T02:23:54.134+03:002013-01-16T02:23:54.134+03:00If it happened. It HAPPENEDIf it happened. It HAPPENEDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-65332676442241498922009-07-08T03:58:10.493+03:002009-07-08T03:58:10.493+03:00Daisy--I'm glad to be able to follow your comm...Daisy--I'm glad to be able to follow your comments better, now that you have a "name". I'm looking forward to your future comments.Chiaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-76502850609100065992009-07-07T10:00:51.780+03:002009-07-07T10:00:51.780+03:00Thanks Chiara, for your appreciation and very insi...Thanks Chiara, for your appreciation and very insightful comments about US election above. I wrote the two anonymous posts above yours, but am now writing under the fictitious name Daisy - here and elswhere on this site.<br /><br />A Free Spirit, yes, if the Punjabi Salwar Kurta as it is called - if it is allowed as you say, I think it may be worn rather than the Abaya - if one finds the latter uncomfortable. I wrote this in another post in response to On Being Normal - sorry, there I thought it was Susie who wrote that Punjabi dress is allowed. I correct my error here. Susie, I know you said you didn't want to stick out, but we have to respect others' traditions while defending our own individuality. For all you know, once you begin to wear the Punjabi dress, others will follow suit. Perhaps a lot of women there are just waiting for someone to begin the process.Daisynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-79634934697732425012009-07-04T10:39:20.986+03:002009-07-04T10:39:20.986+03:00I agree that the election of Obama had as much to ...I agree that the election of Obama had as much to do with sexism as it did with "transcending race". One lesson I took from the 2008 elections was that it is more acceptable to be sexist than racist, and more acceptable to be anti-Muslim/islamophobic, and anti-Arab than to be anti-Black. US history has made African-Americans both targetted and protected whereas to date Muslims and Arabs are far less protected. False accusations of racism were used to devastating effect, in terms of free speech, debate and political process (Bill Clinton being silenced, no one reading the inside of the famous New Yorker issue which was highly and accurately critical of Obama's rise in Chicago politics), whereas sexism and islamophobia went unchecked or minimally acknowledged. The specific Black man chosen--raised by whites in a white world yet benefitting from affirmative action--speaks volumes to how equal the US is, both in the positive and negative senses.<br /><br />I am happy a Democrat won, respect Obama's achievements and hope his presidency is a successful one, but there is no doubt that a man is still more acceptable in American politics than a woman, and that the US falls behind other democracies in terms of the number of women in elected office, and those holding higher, let alone the highest office. One of the best arguments on this is that the electoral system in the US, unlike countries with a parliamentary system, makes it harder for women to rise. Hmmmm....says something about the populace everywhere.<br /><br />This is a great post with excellent comments. I didn't weigh in initially because of hijab discussion fatigue. :)Chiaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-15289057859810333252009-07-04T07:08:32.382+03:002009-07-04T07:08:32.382+03:00About the First Lady of the US having a dress styl...About the First Lady of the US having a dress stylist - well dspite having a law degree, she is not practising law and is really dressing up and modelling her life activities to be suitable for her husband's life and career and doesn't have a free choice about it - which is exactly what Saudi women are doing - in a different form of course. And I do think Obama's election to Presidentship is not reall an issue of racial equality - it's more a disguised issue of gender inequality in the US - much as they may be opposed to the idea of a Black president, Americans would rather have a Black man as President than any woman - Black or White. How many centuries before a woman can become the President of USA? How many centuries before a Black woman can become the President of USA? How many centuries before a Native American - man or woman and especially woman - can become the President of USA? The answer is blowing in the wind!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-53636010492300703662009-07-03T15:06:26.187+03:002009-07-03T15:06:26.187+03:00Quite a forthright blog, Susie. I am not a Muslim ...Quite a forthright blog, Susie. I am not a Muslim and living in neither West Asia or in the West, but have some knowledge of Islam and have seen parts of the West. Yes I am against restriction of women as Susie says and I am against veiling too. But it's not as black-and-white situation as that. Being forced to work is as oppressive as being forced to stay at home - if a woman demands that she be maintained by the man in her house, it's the duty of the man to maintain her, since in many Asian cultures, a women is not bound to work - to expect that she must go out and work may be right in certain cultures in the world, but it need not be so everywhere. The basic question is - who decides whether a woman should work or stay at home - does she decide it herself or does the society decide it for her and expect her to follow suit? I feel true freedom means that it should be a woman's right to decide whether she should stay at home or whether she should work - without any external pressures of family or the society. Yes veiling is oppressive by all standards and in all cultures. But the excessive public exposure of a woman's body in the West too is an example of treating the woman as a sex object and the woman is expected to some extent to conform to this image there. While veiling should be made illegal everywhere, I again think it should be a woman's right to decide how much she wants to expose and how much she should cover in public.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-53558076719259700752009-05-17T13:27:00.000+03:002009-05-17T13:27:00.000+03:00I just wanted to say one thing. I am an American r...I just wanted to say one thing. I am an American revert, not living in Saudi Arabia (yet), and I think people are missing the very important issue being addressed. First and foremost, anyone with any true understanding of Islaam (Muslim or non-Muslim) knows that some things are religious and some are cultural. In Islaamic history, women fought in wars, tended to the wounded, issued religious verdicts...However, society today is not like it was then. When speaking about the freedoms afforded to Western women, also consider all of the corruption and sickness that has accompanied it...increased prostitution, fatherless children, increased gang activity, hoards of immoral behavior (yes those barely clad 'liberated' women). This is not progression in any sense of the world. We have to know the difference between oppression and protection. Yes, there are people (Muslim and non-Muslim) who are very oppressive people. It always amazes me how Westerners have soooo much to say when they see "oppression" in Islaamic countries, but look into the Western societies and see it as well, and no one's making the men stand up and take responsibility for the women. Yes, there are many things that could be changed in Saudi or any other country for that matter, but at least they are trying to avoid the poor, 'liberated' influences that the West has to offer. <br /><br />Just step back and judge Islaam from the right perspective...learn the history of women in Islaam...and then look at your own homes (figuratively, of course, not literally) and ask yourselves, "How can judge others when there is corruption and immorality all around me?" <br /><br />I am not writing this to offend anyone, so if I have, I seek your forgiveness. I just think people spend too much time looking at and worrying about us "poor, oppressed, Muslim women" and not enough time working on their own individual situations. Oppression is not ok, regardless of who the oppressor is. Let's talk about solutions and not be so quick to criticize other nations. As Westerners, we always tend to think we live on the greener side...I beg to differ.<br /><br />Respectfully,<br /><br />ToniaAmerican Muslimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-70756738788117645632009-05-16T13:50:00.000+03:002009-05-16T13:50:00.000+03:00The thing puzzles me > Why expats insist on wea...The thing puzzles me > Why expats insist on wearing Abayas in Saudi although laws allow other forms of modest clothes and coverings such as the Pakisatni punjabee(very beautiful , very comfortable , comes with all sorts of colors ) but expats insist on Abayas thing...why ?What are the roots of the overwhelming spread of Abayas among expat ? <br />A SaudiA Free Spirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092199467173222942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-84785594658178678172009-05-10T18:41:00.000+03:002009-05-10T18:41:00.000+03:00What a sad waste of untapped resources, Susie.What a sad waste of untapped resources, Susie.LadyFihttp://ladyfi.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-86920164220264437912009-05-08T08:35:00.000+03:002009-05-08T08:35:00.000+03:00Open Letter to Saudis
by Tanya C. Hsu, Arab News
...Open Letter to Saudis<br />by Tanya C. Hsu, Arab News<br /><br />Having returned from the Kingdom, four weeks in an abaya and hijab, I am angry and frustrated. As an analyst specializing in Saudi Arabia I knew much of what to expect, thus covering and not being able to drive were nonissues. Landing in Jeddah I dropped ten degrees body temperature switching from linen to an abaya. Four weeks later, I flew through to Atlanta without removing my abaya, not only to test American reactions but because it was comfortable and practical. In Riyadh’s Bedu Souk I added a burqa and realized, for the first time in my adult life, men spoke directly to me rather than to a physique. That is respect.<br /><br />Having completed my book on the Kingdom, I had been invited to the Saudi American Interactive Dialogue in Jeddah. Staying to gather material for a second book, I met with people from all walks of life: Rich, poor, mothers, working women; the highly successful, the unemployed, royalty, Bedouin market sellers, and those in between. I met with Saudis by birth, Saudis by choice, and foreigners. I lived with Saudi families, those with domestic help and those without. All were open and eager to share their opinions. I traveled freely across the country, an “Arab” woman alone. Fed monumental amounts of food in Saudi homes nightly, unable to escape such generous hospitality, I never witnessed men separate from women. In Riyadh I used a Saudi friend’s office for a fortnight, was treated equally and was privy to top-level business discussions. Thus began my irritation.<br /><br />I had expected to return to the US, defensive posture prepared. Since Sept. 11, I have tried in vain to explain the Kingdom to a country reluctant to understand or listen, have been the target of attacks, and have had professional difficulty for insisting on clarity on Saudi issues. It is acceptable in the US to be anti-war, anti-Bush, or support the Palestinians; it is not acceptable on either side of the political spectrum to be “pro-Saudi”. That is “sleeping with the enemy” or “hero worship”. Little of Saudi Arabia is covered in the West other than trade, oil, and proclamations of reform. Sadly, within the Kingdom and despite access to satellite television, newspapers and the Internet, even Jarir Bookstore has yet to catch up: Only travel and photography books, or historical biographies of Gertrude Bell and Harry Philby were available. Not permitting political material available to a hungry public belies logic at this stage.<br /><br />I experienced few inconveniences. Prayer time forces the habit of pausing. Time passes differently in the United States as we race from work to school to the grocery store to after-school activities to dinner, housecleaning and laundry, finally collapsing in exhaustion having barely spoken to our children eating in separate rooms at different times. Families walk together along the Jeddah corniche, flying kites or riding donkeys, barbecues permeating the air — vastly different to the deafening X-rated rap music that invades main streets in America as teens cruise.<br /><br />So why am I angry?<br /><br />During all my conversations one question remained unanswered. When asked, What makes you proud to be Saudi, “being Muslim” or “being Arab” was as common a reply as “being the home of the Two Holy Cities”. One can easily define Palestinian anger, Iraqi angst, or Syrian character, yet I received nothing on Saudi national patriotism. Can you not see?<br /><br />For years you have publicly apologized for comparatively low levels of violence, lack of reform, or the slow pace of change. Repeatedly I heard the despair and cynicism blinding you to what is happening in front of you: Palpable change, construction growth, new institutions, reform efforts, and the mutawa. You have much to be proud of, but your politeness and kindness allows the West to trample you, naming you a threat to “democracy” and the world.<br /><br />You cannot let this continue. Pre-empt the increase in anti-Saudi hostility and stop re-emphasizing your weaknesses. You are a dignified people, so take pride in your country in action, not just spirit. Explain to the world how you respect women, how safe and free from crime you are, and how family takes priority. Demand how the US, world leader in murder, rape and domestic violence, dare accuse you of human rights abuses. Ask how Americans can defend their preferred method of capital punishment by electrocuting women, minors and the mentally handicapped. How, if democracy includes the export of the largest pornographic industry throughout the world, can they judge the Kingdom for its restrictions? Why can a Saudi leave his wallet, laptop and digital camera on the front seat of a car, as I did, and return to find everything intact? Americans live in gated subdivisions with security alarms; child molesters roam free in every neighborhood. Half empty compounds in the Kingdom are triple barricaded, one Alkhobar compound protected by five security walls and armored trucks. Murderers don’t return to the scene of their crime, so why such fear? Nuns, priests, Jewish settlers, rabbis and Catholics cover their heads but Saudi women are “oppressed” for such? Why apologize for your rate of progress when it took the United States two hundred years, until 1920, to grant women the right to vote? American women are paid seventy-five cents to the dollar compared to men; the Prophet’s first wife was his employer, a successful and powerful businesswoman.<br /><br />Another wife, Aisha, fought in battle alongside men, and Islam forbids racism. How then did it take until 1963 after riots and protests before blacks were granted civil rights, the end to segregation, and freedom? Bias remains rampant and races still do not mix freely.<br /><br />Why can the US government attack any Arab nation when not one Arab state has ever threatened America? Is this “democracy”? More importantly, is this what you want?<br /><br />Of course, there is much to fix within the Kingdom. All regions rise and fall. There is little difference in the speed of bureaucracy between Saudi Arabia and Sweden or France; ministers settle in to roles of government power and have no desire for change.<br /><br /><br />You have a ready-made group available for pressing issues: The mutawa could be assigned to fine dangerous drivers (intent to kill is haraam) or punish anyone seen littering: It is a disgrace to the religion, the environment and people’s health.<br /><br />Globalization and technology are here to stay, so as Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab brought reform for the sake of unity in the eighteenth century, again use ijtihad (individual interpretation) and contextualization to unite for the sake of the Kingdom, Islam, and national pride.<br /><br />There is indeed something enigmatic about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — perhaps the people, perhaps the history, perhaps the land. Had I the chance to stay I would have searched until I found an answer. A piece of my heart remained in the Kingdom. I can only hope that I may soon return to find out why.<br /><br />Tanya C. Hsu is the author of the forthcoming book, “Target: Saudi Arabia”. She may be reached at TanyaHsu@mindspring.comskymoooodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-32206251124866591052009-05-04T16:12:00.000+03:002009-05-04T16:12:00.000+03:00To Nourah - I find it confusing how many seem to p...To Nourah - I find it confusing how many seem to pick and choose which Islamic laws they follow, and then all the different interpretations of those laws run the gamut as well. Thanks for your comment.<br /><br />To FreeSpirit - I thank you again for your input. I wish more Saudi men were like you. <br /><br />To Anon - To me, a woman who is covered in black from head to toe has a wall up, and it makes me feel that she is invisible, unapporachable, and inaccessible. I loved reading your response and I thank you for speaking up. I would like to run your comment as a post, as I think you explained yourself very well and I'm sure many other Saudi women concur with what you said. I do want your voice to be heard.Susie of Arabiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315336613944665651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-68912103088247547222009-05-04T12:13:00.000+03:002009-05-04T12:13:00.000+03:00um...excuse the typos above.um...excuse the typos above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-6719068710035585732009-05-04T12:11:00.000+03:002009-05-04T12:11:00.000+03:00I haven't read all these comments but I do have se...I haven't read all these comments but I do have serious reservations with your post.<br /><br />"Saudi women are either kept hidden at home or hidden in public beneath loose fitting black cloth, cloaking them from head to toe. They are invisible. They are unapproachable. They are inaccessible. And this is exactly the way the men here want it to be."<br /><br />I am a woman, I cover, I veil, I have a respectable IT job, I am educated, and while I agree that life would be much better if I were allowed to drive, I fail to see how being beneath loose fitting black cloth can be equated as being "invisible", "unapproachable", and so on and so forth. <br /><br />Where I work, we ARE segregated, but I am still one of the most important people in the IT department. I've been given all the facilities required for required communication, so I'm not "cut off" from the good old boys. My dad works at a government hospital. He too has female co-workers, architects and engineers. <br /><br />It is beyond me why people assume that being "cloaked" is some kind of "oppression". I do it out of choice, not because any "men" wanted me to do it. I do it and I feel liberated, because when I progress, I am respected for my brains and personality. When your women make it to the top, how many of them have to fight the stereotypes that they didn't just make it through by their looks? They still struggle to be respected purely for their SKILLS. Look up the statistics yourself, the good-looking people get more jobs and higher salaries. <br /><br />But when *I* get something, I get what I deserve. No judgment calls. No men to doubt how I got there.<br /><br />And while some things in Saudi are indeed cultural and not Islamic, a lot of the veiling business IS Islamic, and again, that doesn't mean oppression. That Saudi only just appointed a female is a cultural thing. Otherwise Islam granted women the human rights that any useful citizen deserves. Way back, CENTURIES, before your white women could so much as dream of casting votes, Muslim women were running for government positions, and their voices were so power they directly influenced state decisions without even being part of it.<br /><br />And as for why can't Saudi men stop looking at women as sex-objects... while I agree they should get some sense in their perverted heads and stop being the way they are, it's not as if women aren't considered sex objects anyway. Around 70% (if I remember correctly) of rapes in the world don't happen by random strangers - they're usually among people who've already known each other. And... (I think it was) 60% of people in the same office have been involved in extra-marital affairs. Where does this happen? Oh yes of course - where the workplaces aren't segregated... <br /><br />And just because a woman cannot be seen in the media doesn't mean she can't do anything worthwhile. I write. And when I do that, my objective is to get my opinions across, to have my ideas heard and valued. My objective is not that you see how I look while I do it. I'm not in the least hindered by a cloak, or by segretation. In fact - actual statistics again - girls who grow up in single-sex colleges are known to be more successful and more confident than girls who study at co-ed institutes.<br /><br />Women being unseen, protected, loved and respected for their true selves, is not oppression. Women being judged everywhere they go, sized up and down and checked out and treated as objects, plastered on billboards for as long as they're young and beautiful and then forgotten like trash, being judged for superficial factors that don't even last and only respected by a very select few people for what they REALLY are, THAT is oppression of the worst kind.<br /><br />If you want to talk about certain other legal rights in this country, like female business ownership.. yeah that might be a REAL issue you could cover.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-1725391474868534212009-05-03T09:11:00.000+03:002009-05-03T09:11:00.000+03:00To:Susie of Arabia
Don't worry Susie .I came her...To:Susie of Arabia <br />Don't worry Susie .I came here looking for some inspiration .I put it on my mind decades ago to see that my wife , daughter and sisters live happy lives .Not only that .Because I am an engineer I want to see better cities ,cleaner street ,and more beautiful buildings around .To reach to the first goal which is more important than walls and concrete .We need to hear more of you ladies expressing themselves and wanting to have a change in this country .A change that will allow women dream come true .let's hope that this one day will ultimately happen sometimes soon .I talk all the time and whenver possible to members of my family and friends everywhere about that wee need to understand religion better in a way that will allow ladies in Saudi to have what they want and what they need and to have a progress.. I write to local newspaper expressing positive thoughts ..We can't wait any longer .The clock is ticking against our side ..People visit us from all around the world and find it hard to live here.Why!!.This is just unfair ..We got the money of all the world and yet we can't make people in this land happy ..That is just unfair..Susie. Keep writing . I love what you do .A Free Spirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092199467173222942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-6617248288737281062009-05-03T02:47:00.000+03:002009-05-03T02:47:00.000+03:00It really frustrates me how Saudi Arabia calls it ...It really frustrates me how Saudi Arabia calls it self a Muslim country yet it dismisses a lot of Islamic laws. Islam granted women freedom and equality in a balanced matter. Khadija, the first wife of the prophet PBUH, was a successful business woman. She had people working for her. <br />I appreciate you bringing the topic again. and I hope people can learn how to discuss such matters and provide innovative solutions.Norah M Al Kasabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096806817276170504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-19289306770105682009-05-02T14:00:00.000+03:002009-05-02T14:00:00.000+03:00To T ALM - Thank you so much for the link. This a...To T ALM - Thank you so much for the link. This article is a glaring example which totally supports this post. It's such a shame.<br /><br />To FreeSpirit - Thank you for coming forward as a Saudi and telling us how you really feel. Change cannot come until more voices are heard.<br /><br />To Nuri - You are exactly right. Thanks for your comment.Susie of Arabiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315336613944665651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-24798793716180864372009-05-02T12:51:00.000+03:002009-05-02T12:51:00.000+03:00To this "anon" and others who think like them:
The...To this "anon" and others who think like them:<br />The good thing about the so called west is the freedom to choose. It's easy to be good if you're confined at home. Freedom brings responsibility, and it's something every human being should be entitled to. Even the freedom to make mistakes. Your kind of protection sounds like slavery to me.Nurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09138066354375202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-30128528970307978862009-05-02T10:49:00.000+03:002009-05-02T10:49:00.000+03:00You said (And this is exactly the way the men here...You said (And this is exactly the way the men here want it to be).I am a Saudi and I don't want saudi woman to be in the hide .I want to see my daughter a doctor .Many Saudi men here don't want women in the hide..They are may be a minority but it is a growing minority..I hope one day will come when Saudi men and women work side by side,and Saudi women don't get the harrasement she is getting right now..Thank you for shedding light on a very important issue.A Free Spirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092199467173222942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-70998285365355687352009-05-02T06:38:00.000+03:002009-05-02T06:38:00.000+03:00Susie's message is on the mark. Check out htt...Susie's message is on the mark. Check out http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=122117&d=2&m=5&y=2009 for an affirmation of her views.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851817216536357020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-90106036412961100672009-05-01T20:54:00.000+03:002009-05-01T20:54:00.000+03:00I really do appreciate your comments and concerns ...I really do appreciate your comments and concerns for me - but I am not saying anything new that hasn't been said or written about before. There are many women here who want to drive and want more rights and have voiced their feelings about it. <br />The first year or so of being here was exciting and new. I still find it exciting, but the limitations put on all women here make me crave the freedom I had in the states to do what I wanted, when I wanted. I don't have that here and I think our voices should be heard. <br />I will not live in fear - but unfortunately I see that many women here do...<br />I don't feel afraid and if something were to happen to me because of my speaking out, I would hope that it would encourage more women to let their voices be heard. <br />Thanks again.Susie of Arabiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315336613944665651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-4622127730721395602009-05-01T19:52:00.000+03:002009-05-01T19:52:00.000+03:00Dear Susie --
Anony 6:56pm has a point. I am pra...Dear Susie --<br /><br />Anony 6:56pm has a point. I am praying for your safety!!Desert Housewife A. (The Canadian in Jubail)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13322740753145278710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-19294454434213933842009-05-01T19:14:00.000+03:002009-05-01T19:14:00.000+03:00Dear Susie,
I see you distinguish yourself as an ...Dear Susie,<br /><br />I see you distinguish yourself as an American woman living in Saudi Arabia. But, has it occured to you that your a Saudi woman now? You wear the veil and you can not do any of the the things you speak of in your post. You can not drive,etc. You are marganalized as well by virtue of being a woman in the KSA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-50052103664442753212009-05-01T18:56:00.000+03:002009-05-01T18:56:00.000+03:00Hi Susie,
I only say this with sincere concern fo...Hi Susie,<br /><br />I only say this with sincere concern for you since you are now an American woman living in the KSA. If it were me and I wanted to blog about these issues I would do it anonomously. I'm very afraid that a post like this could come back to hit you in the face. Were American woman and used to freedom of expression but your in Saudi now & if they wont let women drive they wont take kindly to your sentiments. You could be labeled or gain a bad reputation. Thats part of why your husband insists you veil. Conforming is VERY important there. It's ALL about conforming. And here you are with a pic of yourself unveiled next to the one where you are veiled. I'm seriously concerned about God knows who might get offended by this. Your an excellent writer and you find yourself in a unique position to share interesting aspects of Saudi with other Americans. Why dont you take the success of this blog and query The New Yorker or The Washington Post with an idea for your own column. I think a lot of people would be interested. You could write pieces on how your own life has changed now that you are living an Islamic life despite not being a Muslim! How do you get around now Susie now that you dont drive? Stuff like that. ~Love your writing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-74906169266077925742009-05-01T18:11:00.000+03:002009-05-01T18:11:00.000+03:00Thanks to all the commenters. Please remember to ...Thanks to all the commenters. Please remember to be respectful and make your points without insulting. Sometimes sarcasm can be misinterpreted as being rude, so please try to remain civil and objective. Thanks!<br /><br />To JeddahDweller - Thanks for bringing up the issue of foreign domestics here. I know about the problem and not enough to post about it. I have been in other Saudi homes and have witnessed the way maids are treated by the family, down to a 2 year old. It is shameful how disrespectful they can be in treating another human being - and I find that this is so far from Islamic behavior that it really miffs me. I know of many maids who are here on a 2yr contract, get absolutely no days off, and sleep in quarters that are big enough only for a twin bed. <br /><br />To CubanInLondon - I really appreciate your comment so much. Thanks for taking the time to write it.Susie of Arabiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315336613944665651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569425364802315563.post-63425144854460751932009-05-01T10:05:00.000+03:002009-05-01T10:05:00.000+03:00@Jeddah dweller--Thank you for pointing this out. ...@Jeddah dweller--Thank you for pointing this out. The non-skilled and barely skilled workers from third world countries in particular have horrific experiences in the Gulf countries. But it is all part of the same problem--until all people have equal protection under the law there will be varying levels of repression to outright slavery.siriusnoreply@blogger.com