Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Sauce for the

It seems that a BBC reporter has ruffled the feathers of some of the Saudi women. I frequently read Nzingha's Soapbox because she gives a "frontline" view of living in Saudi that isn't tainted by the BS from American propaganda. She's there. She's living there, and she chose to be there. I'm not particularly thrilled with the name she and her "Mr. Man" chose for their son, but he's their kid...

What interests me about the article she posted about the swimming incident, isn't her sarcastic attitude, but one specific quote from one of the comments: "You should explain more about why segregation is valued and how women swim in Saudi under "safe" conditions islamically."

Think about this for a moment. These women WANT to have segregated (separate but equal?) swimming facilities. They WANT to not have the ability to swim whenever/wherever. They consider it PROTECTION.

This flys in the face of the mindset of We the Liberated Female People of the United States, and the whole concept of "They hate us because of our freedom." They don't WANT the freedoms we have.

I suspect this should have occurred to me earlier. What country, given the examples surrounding them on all sides, would stay in the 5th Century unless they WANTED to live in the 5th century? Given the opportunity to move forward, the examples all around to show them HOW to move forward, these folks have, not unlike the Amish, CHOSEN to renounce the benefits of freedom and choose to embrace their cultural and religious retardation with affection and determination.

And because of this, I wonder just how much we should feel "sorry" for any of their trials and tribulations. They've chosen to allow themselves to be forced into the black abaya in the equatorial heat. They've chosen to enslave themselves to their menfolk, chosen to take the "safe" road, rather than the more dangerous "free" road.

This is getting perilously close to a political statement about choosing safety over freedom...

621 days

7 comments:

BBC said...

Hum, I have to think about this some. And check out her blog.

Nice and sunny here today, just got back from a short bike ride.

BBC said...

Okay, she is young but has an interesting blog. I will watch it for a while I guess

As someone that has been to a number of hot springs and other places where women and men were naked and making no big deal out of it I find their culture pretty backwards.

I've been in pools with naked women that I only just met at the pool, it's really no big deal in my mind.

What ever, it's a crazy planet.

Anonymous said...

I am often struck at how many cultures find the notion of 'American-style freedom' truly terrifying. Russia immediately springs to mind.

Anonymous said...

Oh...and another point, regarding the abaya... What is the salient difference between a woman who chooses to wear one (and I am making distinction regarding choice) and a woman who chooses to wear 4 inch, foot destroying heels? Aren't both of these women choosing to submit to a cultural norm? Obviously there are many countries where women are given no choice, but many Muslim women choose a scarf, an abaya, or a burqa out of respect, familiarity, or cultural norms.

Sewmouse said...

Yeah, she's young, BBC, but she's sincere, and she's very religious. I respect her right to her religious lifestyle, it's not my place to make those decisions for her, and I have to admit that she lives her faith without seeming to have the need to impose it on others.

It's my understanding she came from the US - she's in Saudi by choice, not by birth. She knows what she's "given up".

Kvatch - I wear "Ballet Flats" almost exclusively. I too wonder at those who contort themselves into 3-sizes-too-small jeans or 4" heels. To what point? The temporary engorgement of a few male "little heads" at the expense of your back, your knees and your feet?

Actually, I think Abaya, Hijab and veils are more a religious "statement" than a cultural one.

pissed off patricia said...

To chose safety over freedom brings the Patriot Act to my mind.

Peacechick Mary said...

I don't know. I really can't say because I have not experienced their lifestyle, so it's hard for me to judge one way or another.

Re: Leesburg - it is surely affected since the location is right up there where the worst fires are. They must have an online newspaper.