Abusaleh Shariff explodes the myth of Muslims doing better under Modi ruleSaudi Women: agents of change shattering common stereotypes
Submitted by admin3 on 23 June 2010 - 9:31pm
By Lulua Asaad,
Vienna - When I made the decision to move to Vienna, I was unprepared for the repercussions my attitude, behaviour and opinions would have in forming and influencing European perceptions of women from Saudi Arabia, a country that is at a crossroads between modernity, globalisation, liberation, empowerment, heritage and cherished traditions.
Since I signify to the West the image of an emancipated, modern, outspoken and Muslim Saudi woman, the questions people ask wherever I go never cease to amaze me. And I feel the responsibility to act as a self-appointed cultural diplomat to explain what being a Saudi woman means to me - and many Saudi women, in the process bridging the gap between my country and the world.
Most recently, a Saudi friend who wears a hijab, or headscarf, visited me in Vienna and we were asked: why does one of you cover your hair while the other doesn't?
It's an interesting question, and the answer is not unique to Muslims; the followers of Christianity and Judaism also have expectations about female (and male) attire that differ from one community to another, and even from one family to another.
I've also been asked what we wear under our abaya, the long cloak Saudi women wear in public; what our workplace looks like; and how we interact with our families and friends.
Contrary to feeling frustrated by these questions, I believe these social interactions are necessary and essential in shattering common stereotypes about Saudi women.
Answering the many questions from people who are genuinely curious about how we live, and what we do in our daily lives is important in an age when any news related to Saudi women tops headlines in The New York Times, CNN, BBC, Al Arabiya, you name it - and influences international opinion of my country and its people.
Saudi women are mentioned in the news on an almost weekly basis. From our right to drive, to participation on reality television shows, to how we deal with men selling lingerie in Saudi stores, the media is thirsty to publish our pictures, our opinions, our lives and our experiences.
This kind of exposure upsets some Saudis who feel insulted by comments from readers that are coloured by hatred and negative stereotypes, while others view such exposure as a positive trend.
But it is the generation of such diverse reactions, and the solicitation of feedback - whether negative or positive - that is essential to social debate and paves the road for future acceptance that is so desperately needed in all our societies.
Even in Saudi Arabia some modern and liberal Saudi thinkers reject the opinions of Saudi women in the media. For example, some Saudi commentators argued that the presence of young Saudi women on a recent MTV reality show reflected negative stereotypes about the country, and others disagree with the degree of liberalism that allows Saudi women to voice their opinions in the first place. But these are just some of the diverse opinions that exist in Saudi Arabia.
Interestingly, in both Austrian and Saudi society, the fact that there are forums to have these discussions is actually a positive change, creating space for Saudi women who have the courage to put their views out there and voice their opinions.
And change extends beyond these forums: when I return home I see slow and heartwarming change. I find an increasing number of women at work in hospitals as nurses and doctors, as receptionists, as operators and, more than ever, as entrepreneurs. It reminds me of the emancipation movement in Europe where women gradually started to join the workforce and slowly became more involved in civil society building.
I believe that this change is happening because we women want it to happen. Quite a few Saudi women I talk to feel that they need purpose in their lives, that raising children and being a good housewife is no longer enough. Though they believe that the "job" of being a mother should not be underappreciated, women also want to engage in the change that is happening in the public sphere.
Positive change will only prevail if we, as Saudi women, continue to voice our opinions and act as ambassadors and agents of change, calling for a slow and steady progression that reflects our traditions, our faith and our dedication to make meaningful contributions to the world we live in.
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Lulua Asaad is a Saudi national based in Austria who has worked at the IAEA and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
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Dronacharya - GOAL POST Shifter
Dronacharya @ 29 June 2010 - 2:22pm. - Rumi vs......
Kya hua Dronacharya Baabu - GOAL-POST Shift kartey kartey, gum ho gaye kya ?
50,000 Saudi Princes to 5,000 (a small ERROR of ADDING one zero) - then completely changing subject to Rumi vs....
Koi JHOOTHAY JUSTIFICATION ka jawaab nahi milaa kya ??? Mere comments hazam nahi hue kya ??? Yaa bardaasht nahi kar saktey ???
An Indian
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Aapkoo maloom hai "Kalki Autar" kaun hai ? Here is a good web-link - and I'm sure you will try to super-impose it with your DIVERSIONARY TACTIC(s), as usual Hindutva / Sangh Parivaar ishtyle !!!
http://www.themodernreligion.com/prophet/prophet-hindu.html
Continue COMMENTING - whether RIGHT or WRONG, TRUTH or LIES, PALATABLE or UNPALATABLE, VERIFIABLE or JHOOTA-PRACHAAR of Sangh Parivaar.
Earlier, I gave another web-link about BEEF-EATING habits of Ancient Indians, including Brahmins. Here it is - if you wish to read OR justify, Hindutva-ishtyle:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/17/books/holy-cow-a-myth-an-indian-finds-...
http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9781859844243-The+Myth+of+the+...
Do you want the same BEEF-EATING habits of Ancient Brahmins from RELIABLE INDIAN MEDIA ??? Here it is from Outlook India, dated Sept. 17th 2001
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?213159
Enjoy reading - and try to block "as many web-sites as you can". How many TRUTHFUL voices is Hindutva / Sangh Parivaar GOONS going to SILENCE ???
Rumi versus Wahabi. Eternal fight. But RUMI will win in the end
Muslims by nature do not approve of Democracy. Sorry to say, but its the truth. Islam is democratic at heart., as Ravindranath Tagore truly appreciated ! But., it is not democratic in the sense we know it. There is Shura-Iyyat in Islam.. not Jamhooriyyat. Shuraiyyat... where does it lead to ?
I think : BENEVOLENT DICTATORSHIP.
Muslims world-wide prefer to have a benevolent dictatorship. a dictator.. who is tough.. hard.. strong.. male.. and at the same time.. has a heart.. They do not take to electoral western democratic model as we know it.
Iqbal addressed it as : "Bandon ko ginaa kartey hain., tolaa nahin kartey !". How to weigh ? Taqwaa (character)., according to Hadith. Who will assess and grade and certify a man's Taqwa... His society.. That is on the back of muslim mind, or psyche.
Whenever Muslims exercised true democracy (Algeria / Gaza)., the west refused to accept the results. Yeh ek aur maslaa hai.
Today there are 53 muslim countries. In future these 53 would break up into 530. small zamindaris.. jagirdaris.. all under the American Maharaja. Muslims and Islam, i am afraid., can run small panchayat-size kingdoms... but not huge States. Times have changed. They must consolidate. 53 must become 5.3 countries., if they want to reap the benefits of Economies of Scale.
Also, muslims worldwide must pray in their mother tongue. They can pray Namaaz in Arabic.. using the simple surahs.. but they can give the sermon in local language.. (Urdu / Telugu/ Tamil / Marathi).. and highlight the HEART of Islam which is LOVE. There are certain passages ., unfortunately RSS takes them out of context and quotes it. Not everyone is a scholar. So muslims themselves must counter it., head on.
Highlight the Islam of Sufis. Highlight the Islam of Rumi. Not the Islam of Wahabis. That wont sell in 2010. It never sold. Infact it brought disgrace to Islam !
You are very correct
You are very correct Dronacharya.Only Islam of Rumi(which is true Islam of our Prophet Muhammad) can save Islam and Muslims from destruction.Wahhabism has only brought shame to us and has given a chance to hypocrites like Anonymous Baabu,Prashant and others to point fingers at us.Sooner the people realise it better it is for Islam.
They are the same..... seeking reversion
@ Drona!!
The very name you sport shows the bias inherent in things you stand for. Rumi or Wahhabis', all seek your reversion to Islam. As soon as you find that you win the so called war among the different versions of Islam viz Sufism and Wahhabism, you are sure to take it on the left-over, the winner of this so called war of truth and flasehood.
So, there is nothing principles in your thoughts except trying to exploit your own supposed differences.
Still, I suggest you to remove the causes of troubles like supporting the criminals like Modi and then expect the other party to reciprocate. Recently, on being asked as to why Pakistan does not take action when LeT chief talks ill about India (he has been heard talking about the water dispute, the Indian designs in Afghanistan and call for Pakistan to keep off while our own internal and external things remain out of order--which even the govt is talking about) he retorted back that same is the case with India with the exception that the people here are against Islam only and to them Pakistan is a symbol of Islam. The 'divide and rule' applies here because Pakistan is not the only 'Islamic' symbol. The fact is no one can live without the Arab oil. Here too many complain that oil is not cheap. Decide what you want to take on and then come back on TCN.
Naqqad - Critic without legs to stand on
Naqqad : You are true to your name. NUKTA-CHEEN hai, ghame-dil; Usko sunaaye na bane... waala qissa hai tero. Naqqad : Nafrat kaa NAQAAB uttha... tohey Piya Milengey !!!
Read the post what you have written. The thoughts are scattered like rotten peas. There is no orderliness in thought., no structuring of thought process and what does your damn post say ? You wrote : "No one can live without Arab oil", what if Israel conquer all arab lands (it is possible., in 2 days... can you believe it... )., and then that Arab oil will become JEWISH OIL. OK. Muslims are totally vulnerable (throughout the world today). Anyone can kill thousands of muslims, bomb them (in millions); and no one is there to hold the hand. Muslims (worldwide) are like football today. You can do anything with them (life-honor-property). The whole world knows it. You can go to any extreme with them., what will be their reaction ? A few press statements (barking dogs seldom bite); a few dharnas ; a few deaths (as a mark of protest).
Fakeer ka gussa., Fakeer ki jholi mein !
Naqqadi karna chhoro. NAQQALI karna chhoro. Education ki taraf aao... aur apne aap ko Secular education (Core subjects : Math and Sciences) se equip karo., warna saari Umr., Naqqadi (Keedey chun-naa., nuktacheen) kartey reh jaaoge.,
PYAAZ KAAT KAY ! Hunh.
Nobody will weep for the House of Saud but....
Kings like what we have are not the deputy which they were in the past. So, be it the Anglo-Saxon kings or the Saudi, nobody will miss them except when people would face difficulties during the Haj. Those who try assigning these damned kings to Islam should remember that it is not mere voting but concensus which gurantees democracy. To most of these gullible people, voting is democracy but they fail to understand what the vaunted democratic countries do? Islamic Salvation Front in Algeria, Hamas in Palestine et al and the action by the democratic world shows what it means to them when the people concerned are no of their race/religion. Soviet Union was never bombed but Japan was!! Those who talk of Soviet bomb must remember that Germany too was never the target. North Korea is not treated the way Iraq was and Iran is!! Even small fries do it like what was made of Shaikh Abdullah!! It is another matter that the hollowness of this man forced him to cling to the chair even after that humiliation.
House of Saud or Congress part, it does not matter. May be the kingdoms save something by avoiding expenditure!! Is there any other difference in kingdom and demon-cracy??
Adding ZEROS after POSITIVE FIGURE !!!
Dronacharya @ 27 June 2010 - 11.44 am. - Saud(i) Monarchy in its Last Days.
Is zero OR zeros FREELY available in Hindutva India? Earlier, it was "Anonymous", who later turned to "Anonymous Baabu" and I address this person "Anonymous" LIAR - as he lost ALL RESPECT due to his CONSTANT LIES.
Dronacharya comments on Saudi Monarchy and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is also known as House of Saud. Partial kingdom was formed between 1913 - 1926, when Najd (Nejd), Al-Hasa, and Riyadh were unified.
"Tready of Jeddah" was signed on May 20, 1927 when Makkah and Madina were unified WITHOUT bloodshed OR war. Binladen family were instrumental in this, and that's a totally different storey.
"Treaty of Taif" was signed in 1934 bringing part of Yemen, Najran, and Gizan into Saudi territory.
House of Saud OR Sudairy Seven, following Islamic tradition may have married FOUR WIVES - as they could afford. Let's do the maths:
Seven x four = 28 (twenty eight). Let's assume, each princess gave birth to 10 off-springs, which gives a figure of 280 (two hundred eighty).
From 1927 to 2010, or even let's go back to 1913, say approximately 100 years, during which a maximum of THREE GENERATIONS is possible, unless we are speaking about PIGEONS or PIGS.
Multiplying 280 x 3 (generations) x 10 (Children) = 8,400 Princes / Princesses
And remember, we are being very LIBERAL in birth, compared to 2006 Census, conducted in Saudi Arabiam which gives a birth rate of 29.56 / 1000 - and death rate of about 2.62 / 1000
As I know, there are ROUGHLY about 5,000 princes of Royal descent.
I wonder FROM WHERE does Dronacharya gets a figure of 50,000 princes - when that figure is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.
"Anonymous" LIAR, who will be reading this comment (if published), maybe wondering about Komti / Bania MATHEMATICS - where ADDING ZEROS, after a POSITIVE NUMBER, WITHOUT applying LOGIC is a Hindutva VERSION of DISILLUSIONING innocent(s).
Dronacharya DOES NOT understand that, adding ZEROS after PISITIVE NUMBER, is both BENEFICIAL and LOSS - depending on which side of aisle, one stands.
An Indian
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If this comment is published by TCN, it will be appropriate to call Hindutva Pracharaks as "GOAL-POST Shifters", as I expect "Dronacharya" to come up with "some form" of INVERTED LOGIC to justify his posting.
It will be just like "Anonymous" LIAR, who changed his VERSION, GEOGRAPHY, NUMBERS, and everything-else possible, but ULTIMATELY GAVE UP.
When Non-Muslim start return to India
Dronacharya @ 27 June 2010 - 11:44am.
The day Non-Muslim Indians START RETURNING from Saudi Arabia by "VOLUNTARILY and ABRUBTLY" ending their EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT(s) - I will definitely start believing in your WISHFUL THEORY.
Until then, KEEP your HATRED and WISHFUL THEORY in PRIVACY of your HOME. However, thank you for your "dangerous" but "dreadful" FORECAST, and may your WISH remain an UNFULFILLED WISH.
An Indian
LAVA UBAL RAHA HAI
Dheemi aanch par., Lava pakk raha hai. Jab lava phatega., kuch bhee na rahega. Saudi arabia is a castle built on sand. One fast wind., and it will fall on its face... eent eent... bikhar jaayegi. Saudi will be worst than Iraq of today. Israeli bombs would take it back to stone-age.
Who is responsible for this. Who would be responsible for this ? The Abu Jahal family (the house of Saud)., who twisted and destroyed the Islam as propogated by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya.. tamasha dekhte jaao.
Iskaa matlab hai tamashay kay peechay aap hain !
"Dronacharya" @ 28 June 2010 - 1:13pm.
Aapkay comment say yeh lag raha hai kii har tamashay kay peechay aap loog hain. Bharat mein too maloom ho gaya - aap logoon ka nikhaab uth-gaya.
Do you know there are STEAM-WATER NATURAL wells in Saudi, in addition to OIL-WELLS ? People go there for a take bath to get-rid of skin-borne disease(s)!!!
Do you know there are many many Non-Muslim Indians working and remitting Phoren Exchange (tax-free) ?
Do you know there are NO theaters, bars, or any form of public entertainment ?
Do you know Non-Muslim women are required to wear ABAYA i.e. proper dress-code, while in public, unlike the bey-hayaai dress in India ?
Aapkey comment sey lag raha hai - aap logoon kaa zaher ((dangaa-fasaad)) vahaan tak pahunch raha hai !!! Hum samajh rahey thay ki sirf AFPAK tak aapki pahoonch hai (RAW kay zariye).
Thank you for the information. That's what readers wanted to know.
Keep up the GOOD WORK of dangaa-fasaad, jhootaa prachaar. Insaaf-pasand Hinduoon ko maar-kar Mumbai kii galioun mein chup janaa. Pehlay "desh-drohi" kehnaa, phir khatal karnaa ! Aur kay-kya ho raha hain CHINTAN-BAITHAK mein ??? Shukriya aapkay is raaz ko bhi kholnay kay liye !!!
An Observer
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Aapkii isi nafrath kii vajhey sey, aapki auratain apnaa ghar choodkay Khans kay peechay bhaag rahi hain !!!
Zaraa sonchoo, nafrath BEGETS nafrath. Love BEGETS Love.
Jee chaahta hai
Jee chaahta hai Choom Loon - Apni nazar ko main !
So Saudis are good., angels., and embody Islam (Islam in Action i.e. as a society). Masha Allah. Kya kehna. So if it makes you and others happy, fine. Pray that Saudi Dynasty continue as rulers of the Kingdom for another thousand years.. its Princes are angels and embodiment of Islam and Islamic life. May they prosper.
Saudi Arabia is the land of Islam. Present Saudi Arabia symbolises what kind fo society Islam propogates. how humans live and form societies according to Islam. It is the Laboratory of Islam. The Saudi Arabian Society (the Lab) is for the world to see.
If it makes you happy, fine. It is a great country., with a great constitution., a great society., and a great people., with great advancement. It is a super power. KHush ho gaye.
Billi ke khwaabon mein chich`dey. Hunh! Deewaane Jazbaati Musalmaan. Ek cartoon chaap diya.. sadkon par nikal aaye.. Ek essay.. ek novel.. ek geet.. underwear par print.. rona-peetna shuroo.. chaddi par print.. rona peetna shuroo.. t-shirt par print.. rona peetna shuroo. Stupid.
Saudi Arabia ka haal maloom hai tumko ? Ek police state hai. Narendra Modi ke gujarat jaisa. Samjhey. Jahan ladkey.. cars par kaala plastic chada dete hain.. aur Parked Cars mein.. ladkey sex kar rahe hain. The day is not far., when 10-20 years from now., people would be having sex openly in the streets of Riyadh and Jeddah., in parks., on footpaths.. in beaches..
This police-state formula (Talibani) cannot work. Saudis boys and girls wear tank tops and shorts... in 2010. This is the situation of Arabs. Look at them. The moment they travel to foreign countries. The first thing they do is to buy WINE. It is because their society is NOT run on healthy lines.
It is an artificial creation. this peace of the graveyard cannot continue eternally. 10-20 years max., and see how Saudi becomes like DENMARK...with sex in parks... openly... Dekhte jaao.
Tadapkay reh jaoogay !
Kya hua Dronacharya Baabu ? Aapkoo vahan par "belly-button" dikhanay waali nahi mili kya ? Isi liye tadap rahen hain aap ? Ya woh jawaan ladkey / ladkiyon ko dekh kar hasad karney lagey ?
Is mulk mein to aapki ladkiyen Khans kay saath rehna pasand karti hain ! Kya aap andhey bann rahen hain OR are your trying to ignore this basic fact ?
Do you know where our Hindu society is turning to ? Do you know our Hindu girls are doing NIGHT-SHIFTS at Call-Centers and what are they doing, apart from earning good salary ?
If you are unaware - they are the ones attending pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants in India. Don't you know WHO is DOING WHAT at Christmas, New Year, Valentines-Day, etc. There is NO PROHIBITION in India, and where is our open-society heading? And then, "machooism" from Hindutva, as if Sangh Parivaar are "torch-bearers" of Hinduism?
Why this DOUBLE-STANDARD, when Ajanta / Ellora statues or KAMASUTRA postures PROVE our ANCIENT HISTORY of our Rajas and Maharajas ?
An Indian
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BTW Dronacharya Baabu - you shied away from clarifying about the difference between 5,000 and 50,000 Saudi Princes ?
Don't you have any explanation - maybe Hindutva ishtyle - ALWAYS saying LIES, engaging in JHOOTHA PRACHAAR to disillusion innocents, justifying WRONG acts !!!
Anyhow, I liked your expression comparing Saudi Arabia to Naari-Hatyakaari Baabu's POLICE STATE. Do you realize OR can discern, what's the difference between the two ? If you don't that is a KINGDOM and ours is a DEMOCRACY - "voted and elected" by our own public.
Samjhey Dronacharya Baabu ?
Oil is BUBBLING in Saudi - LAVA was in....
I am sorry "Dronacharya" JHOOTEY BAABU @ 28 June 2010 - 1:13pm.
Oil (black gold) is bubbling in Saudi - that's why your ENVIOUS and JELOUS comment BALOONING 5,000 to 50,000 Saudi Princes (conveniently adding a zero - as if it is free).
That's why your ENVIOUS / JELOUS comments about Saudi Arabian PALACES / CASTLES. Whether you SAY it or NOT - it is obvious from your comment. I was just trying to CORRECT your MATHEMATICS - as you are a STUDENT of Ekal Vidyalaya, where POLITICS of HATRED is TAUGHT, in addition to MANIPULATED MATHEMATICS, distorted Indian HISTORY, etc.
I believe you forgot LAVA ERUPTED and SWALLOWED (complete villages) while people were SLEEPING in Latur and Gujarat.
The CURTAIN is UP. Your CENTURIES-OLD drama is ON DISPLAY under FLOODLIGHT. Everyone knows your diversionary / obfuscation / liar tactics.
Read this latest headline about Hindutva Terror:
http://twocircles.net/2010jun28/centre_considering_joint_probe_all_blast...
Indians are NOT AFRAID - as you people have started TARGETING innocent / honest Hindus - ATS Mumbai Chief Hemant Karkare and his two colleagues ARE the latest VICTIMS.
Being an Indian, I am concerned about happenings in India - not about what is GOING-ON or FORECASTED in Saudi. It is about EXCESSES COMMITTED in India by aadhi-chaddi OR better described as khaki-chaddi wearing THUGS.
So, you better look after your own survival in India, before looking at other nations. Thank you.
An Indian
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I hope readers know better physics - Newtons Law of Motion:
Whatever goes up MUST come down.
That's what is happening and will happen in India, in near future. You will see: aagey aagey dekhiye hota hai kya.
Bhaarat desh rumhaare baap ka nahin hain - jo tum Hindu-desh banana chahtey ho, apni 2% - 3% Brahmin / Bania / Komti kay SURVIVAL kay liye !!!
Humaarey baap / dadaa log to AADIVASI / VANVASI / SHUDRA rahey hoonge. Tumhaari RACIST / CASTE / UNTOUCHABILITY policies kii vajhey sey convert hua hai. Tum log to baahar sey aayey hain. Tumhe jaana hooga. Indigeneous log yahi raheengay - aur tum tamashaa dekhtey rehnaa. Beysharam khaaki-chaddey waaley.
Saud(i) Monarchy in its Last days
Saud(i) Dynasty is in its last days. Abdullah is the last king of the Abu-Jahali Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are 50,000 princes. Sultan is too old., and Naif has terrorist-links so he is unacceptable to USA. So who will take Abdullah's place ? The U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia will become the VICEROY and take over Saudi Arabia. This may take another 5 years. In 2015, i see the end of Saudi Arabia., as a kingdom. This is 2010. The words like King, Princes, Sultans, looks good in story books., not in real life. All the 53 Muslim countries in the world are dictatorship / monarchies (slave states or vassals of the USA). This will change. One by one., all the Kingdoms / Dictatorships will collapse. Initially it will result in huge anarchy, for instance Saudi will be like Iraq / Afghanistan. Then changes will come slowly in the next 50 yrs.
There is no Kingship in Islam (which is a democratic religion, at its heart), yet all muslim societies are dictatorships. How do you explain the paradox ?
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