Missing the Point

The subject of whether or not woman should drive is once again making the rounds through society and the press. Unfortunately, the Shoura Council did not seize the opportunity to resolve this issue in a just manner, and again we wait. And discuss. Again.

Many people are discussing whether it is better for a woman to drive herself, or be driven by a foreign driver. Which is the most correct? However, this whole question misses the point that most women wouldn’t have that choice.

Most women don’t have a driver. What about them? What do they do when their child is sick? When they themselves are sick? What about transporting their children to school?

That’s right. The man does it all. Assuming she has a man. No one is discussing what strange effects this has on the workforce.

So, in the middle of the afternoon all the Saudi men have to leave their places of employment to go on the school run. I am sure that’s wonderful for productivity.

And often, the discussion revolves around, why is driving the priority issue?

Well, lets be a bit more honest with ourselves. There is the practical issue, as discussed above, but there is also the fact that this is not about driving. It is about power and control of one section of society over another.

Yes. Of course some woman may abuse the privilege of driving. We see men do it all the time. Women are human too, and it will happen. But no one discusses making the men stop driving.

Reckless endangerment of, and the slaughter of lives on the road, is every bit as immoral. Whatever the anticipated problems — solutions and methods for dealing with them should be worked on now.

Problems are not an excuse for denying half the population their rights.

And my favorite issue of all: Saudi Arabia is special and unique, because it is the home of Islam’s holy places. We must be more careful. We must guard our special place in the Islamic world. We are not like everyone else.

Fine. It seems to me that to make this point most effectively, we should have been the first country with woman driving, not the last. If we are to be the beacon of light, showing the Islamic way in the modern world, we need to get out and lead, not follow.

Woman should be allowed to drive; it is as simple as that.

And we already have a body in place to help iron out the difficulties — the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. It would be a service for the men as well, keeping them from making these grave errors.

The commission could also tend to the correction of the behavior of men on the roads, since this is a widely anticipated problem.

Elizabeth Sanders, Jeddah published 24 June 2005

Palestinian Blood

Few, if any, Americans have any idea about the carnage and massacres that the Zionists inflicted on the Palestinians over the past 60 years.

American newspapers won’t print it, American magazines won’t publish it, American TV won’t dramatize it, American radio won’t talk about it, American schools won’t teach it, and the American government acts like it never happened.

Every American President since 1945 had a hand in helping to inflict some of that bloody carnage, but President George W. Bush can claim the prize of allowing the most Palestinian blood to be spilled. That’s more than enough blood to fill the White House swimming pool a thousand times over.

The entire population of over 418 Palestinian villages were slaughtered, beaten to death, or just plain executed, then their villages were erased from all maps. Old men, young men, women, children and babies, none were spared the bullet to the head or the back, except those who managed to hide, then escape.

If the good American people ever became aware of what actually happen, what actually took place to the Palestinian people, Israel would be where it belongs; at the top of the “terrorist” countries’ list, and not receive one more dime of American taxpayer money.

Ed Friedemann, Texas, US published 24 June 2005

Stranded Pakistanis

I browsed through your newspaper of June 20 and was disappointed to see nothing there at all on the issue of the World Refugee Day that was remembered and solemnized throughout the globe. The day is marked to express solidarity with refugees at large.

According to reports, there are about 11.5 million refugees throughout the world today. The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) on this day highlights the courage of these unfortunate people who have been demonstrating against their plight facing many difficulties and uncertainties after being displaced from their homes following wars, persecution, famine and/or for better prospects of life.

The most unfortunate part is that seven out of every ten of the world’s refugees today have been “warehoused” for five years or more in such countries that have denied them even the basic rights that have been guaranteed to them under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

This fact has been released in the 2005 edition of the “World Refugee Survey” — a report by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).

However gloomy and discouraging the state of affairs may be, it is heartening to note that statistically the number of refugees have declined in the recent past. On the other hand the people rendered “stateless” throughout the world have shown a sharp increase in the same period. Whatever may be the reasons, it remains the fact that this issue of “statelessness” has been grossly neglected by all — including the UN and other agencies engaged in the humanitarian work.

One such glaring example is the plight of the “stranded Pakistanis” languishing in the squalid camps in Bangladesh for the past 33 years or so. They are Pakistanis but are denied entry into Pakistan. They are also not accepted by Bangladesh as their citizens. As such, they are faced with a great dilemma and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for them at the moment.

In the camps they have no basic services and no water supply. The electricity supply to these camps were recently cut and the old and sick had to endure scorching heat. They are denied jobs, health care and even education. They are also subjected to intermittent harassment and persecution. The UN, the NGOs and other international agencies seem to be utterly indifferent and heartless so far.

Faiz Al-Najdi, Riyadh published 24 June 2005

An Appeal

I request/appeal to the authorities to disallow the use of mobile phones in the premises of Haram Sharif (Makkah and Madinah). This can be done by installing jamming system only for the holy Harams’ perimeters. The people who come for succour to these two Holy Harams are constantly disturbed by the discordant and constant musical ring tones from different mobiles.

If the authorities make the area free from such technological noises or musical sounds it would be ideal. Also the pilgrims themselves can contribute to the reduction or elimination of this noise pollution by shutting off their mobiles when they are praying.

The pilgrims use mobile phones during Tawaf of Kabaa, Sae’i (between Saffa and Marwah) and Roza-e-Rasool (peace be upon him) that in my view is showing disrespect to Holy places.

I request an early and effective step be taken in this regard.

Mohammad Wasim, Karachi, Pakistan published 24 June 2005

MJ’s Verdict

This is in response to the article, “Jackson’s Verdict Based on 1% of Doubt” (June 16). One small amendment: The court has not declared Michael Jackson innocent though this is what many people think and what your article implies.

Simply the prosecutor failed to prove beyond any doubt that the charges against Jackson were true. This is the way the American justice system works in criminal cases and declaring a person guilty on reasonable doubts is not sufficient.

T. Guerber, United States published 24 June 2005

MJ’s Verdict [2]

What about Peterson’s trial? A typical American court is nothing short of a circus! With performers (jurors) picked up randomly (possibly even off the streets.)

The fate of a defendant is put into the hands of these jurors/clowns. A prosecutor’s job is to try to incriminate a defendant no matter how innocent he seems to be or is, while the lawyer’s job is of course exactly the opposite.

All of this is played in front of a jury who completely lacks the required experience, and some possibly even came from very modest educational background. Now you seem to agree with this “justice” system? Fine, but don’t confiscate the readers’ right to think otherwise.

Faisal Al-Salem, United States published 24 June 2005

Advani’s Role

Much has been written in this column with regard to Lal Krishna Advani’s recent comments on Jinnah and his repentance on the demolition of the Babri Masjid. While some may feel his comments are positive, many still doubt his motive after knowing his party affiliation and credentials. Those who are familiar with Sangh Parivar’s tricks will not hasten to join his side just by hearing such a fancy comment from Advani.

The ailing Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Behari Vajpayee cannot lead the party now.

So the party needs another leader who can at least follow the role scripted by Vajpayee. Last year, Advani described Gujarat riots as a blot on the NDA government. If he really meant it then he should be taking action to end the misery of the victims. Three years on, many of the sufferers are still unable to return to their homes.

Further, those responsible for the massacre, rape and arson are still roaming free — not only on the streets, but also in the corridors of power in that state.

If Advani really means what he says, he should act. Not like Vajpayee, who tried to be good to all the people all the time, resolving nothing but in the process creating more problems.

A. Kabeer, Riyadh published 24 June 2005