I don’t need a testimonial from anyone on this subject. What I am writing about is the loosening of the ironclad traditions which bind Saudi women. The traditions are chains which have obscured their talents, stifled their creativity and prevented half of society from sharing in social development.
I would like to include the comments of a brilliant author and friend, His Royal Highness Prince Kahled Al Faisal who wrote in Alsharq Alawsat about not allowing Saudi women to hold certain jobs. He said, “We have lost much from the absence of Saudi women and by their absence, we have given our adversaries, nay our enemies, the chance to distort our image both culturally and in the media.” The prince continues that in all cases where Saudi women have participated in international conferences or symposiums, a very favorable impression was given to the public. The abilities, professionalism and talent of Saudi women was the best possible — and the most effective — response to many false accusations made against our society.
I add to these words that of the great Islamic writer, Fahmi Huwaidy, who wrote about the question of mixing the sexes. “We know of no legal ruling that forbids such mixing though we do know of a Qur’anic directive which says that believing men and women are guardians of each another. The directive commands the doing of good and prohibits what is not allowed; we understand that Islamic society is modest but not divided. Further, in the name of forbidding such mixing, women have been forbidden from working or teaching — an incorrect idea that has created a real crisis.”
The words of the governor of Asir were both enlightened and realistic while those of the great Islamic writer were equally informative. I am happy with both as well as with other comments from those who hold the Saudi woman in high esteem, understand the true meaning of the Shariah and who wish this nation well.
In conclusion, the words of Sheikh Yusef Al-Qardawi, a modern Islamic scholar: “The Intermingling of the sexes in itself is not forbidden. What is forbidden is seclusion of a man and a woman as well as adornment and contiguous mixing — in other words physical contact and close proximity. As for being a student within society, not secluded and modestly dressed, this does no harm.”
Kissinger’s advice
The former American Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, decided to give George Bush, the current US President, some lessons in American foreign policy in a book entitled “Does America Need a Foreign Policy?” Kissinger began his discussions with the founding of the Ottoman Empire and came all the way up to Camp David and Kosovo. He probed all of history’s nooks and crannies in order to ring a warning bell at Bush’s door. In essence, he suggests that this book become Bush’s guide.
In one section of the book, Kissinger asserts that various governments are subject to the tyranny of judges and that the courts should not allow laws to be used as weapons in political cases. By this he seems to be defending both Milosevic and himself for his roles in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Kissinger’s main theme in the book is American successes from the beginning of the Cold War. He is, however, unable to hide his fears arising from his readings of history; all of them point to the fact that all great and powerful empires were destroyed by their insistence on imposing their will on the world. This had the effect of unifying the world against them. Because of this, Kissinger believes that American foreign policy should be based on diplomacy rather than violence. Kissinger also made a point of declaring his contempt for Bill Clinton’s policies; in his opinion Clinton, was a master liar and fabricator who ran away at the first sign of trouble. In Kissinger’s opinion, America lacks wisdom and an enlightened leadership that is able to direct its power and might. The greatest challenge is to transform this power into a moral consensus which the world can — and will — accept.
Kissinger has sadly chosen the wrong time to teach Bush this lesson and to enlighten him of the dangers of pride and selfishness. Bush has already sabotaged the Kyoto agreement and did almost the same with the ABM (Anti- Ballistic Missile) Agreement. In a mere seven months, Bush’s scorn for international agreements has managed to unite the world against him.