There are those among us who still insist on denying the fact that Saudis are different from others and occupy a special status. But the fact remains that we are indeed unique. We press our children into marrying early in life in order to protect them from falling into bad habits. We manipulate religion to give men more than one wife — up to four in some cases. We ensure that our birth rate remains high and the result is that our wives have won the title of the most fertile women in the world. By the way, at four percent our birth rate is the highest in the world. Yet, if someone speaks out in favor of birth control, they will immediately be accused of being religiously weak although basic methods of contraception were practiced during the time of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
A husband likes to see his wife deliver one child after another and when the house swarms with children, the poor wife finds herself spending most of her time attending to a small army with very little or no time devoted to her husband. And when the mounting pressure takes its toll and the helpless wife prematurely develops wrinkles, the husband rewards her by marrying another wife. He doesn’t care how the children are raised as long as they are guaranteed free education, unaware or unwilling to realize how seriously this could affect their future. Some of them may end up in the streets without completing their education or finding work when of course there are already many students unable to find places in colleges and even more graduates in the ranks of the unemployed. The problem is made worse by the job sector’s refusal to take Saudis on the pretext they are not qualified to enter the job market.
With unemployment, according to some researchers, at between 25 and 30 percent, there is a great risk of more crimes involving forgery, theft, armed robbery, all kinds of vice and drugs. I am not at all optimistic despite all the rosy promises to tackle unemployment which has now become the “mother of all problems” in the country. The solution is obvious and lies in exporting Saudi workers to other countries.
Some readers may think I am out of my mind to suggest such a thing. But those same readers must realize that our ancestors traveled all over the Middle East in search of work and for the most part, they found what they were seeking. Our youth who can’t find work should start seeking their fortunes elsewhere. They would not be the first to travel abroad to work and no doubt, they would not be the last either. Many before them have done so and many more will surely do the same.
Arab News From the Local Press 10 April 2003
