The heated debate that took place at the Third National Dialogue Forum which ended in Madinah on Monday is a very healthy phenomenon. Despite the harsh comments by some participants about the role of women in society which reduced one woman to tears and generated anger among others, this kind of debate is a positive sign.
The forum was convened in order to discuss women’s rights and obligations and during its sessions, delegates expressed frank and candid views. It is natural that what was said would not please everyone but this is exactly what we need. Open and frank discussion should be encouraged.
In one of the sessions, comments made by Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Arifi of the Teachers’ College in Riyadh angered women participants and reduced one delegate, Dr. Wafa Al-Rasheed of the United Nations Program in Riyadh, to tears. Al-Arifi said Saudi women have gained more than they deserved and that some women teachers in schools and universities are neither intellectually fit for the job nor decently dressed. An indignant Dr. Wafa was so overwhelmed that she broke into tears.
I don’t know why Dr. Wafa reacted that way or why the other delegates were angered by the comments since the speaker was expressing his opinion. Such frankness should be welcomed and encouraged and people should be asked to come forward and openly express their views. If we think an opinion is wrong, we should seek to explain this to the person who expressed it without allowing anger and tears to influence us.
Al-Arifi was not alone in believing in what he said; many others may have similar opinions. Nonetheless, the many questions raised by such comments need to be answered instead of receiving so emotional a response.
I am neither supporting nor opposing what he said. I am open to any views and ready to be convinced by what others say if what they say is indeed convincing. Weighing different views and opinions to determine what is right and what is not allows us to reach a proper judgment, and that may lead some to be convinced of what they hear. When people become convinced of something, they should be ready to translate the conviction into action if necessary. Had all people been fully convinced of what Dr. Al-Arifi said about women’s shortcomings, they would have begun burning all dresses they consider indecent.
The danger always arises from a situation where people are led in one direction and fed the same views, time and again without being able to hear opposite views and without asking questions and seeking answers.
