So I was googling one thing or another when I found a post about the abject horror of a reporter in Saudi who was female and was therefore not permitted to stay in the men's section of Starbucks, umm boo hoo hoo. Now what grabbed my attention wasn’t the article itself, but the comments. Apparently us clit slicing, camel shagging, oil guzzling barbarians are in need of rescue by none other then the police of the world Americans. Why? I'll tell you why, you see we don’t have brain cells otherwise why of WHY would be segregate between the sexes, why, for the love of god why?? Would we not allow women to drive? Damn it to hell and back don’t you see?!?! We are incapable of taking care of ourselves, we are moronic fools with no brain cells, we live in tents and have harems only cause we're too animalistic to do anything about it.
Had enough sarcasm??
Juuuuuust so we're clear, Saudi is not a bunch of tents stuck together with roaming camels, men in turbans singing "Allah o akbar" raping women cause its their right and having a harem of no less then 20. Oh and we don’t circumcise our women, man that’s just nasty and wrong on too many levels. Woman are not locked up at home and any who are is a matter of the family culture not the country, still with me? Good. We're not backwards you morons, we're conservative, i.e. if you want to go and mingle with the opposite sex you go to a specific place. The idea of having places segregated is that the majority of Saudi's are families, therefore no mingling required. Women driving is a no brainer its happening, you going *gasp shock horror* does nothing constructive but have you judge us. Now my more important point is, since when do you get off judging ppl, "close starbucks!! They shouldn’t support them by opening families sections" umm excuse me? I aint complaining, and I need my coffee so seriously man GET LOST I didn’t hire anyone to be my speaker.
For those of you who are still convinced we are an oppressed nation and us poor poor woman need to be taught how to fight back and if not well go ahead and fight for us, let me give you a little review of what a regular day in Riyadh is like. Now yesterday I wake up make my coffee (Nescafe Gold, if your wondering ;) get dressed put my 3abaya on (if its too horrific to think about this about it as a jacket) pick up my little angel get in my chauffeured car aka driver included, drop my girl off and go to work. By 1:30 I'm having lunch from subway with the girls, then go back to work and leave at 4:30 go home relax, take a shower, get dressed, wait for the driver to take me to the Chinese place since I invited the girls out. Get there around 9:45 and leave around 12 get home get online, check my facebook and hotmail then his the sack by 2am.
OH MY GOD WHAT HORROR HOW CAN I LIVE A LIFE SO OPPRESSED AAAAHHHHHH!!!!
Oh maybe another example, hmm well after work (same routine) My mum calls and says "yallah leave work im in the car with the driver" so I leave and we go shopping, we go to the mall next to where I work get me a few shirts from "New Look" and mum from "M&S" then I grab me some cookies (mmm Bens Cookies, very yum) go home, my parents, and watch the Olympics munching on cookies and discussing why the hell the Saudi Equestrian team isn’t doing their job.
My point is, some ppl have no knowledge about what goes on in our life yet they deem it there right to judge and be almighty. We're different hell yeah, being different from what you think is right doesn’t make us bad or wrong it makes us US. Deal with it and butt out.
Smoking Idiocy
1 day ago
13 comments:
I always say: "You have the right to disagree, but not to disapprove."
You don't sound like Saudi girl. You sound like you live in UK.
Don't u love it when people judge you based one a few posts, and tell you what major step to take in your life?
In this case, your post actually defending Saudi Arabia leads to a recommendation of living in the UK.
I'm laughing my head off...
sweet anger, is that all u have to say about a day's routine to show that u are not oppressed? and why do u go about in a chauffeur driven car? bcos u are not allowed to drive yourself, right? living few years in saudi arabia has taught me that however a country's characteristics may be, as a result of ages of living with it, people become accustomed to it all and start thinking it's the norm and there's nothing wrong with it and accepts it completely. but there is a flip side. you yourself keep criticizing your country for this and that and still when others do it you can't tolerate it. this is not your case by the way. it is every nation's story. nobody likes to see their country criticized by someone else. it is reserved for themselves :) so chill out girl!!
1st Anon: True, true
2nd Anon: LOOOL i assure you i live in Riyadh :)
Soulless: The ironies of blogging hehehe ;)
You're a newbie? Welcome :)
Deep: If the post was titled "why we're not oppressed" then yeah that wud be a poor POOR example. As it is that’s not what I'm talking about, my point here is ppl and in this regard those who commented on the reporters column, have a nasty habit of judging, that and the fact that they know nothing of Saudi and yet they can categorize its ppl as basically animalistic because hell they're better then us and this should know. Now the idea of an example of life in Saudi is that’s we're NORMAL BEINGS. Your saying that I got used to Saudi and thus accept is as it is, right? How did u conclude?
I also have a question for you, who decides what's normal?
Its very true that no one likes ANYONE especially outsiders to criticize your country, i.e. walk up to an American tell him ur idiots for having a president like Bush, even if he agrees with u the first thing to register is "and who the fuck are you to be up in our business"
So I can say, yes my country is no where near perfect, but no one has a right to force opinions.
sweet anger, didnt want to comment again, but since u asked a couple of questions let me answer :P :
Your saying that I got used to Saudi and thus accept is as it is, right? How did u conclude?
no i didnt mean YOU got used to saudi. i meant any country may have its own traditions, practices, customs, beliefs etc. which through centuries or millennia become the identity and norm of the society there and ppl might not feel a need to opt for something different even if it could make them more comfortable. this is a problem not only of saudi, but every place in the world in one way or another.
I also have a question for you, who decides what's normal?
my answer is: each individual decides what is normal for him/her, and nobody else. if a person is comfortable with the system he/she is in, then well, i've no right to say anything against it. if i feel comfortable with something, then it's normal to ME, however abnormal it may be to someone else. similarly if u feel something is normal for you, then it's normal to YOU however abnormal it may seem to me :)
you were quoted on a post at globalvoices. that's how i got to your blog. can i just say you have commanded my respect based only on one entry. I don't know why, but I think we need more of you to reveal these kind of things to the Western world whose perceptions are mostly formed based on what the media is telling them. Kudos. I will be back.
Deep: LOL please free to comment as many times as you like, the more the merrier ;)
Ok I had to re-read your answer lol I like the "each individual decides what is normal for him/her, and nobody else" very true unfortunately you still have some who insist that THEIR version of normality is RIGHT and all else is wrong, it's sad actually when u can't open up your mind meh...
LOL sorry if I came on a little strong... I get passionate abt certain issues and forget myself looool, welcome to the blog ;)
Karina: AAWWW seriously I have this abnormally huge grin on my face, that's so wonderful to hear :) thank you
Fantastic!
I also came to your blog via GV. I have many Saudi friends and I lived in Jordan for a couple of years. Whenever I tell people about life covering my head and praying, the common answer is a horrified look and the usual "How could you do it? I would NEVER be able to live like that". My point is, you never know what you are capable of, until you find yourself in the situation and consider it with a clear mind.
Getting used to something doesn't mean that you loose perspective of life... sometimes only means that you stop being judgmental and start enjoying.
According to what I have SEEN and LIVED, women in Muslim countries are mostly happy and live "normal" lives (according to western standards) using their abbayas and not driving cars. If you have a lot
and you complain because you cannot have it all, well, that's not criticizing, that's just plain bitching. And us women are pretty good at it. :-)
I can see most saudi women have a lot of material things and lots of free time.
But is that all that saudi women want? Well, my impression is that most they don't feel the need for much more.
But, what about the freedom of expression, right to vote and be representative, travel and have your own id without mahram, have a life in which you can choose your own fate, without the approval of those conservative clerics that still live in the 7th century?
c.ruiz: lol umm thanx
djmartinezl: Very good point, anything outside of the norm is freaky period... LOOOOOL even if life is as close to perfection as u can imagine its only human that we'll still bitch
carlos: my entire point is we're making progress its slow but its there and we're moving forward with it. maybe not as quickly as some might like it, but lets jst say we need a good solid foundation to build on and not rush it and let everything collapse. Plus we are a ppl of faith and believe we'll get what we deserve eventually and no that doesnt mean sitting on our asses either :)
Hello Ash
My name is Chloe and I work for the BBC World Service. I am putting together a global discussion programme on the radio for Weds 22nd October.
We will be broadcasting from the international Women's Conference in Los Angeles and I am hoping to link up women from around the world to speak to women at the conference. We will be discussing how the role of women has changed and is changing.
We already have an Iraqi medical student and a fruit seller in Kenya taking part and it would be great if you could be part of the programme.
If you are interested in taking part please do email me at Chloe.tilley@bbc.co.uk
I look forward to hearing from you
Chloe
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