Hats off to Saudi King Abdullah

[Anonymous]

The easy thing to do would be to put yourself in the position of a Palestinian. We would never tolerate the insults that Israel serves. Plus, I still can't figure out why it is OK to support a country like Israel that discriminates against non-Jews.

This country has a long way to go. We just can't be fair. In the 70's we supported terrorism, Northern Irish against the British.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The easy thing to do would be to put yourself in the position of a Palestinian. We would never tolerate the insults that Israel serves. Plus, I still can't figure out why it is OK to support a country like Israel that discriminates against non-Jews.

This country has a long way to go. We just can't be fair. In the 70's we supported terrorism, Northern Irish against the British.

When I put myself in the position of the Palestinians, I agree with you. When I put myself in the position of the Israelis, I think you are crazy to condone Palestinian terrorism. When I look at it from the outside I hope that the relatively few on both sides who have some empathy for the other side will one day prevail and reach some kind of stability.

[Anonymous]

A Palestinian American woman once told me that she could not return to live in her home one the West Bank because the Israelis will not allow any Palestinian who leaves the country for more than three months to return (to live there). It is a way of reducing the Palestinian population.
I was told by a relative of mine, that because he is Jewish, he has the right to live in Israel.
If that is not racism, then what is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Palestinian American woman once told me that she could not return to live in her home one the West Bank because the Israelis will not allow any Palestinian who leaves the country for more than three months to return (to live there). It is a way of reducing the Palestinian population.
I was told by a relative of mine, that because he is Jewish, he has the right to live in Israel.
If that is not racism, then what is.

On the same topic, I know of a Palestinian American who went back to the West Bank to help build the economy. He got married and had kids. But he still has to leave the West Bank every three months (I think it's three) because he's not allowed to get permanent residency and then he has to apply to get back in. The guy has been involved in good economic development projects like internet technology and building a shopping center. He's not a crazy terrorist at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Palestinian American woman once told me that she could not return to live in her home one the West Bank because the Israelis will not allow any Palestinian who leaves the country for more than three months to return (to live there). It is a way of reducing the Palestinian population.
I was told by a relative of mine, that because he is Jewish, he has the right to live in Israel.
If that is not racism, then what is.

On the same topic, I know of a Palestinian American who went back to the West Bank to help build the economy. He got married and had kids. But he still has to leave the West Bank every three months (I think it's three) because he's not allowed to get permanent residency and then he has to apply to get back in. The guy has been involved in good economic development projects like internet technology and building a shopping center. He's not a crazy terrorist at all.

So I assume that your point is that discrimination based on religion is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There is a huge difference between Royal Family and the mutawa (religious police). Let me assure you that if they had their way the Mutawas' would cease to exist. Over the years, the mutawa's have had some of their powers stripped of them. We as muslim women (raging liberal) currently resident in the middle east understand its not an easy thing to put an end to at the moment.

Some time ago I read a book about the Gulf oil monarchies arguing that the religious clerics had so much power because the royal families were using them to keep people in line. That is, if I give the clerics bunches of money, then I don't have to worry about anyone questioning my highly undemocratic methods of controlling the citizenry.

PP, would you comment on that? Sounds like you know a lot more than I about the situation.

Sorry, I haven't been on DC Urban Mom for a couple of days (time difference makes it hard). Yes, the mutawas get a lot of money from the royal or ruling families, but the situation is a lot more complex than not wanting to have their "highly undemocratic methods" questioned. Keep in mind that many of the mutawas have extreme views on religion and the last thing anyone wants for their country is to have the religious nut jobs turn against you. So, you have no choice but to continue to fund them and with every little extreme action/cruelty they commit, you use it as an excuse to strip them of a bit of power. It works I assure you, you cannot attempt to take away all power at once.

The Saudi Ruling family are really trying hard, to balance the western life that has been brought into their culture by the educated youth and also please the mutawas. Never before in the middle east, have women been given more rights than now. There was a case of recent, where a woman in Saudi was gang raped, she had been sentenced to 100 lashes, her lawyer appealed and the judge doubled it to 200 lashes. There was a huge up roar amongst western women but most importantly amongst women from this region. Her sentence was eventually lifted and this was a huge step. We (muslim women) know we are in for a huge fight to get all our rights. But we are ready. King Abdullah frequently lifts sentences, but the media never reports on any of stories. It takes time but we are getting there.

But meanwhile, I commend him for sitting through the meeting. I guess dialogue works after all

[Anonymous]

PP, thanks so much for sharing your insight!