Love in Saudi Arabia
Friday May 16, 2008
The New York Times has a fantastic article and video about romance and love in Saudi Arabia. It's an interesting look at this traditional and conservative country that often lies outside the glare of the West. What do you think about the article?
Comments
I think it is very interesting the ways that young Saudi men and women are coping with the restricting environment they have grown up in and their culture dictates. I especially like the part about how texting his wife-to-be was taboo, In American and Western society texting is done with out a thought and far too casually.
It sounds like a tough society to live in. I would certainly not want to live as a woman in Saudi Arabia. Religious police and floggings? Sounds like a nightmare.
When young people have beliefs like this: “The nature of men is that men are more rational. Women are not rational. With one or two or three words, a man can get what he wants from a woman.” it can’t bode well for that society in general. Some men are rational, some are not; some women are rational, some are not.
As a religion Islam contains much beauty and truth. It seems the tyranny of the Wahabi religious states and the violence between the Sunni and the Shia Muslims and are far removed from true Islam. I often wonder what the great prophet Muhammad would think of the atrocities committed under the banner of his holy name.
It is their culture and I respect them even if women are considered as second class citizen.