Saturday, December 8, 2007

Women vs. Women

Women vs. Women
Amal Zahid • Al-Watan
Source: ArabNews

Some feminine voices are doing a great job in defaming women’s issues in the country. They have mastered the art of provoking people’s feelings against anyone who writes about the inferior social status of women, or the injustice practiced against them in society.

I’m sick and tired of hearing that Saudi women are in fine shape. These people claim that no one is doing them injustice or underestimating their capabilities.

Everything is just perfect, according to them, and everything that is being said is based on rumors. They believe that the issue of liberating women is just a conspiracy to break male dominance and corrupt women, which will eventually lead to the corruption of entire society.

The truth is that these voices use the West as a reference when comparing, reviewing and evaluating. They support their visions with very bizarre research and publications that highlight the failure of women’s movements in spreading peace and building families. These publications also talk about social diseases that accompanied women’s desires to leave home and work after the Industrial Revolution in Europe. These voices panic when the difference between liberating women in the East and West is being addressed. To them, it all boils down to the fact that Islam has given women all their rights.

Anyone who dares to write about the women’s issues is accused of being westernized and secular regardless of what angles are being tackled. Beware of using words such as “empowerment” or “struggle” when writing about issues of women’s liberation. What is sad is that these voices find people who cheer and applaud what they say. It is time to let women stand against women and fight each other.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Happy Birthday Saudi Arabia

Today, 23-Sep-2007 is the 75th national day of Saudi Arabia. The day Kingdom was established way back in year 1932. Despite all the problem, issues and mismanagement in this country we all live here, so do hundreds of other regardless of race, religion, origin and cast. A country which is second-home to them where many live much better than they would in their home countries. This is truly, a mini united nations where tolerance on all fronts exists between all kind of people. Hundreds of poor's come here to make their fortune and support their families back home. A literal tax-free haven where the rich and poor get their basic needs fulfilled regardless of economic gap. Topped off by some of the best desserts, beaches and natural beauty.

So lets raise the flag high on this day and put aside the differences.


I wish I could top it off with classic "Biladi Biladi" song popularized during gulf war but don't have its sound clip so enjoy the Anthem below.

Friday, June 1, 2007

5th Issue of Saudi currency bill

Today is release day of 5th issue of currency bills by SAMA. Its been about time it was changed last time. A generation has grown up dealing in bills bearing photo of King Fahd (late). New currency bills bearing photo of King Abdullah reminds of his strong hold over the Kingdom and promises long last effect in nation minds.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Religion makes you stupid

Burka clad women roaming around with bamboo sticks in Islamabad, Pakistan. Giving the city literals meaning of its name. Anyone wondering what that means well the name "Islamabad" perfectly translates to "House of Islam". They have held the city hostage since few months now and threaten government to use jihad if their demand of Islamic Sharia dominance are not accepted. Now isn't Jihad a sweet word for violence??

Such people are scum of earth and should be wiped out using proper cleaner.. ehh i mean bombs.

Come on, unveil those fugly faces and go home. Daddy is waiting with a stick to spank you!!









Friday, May 18, 2007

Unfit Workplaces for Women

Unfit Workplaces for Women
Najah Alosaimi, Arab News
Source: http://arabnews.com/?article=96333


RIYADH, 18 May 2007 — While health and safety at work are the basic requirements that employees demand, many workingwomen in the Kingdom find environments at their workplaces detrimental to their health.

Having separate workplaces for men and women has been the norm in the Kingdom since women first began to work outside their homes in the early 1970s. The Kingdom, particularly in Riyadh, operates a strict system to ensure working women enjoy their privacy and are not subjected to harassment by men.
A general impression made is that men are out there looking for every opportunity to harras women. Pull her hair, tease her and throw their phone number on her. isn't this the mentality infested by government has hurt the country economy and youth right in the nuts as confessed by interior minister. I mean come are these women any different from those in Europe, America and rest of Middle east??? what kind of ubber privacy requirement do these women have. The kind of ultimate secrecy they demand is a notion of plain prostitution.

But, at many women’s banks, educational institutions and salons, windows are often blackened and some workplaces also lack emergency exits. Employers justify these actions by saying they are simply giving women privacy. However, a lack of emergency exits could be something disastrous in case of an emergency.
Well privacy or better say secrecy comes at a cost!!

“Regulations set by the Labor Ministry stipulate that workplaces should be safe and fully equipped with safety features for all employees,” said Muhammad Al-Dwaish, legal consultant with the Labor Ministry, adding that the regulations are for both genders.
But since women demand secrecy, how can you get away without blackened windows and sealed exits??

Dr. Mona Sawaf, a psychiatrist specializing in women’s health, told Arab News that health and safety regulations should not be compromised in the name of women’s privacy. (read "secrecy")

“Women’s privacy can also be achieved in a way that ensures a safe and healthy environment so that they feel comfortable when working. This does not mean that women should be locked in separate rooms,” she said.

She added, “Unfortunately, most workers spend up to a quarter of the day indoors in improper environments with synthetic ventilation systems that negatively affect their health.”

Dr. Abdullah Al-Johar, an orthopedic consultant at the Prince Faisal Sports Medical Hospital, said, “A working environment with no fresh air and sunlight can become a long-term threat to someone’s health. Research shows that there is a direct connection between remaining indoors and developing illnesses relating to the weakness of bones and muscles.”

Al-Johar also feels that women, who remain in closed environments for a long time, need to ensure they take appropriate intakes of vitamins B and D.

Poor working environments also affect the performance of women employees. Raedah Al-Motairy, a financial consultant in the ladies branch of a bank in Riyadh, said, “Poor working environments affect women’s productivity. Working in isolation makes women feel unwanted and makes them feel they are working undercover.”

According to Al-Motairy, having a pleasant and safe working environment is good for business. “A healthy working environment raises employees’ morale. Often when walking through women’s departments, you feel entirely different. Tension also seems to be much higher there.”

Dalal Al-Ogdah, a Health Ministry worker, said, “The current working environment that is designed exclusively for women does not match the high-profile roles of many women. It’s wrong to justify these abusive practices in the name of giving women privacy. This concept has been misused by many people.”
Or lets say the state official religion advised that. There is a popular power point presentation circulating on internet with authentic hadith saying a cursed man is one who touches palm of unrelated women. With such hatred bred into a generation of men against half of country population is not likely to be washed off so easily.