That is not true of all Middle Eastern countries however. Some are far
more enlightened as it’s viewed by Western sensibilities. I hope to develop that more in coming months on B/P – gradations and differences in the societies of the Middle East, which Americans are almost completely unaware of.

For those interested Marwa is big on questioning and pushing the edge,
on traditional roles of women in Egypt and the greater Middle East. She
has much more at her site link in the B/P Favored link box.

As B/P readers know I’m big on matters of social progress, and the historical trends thereof. While America may export many things received both positively and negatively throughout the world, we can stand tallest
on our history in this regard. We have real capacity to set the example of social equality by gender, ethnicity, religion, age, infirmity, etc.

Not that America is at all a finished work, but these reform movements began 150 or more years ago here, and before that by overthrowing the religious tyranny of the British Crown. Martin Luther King expressed the idea best when he made his famous statement about judging a person by the content of their character, and nothing else. Someday world citizens everywhere will look at the repressive societies of previous centuries,
in disbelief…

One way to get reactions from Saudi women or men is to copy and paste a link to this article on their forums and blogs .. give it a try:)

No, I’m not Muslim, female or even religious (KSA approves, I’m sure… ;^) Nor is Balkingpoints a website about religions. Here’s why this is interesting;

a) Get real, KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Women are people not chattel, and this is the 21st Century.

b) We know a little in America about the denial of women’s rights in other nations, but very little. We know it’s out there, but we don’t know how bad nor many specific countries. It receives little major media coverage here.

c) It should receive coverage. What we do know in America, is the 100+ year trajectory from when women were second-class citizens here, to the civil rights push of Susan B. Anthony to secure the right to vote, to the Women’s Rights movements of the 1960’s and ’70’s when full equality was codified into our federal law.

So, we’ve seen this movie. Look at how it plays out now in the Middle East, and also other regions of the world I’m sure. Look at the wheels of social progress and social justice, turn. Think of the courage of women like Marwa and Dalia to speak out on the WWW, when they’re probably getting harassed for doing so!