Regards, Ivan
Posted on 03/26/2006 12:48:59 AM PST by MadIvan
A Saudi philanthropist is attempting to improve his country's tarnished image by arranging the kingdom's first official aid to a non-Muslim country.
Abdul Aziz Arrukban, whose family runs an oil transportation and storage business, said he was inspired to lobby for change after witnessing the devastation caused by the Asian tsunami.
"I saw that the world needs more help. I don't know much about things such as politics, race and such, but I do know about hunger and crisis," he said, surrounded by Cambodian children being fed rice bought with a £250,000 Saudi government donation.
Mr Arrukban admitted that he was partly motivated by concern at Saudi Arabia's image after the September 11 attacks.
"After 9/11, all Saudi Arabians were judged by the actions of a handful of men. I want to show the world that this is the real way of Saudi Arabia, and it has been for a long time."
Saudi Arabia has donated £49 billion in aid in the past three decades - making it the world's most generous donor nation per capita - but the cash has previously been earmarked only for Muslim countries.
Cambodian officials admire Mr Arrukban personally but they are wary of Saudi Arabia cashing in on the positive publicity, because in the past aid has been given to countries such as Indonesia that has wound up funding terrorists.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Interesting - it's not just us.
(But I think it is a positive step.)
And what are the stipulations? How many mosques are to be built with this $$$?
Instead of "too little, too late," I am happy to look at this as a very important first step in the right direction. I am happy to see the Saudis do such a thing, and now maybe when tragedy around the globe strikes, the world can have a new partner in dealing with crisis.
Well said. You've got to applaud good deeds. I think it's best here to stomach the sketpicism, but to go ahead and do the research to make sure that the smell of fish does not lead to pirranahs.
Aid to non-Muslims?
No virgins for you Abdul!
What's interesting is --given the wealth that some Saudi's Sheiks or businessmen-- this, indeed, needs to be in the NEWS! Just think about how many Westerner philantropists who have given to non Westerners or non Christians.
My thoughts exactly.
Don't we want them to change? They have to start somewhere, and this seems to be an effort by a man who sees what harm their old methods have done.
If we don't accept that they can change (and it might take a generation for them to do so) then our only alternative is to view them as permanent enemies. And if they are permanent enemies, then we will have to kill them all, eventually.
Aside from the fact that my faith doesn't accept genocide, I believe killing all Muslims is not a preactical solution. Killing large numbers to "teach them a lesson" only leaves us with millions of them thirsting for revenge.
So, maybe, this is a case of "each journey begins with a single step" rather than "too little, too late."
This is not news, this is the method to spread Islam to the poor. Muslims set up aid organisations giving gifts, build mosques for the new converts and then have a foothold.
They target the poor, teach the milk toast islam and build from there. Only later comes the fire and ice, the Jihadi teachings.
This is chump change for the Saudis. The real problem is, Saudi Arabia is still paying for Islamic rebel armies in Africa that are killing thousands.
So, they have to start somewhere. I hope others in Saudi Arabia follow him.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.