Posted on 05/30/2005 2:54:58 PM PDT by Nicholas Conradin
Having returned from the Kingdom, four weeks in an abaya and hijab, I am angry and frustrated. As an analyst specializing in Saudi Arabia I knew much of what to expect, thus covering and not being able to drive were nonissues. Landing in Jeddah I dropped ten degrees body temperature switching from linen to an abaya. Four weeks later, I flew through to Atlanta without removing my abaya, not only to test American reactions but because it was comfortable and practical. In Riyadh's Bedu Souk I added a burqa and realized, for the first time in my adult life, men spoke directly to me rather than to a physique. That is respect.
Having completed my book on the Kingdom, I had been invited to the Saudi American Interactive Dialogue in Jeddah. Staying to gather material for a second book, I met with people from all walks of life: Rich, poor, mothers, working women; the highly successful, the unemployed, royalty, Bedouin market sellers, and those in between. I met with Saudis by birth, Saudis by choice, and foreigners. I lived with Saudi families, those with domestic help and those without. All were open and eager to share their opinions. I traveled freely across the country, an "Arab" woman alone. Fed monumental amounts of food in Saudi homes nightly, unable to escape such generous hospitality, I never witnessed men separate from women. In Riyadh I used a Saudi friend's office for a fortnight, was treated equally and was privy to top-level business discussions. Thus began my irritation.
I had expected to return to the US, defensive posture prepared. Since Sept. 11, I have tried in vain to explain the Kingdom to a country reluctant to understand or listen, have been the target of attacks, and have had professional difficulty for insisting on clarity on Saudi issues. It is acceptable in the US to be anti-war, anti-Bush, or support the Palestinians; it is not acceptable on either side of the political spectrum to be "pro-Saudi". That is "sleeping with the enemy" or "hero worship". Little of Saudi Arabia is covered in the West other than trade, oil, and proclamations of reform. Sadly, within the Kingdom and despite access to satellite television, newspapers and the Internet, even Jarir Bookstore has yet to catch up: Only travel and photography books, or historical biographies of Gertrude Bell and Harry Philby were available. Not permitting political material available to a hungry public belies logic at this stage.
I experienced few inconveniences. Prayer time forces the habit of pausing. Time passes differently in the United States as we race from work to school to the grocery store to after-school activities to dinner, housecleaning and laundry, finally collapsing in exhaustion having barely spoken to our children eating in separate rooms at different times. Families walk together along the Jeddah corniche, flying kites or riding donkeys, barbecues permeating the air - vastly different to the deafening X-rated rap music that invades main streets in America as teens cruise.
So why am I angry?
During all my conversations one question remained unanswered. When asked, What makes you proud to be Saudi, "being Muslim" or "being Arab" was as common a reply as "being the home of the Two Holy Cities". One can easily define Palestinian anger, Iraqi angst, or Syrian character, yet I received nothing on Saudi national patriotism. Can you not see?
For years you have publicly apologized for comparatively low levels of violence, lack of reform, or the slow pace of change. Repeatedly I heard the despair and cynicism blinding you to what is happening in front of you: Palpable change, construction growth, new institutions, reform efforts, and the mutawa. You have much to be proud of, but your politeness and kindness allows the West to trample you, naming you a threat to "democracy" and the world.
You cannot let this continue. Pre-empt the increase in anti-Saudi hostility and stop re-emphasizing your weaknesses. You are a dignified people, so take pride in your country in action, not just spirit. Explain to the world how you respect women, how safe and free from crime you are, and how family takes priority. Demand how the US, world leader in murder, rape and domestic violence, dare accuse you of human rights abuses. Ask how Americans can defend their preferred method of capital punishment by electrocuting women, minors and the mentally handicapped. How, if democracy includes the export of the largest pornographic industry throughout the world, can they judge the Kingdom for its restrictions? Why can a Saudi leave his wallet, laptop and digital camera on the front seat of a car, as I did, and return to find everything intact? Americans live in gated subdivisions with security alarms; child molesters roam free in every neighborhood. Half empty compounds in the Kingdom are triple barricaded, one Alkhobar compound protected by five security walls and armored trucks. Murderers don't return to the scene of their crime, so why such fear? Nuns, priests, Jewish settlers, rabbis and Catholics cover their heads but Saudi women are "oppressed" for such? Why apologize for your rate of progress when it took the United States two hundred years, until 1920, to grant women the right to vote? American women are paid seventy-five cents to the dollar compared to men; the Prophet's first wife was his employer, a successful and powerful businesswoman.
Another wife, Aisha, fought in battle alongside men, and Islam forbids racism. How then did it take until 1963 after riots and protests before blacks were granted civil rights, the end to segregation, and freedom? Bias remains rampant and races still do not mix freely.
Why can the US government attack any Arab nation when not one Arab state has ever threatened America? Is this "democracy"? More importantly, is this what you want?
Of course, there is much to fix within the Kingdom. All regions rise and fall. There is little difference in the speed of bureaucracy between Saudi Arabia and Sweden or France; ministers settle in to roles of government power and have no desire for change.
You have a ready-made group available for pressing issues: The mutawa could be assigned to fine dangerous drivers (intent to kill is haraam) or punish anyone seen littering: It is a disgrace to the religion, the environment and people's health.
Globalization and technology are here to stay, so as Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab brought reform for the sake of unity in the eighteenth century, again use ijtihad (individual interpretation) and contextualization to unite for the sake of the Kingdom, Islam, and national pride.
There is indeed something enigmatic about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - perhaps the people, perhaps the history, perhaps the land. Had I the chance to stay I would have searched until I found an answer. A piece of my heart remained in the Kingdom. I can only hope that I may soon return to find out why.
- Tanya C. Hsu is the author of the forthcoming book, "Target: Saudi Arabia". She may be reached at TanyaHsu@mindspring.com
Reprinted with permission of Arab News..
No, head up @ss is more appropriate here.
How much did they pay her?
BWAAHHHAAAAHAHAAAA!
"Demand how the US, world leader in murder, rape and domestic violence, dare accuse you of human rights abuses. " Where does this woman live?
" Ask how Americans can defend their preferred method of capital punishment by electrocuting women, minors and the mentally handicapped." "Why can a Saudi leave his wallet, laptop and digital camera on the front seat of a car, as I did, and return to find everything intact?"
That's right. We occasionally kill people who kill others, but we don't chop off people's hands if they steal your phone.
What planet is she on?
I notice she doesn't mention anything about the rights or living conditions of foreign workers in SA. Or the rampant rape and abuse of maids.
I'm sure that when we look back at history, our nation's close relationship with Saudi Arabia from the 50's onward will become a point of shame. The sooner we can stop lapping up their oil, the better.
My reaction? Bite me. Whenever I see the bedsheets here in Atlanta I give them the evil eye.
Triple BARF Alert ping! American woman apologist P.R.O.P.-agandizing for the peaceful kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Let her have it!
A.A.C.
"Avowed Infidel enemy of the ArabianArchPaedophiliac, aka muhammad the inferior."
when not one Arab state has ever threatened America
Hm-m-m-m-m, would financing thugs to fly airplanes into buildings to kill innocent people qualify? If Saudi Arabia is so terrific, go home and stay there.....p-l-e-a-s-e
Here's a bit of another piece she wrote...
http://www.irmep.org/essays/ksa.htm
The US has not had wholly “friendly” intentions towards the Kingdom for the past 30 years. Any appearance of such is only the visible veneer of real US military policy. Declassified documents reveal that there has been a constant drumbeat to invade Saudi Arabia that has sounded behind the closed doors of our government. The Pentagon, for three decades, has formulated and updated secret plans to seize Saudi oil wells and rid the Kingdom of the ruling House of Saud. This is not only a neo-conservative cabal. Time and again plans have been made for an invasion of Saudi Arabia for a larger purpose: US control of the global oil supply thereby dominating global economic markets.
The most recent wave of charges that Saudi Arabia supports, condones, and aids terrorism signify a secondary and more public attempt to gain support to finally execute a thirty year old plan to occupy Saudi Arabia. Other regional players’ objectives, (securing oil supplies; the rationale of a "war on terror") may add synergy and an unstoppable impetus for an American invasion.
This essay discloses and evaluates the motives and actions of those behind the new drive to occupy Saudi oil fields.
Classified Plans Brought To Light
In 1973, the Nixon administration described a plan of attack against Saudi Arabia to seize its oil fields in a classified Joint Intelligence Report entitled “UK Eyes Alpha”. British MI5 and MI6 were informed, and under British National Archive rules the document was declassified in December of 2003. The oil embargo had been over for only three weeks but “Eyes Alpha” suggested that the “US could guarantee sufficient oil supplies for themselves and their allies by taking the oil fields in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the Gulf State of Abu Dhabi”. It followed that “pre-emptive” action would be considered, and that two brigades could seize the Saudi oilfields and one brigade each could take Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.
in fact, a search of her byline explains everything:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22by+Tanya+C.+Hsu%22
The sooner we cut ties with all arab nations the better. For how evil of a country America is, that doesn't seem to stop them from coming now does it?
Look at the Dearborn area here in michigan. Looks like little arabia.
Consider for a moment that 50% of "insurgents" captured in Iraq are Saudi citizens. Consider that 75% of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis.
Saudi Arabia is a unique instance where the government, as fragile as it is, is with us and their citizenry are genuinely our enemies.
3x barf alert ping! Treacherous, treasonous, poisonous bit of P.R.O.P*-aganda from an American woman {she ought to be ashamed of herself for her flimsy scholarship!}
A.A.C.
"Avowed Infidel enemy of the ArabianArchMolester"
Someone needs to straighten out this sick puppy:
TanyaHsu@mindspring.com
How did she do this since she wasn't allowed to drive? Does Saudi Arabia have that great of a public transportation system?
http://www.saudi-american-forum.org/Newsletters/SAF_Essay_22.htm
Tanya C. Hsu is a senior analyst of Middle East political economy at the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy. Ms. Hsu analyzes the role of Western States in mediating between the Arab world, the United States and Europe.
For almost two decades she has created and facilitated strong connections between Middle Eastern leaders, diplomats and business men and women. As a senior research analyst and consultant, she continues an active role to promote progress, both economic and political, between the region and the United States.
Ms. Hsu holds an Economics degree from the University of London. Ms. Hsu's analysis has been published in the US, Europe and the Middle East, including Al Ahram, and the Media Monitors Network. She appears on Palestinian, Jordanian and British television and radio as well as within the United States. Ms Hsu was an organizer of the 2003 Harvard Symposium "Promoting Understanding between the Arab World and the U.S.", and serves on the Board of the Atlanta Chapter of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee. Ms Hsu worked for ten years as a financial advisor serving clients in the United Kingdom and United States.
http://www.irmep.org/
What's stopping you, sweetheart? I suspect it's those evil western vices that Saudi Arabia or any other Islamic country can't quite seem to work into the cultural diversity that Islam espouses, you know little things like women free to vote, drive, talk with or marry any man they choose, wear their hair the way they want to, show their face, etc...yeah the little things you twit headed hypocrite.
Take this piece, and consider it along with the photograph of the muslim woman in England holding the sign reading "Islam will dominate the world." Then consider mobs that riot over perceived insults. Remember then how the proud muslim military tradition has been allowed to degenerate into the shameful practices of indiscriminate bombings and barbaric murders. Consider as well the Saudi "virtue" police arresting Pakistani Christians for practicing "poison."
Look at this objectively, and what you see is a sizable minority of one of the world's great religions acting out a huge inferiority complex. Islam is about 700 years younger than Christianity, and there are those believers that insist on being about where Christianity was 700 years ago--emerging from the dark ages.
I am sure Saudi Arabia is in fact a Paradise on earth. There is no racism there, I am sure because it is not racist to treat as inferior someone who is in fact, inferior. There is no religious intolerance because there is only one religion, or version of one religion that is worthy of tolerance. And of course, Paradise wouldn't be Paradise without public beheadings.
I am not down on Islam, Muslims or even Saudi Arabians. But as long as they let an irrational and vocal minority make the case for all of them, any cynicism they provoke is deserved.
Ummmm, could someone please remind the author of a minor little event called "Desert Storm" where upon America rescued the Mideast from Saddam's evil intentions?
Where to start . I will not.. Just this ... Go back...
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