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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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 Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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For some reason which I have never quite figured out, these topics have always been very difficult to discuss... even before the current rounds of terrorism and wars.
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Very true.
Even on this very board, I've been called all sorts of names from some of our male posters (most of whom have never met more than a handful of Saudi women, if even that) when I attempt to say that not all Saudi women feel themselves 'oppressed' and that even 'liberated' 'Western' women find that there are advantages to the Saudi system. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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I've never considered you other than the "Queen of de Nile", luv... 
Your humble servant, NCTBA |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Cleo,
"I've been called all sorts of names . . . . when I attempt to say that not all Saudi women feel themselves 'oppressed' and that even 'liberated' 'Western' women find that there are advantages to the Saudi system."
But Cleo, name-calling easy; thinking hard. Makes head hurt.
Regards,
John |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I have grown very tired and intolerant of those who assume that we must have come to Saudi Arabia to "liberate" the poor, oppressed Saudi women. Yes, some of them are oppressed, but most of the ones that I met were strong women with their own agenda. They certainly didn't need any Western women to come to their aid and liberate them. They will change their society all by themselves, and in their own time, when they find it necessary. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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| They will change their society all by themselves, and in their own time, when they find it necessary. |
Exactly. Saudi women have seen a huge amount of progress in their lifetimes, and most expect this progress to continue. They are in no hurry to 'be like us'. In fact, I often found that they felt sorry for me! What with me being a single, childless woman living alone, far away from my familywith no maids or relatives to look after me. What a sorry plight! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Cleo,
"In fact, I often found that they felt sorry for me! What with me being a single, childless woman living alone, far away from my familywith no maids or relatives to look after me. What a sorry plight!"
Well, it's nice to know that Saudi women can be just as mistaken about us as we often are about them.
Regards,
John |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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Well, it's nice to know that Saudi women can be just as mistaken about us as we often are about them. |
That's exactly my point. Even within your own culture, it's very hard to make accurate judgements about who is 'happy' or not. Doubtless some of my own acquaintances must think I lead a miserable, oppressed life in my abaya, while I think how dreary it must be to live in some dull suburb tied to a few screaming kids.
And if ideas of what constitute a fulfilling life vary so much within one's own culture, how much more dramatic must the difference be when we make comparisons between ourselves and the Saudis - and vice versa? |
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Geronimo
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 498
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Here is a link to the "Guardian" TV critic's review
of the first episode...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/aug/28/the-frankincense-trail-review
Its photo demonstrates that not all of Humble's time was spent travelling with the elite. 
The 'flowermen' and the Yemeni border guards don't fall into that category, either.
This series is a travelogue....it is not a piece of investigative journalism....
Humble's next stop is Cairo, so you might get a mention, Cleopatra. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Its photo demonstrates that not all of Humble's time was spent travelling with the elite |
That's the first episode. When she visited Saudi Arabia, she spent most of her time in the private helicoptors and limos of assorted Saudi princes, en route to their lavish parties. As I say, I don't really blame Ms. Humble for that. The Saudi authorities are unlikely to let a foreign camera crew roam free around the country, even supposing most 'ordinary' Saudis were willing to be filmed by her, which the women at least certainly would not be. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| Mia Xanthi wrote: |
| They will change their society all by themselves, and in their own time, when they find it necessary. |
Well, Teta Mia, don't you know that Saudi women are locked in a magic box in the Magic Kingdom, and they need a magic key (may be from Mother Mia  ) to 'liberate' them to freedom!
Saudi women have to find the magic key.
Well, it seems from the photo, that Humble, the Yemeni , and the donkey took an overdose of Al-Quaat, and she thinks that she is Mother Teresa! |
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Geronimo
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 498
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| Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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"The 'flowermen' ( http://www.hatemjameel.com/2009/06/flower-men.html ) and
the border guards on the K.S.A. side of the Yemeni border -
whom I referred to above - are all Saudis and
they were in the second episode.
Geronimo |
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Geronimo
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 498
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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Some clips from the Frankincense Trail series have started to appear on youtube.
This clip provides a taste of what the series is about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ETe_EBFbCM |
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Linda467
Joined: 01 Sep 2009
Posts: 138
Location: A Secret
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| Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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John
Genau, Vielen danke
Tsch�ss |
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