Author Topic: Equality (Read 335 times)

capt. apathy · « **on:** February 03, 2002, 05:00:46 PM »

A heart-warming story of the advances of women in achieving equality throughout the world..........
Barbara Walters did a story on gender roles in Kuwait several years before the Gulf War.
She noted then that women customarily walked about 10 feet behind their husbands.
She returned to Kuwait recently and observed that the men now walked several yards behind their wives.

Ms. Walters approached one of the women and said, "This is marvelous. Can you tell the free world just what enabled women here to achieve this reversal of roles?"

“Land mines," said the Kuwaiti woman.

Tac · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2002, 05:12:55 PM »

Cripes, it would be funny if it didnt have the hint of being true.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2002, 05:29:54 PM »

Hehe....thats a good one.

Tumor · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2002, 02:42:42 AM »

LoL..good one.

On a more serious note. I hope that stupid squeak McSally is the first woman the Muttawa (Saudi Religioius Police) put in jail for not wearing an Abaya.

Not that I'm sexist or anything, but I do have a serious problem with the United States exporting thier own cultural standards and forcing it down the throat of a people who've been around a couple thousand years longer than we have.

For those unaware, McSally is the Air Force "Fighter Pilot" who decided to "sue" the U.S. government for thier policy of making US Military women wear an Abaya (black robe) when they go downtown. Don't let the liberal media fool you. The "Abaya" or robe is/was all that was required of U.S. military females, the "veil" was NEVER required, just a simple black robe worn over normal clothing. "Saudi" women, and women of other nationalities are required to wear the Abaya AND veil as prescribed by Saudi and "Islamic" Law. I don't particularly agree with it, but all McsqueakSally has accomplished by winning her case is to get U.S. military women arrested by the Muttawa on a much more frequent basis than they already do (which is allot considering). Further, you'll read in the media about how "other" women in Saudi who are there on govt buisness do not have to wear the Abaya...wrong...it's a damn lie. Unless the "woman" is a VIP of sorts (ie: Albright) they do wear the damn thing. I've been all over Riyahd on various occasions and have NEVER seen a woman in public without at least an Abaya (even in and around the Embassy). The only place I saw females not adorned in that robe was within the military compounds and civilian related living areas (which are all walled off).

..Damn...I shoulda started a thread on this. Anyway, just in case ya'll think I'm sexist, here's a "story" I found rather amusing while over there in 92.

The Muttawa carry these little sticks around to whack people with, those who are "out of line" so to speak.

In one day, and on two seperate occasions, the Muttawa decided to go after two U.S. military women. The first was a U.S. Marine CPL (I heard). For whatever reason...Muttawa butthead walks up and starts berrating this chick and whackin her with his stick. The Marine chick decked the amazinhunk.

The other occasion involved a USAF chick. Same thing except she didn't deck the guy, she laid a big frenchy style wet one on him. Word has it the dork was so stunned he just stood there as she walked away.

..anyway, those people are salamanders, but who are we to tell them how to be?

Nash · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2002, 02:55:18 AM »

Lol....

From "I'm so sorry we have things others don't...and golly oh gee I'm sorry we aren't living by the extremist interpretation of the Koran. ....no wait. To hell with you and yours. Screw with us and feel our wrath. Have a nice day" in your last post to"but who are we to tell them how to be?"

Sorry... gave me a chuckle.

the_hegemon · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2002, 06:21:07 AM »

Tell us how you really feel Tumor

StSanta · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2002, 08:47:03 AM »

Saw it in 60 minutes, about that woman. What she is mad about is that US men can walk around in whatever clothes they want, but US women must war that thing.

Saudi law requires foreigners to dress 'conservatively', but it is not required to wear on of them abaya's.

So her argument is that *the US* is discriminating against women here, requiring more than the law demands, and more of women than of men.

But, of course, she doesn't get it. The US isn't particularly welcome by the masses in Saudi Arabia. it's an incredibly sexist country, breaking many human rights for women.

The US has an interest in keeping some troops there, and they want to do it without annoying the Saudis unecessarily.

She's an airforce officer. She should understand and know that.

Instead, she has a problem with it because of her own faith.

She should understand that the tax payers have poured money into her and request something back. This isn't an unlawful order, it's common sense.

She's wrong, and she risks causing unnecessary friction between men and women in the armed forces. Lots of dinosaurs will use her as an example now.

But, gotta admit she has balls: throwing away her career for a matter of principle. I respect that.

miko2d · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2002, 09:40:55 AM »

I guess from now on US government will have it's military options severely restricted because of the civil rights of it's soldiers.

The corrupt autocratic regime that we support in Saudi Arabia against its democratic fundamental muslim people may well topple either if US troops pull out or if they offend the cultural traditions of the hostile population any more.

The next time someone blows up a bunch of US troops garrisoned in a "friendly" country, we may have Ms. McSally to thank for.

I wonder how she would dress for combat - "I don't feel like wearing that regulation male-originated uniform - fatigue, boots, etc. I'd rather wear more womanly pink skirt and high-heels..."

I bet a hundred bucks (charity of your chice) that the way US army will deal with that problem is forbidding leave time outside the military base for all it's personnel - men and women, courtesy of Ms McSally.

miko

Tac · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2002, 10:45:52 AM »

"Not that I'm sexist or anything, but I do have a serious problem with the United States exporting thier own cultural standards and forcing it down the throat of a people who've been around a couple thousand years longer than we have."

I agree with you on that. In the case of this Abaya bussiness, I find it idiotic that US women think that because they come from the US they have the same rights as IF they were in the US.

Hint: If you're in Saudi Arabia, you aren't in the US.

Whenever ANYONE flies to a foreign country you MUST conform to their laws and customs. No matter if you're wearing beach sandals or military boots.

It would be like if you had folks from Iran or Somalia coming to the US and DEMANDING their RIGHT to walk down main street with their AK-47 on their shoulder. They can do it at home, why not in the US? They arent US citizens. Why have to wear the abaya in S. Arabia? They arent Saudi citizens. Sheesh.

Tumor · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2002, 03:44:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by miko2d
I guess from now on US government will have it's military options severely restricted because of the civil rights of it's soldiers.

The corrupt autocratic regime that we support in Saudi Arabia against its democratic fundamental muslim people may well topple either if US troops pull out or if they offend the cultural traditions of the hostile population any more.

The next time someone blows up a bunch of US troops garrisoned in a "friendly" country, we may have Ms. McSally to thank for.

I wonder how she would dress for combat - "I don't feel like wearing that regulation male-originated uniform - fatigue, boots, etc. I'd rather wear more womanly pink skirt and high-heels..."

I bet a hundred bucks (charity of your chice) that the way US army will deal with that problem is forbidding leave time outside the military base for all it's personnel - men and women, courtesy of Ms McSally.

miko

LOL...well actually I completely forgot about that. Perhaps the reason the pentagon folded so easily was that nobody over there is allowed "off-base" anyway hahaha. They've been locked down for a long time now.

Nash..I don't think I follow what you mean? I really don't give a crap what others (countries) think of the U.S., however, I do that FROM the U.S. When I'm deployed overseas I do my best to be ...hmm, diplomatic? It's a Rome and Romans kind of thing, to certain extents.

Santa
Having traveled extensively throughout Riyahd and the surrounding area in Saudi Arabia, I can tell you that "not required" does not mean "acceptable" in that country. Again, I've never seen a woman in that country, in public, not wearing an Abaya. The Muttawa decide whether or not someone is being "acceptable" on the spot. "Conservative" is extremely subjective when dealing with the raghead police.