Are women actually voting or just hoping for an open spot in the harem?
Posted on 02/05/2005 10:17:02 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005 10:29 a.m. EST Saudi Arabia to Hold Historic Elections
Less than two weeks after elections in Iraq confounded media predictions of failure and showed that Arabs would indeed grab their chance for freedom, Saudi Arabia is set to hold its own historic first round of democratic elections.
The amazing development has gone virtually unreported in the American press, undoubtedly because it adds even further vindication to President Bush's decision to press the Iraqi liberation.
Reporting out of its Riyadh bureau on Friday, however, the Associated Press detailed preparations for the watershed vote under the headline, "Election Fever Catches on in Saudi Arabia":
"The country's first nationwide elections, beginning next Thursday, are only for local councils, with voters electing half of the councils' members," said the AP. "But the ballot is seen as a concrete step in a reform process no one had expected."
"The municipal elections will be carried out in three phases, beginning with the Riyadh region, where about 1,800 candidates will contest 127 seats," the wire service said.
Initially, there was scant interest in the vote, at least until Jan. 29, when the candidates' campaigns began.
"I didn't take it seriously. I regret I didn't sign up," Khaled Muhammad, 26, told the AP. He was visiting an information tent to learn more about the process so he could participate in future elections.
Still despite the slow start, previously unimaginable scenes are now playing out on Riyadh's streets, the AP said.
"For the first time there are forums - daily meetings at candidates' headquarters - where people can discuss social issues away from the control of religious authorities.
"Candidate fliers are thrown into open car windows, and brochures are folded into newspapers. One woman even called a candidate praising his looks and offering to be a second wife."
"Who would have thought that one day there would be candidates' pictures in the streets?" Sulaiman al-Hattlan, a U.S.-educated columnist, wrote for Al-Watan daily. "Who would have thought that one day there would be slogans urging participation in decision making?"
"This is a sign that given an opportunity to open up and adopt new concepts, [Saudi] society will take it," he added.
Dream on! These dictator will never share power or respect human rights if they are not forced to.
Geez, this is the first I've heard of this. Amazing.
Well municipal elections are a kinda puny start but who knows. Once people get a taste of democracy it may very well snowball into much bigger things. One thing for sure, they can't recork the bottle. Once it's opened the Genie of self determination may very well gain a fervid and irreversible momentum
Give it time.
This must be some kind of mistake. Arabs are not ready for democracy. They have no tradition of voting and are too stupid to understand the concept.
Dan Rather told me so.
[/sarcasm off]
Don't know if this election is too serious, but, democracy is contagious and once started is hard to stop. When you see a woman's face, driving a car in saudia arabia on her way to vote, then you will know that real change is happening.
The pressure for reform in Saudi Arabia has been building for some time. Countries can evolve from a dictatorship to a democracy -- just look at Chile under Pinochet, or Spain - Portugal - Greece.
'"One woman even called a candidate praising his looks and offering to be a second wife."
Imagine THAT happening in an American election.'
Laura wouldn't let me. I tried....
Are women actually voting or just hoping for an open spot in the harem?
Monica Lewinsky?
Yeah. We save that stuff for celebrities.
APf
We have to. As is proven time and again, free nations and dictatorships cannot co-exist peacefully. One or the other must triumph. Whether by the force of example or by the force of arms, liberty must win everywhere.
Regards, Ivan
HUH?
THIS MUST BE MAKING THE dEMS GO ABSOLUTELY NAIL-SPITTING NUTS
I'd be more afraid of what those people would elect into government...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336520/posts
Anti-Jewish and anti-American propaganda published by the Saudi Arabian government has been on display at U.S. mosques, according to an American human rights group
Wahabbism IS the problem..and Saudi Arabia pays for schools, mosques, and ships its hate to us.
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