[antimedia] antimedia: I'm not sure whether we should applaud....

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Posted by antimedia:
I'm not sure whether we should applaud....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1172632907.shtml


   ....this Saudi woman for [1]her courage or for her humor.

     "When you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a
     mosque on every corner - you know that you are in an Arab countryâ¦
     "When you see people living in the past with all the trappings of
     modernity - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.
     "When religion has control over science - you can be sure that you
     are in an Arab country.
     "When clerics are referred to as 'scholars' - don't be astonished,
     you are in an Arab country.
     "When you see the ruler transformed into a demigod who never dies
     or relinquishes his power, and whom nobody is permitted to
     criticize - do not be too upset, you are in an Arab country.
     "When you find that the large majority of people oppose freedom and
     find joy in slavery - do not be too distressed, you are in an Arab
     country.
     "When you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy, but
     [see them] seizing every opportunity provided by democracy to grab
     high positions [in the government] - do not be surprised, you are
     in an Arab countryâ¦
     "When monarchies turn into theocracies, and republics into hybrids
     of monarchy and republic - do not be taken aback, you are in an
     Arab country.
     "When you find that the members of parliament are nominated [by the
     ruler], or else that half of them are nominated and the other half
     have bought their seats through bribery⦠- you are in an Arab
     countryâ¦
     "When you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is
     worth, or less - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
     "When you see that the authorities chop off a man's hand for
     stealing a loaf of bread or a penny, but praise and glorify those
     who steal billions - do not be too surprised, you are in an Arab
     countryâ¦

   There's quite a bit more. It's biting and sardonic and oh so true.

References

   1. http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD147907