Comments on: Saudi Arabia: Taxis and Women

By: Firdaus Hashim

Firdaus Hashim — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:48:17 +0000

Maybe Saudi Arabia can follow Iran’s example by implementing a Women’s Only taxi programme. Provided that women can drive there.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7747677.stm

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:22:41 +0000

Everyone holds back from time to time my dear.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t hate Islam, I just don’t like the way most Muslims act and think.

By: Brooke AKA Ummbadier

Brooke AKA Ummbadier — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:36:27 +0000

Ryan says: “Maybe you can join us one night? Though I think your ears would be burning up in rage listening in to such “kafir talk”.

I’m joining you both right here-night and day~wink. And my eyes are far from burning-what a silly assumption. I AM American, perhaps you didn’t know. My own vernacular is deeply rooted in being a former kafir. Though I get that you are implying that you “hold back” at least on this blog. For whose sake?

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:11:06 +0000

Wow – what an experience Damara! He certainly used an original line though!

And welcome to the blog!

By: Damara

Damara — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:29:59 +0000

I totally agree with you. This post reminded me of an incident that happened to me. My friend and I needed to get from the university to the hospital, which is like only five minutes away. We always walk back and forth, but that day its was like 100 degrees and the sun was extremely hot ( seeing how I live in Jeddah) . So we decided to take a cab. A few seconds after we got in the cab the driver was like may I ask you a question, my friend and I ignored him. We were both wearing our lab coats at the time, he asked us was is the treatment of a person suffering from love!! I started hyperventilating ( because I’m the biggest chicken ever) my friend got really pissed and told him to stop the car. He was like I didn’t mean anything I just wanted to get to know you better. After that incident I never used a taxi again.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:57:46 +0000

The whole fighting amongst school kids being recorded on film is gaining popularity now. They pass it around school sharing it with everyone and on the internet. This is yet another violence problem they are facing in schools.

By: Nzingha

Nzingha — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:05:51 +0000

tulip they have female taxis in Dubai, they are pink it is soo cute lol. They only take women and famiiles. I also saw a notice down the street at a local supermarket here in bahrain for services of a woman taxi driver. She advertises as a woman, which is quite smart. I’ve had several female taxi drivers in Malaysia, some who were quite a hoot to talk to. And the US does have female taxi drivers although it seems to be more men than woman in most places I’ve lived.

And saudi is full of contradictions, can’t be alone with a man.. but that doesn’t include a taxi or private driver like their not men or something. Or cleaning guys that come to many womens houses and clean. But suggesting women drive themselves than every single man turns into an uncontrolable dog in heat.. ahhh the justifications of men to hinder women.

Ryan speaking of violence in Australia I recall a very publisized incident of a muslm girl in school in a fight that was recorded. That caused many to have a whole lot to say on violence in general and now even with girls

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:14:43 +0000

Khalid, that sucks. I have noticed the increasing reports of violence in the news back home too. People are starting to get really angry about it and want tougher sentences imposed. My ex-colleagues cousin was “murdered” at a showground by a young guy who whacked him over the head with a piece of wood. Though the cousin did provoke this guy to do it, the boy that hit him, was charged with manslaughter and I THINK he escaped a jail sentence. They were only in their late teens. Personally I’ve never been a victim and never really been under threat of violence anywhere there.

The violence is mainly centred around men though. Especially where drugs and alcohol are involved, which was the case there. One thing I appreciate in the Middle East and Asia is the harsh punishment for drug and alcohol offences. Though this can be taken to the extreme in places like the UAE where crumbs of the stuff or even a positive blood test can get you imprisoned.

By: Khalid

Khalid — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:01:52 +0000

oops, I apologize, I meant to write my comment here this is a sign it seems that I should get back my work .. I’ll paste it here . Sorry again ..

I’ve never been to Aus, and I really would like to go to it and NZ. My bro honeymoon was in Aus BTW. I’ll share a story that happened with my same friend who was in Sidney airport . He went to Newcastle, Aus with his wife. It’s really a long story, but I’ll say it in as few words as I can He didn’t complete a night in Aus and he was beaten by 6 Ausi boys. He was living in a hotel at that time. It was his first hours in Aus. The people who beat him didn’t even looked at his face. He herd knocking on the door, he opened it , and voila hits/kicks from everywhere he got. Then, at the end when the matter went to the police, they apologized from him. they found out that the 6 guys were mistaken, they wanted to beat another guy, and they knocked on the wrong room. it happens that the guy whom they were planning to beat and my friend have almost the same weight and features .. BTW my friend is Saudi, and the guy whom they wanted to beat was Ausi

This incident was so popular that the Saudi cultural attaché phoned my friend and , he too apologized, and told him this is the first time that a Saudi is attacked in Aus.

Best

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:58:36 +0000

Tulip – the fact that a solitary woman is indeed ‘sanctioned’ or allowed to travel with a male driver in Saudi Arabia is contradictory to the culture but allowed. When I have asked Saudi men and women why this is so, you may not like the response but most have said “Because he is not viewed as a real man.” What they mean by that is he is not a Saudi but usually from India or Pakistan and therefore viewed “beneath” and not a threat to their honor as if they were to ride with an unrelated Saudi driver. There are Saudi taxi drivers but most Saudi women will not use them.

I have indeed seen (and used) female taxi drivers in the US as well as in Europe so they do exist!

Khalid – I like Debra Tannan’s books and especially as she will have quizzes or questions at the end of each chapter to reinforce the concepts discussed.