It is certainly true that one knows whether they are immersed in an Eastern culture or a Western culture. This issue came up recently with some interesting comments on the American Bedu debate page recently. I have found some of the recent dialogues between readers to be very interesting and enlightening, especially the perceptions between East and West. So much so, I have chosen to copy some of their comments here as I believe they can stand alone as a post.
One regular reader chose to post a satirical poem written by known Saudi activist, Wajeha Al-Huwaider: 
Re: Plight of the Muslim Ummah
Here’s A Satirical Poem by Saudi Author Wajeha Al-Huwaider In Which She Laments The Conditions in the Muslim World http://www.aafaq.org
You Are In Muslim Country WHEN ….
When you cannot find a single garden in your city …
But there is a masjid on every corner
That’s when you know you are in Muslim country!
When you see people living in the past …
With all the trappings of modernity
Do not be surprised …
That’s when you are in Muslim country!
When religion has control over science ….
That’s when you can be sure you are in Muslim country!
When clerics are referred to as ‘scholars’ …
Don’t be astonished that you are in Muslim country!
When you see the rulers transformed into demigods …
Who never dies or relinquishes his power
And whom nobody is permitted to criticize …
Do not be too upset that you are in Muslim country!
When you find that the large majority of people …
Oppose freedom and find joy in slavery
Do not be too distressed that you are in Muslim country!
When you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy …
But then see them seizing every opportunity provided by
The same democracy to grab high positions
Do not be surprised that you are in Muslim country!
When monarchies turn into theocracies …
Republics into hybrids of monarchies and republics
Do not be taken aback that you are in Muslim country.
When you find that the members of parliament …
Are nominated by the rulers or else that …
Half of them are nominated and the other half
Have bought their seats through bribery …
That’s when you are in Muslim country!
When you discover that a woman …
Is worth half of what a man is worth or less
Do not be surprised that you are in Muslim country!
When you see that the authorities chop off hands …
For stealing a loaf of bread or a penny
But praise and glorify those who steal billions
Do not be too surprised that …
You are in Muslim country!
When you are forced to worship the Creator in schools …
And your teachers grade you for it
You can be sure that you are in Muslim country!
When young women students are publicly flogged …
Merely for exposing their eyes
That’s when you are in Muslim country!
When the teens do not learn about their own bodies
And the changes it undergoes in puberty …
Then they roll out their magical prayer mats and beseech Allah
To help them deal with their crises …
That’s when you are in Muslim country!
When Eid is more important than human beings …
That’s when you are in Muslim country!
When covering the woman’s head is more important than …
Corruption & Embezzlement & Betrayal of the homeland
Do not be astonished that you are in Muslim country!
When minorities are persecuted and oppressed …
If they demand their rights are accused of being a fifth column
Or a Trojan horse Or an Apostate Or a Foreign Mercenary
Do be upset that you are in Muslim country!
When women are seen as house ornaments which can be replaced …
Bemoan your fate that you are in Muslim country!
When birth control and vaccinations and family planning …
Are perceived as CIA/Mossad/RAW conspiracy plots
Do place your trust in Allah that you are in Muslim country!
When at any time there can be a knock on your door …
And you are dragged off and buried in a dark prison cell
That’s when you know that you are in Muslim country!
When fear constantly lives in the eyes of the people …
That’s when you can be certain that you are in Muslim country!
In response to the above, another long time American Bedu reader wrote the following rebuttals:
If you share an elevator with two young women who couldn’t be older than 12 and overhear them talk about how they have to cut down on carbs, you are in the West.
If there are 31 United States senators who vote against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women act, face it you are in the West.
electronicglobalradio.com
If you see stories about Hillary Clinton’s hair, makeup, clothing but never see a single story about U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s hair or clothing, you are in the West.
If we are told the reality television programs that consistently portray women as conniving, unhinged and erratic are simply a guilty pleasure, and not a destructive misogynistic form of entertainment, aha you are in the West.
If women have to face street harassment (a.k.a. cat calling) that makes them feel unsafe, humiliated, and degraded, and as long as people wave off this harassment as “boys will be boys,” check! You’re in the West.
If there are magazine covers where a “bachelor” gets to smile and enjoy the limelight, while the women in the cast are portrayed as crazy, cat-fighting maniacs, you are rightfully in the West.
If people say “You must be on your period” to women and men when someone is either a.) speaking their mind or b.) happens to be in a bad mood, you are in the West.
If people (including women) keep using “pussy” to indicate weakness, you are in the West. Yes, it’s a big deal to continually refer to a woman’s body part in a derogatory way to indicate weakness in anyone or anything.
If you happen to read one of those glossy girls magazine and see articles like “Best Hairstyle to Attract Him” or “Top Ten Guys Turn Offs” , rest assure you are in the West so all hail feminist movements.
If women are theoretically given the same rights as men but not so in practise, thats the West for you.
If thousands of untested rape kits languish in police departments across the United States, allowing thousands of sexual predators to go unprosecuted, rest assure you are in the West.
If 1-in-4 college women will face, according to the US Justice Department, an attempted or completed rape, thats the Western World for you.
If pornography is acceptable simply because of adult consents and not seen as men’s ideal of superiority over women seeing her just a little bit better than a mating animal (is it better or worst) , rest assure you are in the West.
If you read headlines of “Muslim Terrorist” but never “Terrorist Attack at Connecticat School” for the sheer reason of linking terrorism solely to Islam, rest assure that we are in the West.
To be continued…
And another reader added the following contribution:
The Muslim Village 
You know you are in The Muslim Village…
When you people call each other brother or sister
Instead of “Hey, you mister!”
When you see people rush to help you
And you recognise all – who is who
Yea, you are in Muslim Village
When you don’t see any poor or vulgarity michaeltotten.com
Because of kind deeds and annual charity
When there are no signs of women’s cleavage
Well dressed and respected they are in this village
You sure know that this here is Muslim Village
When the mosques are full five times a day
When vendors do justice in how they weigh
And with a smile strangers greet each other
Black, white or brown, you are a brother
You know it can only be the Muslim Village
When leaders are elected and rule with consultations
And you see its mutual and there are no accusations
When slandering and backbiting tongues are in check
When you remove all traces of pride even a dust speck
Its no surprise, you are in the Muslim Village
Yes its no surprise!
During my marriage to my late Saudi husband, I felt like I crossed between East and West every day. I did not feel like there were huge distinctions or barriers. If there were, then I don’t think my husband and I could have had a happy and sustainable marriage! But I will add that we both made a conscious effort to bridge building and understanding each other’s culture.
So in closing this post, I ask, what is YOUR response on the distinctions between East and West? How far apart or how close are the cultures?
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