Wed 22 Feb 2006
Sa7at AlSafat has proved itself to been the best Kuwaiti source of news and views on the internet, and the news is not limited to local news, but they go beyond that to cover regional and global issues that affect us in some way or another.
One topic that I specifically find very interesting is the recent reforms in Saudi Arabia since King Abdullla took charge. The guys at sa7at alsafat discussed the scholarships and King Abdulla’s Asia tour and then discussed the Janadriya festival changes, both topics show the Kingdom’s intent for reform and its long term vision for the future of the country.
Add this to the fact that women have recently gradually started getting some rights there, especially in business, where a few women won seats in the Jeddah chamber of commerce through election, and more running for the same positions in the Eastern provinces. Also, Saudi appointing 3 women to represent the country in upcoming World Bank talks is something worth looking at.
Overall, there is a good trend happening in Saudi. It will definitely take many many years to change the old mentality of some people, but the King looks like he’s up to it, and more importantly, believes in the long term effect more than current political gains!
One more interesting thing I heard yesterday on the BBC radio was that the Kingdom has approved to introduce a new subject to be taught to schools. Schools in Saudi will soon be teaching their students how to perform العرضة AlArtha, which is a local and traditional art performed by men in the country and the region. This also might seem like a small insignificant step like having the little girls sing in the Janadriya music, but there is alot of significance in that move!
The king introducing cultural things like this dance shows how he wants people to remember that things like dance and music can be something to be proud of and a heritage. Its culture and history and it teaches the kids that part of becoming a complete person is to have a well rounded education that includes teaching the children about art.
Another impressive step for Saudi, good for them and I wish this goes even further!
Compare this to whats been happening in our country recently -
Bannning music from our schools, or when Tabtaba’i asks that Kaifan theatre be torn down to become parking.
Will our leadership follow some of the reform steps taken by the Kingdom or bow down to more pressure like banning music (which they decreased)?
10 Responses to “Saudi’s Golden Era on the horizon?”
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February 22nd, 2006 at 10:27 am
We need more parking lots. Theaters are a waste of space and time. Cause if it is not available as a torrent then it is not worth watching.
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:32 am
Hello
off toipc
How soccer explains the world by Franklin Foer. There is a piece that talks about how it explains Islam’s hope. Mawjod 3ndy etha tabe tetsalefa
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:32 am
you are a pessimus maximums
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:47 am
Nychick, i heard about it, is it any good??
If u liked that kind of book, I highly highly recommend - “Football Against The Enemy” by Simon Kuper, amazing book and u cant put it down!
February 22nd, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Is it really a long term vision? I’d like to think so. If it is, can his successors carry it on?
King Abdullah is pretty old (late 70’s), and he’s got a powerful presence. One could only wonder how the religious institution is going to respond. If not now, then after he’s gone.
Thanks for the kind words, Q
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:20 am
I don’t know if we want to use the Saudis as models for reform and visionary leaders. Frankly, all due respect, but they are ridiculously late in the game. Furthermore, any reform that does happen happens because it’s a one-man show. No huge need for bargaining and negotiating. UNLESS you’re actually saying Kuwait would be better run if it really were a totally one-man show since to some degree we’re really not all that ready for democracy.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:41 am
what exactly are you against? banning music in schools or the removing the kaifan theater? actually i think its a good thing if they do that , kaifan theater isn’t exactly Broadway , and the music they teach in school isn’t even worth the waste of time cause there not teaching even basic music rules, its basically one hour in school week to waste the student time sitting talking to each other , so i don’t see whats Wong with doing those things , i hope they do then in fact , and I’m the biggest liberal in Kuwait
February 23rd, 2006 at 7:29 am
as a concerned mother, (and i really consider myself a mother of ALL KUWAITI CHILDREN i worry about everything in Kuwait that is child-related i make plans for a better future for ALL OF KUWAIT, I wake my husband up to talk about that woman (mother or maid) in the mall hitting “her” child and I lose sleep over it), anyway, as a concerned mother, taking music class out of the curriculum is very concerning, i hate to think of it as one more step to make it easier for “them” to brainwash the next generations and “raise” OUR children THIER way. my cousin talked about this issue with a “who cares attitude” and she explained that she doesnt really care because her children are in a private school, my uncle laughed and said ”
ooh and they cants get to them there right? They are safe!”
The answer is definitely better music classes, i really dont know if its really a class where students do nothing but if thats the case then they should really be teaching them MUSIC.
kaifan theater SHOULD really be torn down, only to be re-built again, we need better theaters so our children can enjoy their evenings going their to listen to nice music or see GOOD plays ( yes i do pray for that to happen by the time my son is old enough and yes it can happen). Amen :”)
February 24th, 2006 at 1:49 am
خوش بوست
August 1st, 2007 at 3:27 pm
hi…
will read it later…