Milestone in the Middle East

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05202009/pos...170067.htm

Quote:FORMER President George W. Bush's policy of en couraging Middle East democratization has just produced spectacular results in the Kuwaiti general election.

In a major victory for the secular reformists over the Islamists, women -- four of them -- were elected to the 50-seat national parliament for the first time. The Islamists' share of Sunday's vote dropped almost 30 percent from the last general election, held just more than a year ago. The radical Muslim Brotherhood lost three of its four seats, while the hard-line Salafis dropped to two from four.

The election of women represents a political earthquake in the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of six oil-rich traditional Arab monarchies. Kuwait has had a parliament on and off since gaining independence in 1960, but the other GCC members entered the era of electoral politics largely due to pressure from the Bush administration. US pressure also played a crucial part in persuading Kuwait's leaders to enfranchise women for the first time in 2005.

The four female parliamentarians all represent the emirate's educated middle classes. The youngest, Aseel Al-Awadhi, is a US-educated philosophy professor. The best known, Rola Dashti, also a teacher, has campaigned for human rights for years. The third, Dr. Maasoumeh Mubarak, is the first Kuwaiti woman to have served as a Cabinet minister (she was health minister), and the fourth, Salwa al-Jassar, is a leading campaigner for women's rights. All managed to defeat prominent Islamists and tribal figures in their respective constituencies.

Progress, slowly but surely.

Robert is gonna be pissed.

Pakistan(not Arab or the Middle East) has had some female leadership, namely Bhutto

and just what is the common link between Pakistan and Kuwait?

(05-20-2009 02:29 PM)Rebel Wrote:  Robert is gonna be pissed.

Bug probably doesn't know yet....he's got tunnel digging duty this week in Gaza.

as good as place as any to post this, a movie about what Robertas buddies would prefer happen to women like this.

http://www.thestoning.com/

"The Stoning of Soraya M"



True story, coming to theaters soon

Elected to Parliment, still can't drive themselves to work. Progress is funny sometimes......

I look at the Emirates for examples of progress.

(05-20-2009 06:55 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I look at the Emirates for examples of progress.

Out of necessity. The Sheikh was told his oil supply would soon be depleted. So, instead of bitching and complaining about how the west was Satan and out to destroy Islam, he took charge and started a contingency plan. Make the UAE and tourist haven. .....of which he's been EXTREMELY successful. Word on the "street" is, you don't want to be a radical and fk up over there. They're not as "nice" to radicals as we are.

Singapore is pretty progressive also. They do have quite a few Muslims there.

(05-20-2009 07:57 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  Singapore is pretty progressive also. They do have quite a few Muslims there.

I lived in Singapore for 8 years.

Progressive until you criticize the PAP. But Singapore is the ultimate example of Confucian paternalism - a very real cradle-to-grave society. Hard work is rewarded, going against the grain is not........ especially politically against the grain.

(05-20-2009 02:52 PM)GGniner Wrote:  as good as place as any to post this, a movie about what Robertas buddies would prefer happen to women like this.

http://www.thestoning.com/

"The Stoning of Soraya M"



True story, coming to theaters soon

This is coming out this week, and as relevant as ever......see Neda being killed by the Iranian thugs on the streets of Tehran, now an International symbol of Martyrdom

WARNING: HIGHLY GRAPHIC, NSFW




http://online.worldmag.com/2009/06/22/ne...lying-cry/