Michelle Obama forgoes a headscarf and sparks a backlash in Saudi Arabia

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Ditto but only that it could be any white American for that matter.. If she was a non western not the first lady of the US.. the Real Saudi courtesy would have been experienced

i remember reading the case about a british guy who was flogged in Saudi for indecent behaviour so i dont think its about skin colour but rather its about being a foreign presidential couple rather than just regular civilian

now of course if you are a Muslim woman in public in Saudi then its highly advisable to be covered up otherwise they'd be warned by religious/vice prevention police and maybe punished im not sure. I dont know their laws on that, but it's a conservative country - it's different in the west

 

[Mosamania]

these are cultural nuances which they should be informed about prior to visiting....but i think media as usual making bigger deal of it than they need to - like its a celebrity gossip magazine or something. Sometimes media is like paparazzi guys

Saudi Arabia is the Lindsey Lohan of the world.

i remember reading the case about a british guy who was flogged in Saudi for indecent behaviour so i dont think its about skin colour but rather its about being a foreign presidential couple rather than just regular civilian

now of course if you are a Muslim woman in public in Saudi then its highly advisable to be covered up otherwise they'd be warned by religious/vice prevention police and maybe punished im not sure. I dont know their laws on that, but it's a conservative country - it's different in the west

20 years ago not coverings your heads was considered something the religious police can arrest you for. If they do so now then half the women in Jeddah and Riyadh would have to be arrested. Its not the same country it used to be.

 

[doppelganger]

And one of the things I was taught is never to reach my hand to shake hands with a woman because it is disrespectful to her and her family to do so.

To be honest, while I was not taught the same thing (not in so many words), I do take a quick view chek of the woman before shoving my hand out.

On their part, very very few of them (in case of wrong numbers) have been rude enough not to take my hand. Though its a quick dab and retract.

Most women put us out of our misery by initiating the namaste if they have hassles otherwise. For a handshake though, its considered too forward for the woman to initiate, so the man does. And takes the inherent risks thereof.

Its a complicated social game.

 

[About.to.be.banned]

Two years ago.. My first and my last.. What does that prove anyway ?

What happened with you in Saudia?

 

[gau8av]

Saudi Arabia is the Lindsey Lohan of the world.

more Josef Fritzl than Lindsay Lohan

 

[Gibbs]

Then you should learn to respect others value they do have same view about you which you have about them but no body will behead you for not covering head.

Respect should be a two way street.. You cant demand respect because you think you're born superior, You need to earn it.. Color,Creed, Nationality, or religion should not matter.. I dont where you are from but i'm sure you're yet to experience the "respect" non White westerners get in Saudi Arabia..

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Two years ago.. My first and my last.. What does that prove anyway ?

why you so upset man what happened

 

[Mosamania]

To be honest, while I was not taught the same thing (not in so many words), I do take a quick view chek of the woman before shoving my hand out.

On their part, very very few of them (in case of wrong numbers) have been rude enough not to take my hand. Though its a quick dab and retract.

Most women put us out of our misery by initiating the namaste if they have hassles otherwise. For a handshake though, its considered too forward for the woman to initiate, so the man does. And takes the inherent risks thereof.

Its a complicated social game.

The proper way to greet a woman in Saudi Arabia is a simple head nod and then fixing your eyes on the ground and not looking up. To do otherwise would be taken as an insult by the woman.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

there are some really ignorant people here who think saudis behead women just for not covering their heads
these are the same people when its about a western country
they simply say
their country their rules now why are they crying ?

 

[Mosamania]

This entire article is like a saudi conservative press agency going to the US and taking pictures of women wearing shorts and saying how disrespectful it is. It is just plain stupid.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

it's true.....at the end of the day it's their country their rules their traditions. When one is a guest in one others' home or country you respect the local traditions

you wont go to a Japanese home and refuse to take off your shoes, for example

 

[VelocuR]

President Barack Obama shakes hands with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, center, as she greets Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, left, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015

What is Condoleza Rice doing there?

" Former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft and Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state under George W. Bush, joined the US contingent, which included current Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan and General Lloyd Austin, head of US Central Command.

They had all accompanied Obama to India but Secretary of State John Kerry and Senator John McCain joined the president especially for his Saudi trip. "

Obama tackles IS fight, Iran with new Saudi king - World - DAWN.COM

Twitter :
King Salman later said via his Twitter account that it was “a pleasure to host President Barack ObamaWe discussed our nations' historic ties and strategic partnership to support world peace. “Obama is the latest leader to visit Riyadh since Friday.

His reception was the most elaborate but sheikhs, presidents and prime ministers from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas all came to pay their respects.

 

[Gibbs]

What happened with you in Saudia?

why you so upset man what happened

Same things that almost all non white especially non Americans would experience there.. Being treated like sub humans.. Mind you i'm Eurasian and a Australian passport holder.. Shudder to think what people of South Asia and others would have to go through

Any way my posts were to highlight the hypocrisy of it all.. Not to disrespect their perceived culture however f@cked up they are in the 21st century

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

President Barack Obama shakes hands with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, center, as she greets Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, left, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015

What is Condoleza Rice doing there?

Some of the "old gang" were there - like James Baker and some of the people Bush family worked with who are close with the Saudis....didnt realize she was there too. Oh God havent seen her face in a while.

Were any of the Bush family there? They always had a close ties with the family there

 

[doppelganger]

it's true.....at the end of the day it's their country their rules their traditions. When one is a guest in one others' home or country you respect the local traditions

you wont go to a Japanese home and refuse to take off your shoes, for example

Need to stock up on socks in that case.

Too many embarrassing stories of going to places where I have to take off my shoes, only to remember that is the day I chose to slip into the pair with nice holes in them .....