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| Arabia |
| (Arab Press) Elections in Saudi Arabia |
| 2004-08-14 |
| By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid Such a title in our local press is strange. A title protesting Saudi women being denied the right to vote and the invalidity of elections that exclude women is equally strange. The local press has been full of articles and arguments discussing and demanding even more than these two seem to promise. The very fact that such a thing is being discussed and written about reflects real and genuine development. In fact the announcement in the local press of such things is illustrative of qualitative development and change and not merely a theatrical performance as seen in some other countries. Freedom comes by small steps that move forward through struggle; regardless of what we say, these are healthy and positive and mirror changes in the public. We should not consider protests as complaints or as discontent or negative. We should see them as a new state of being. In a country such as this one, the norm has been a traditional political environment in which you can write and you can talk but you cannot imply that anything is wrong or in any way negative. Any criticisms, complaints or even suggestions simply disappear into thin air. Now, however, mental habits, needs and methods have changed — and we must change along with them so that we benefit from them and use them to our own advantage and for our own good. As for the elections for men — and I hope we will soon see elections open to women as well — which will take place before the end of the year, they are both a giant and a historic step. True that some will say the step is a long overdue one but we must be glad the step is going to take place. We cannot deny that there is some natural anxiety about the step but that is normal in such a situation. And the anxiety has to do more with the results of the elections than with the elections themselves. The political backwardness that is widespread in the Arab world has produced disappointing experiences when it comes to elections. Yet we must accept whoever is elected and we must participate in the choice of those individuals. We know that the elections may strengthen certain of the less progressive tendencies in the community. We also know that it will be a long time before elections become the way to real modernization and updating of our society. We are prepared to be told, "Oh, you who complain about the elections are the very ones who asked for them." And it is true that we planted its seeds but we will harvest its fruits as well. We must accept all, looking to the day when the community will look to itself for development and modification. Constructing and establishing these mechanisms and methodologies today is important and essential, regardless of results. For such steps move toward ensuring stability for today and tomorrow and equally toward success. Among our beliefs and convictions is one that a good community is able to remedy its problems as long as there is a chance to share responsibility. People naturally lean toward serving the general good and getting to know what is for the general good takes time and patience. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |