Saudi Arabia - 3/11/11

[Irish]

In recent news it would seem that Facebook is the ideal form of fomenting a revolution in the Middle East. With that in mind I'm curious to see the results of the Saudi Arabia Revolution Facebook page. With almost 7000 "Likes" it would appear to be a somewhat popular movement thus far, although I'm not sure to what real extent. Our current gas and food prices will pale in comparison if this "revolution" comes to fruition.

Their demands are as follows:

1 - a constitutional monarchy between the king and government.
2 – a written constitution approved by the people in which governing powers will be determined.
3 – transparency, accountability in fighting corruption
4 – the Government in the service of the people
5 – legislative elections.
6 – public freedoms and respect for human rights
7 – allowing civil society institutions
8 – full citizenship and the abolition of all forms of discrimination.
9 – Adoption of the rights of women and non-discrimination against them.
10 – an independent and fair judiciary.
11 – impartial development and equitable distribution of wealth.
12 – to seriously address the problem of unemployment

http://www.facebook.com/K.S.A.Revolution

[SteyrAUG]

You just have to be careful with revolution in that part of the world, it can easily become an Islamic theocracy. I think most of us remember Iran and how that started due to human rights violations and a desire for more freedoms.

Personally I'd love to believe the Middle East is finally achieving their renaissance. It's centuries overdue but better late than never. If the Middle East could take a more secular approach to Islam and join the modern civilized world that would be the singular event of the 21rst century.

We need to remember that the people of the Middle East virtually invented civilization and took over from the Greeks the perfection of things like math and science (ironically at a time when we let our culture be destroyed by our religious fundamentalism) and it was Islam that eventually arrested their cultural development.

I'd personally love to live in a world where Jihadists numbered about as many people as abortion clinic bombers in the US and where Wahabists were viewed with the same consideration as "young Earth" creationists.

[BrianS]

11 – impartial development and equitable distribution of wealth.

Pan Islamic Socialist Caliphate. Look out world!

[LHS]

You just have to be careful with revolution in that part of the world, it can easily become an Islamic theocracy. I think most of us remember Iran and how that started due to human rights violations and a desire for more freedoms.

Personally I'd love to believe the Middle East is finally achieving their renaissance. It's centuries overdue but better late than never. If the Middle East could take a more secular approach to Islam and join the modern civilized world that would be the singular event of the 21rst century.

We need to remember that the people of the Middle East virtually invented civilization and took over from the Greeks the perfection of things like math and science (ironically at a time when we let our culture be destroyed by our religious fundamentalism) and it was Islam that eventually arrested their cultural development.

I'd personally love to live in a world where Jihadists numbered about as many people as abortion clinic bombers in the US and where Wahabists were viewed with the same consideration as "young Earth" creationists.

That's about as perfect as it could be put, SteyrAUG. I think it sums it up rather well.

[Belmont31R]

My dad just finished up a job in KSA around Sep last year, and is now around Basrah. He just had to fly, last week, to EAE for 5 days because of protests around his work site. He should be back on the job Tue our time.

[Irish]

If this comes to pass anybody want to make wagers on the price of a gallon of gasoline? I'm guessing easily north of $5 per gallon.

[mr_smiles]

Pan Islamic Socialist Caliphate. Look out world!

So government oil profits should go to an Islamic monarchy that has one hell of a track record for human rights violations, and funding terrorist - like the guys who flew in to two building in NY around a decade ago. Look out world!

[SteyrAUG]

So government oil profits should go to an Islamic monarchy that has one hell of a track record for human rights violations, and funding terrorist - like the guys who flew in to two building in NY around a decade ago. Look out world!

Well if I have to choose between an Iran under a Shah and an Iran under an Ayatollah...

[11B101ABN]

They had me until #11. That soured me on it.

[mr_smiles]

Well if I have to choose between an Iran under a Shah and an Iran under an Ayatollah...
The al saud are a bunch of inbred trash who have wealth and power simply because their goat screwing savage ancestors called a piece of crap land home a century ago. I have more respect for the ayatollah than I do any member of the saudi royal family. At least that f'er has ambition. I'm going to bet you won't catch the ayatollah screwing prostitutes while prosecuting girls for adultery. Something the saud's have no problem doing.

If you're going to be a religious zealot than you need to live by those laws of morality that you preach.

I don't care for the saud clan - can you tell ;)

[SteyrAUG]

The al saud are a bunch of inbred trash who have wealth and power simply because their goat screwing savage ancestors called a piece of crap land home a century ago. I have more respect for the ayatollah than I do any member of the saudi royal family. At least that f'er has ambition. I'm going to bet you won't catch the ayatollah screwing prostitutes while prosecuting girls for adultery. Something the saud's have no problem doing.

If you're going to be a religious zealot than you need to live by those laws of morality that you preach.

I don't care for the saud clan - can you tell ;)

You don't need to sell me. They still have ACTUAL witch trials.

My point is I'd prefer an Islamic monarchy to an Islamic theocracy. We get enough terrorists from Saudi as it is.

[kartoffel]

You know they must be really f'ed up for these demands to be an improvement over their current situation.


1 - a constitutional monarchy between the king and government.

A purely ceremonial monarchy would be preferred. Royalty is fine for observing traditions and playing dress-up, but it has no place in government.


2 – a written constitution approved by the people in which governing powers will be determined.

Well, actually putting something down in writing would be a start.

I hope the Saudi people can pull it off. It's downright shameful that the US has openly supported the house of Saud for so long. People are worried that Egypt is ripe for a takeover by radical Islam, yet many don't realize that the Saudis are exactly that? The whole government, if you can call it that, is run by Wahhabi/Salafi extremists.

[Irish]

The Saudi King has put forth a $36 billion reform package/bribe to keep the peace. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I've also read several articles stating that 3/11 would be the day of protests so I changed the title of the thread.

[D. Christopher]

I realize Facebook and Twitter are probably some of the most important and powerful mass communication tools to ever be available to the individual. What worries me is that even though I don't get news or facts from the TV anymore, I know that most major networks are reporting what they hear on Twitter and Facebook as fact, with very little or no fact checking to verify these sources of information. Many networks now have or are hiring people just to specialize in this type of reporting. (Because it's cheap!)

If the networks and newspapers put their faith in anonymous tweets from people they don't know in far away lands, just because they can no longer afford to put reporters on the ground to get and verify their stories, things can only get worse for them. They are already untrustworthy, I guess the only thing left is to be unprofitable.