Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Good Evening, At 10:11 ã 29/09/2004, you wrote: >I sometimes wonder what would happen if the terrorist did get a chance to >feel freedom for a week if they would look back and wonder why they were >fighting against the US. They may wish they were helping the US fight for >the Iraqis people freedom. I think that these terrorists have a seriously distorted image of reality. They claim to do what they do in the name of Islam but if you were to read the Qu'ran and oral traditions, you'd find that in the eyes of Islam, what they are doing is a great sin (known as Haram). It bothers me that they have somehow convinced themselves that what they are doing is " right " . Same thing goes to the situation with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. They claim to be Muslim fundamentalists when in fact, all they are doing is so eliminate the female-half of the human race in Afghanistan-so to speak. I can understand foreigners going through so much stress here but it doesn't help to advertise your nationality these days. People have accused me of hiding but the truth is that, in your area, if they know you're from a Western country, all of the sudden, everything is more expensive. Case in point, my husband needed a report that I'm pregnant for his immigration applilcation. I tell everyone, even at the doctor's office, that I'm Ecuadorian (I DO have residency status there) and no one bugs me. But for that document, they had to write that I'm canadian. Low and behold, an ordinarily free report would cost us 100 riyals...until my husband threatened to pull my file (charging for a report here is illegal)...THIS is why I don't mention where I'm from but it helps that my neighbors don't know...they've ignored us so far but I'm sure that if they knew where I'm really from, they'd start inviting us over for tea and so on--people can be such hypocrites! Anyhow, since the problems here have flared up, I feel safer in this situation because I know that i won't be a target (God willing). If you have an American flaunting about in a mall in Riyadh, she will draw attention and it will not be positive attention. I can spot a " foreigner " a mile away and in times of unrest-that's not always a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Thanks I am glad you are in the group I really don't understand that part of the world and glad you are able to make me understand better. I have always treated my friend you scratch my back and help out and I will scratch yours and return the favor. I wonder in your country who I could trust to be a friend. Bill Re: stress OT Good Evening,At 10:11 ã 29/09/2004, you wrote:>I sometimes wonder what would happen if the terrorist did get a chance to >feel freedom for a week if they would look back and wonder why they were >fighting against the US. They may wish they were helping the US fight for >the Iraqis people freedom.I think that these terrorists have a seriously distorted image of reality. They claim to do what they do in the name of Islam but if you were to read the Qu'ran and oral traditions, you'd find that in the eyes of Islam, what they are doing is a great sin (known as Haram). It bothers me that they have somehow convinced themselves that what they are doing is "right".Same thing goes to the situation with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. They claim to be Muslim fundamentalists when in fact, all they are doing is so eliminate the female-half of the human race in Afghanistan-so to speak.I can understand foreigners going through so much stress here but it doesn't help to advertise your nationality these days. People have accused me of hiding but the truth is that, in your area, if they know you're from a Western country, all of the sudden, everything is more expensive. Case in point, my husband needed a report that I'm pregnant for his immigration applilcation. I tell everyone, even at the doctor's office, that I'm Ecuadorian (I DO have residency status there) and no one bugs me. But for that document, they had to write that I'm canadian.Low and behold, an ordinarily free report would cost us 100 riyals...until my husband threatened to pull my file (charging for a report here is illegal)...THIS is why I don't mention where I'm from but it helps that my neighbors don't know...they've ignored us so far but I'm sure that if they knew where I'm really from, they'd start inviting us over for tea and so on--people can be such hypocrites!Anyhow, since the problems here have flared up, I feel safer in this situation because I know that i won't be a target (God willing). If you have an American flaunting about in a mall in Riyadh, she will draw attention and it will not be positive attention. I can spot a "foreigner" a mile away and in times of unrest-that's not always a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Funny you should say that. I have a canadian friend living here who I just found out her husband is dealing in some um....doubtful activities. I've stopped communicating with her for that reason. While she's really sweet and is probably not involved, I don't want to be anywhere near them anymore...eck! Here it doesn't matter if your involved or not-there's guilt by association. Whatever you do, don't trust the media. I remember the last big attack about two months back? Anyhow, CNN portrayed Riyadh like a warzone....with police and military personnel crawling all over the city (this is what you saw on the news)...yet I had just come home (and I was on the other side of the city) and hadn't seen a thing. Same thing for Ecuador-I was there during the civil unrest in 1999 and what the TV showed and what actually was going on were two separate things. At 11:54 ã 29/09/2004, you wrote: Thanks I am glad you are in the group I really don't understand that part of the world and glad you are able to make me understand better. I have always treated my friend you scratch my back and help out and I will scratch yours and return the favor. I wonder in your country who I could trust to be a friend. Bill Re: stress OT Good Evening, At 10:11 ã 29/09/2004, you wrote: >I sometimes wonder what would happen if the terrorist did get a chance to >feel freedom for a week if they would look back and wonder why they were >fighting against the US. They may wish they were helping the US fight for >the Iraqis people freedom. I think that these terrorists have a seriously distorted image of reality. They claim to do what they do in the name of Islam but if you were to read the Qu'ran and oral traditions, you'd find that in the eyes of Islam, what they are doing is a great sin (known as Haram). It bothers me that they have somehow convinced themselves that what they are doing is " right " . Same thing goes to the situation with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. They claim to be Muslim fundamentalists when in fact, all they are doing is so eliminate the female-half of the human race in Afghanistan-so to speak. I can understand foreigners going through so much stress here but it doesn't help to advertise your nationality these days. People have accused me of hiding but the truth is that, in your area, if they know you're from a Western country, all of the sudden, everything is more expensive. Case in point, my husband needed a report that I'm pregnant for his immigration applilcation. I tell everyone, even at the doctor's office, that I'm Ecuadorian (I DO have residency status there) and no one bugs me. But for that document, they had to write that I'm canadian. Low and behold, an ordinarily free report would cost us 100 riyals...until my husband threatened to pull my file (charging for a report here is illegal)...THIS is why I don't mention where I'm from but it helps that my neighbors don't know...they've ignored us so far but I'm sure that if they knew where I'm really from, they'd start inviting us over for tea and so on--people can be such hypocrites! Anyhow, since the problems here have flared up, I feel safer in this situation because I know that i won't be a target (God willing). If you have an American flaunting about in a mall in Riyadh, she will draw attention and it will not be positive attention. I can spot a " foreigner " a mile away and in times of unrest-that's not always a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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