A lady called Manal al-Sharif was killed on Saturday. She was, in Saudi terms, a brave pioneer:
A woman who defied a driving ban on female motorists in Saudi Arabia has died in a car crash.
The House of Saud is the only regime in the world to ban women from driving (at least until the Arab Spring gets even springier). Ms al-Sharif was detained for ten days last May for breaking the driving ban. She got off lightly:
In September, a woman in Jeddah named Shayma Jastaniah was found guilty of driving through the streets.
She was sentenced to 10 lashes as a result of the charges despite holding an international driving license.
Our friends the Saudis: If you’re a woman driver, they’ll give you a new set of weals.
ba dump dump
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't know. I think the Saudis may be onto something withe driving ban. They definitely have it right on the voting ban. I dare anyone to argue the 19th Amendment was a good idea. That marks the end of the Republic and the start of the Progressive Era in America.
Not a coincidence.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNice try, but the Progressive Era began with the election of 1912 (and the 16th and 17th Amendments, passed the next year).
Women voters: so powerful that they could alter events eight years in the past!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlease tell us you are joking.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLook, I won't say you're *wrong*. But note that Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were both elected before the 19th Amendment.
(OK, Roosevelt wasn't elected to his first term, and Wilson won because of a split vote. But still.)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOther respondents think you are joking, but in all seriousness, I believe women voters are far more likely to exhibit progressive/leftist political tendencies.
In my smaller, upper-middle class town in CA, the women especially have the attitude "No amount of money is too much to spend on my precious little Justin or Brianna's education, recreation, or 'safety' ". Especially when the money is some _other_ taxpayer's burden.
Furthermore, the typical, highly intelligent CA voter recognizes bonds and federal grants are "free" money that someone else is responsible for. Therefore, no effort shall be spared in getting that federal money or approving more municipal bonds.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWWAD - What Would Allah Do? Very advanced culture. No surprise that they helped launch space travel apparently.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAre we sure it was an "accident"?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseObama to Saudis: Interested in some cheap Chevy Volts?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlease, commenters, a little respect.
Say this happened in a country which put severe restrictions on the ability of half its adult population to participate in society at large, and one of the suppressed who stood up to the tyranny was killed -- in as yet unclear circumstances: would you respond with flip remarks, or note the passing with respect?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou mean a country like Saudi Arabia? Well, I guess that changes everything. No, wait, it changes nothing. I still don't think women should vote and I'm 50-50 on the driving part. And, I don't care what the savages do to their women. It ain't my problem and it ain't your problem either. If you're looking for a problem to solve, move to Detroit and try and civilize those people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI wouldn't note it at all. I'd say it's none of my business, or Mark Steyn's, or yours, how the Saudis wish to organize their civilization.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTheir what?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusetouche
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe new Aragorn -- not a ranger but an orc.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree.. I tried to show my discontent in one of the most disgusting comments but desisted after realizing it/he was not worthwhile. Thanks!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAm I mistaken, or wasn't Saudi Arabia going to allow women to drive?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMark:
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDon't you mean "wheals (welts)?
"they’ll give you a new set of weals."
-and apparently, bump you off.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Saudis are certainly not women's friends but Manal al- Shariff and others had the courage and decisiveness to confront them and stay tough behind their steering-wheels. In the long run, women's driving ends up in thorough political changes, as a car means freedom and power. Also, men are afraid of this type of new women and feel their authority challenged. This is why Arab leaders maintain the ban: to keep the statu quo, which guarantees their permanent power. Regards.
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