This sloppy article from CNN talks about how Saudi Arabia overreacts to Valentine’s Day every year and bans all things red in an attempt to quash any plans Saudis have to celebrate the holiday. The Saudi government considers Valentine’s Day to be un-Islamic and thus bans roses, teddy bears, and anything Valentine-related.
So the article starts out decently enough, talking about why Saudi Arabia discourages the holiday, describing the black market for roses that pops up, and speaks with a Saudi blogger for his perspective.
Then, CNN tacks on a three-paragraph description of how difficult women have it in the kingdom, complete with two of the most recent cases that have drawn international attention. Which has…what…to do with Valentine’s Day?
Attaching this to the end of an article about Valentine’s Day makes it seem like CNN blames all of Saudi Arabia’s problems with women on the fact that the government doesn’t recognize the holiday. Well, that solves it. All we have to do is invade Saudi Arabia and liberate them so they can celebrate Valentine’s Day. That should clear up everything nicely.
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I find it rather silly. To ban all things red, then again, I hate Valentines Day. And what did the woman who was pardoned for the lashes have to do with this? :S
While I have my opposing views towards the government of Saudi Arabia and its treatment of women, I agree that the detailed mentioning of abuse towards women was completely irrelevant and uncalled for in respect to the topic. The problem with the media is that it simplifies complex issues, and people end up formulating their own opinion based off a politically slanted article.Valentine’s Day is a capitalism anyway. From what I’ve heard lately, they’re also selling “anti-Valentine’s day” products (like teddy bears with “Love stinks” written on it). It’s like an obligation for couples to buy a rose or a cute card for their significant other, but what’s so romantic about this when it is an expectation set by the culture of capitalism? Aren’t those unexpected moments more Special and Romantic? And with the West literally forcing so-called “democracy” down the throats of Muslim nations, can we really blame Saudi Arabia for its bitterness towards western “holidays” like Valentine’s day?Every day should be “Valentine’s Day” — capitalism could care less about your Love story, they just want you to consume.
Sakura kiss–BINGO. She has NOTHING to do with it, it’s just CNN trying to remind us that Saudi Arabia is SO horrible and everyone there is SO oppressed. Pfff. Salaam, Jehanzeb! Thanks for visiting us! I agree with you about Vday–if you need a calendar to remind you to love somebody, you’re on the wrong page.
Its a classic case of associating the “evilness” of refusing to celebrate a western practiced holidary…with the obvious “backwardness’ of the country…I can just imagine someone after reading that article and relating it to someone else later….”dont you just feel sorry for that lady that will be lashed….well what do expect from a country that doesnt celebrate Vday for heavens sake?”btw stumbled on this website…its fantastic…keep up the excellent work.coolred38.blogspot.com
[...] by the Times closely follows the standard description of Saudi treatment of women that seems to appear by default in any article about Saudi Arabia. It offers a list of information about women in Saudi Arabia, [...]