Right to Drive

Well my friends, among the pictures of civil rights leaders that I have in my bedroom, a new one is going up. This is the picture of Fowziyah al-Oyouni, one of the founding members of the Saudi organization, the Committee of Demanders of Women's Right to Drive Cars. Long title, but an organization that needs all the support we can give it.

That is right, currently, the only nation with Religously segregated roads between Muslims and Non-Muslims does not allow their female citizens, or residents as some call them, to drive themselves around the city.

On average, a Saudi Family has to spend $300-$400 dollars a month to hire a live in male driver for the purpose of driving a car with blacked out windows so that the woman won't get "Exposed to temptation" according to some Sheiks.

For those families that cannot afford a live-in family, in other words most families, the women have to find a male relative of legal driving age who can drive them around.

If they cannot, then the shopping won't get done, the girls won't be able to go to school, and the teenagers will be stuck at home complaining.

But now, several women's rights organizations have come together and are going to be presenting the king with a formal petition by Sunday, the kingdom's national day.

But, it won't be easy.

Two years ago, Mohammed al-Zufa, a member of the unelected Consultative Council, suggested allowing women over the age of 35 to drive. His comment was met with calls to strip him of his citizenship in The Kingdom, and accusations that he was trying to convince women to discard their veils and mix around with women.

Egads, we can't have that. It will lead to the breakdown of society


Please.

People, friends, countrymen, people who read to much Shakespeare, please send letters to the King of Saudi Arabia, and ask him to allow his people to pursue a right that is granted to every other woman in the world. Or, if you are on Facebook, join the soon to be formed cause, Americans for the Rights of Muslim Women. All you will have to do is read tomorrow's post on "Honor Killings," an you will be begging to join.