![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Words and deeds
Sep. 25th, 2011 10:33 pmHuge banner headline: WOMEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN SAUDI ARABIA!
Smaller subheadline: ... but not in this week's elections. All that's been promised is that one of the world's most woman-hating states will, at some point between now and 2015, bestow on women the right to vote, to stand as candidates, to hold elective office, and to be appointed to the Consultative Assembly.
I will believe this when I see it: when I see Saudi women going freely to the ballot boxes and voting by secret ballot without being subjected to abuse, bullying, murder or threats of murder; and campaigning and serving in elective office free from those constraints.
When today's declaration is fulfilled, it will be worth celebrating. If Saudi women should also acquire the right to drive their own cars; to travel or marry or make any decision without the approval of a theocracy-imposed male guardian; to engage in political protest without punishment falling on them or on those theocracy-imposed male guardians; that will also be worth a spot of partying... when it happens.
When it happens, and not a heartbeat before.
Smaller subheadline: ... but not in this week's elections. All that's been promised is that one of the world's most woman-hating states will, at some point between now and 2015, bestow on women the right to vote, to stand as candidates, to hold elective office, and to be appointed to the Consultative Assembly.
I will believe this when I see it: when I see Saudi women going freely to the ballot boxes and voting by secret ballot without being subjected to abuse, bullying, murder or threats of murder; and campaigning and serving in elective office free from those constraints.
When today's declaration is fulfilled, it will be worth celebrating. If Saudi women should also acquire the right to drive their own cars; to travel or marry or make any decision without the approval of a theocracy-imposed male guardian; to engage in political protest without punishment falling on them or on those theocracy-imposed male guardians; that will also be worth a spot of partying... when it happens.
When it happens, and not a heartbeat before.