just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it's wrong. that is the typical american male attitude. narrow minded and ignorant. really it doesn't matter if we as americans 'don't get it'. who are to say 'what is it with this culture' or that's wrong....NO. it's not. it's just different. "that culture" probably says the same exact thing about us..why are we...

Hi Valerie,

I see that stating, "What is it about this culture...." disturbed you. Perhaps, by me rephrasing, you wouldn't be deflected so much from the actual point I was raising.

So, to rephrase for clarity:

Why is it that we find, in countries whose legal system is based on Moslem philosophy, such repressive laws designed to prevent sexual expression?

Note, too, that merely critiquing another culture doesn't automatically mean that I don't have criticism for my own culture or that I'm not open minded and am ignorant. To say so indicates that you may be suffering from that which you accuse since there is not only nothing wrong with valid criticism but this type of exchange may, instead, serve to illuminate and connect since it asks for information based upon what most anyone can easily observe and, if denied, leads one to wonder what biases may exist in the mind of the one doing the denying.

Questioning is not indicative of close mindedness or ignorance.

Also, good to be thought of as a "typical" male, something that no one who knows me ever accused me of! :)

Furthmore, Valerie,

I strongly believe that we all have equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but to do so without unjustly infringing on the legitimate space of others. I believe these rights are inalienable and correct for everyone, from all cultures. Thereto, I believe in freedom of expression, as long as it doesn't directly endanger others (as in shouting, "Fire", in a movie theater when there isn't any fire).

The Saudi culture/government is obviously in conflict with this belief and, just because they have a political boundary defining the borders of their nation does not mean that the definition of freedom is any different there, or even should be different as defined above, in this post.

With your ideas, and correct me if I err, that each nation can set a new definition of what freedom means, progress or change for the better can and will be critically hampered. They need to question their beliefs, as we all should, and truly determine the real reasons for their oppressive laws.

I submit this law is based on a cultural assumption that males have a right to not control their sexual impulses and that, therefore, the laws should cater to them by preventing anyone in society from expressing sexual inducements that may excite a male. How's that for male dominance?!

Women must, thereby, walk about completely covered, regardless of the weather conditions while men can dress as they please, as long as their head is covered. Women are killed if they are raped while the man gets a relative slap on the wrist, if that.

You don't see something wrong with this?