03-16-2007, 03:13 AM
The answer: <b>when you are in an Arab country </b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Here are excerpts from a recent satirical poem written by Wajeha:
<i>âWhen you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a mosque on every corner - you know that you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you see people living in the past with all the trappings of modernity â do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen religion has control over science â you can be sure that you are in an Arab country.
âWhen clerics are referred to as âscholarsâ â donât be astonished, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you see the ruler transformed into a demigod who never dies or relinquishes his power, and whom nobody is permitted to criticise â do not be too upset, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you find that the large majority of people oppose freedom and find joy in slavery â do not be too distressed, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy, but [see them] seizing every opportunity provided by democracy to grab high positions [in the government] â do not be surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen monarchies turn into theocracies, and republics into hybrids of monarchy and republic â do not be taken aback, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you find that the members of parliament are nominated [by the ruler], or else that half of them are nominated and the other half have bought their seats through bribery⦠you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is worth, or less - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you see that the authorities chop off a manâs hand for stealing a loaf of bread or a penny, but praise and glorify those who steal billions - do not be too surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you are forced to worship the Creator in school and your teachers grade you for it â you can be sure that you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen young women students are publicly flogged merely for exposing their eyes â you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen a boy learns about menstruation and childbirth but not about his own [body] and [the changes] it undergoes in puberty â roll out your prayer mat and beseech Allah to help you deal with your crisis, for you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen land is more important than human beings â you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen covering the womanâs head is more important than financial and administrative corruption, embezzlement, and betrayal of the homeland â do not be astonished, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen minorities are persecuted and oppressed, and if they demand their rights, are accused of being a fifth column or a Trojan horse â be upset, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen women are [seen as] house ornaments which can be replaced at any time â bemoan your fate, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen birth control and family planning are perceived as a Western plot â place your trust in Allah, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen at any time, there can be a knock on your door and you will be dragged off and buried in a dark prison â you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen fear constantly lives in the eyes of the people â you can be certain that you are in an Arab country.â</i><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Here are excerpts from a recent satirical poem written by Wajeha:
<i>âWhen you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a mosque on every corner - you know that you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you see people living in the past with all the trappings of modernity â do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen religion has control over science â you can be sure that you are in an Arab country.
âWhen clerics are referred to as âscholarsâ â donât be astonished, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you see the ruler transformed into a demigod who never dies or relinquishes his power, and whom nobody is permitted to criticise â do not be too upset, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you find that the large majority of people oppose freedom and find joy in slavery â do not be too distressed, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you hear the clerics saying that democracy is heresy, but [see them] seizing every opportunity provided by democracy to grab high positions [in the government] â do not be surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen monarchies turn into theocracies, and republics into hybrids of monarchy and republic â do not be taken aback, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen you find that the members of parliament are nominated [by the ruler], or else that half of them are nominated and the other half have bought their seats through bribery⦠you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is worth, or less - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you see that the authorities chop off a manâs hand for stealing a loaf of bread or a penny, but praise and glorify those who steal billions - do not be too surprised, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen you are forced to worship the Creator in school and your teachers grade you for it â you can be sure that you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen young women students are publicly flogged merely for exposing their eyes â you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen a boy learns about menstruation and childbirth but not about his own [body] and [the changes] it undergoes in puberty â roll out your prayer mat and beseech Allah to help you deal with your crisis, for you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen land is more important than human beings â you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen covering the womanâs head is more important than financial and administrative corruption, embezzlement, and betrayal of the homeland â do not be astonished, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen minorities are persecuted and oppressed, and if they demand their rights, are accused of being a fifth column or a Trojan horse â be upset, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen women are [seen as] house ornaments which can be replaced at any time â bemoan your fate, you are in an Arab country.
âWhen birth control and family planning are perceived as a Western plot â place your trust in Allah, you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen at any time, there can be a knock on your door and you will be dragged off and buried in a dark prison â you are in an Arab countryâ¦
âWhen fear constantly lives in the eyes of the people â you can be certain that you are in an Arab country.â</i><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->