LurkerJ said: I like this new Saudi Prince, and I want the western media to get off his back and let him do his job. He's pulling out these crazy radical shaikhs by the root, one by one. He's using religious figures to push for less religionism in his country, those who don't comply are being arrested, and somehow, some of the western media outlets aren't happy about it because it's brutal and against "free-speech". I say free speech my ass, waiting for that country to find the "light" without such extreme measures is a ridiculous notion. This is what we've been waiting for, I wait for Mohammed Bin Salman to whip some more liberal values into his country. I hope his next assault is on the Burqa, but that dream might bring a religious revolution to his door steps

He really is doing so much. He stripped the "religious police" of all their powers. That was huge. Before him they had the authority to do whatever they wanted and arrest whomever they wanted. 

Maybe you mean the abaya? Because as I replied to another user earlier in the thread burqas are not mandatory. Women are only required to cover hair and body not their face. And honestly I don't think abayas will last that long. The country has already gotten so lenient on that; women are allowed to wear abayas with different colors and styles and some even show the waist etc. Before it was mandatory that it be black and not show body shape. You already see some women not covering their hair anymore because the religious police are gone.

Talal said: LurkerJ said: I like this new Saudi Prince, and I want the western media to get off his back and let him do his job. He's pulling out these crazy radical shaikhs by the root, one by one. He's using religious figures to push for less religionism in his country, those who don't comply are being arrested, and somehow, some of the western media outlets aren't happy about it because it's brutal and against "free-speech". I say free speech my ass, waiting for that country to find the "light" without such extreme measures is a ridiculous notion. This is what we've been waiting for, I wait for Mohammed Bin Salman to whip some more liberal values into his country. I hope his next assault is on the Burqa, but that dream might bring a religious revolution to his door steps He really is doing so much. He stripped the "religious police" of all their powers. That was huge. Before him they had the authority to do whatever they wanted and arrest whomever they wanted.  Maybe you mean the abaya? Because as I replied to another user earlier in the thread burqas are not mandatory. Women are only required to cover hair and body not their face. And honestly I don't think abayas will last that long. The country has already gotten so lenient on that; women are allowed to wear abayas with different colors and styles and some even show the waist etc. Before it was mandatory that it be black and not show body shape. You already see some women not covering their hair anymore because the religious police are gone.

First of all, good to see you around, Talal!

Thanks for explaining the difference, I honestly had to google both the terms just now to learn which refers to which. Yes, I mean the Abaya. If men can wear things other than white thobes, women should be allowed to wear something else. 

As for Salman, I hope he continues at a similar pace, however, the financial problems the Saudi kingdom is facing are hard to overcome, and any potential religious opposition will blame him for those problems, even though, he came to power after decades of national resources mismanagement. I can already hear the religious nuts pinning the economic condition on his "sins". For once, I find myself hoping for oil prices to go up and remain high as long as he's in power

Teeqoz said: LurkerJ said: I like this new Saudi Prince, and I want the western media to get off his back and let him do his job. He's pulling out these crazy radical shaikhs by the root, one by one. He's using religious figures to push for less religionism in his country, those who don't comply are being arrested, and somehow, some of the western media outlets aren't happy about it because it's brutal and against "free-speech". I say free speech my ass, waiting for that country to find the "light" without such extreme measures is a ridiculous notion. This is what we've been waiting for, I wait for Mohammed Bin Salman to whip some more liberal values into his country. I hope his next assault is on the Burqa, but that dream might bring a religious revolution to his door steps I agree to a certain degree, but you can only get so far with liberal values from a dictator. Saudi Arabia won't become a democracy any time soon...

Democracy isn't always the best form of government. Previous Saudi dictators were responsible for spreading Wahabi values and teachings inside and outside Saudi Arabia, this young prince wants to reverse that. I just wish he had more western support.

During the late Obama era, Al Saud days seemed numbered, but nowadays, it seems like they've received an extension. I am not sure what's going on to be honest, and I am dying to know how Trump and Qatar fit into the bigger picture. Whatever's going behind the scenes, Mohammad Bin Salman is a one time opportunity to exert a positive change in the middle as a whole, his vision for a liberal middle east sounds and looks a lot better to me than Qatar's vision and Erdogan's plans. 

Could you refrain from calling others you disagree with assholes?

Ah yes, the 'let's randomly introduce something worse to deflect an issue' argument, one of the most commonly used on the internet.

Yeah, I won't condone name calling either in all honesty. I'll disagree or call out their viewpoints, but there's no need to name call the actual person.

As for the original thread, I wonder if this will hit the taxi industry. Many women used taxis to get around, so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the use of taxis decrease

In your opinion, spokentruth. In spite of your name, whatever you say or think is not the absolute truth or factual, It's an opinion. I don't give one fuck if you think someone is the biggest asshole in the world, it doesn't give you any justification to call them what you want.  A person has to have some kind of opinion that you don't like to get ya to think of them as an asshole, right? All you're doing is resorting to personal attacks with people you disagree with.

I mean, this just isn't true. If you can get harmed for not using it, then it isn't optional.

Oh good. Maybe he can stop them exporting Wahabism to the west. We don't want it.

It's not just the ad hominem attacks, but also the moral grandstanding and presenting it as an argument (Hint: It isn't).

They don't get harmed...

Don't speak as if you know what happens here.