Maid in Coma

After banging her own head against a wall. Umm hmm. Sure. What is the point of even reporting crap like this? Does someone honestly think that a report that says, "The housemaid of Asian nationality reportedly did not wish to return to her homeland, and resorted to banging her head against a wall, resulting in being admitted to hospital [sic] in a coma" is going to be believed? Someone must or it wouldn't be taking up a single paragraph in the paper. But come one. Really. Seriously. WHO bangs their own head against a wall so hard that they put themself into a coma?!? Never mind. It is just another disposable maid. Move along folks. Nothing to see here...

Nothing to see, here, either. Just another India worker who plunged to his death from a high-rise building. Disposable. Get another worker.

A young man [nationality? guess!] has been sentenced to 15 years and 40,000 lashes for having an illicit relationship with a "non-Saudi" girl which resulted in her "accidental" death when she jumped out of the vehicle she was in with him and was run over by a truck. 40,000 lashes. Not a typo, on my part. 15 years in prison. Quick math. 40,000 lashes, divided by 15 years, equals 2,666.66 lashes per year. How will they be doled out? Monthly? That's 222.22 a month. Weekly? That's 52.28 a week. Daily? 7.30 per day. How can that even be possible? The death penalty was being sought by the prosecution. I'm guessing the young man, whoever he is, might be wishing for the death penalty. [If there is a typographical error in the paper's article, and it is corrected, I'll make sure to post it.] The young man is appealing the sentence [if it is reported, you'll read it here]. Must have been some super-duper really, really prominent and important non-Saudi girl for the sentence to have been this severe.

You know, for all the times I make light of PCRC, truly I do feel some compassion when a child is killed. It is not the innocent child's fault. It is the parents' fault. Parents who do not put their little children in safety seats and who do not stop to consider what the consequences of their actions might be. Like in this instance, where a father left his three-year-old daughter [unattended?] in a vehicle with the motor running so that he could run into a restaurant to pick up lunch. Dumbass. Yes, it was an accident. But that should not absolve you - the dumbass father - from blame. You left your little girl in a car with the motor running. Who does this?!? [Happens in America, too, so not directing this at any particular nationality. Stupidity is endemic world-wide.] If she was in a child-safety seat, chances are pretty good that she would have remained in the seat while you ran to get your lunch and she wouldn't have been hanging out the window and able to somehow operate the electrical function that allowed the window to be raised to the point where she suffocated. I remember struggling with the fasteners of child safety seats. They are not manufactured to be operated by little three-year-old hands. Child safety seat? Here? They are a rare sight - and I do mean rare! You'd be more likely to see flying pigs in this part of the world than child safety seats. Was your little girl in the front seat of the vehicle - hanging out the window - when she was somehow able to operate the electric window that caused her suffocation? If she was in the back seat, why didn't you have the "child safety" mechanism turned ON that prevents children from being able to "play with the buttons?" It is sad when any child dies. But this is an accident that could have been prevented with just a teeny tiny iota of common sense. Never mind...

Shocking. Just shocking. "Religious police accused of torture." Hmmm... Whodathunkit? A report by the Saudi Society for Human Rights "has presented a long and detailed list of accusations against the religious police in its 100-page report to the Shoura Council, the highest advisory body in the kingdom." The report "essentially charges the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice... of 'exercising excessive powers that are actually not in its jurisdiction.'" The media is being blamed. Um-hmm. "There were several complaints abou tthe torture and even custodial deaths against the members of the commmission," says the document. "Often these incidents ended up in the newspapers, but 'in such cases, the commission officals have resorted to blaming the media and playing down the reports as exagerated ones.'" Well. Okay, then. Now we know.

Oh. Some good news. That little eight-year-old girl who was married off to a pedophile by her father to "settle his debts" IS going to be allowed a divorce! Well. Kind of. Apparently that the child has won an appeal of the verdict that she would NOT be allowed to "divorce" the pedophile actually means "that the controversial [ya think?] marriage is still in effect, but a challenge to the marriage by the girl's mother is still alive." Huh? "The appeals court action now sends the case back to the earlier judge, who will decide whether to stand by his original decision... If the judge upholds his verdict and refuses to grant the child a divorce annul the marriage, then the case will again go to the appeals court... If the judge changes his decision, then the case is effectively over." Let's hope, for the sake of this child, that the judge clearly sees that NO little EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL should be allowed to marry a pedophile who is 39 YEARS HER SENIOR! Sanity needs to prevail.

Badness, Madness and Sadness Worldwide

Is "badness" the right word? Probably not. It will suffice. "Sadness" isn't quite right, either. Madness, however, fits well, I think...

Does anyone remember watching beauty pageants when the contestants would say, "I wish for world peace?" I think Bob Barker was still the host and emcee then. [I am dating myself - it seems like such a long time ago...]

No mention of yesterday's "car slams into the back of a flatbed semi-truck" in the news today.

[Unless you want to read about the differences in how a matter is resolved by the labor court here in the two versions each printed in today's paper, scroll down. Way, way down.]

"A crowd of over 200 workers who have accused their employer of not paying their wages, not issuing their work/residency permits [iqamas] and harsh treatment descended upon the labor court on Saturday to expedite their case." Cheers to these workers for being bold enough to take matters in their own hands! Kudos also to the judges who decided the case in the workers favor, and to Arab News for finally publishing an employing company's name! It is a first. The company, Al-Hasana Contracting Company, has been ordered by a three-member panel of judges, unanimously, to start paying the workers immediately and to renew the workers iqamas. A victory for the workers! Yeah!!!

Today's Saudi Gazette has the story, as well but the events are reported differently. Commentating the Arab News version, first:

The death of one of the worker's added fuel to the fire. Mohammed Muzammil, a 38-year old Indian worker, "lost his life because of a lack of food and medicine." Mr. Muzammil's body remains at a hospital while the embassy tries to settle his dues and repatriate his body back to India.

A company spokesman has, of course, denied any wrongdoing. [Big surprise.] It the company has done nothing wrong then why weren't the workers paid, and why is it that "The company has agreed to pay all arrears, including salaries of the workers, on a weekly basis (every Tuesday) until all dues are cleared." The company has also agreed that iqamas would be issued and renewed for all workers... The company will also consider applications of those employees who wish to go home... Does this mean that the workers may have been held, by the company, against their will? Sure sounds like it to me. The workers gained a final victory when "It was also agreed that the employees could approach the court again if the company violates the terms of the agreement." It would appear that that victory was short-lived. Two workers, Ashrafuddin Mitru and Abdul Nasser, said "there was no change in the company's attitude." They claim that the company management "has now 'dumped' them at a building... in old Riyadh. The building has no water supply. We are still in trouble."

Perhaps the three-member panel of judges will see the light and throw Al-Hasana Contract Company's owner and management in jail until the company can see fit to treat its workers fairly and humanely. That the judges unanimously decided this case in the favor of the workers is a good first step, though. Baby steps...

And, now, commenting on the Saudi Gazette's version:

"Going against the norm, a Labor Court here passed a verdict, Saturday, in record time to the relief of nearly 300 Asian expatriate workers... over salary delay and 'untold sufferings...' The labor court... took just three weeks to deliver the verdict." The difference in the two versions, so far, are the number of workers and that the Arab News version omits that it took the Labor court three weeks to deliver the verdict. Record time! Sure. Okay. [Emphasis, mine.] The Saudi Gazette version delineates and breakdown in numbers the different nationalities involved.

Moving along... "Hundreds of workers across Saudi Arabia are locked in legal disputes over delay or non-payment of salary. Such cases generally drag on for months or years, mainly because of lengthy legal proceedings and employers not showing up for hearings. Under such circumstances, it is not uncommon for the foreign workers involved to give up and return to their home countries..." Oh, my. Three weeks IS record time, isn't it! Why aren't authorities doing anything about the way the cases are allowed to "drag on" when by simply issuing a warrant for the employer to show up - or throwing him in jail if he does not - matters could be resolved in a more fair and certainly more expedient manner?

Saudi Gazette's version says, "On Saturday the labor court ruled that the employer (name of the company withheld) pay accumulated salaries..." Why is the name of the company withheld? A bit of embarrassment and humiliation might just go a long way, if you ask me. The company, AL-HASANA CONTRACTING COMPANY [Arab News did report it!] delayed salaries of its 300 workers for between 5 to 10 months and did not provide the mandatory health coverage! I have no idea who AL-HASANA CONTRACTING COMPANY's principals are, but they should be utterly ashamed for NOT paying their workers for between 5 to 10 months. [If I was one of the three judges who heard this case all of the company's principals would be in jail - for at least 5 to 10 months! Oh, and they'd be heavily fined, too.]

R. Murleedharan, president of the Federation of Kerala Associates in Saudi Arabia [FOKASA], a social organization which helps Indian workers in distress, says: "This court verdict in record time not only alleviates the sufferings of the workers but also serves as an example to those who shy away from seeking justice in Saudi labor courts." We can only hope so, Mr. Murleedharan. Apparently, some Saudi businessmen have expressed concern over the lengthy procedures and the delays in rulings on cases because it "could discourage foreign workers from coming to work in the Kingdom." Gee. Ya' think?

Quoting directly from the Saudi Gazette:

Despite the court verdict, the workers are not quite jumping for joy. Nearly all of them do not carry a valid Iqama, which is mandatory for foreign workers, and without which they risk jail and deportation if picked up by the police or the Passports and Immigration authorities. [Damn, but if the United States couldn't learn some things from the way eliminating illegals is done in the Sandbox!]

Muhammad Zahoor, an air-conditioning technician, said that following the court verdict, when they went to the work site on Sunday, all those whose Iqamas had expired, were denied entry. "The major task now ahead is to get the verdict implemented," Zahoor said, adding that 75 percent of the workers would want rather [to] collect their end-of-service dues and go home - "largely because of their bitter experience with the company."

No one can blame them, that's for sure.

Baby steps are needed here, as well. And someone tell me just why it is that Saudi workers cannot be trained and employed as laborers?!? "Cheap labor" [bingo!] will always be required.

Is this case being reported in the Canadian papers?

Another 12-year old child has been married.

The headline for this is "Mobile maniac arrested." In yesterday's paper another "mobile maniac" [although he was not described that way] was arrested.

Every year during Haj, pictures of the event wherein thousands and thousands of sheep are slaughtered are printed in our two newpapers. Provided our printer is working - or if it is not working - we get it replaced - I will scan them and post them. You will never, ever be able to convince me that the halal way is in any way, shape or form humane. Not that any other way of slaughtering and killing animals for meat is any better, but I think this is just utterly and reprehensibly barbaric!

A Saudi man has been beheaded.

Police have arrested a murder; he is currently being investigated. He will confess in due time.

May-December Romances

A 90 year old man shows up for a physical. He tells the doctor he is about to marry a 20 year old girl. "Really?" said the doctor. "You're healthy enough, I suppose, but take my advice. If you want a happy marriage, you should take in a boarder. Do you know what I mean?" The old man says, "Okay, Doc. I'll think about it." Six months later, the doctor sees the old man on the street. He asks him how his new marriage is working out. "Great, Doc! In fact, my wife is pregnant." The doctor nods knowingly and says, "So you took my advice and took in a boarder?" The old man winked and said, "Yep. And she's pregnant too!"

Just how or when did this phrase, “May-December Romance” come to mean an older man in a relationship with a [much] younger woman or vice versa?

An age difference of a few years, maybe even ten years, wouldn’t seem to be such a big deal. But 62 years?

This is not a phenomenon specific to Saudi Arabia. It happens in the United States as well: Rupert Murdoch and Wendy Deng got married when he was 68 and she was 32, and perhaps more famously known are Vickie Lynn Hogan and J. Howard Marshall who married in 1994 when she was 26 and he was 89!

John Couey Number Twoey on Drugs

Child rapists ARE everywhere! The Sandbox is no exception – it has its share of sick, twisted and perverted child monsters.

John Couey’s case has been in recent headlines as his confession was made without the benefit of counsel – a “right” he asserted “no less than eight times in 46 seconds,” per FOXNews.com. This previously convicted sex offender admitted to detectives that he had kidnapped, raped and by means of burying her alive “killed” nine-year old, Jessica Lunsford. Couey – through the poor sap with a legal degree that drew the short straw – his Court appointed attorney – ultimately paid for with “our” tax dollars – will most certainly put the blame of whatever lame and sorry excuse of an explanation that he can muster for committing this crime to his drug addiction [crack cocaine].

Today, here in The Sandbox, Arab News reports that a “drunkard” father was caught in the act of raping his ten-year old daughter and arrested! The child’s uncle, her father’s brother, was included in the action – a ménage a trios – but “escaped when they [the police] raided the home.”

The little girl’s mother called the police on Saturday saying:

“that her husband and brother-in-law were attacking her daughter in a locked room in the apartment. [And] that the girl had been repeatedly raped for the past three days and had been subjected to severe beating and biting.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up, there, just a minute Mommy!!!

YOU KNEW THAT YOUR DAUGHTER WAS BEING REPEATEDLY RAPED BY YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS AND YOU WAITED TO CALL THE POLICE?!?

Similarly, in Couey’s case THREE OTHER PEOPLE may have known that Jessica was actually in the same run down piece of shit trailer that passed for a house – and not only did NO ONE call the police while Couey was doing the nasty with a nine-year old – but these THREE OTHER PEOPLE told the police they hadn’t seen or heard anything and didn’t know where Couey was [this all took place approximately 150 feet from Jessica’s house].

Am I the ONLY one who sees something wrong with this picture? I know there are other mother’s out there – who, like me – wouldn’t give a second thought to leaping in front of an oncoming freight train – or jumping in front of a loaded gun as the trigger was being pulled – or whatever – to protect their child! [Yes, I had a son, not a daughter, but the sentiment remains the same. There are plenty of sicko’s out there that rape little boys... Yeah… Today, they’re called school teachers…]

Thankfully [maybe?], in the case, here, at least the little girl hasn’t been buried alive – she’s not dead. She may wish she was at some point later on down the road, but for now, she’s in a hospital and it is reported to be “critically ill.” Yeah, I’d say…

We may never learn what punishment, if any, gets meted out to this “drunkard” Dad and his baby balling brother. Right now, we’re not even privy to their names – which if suppressed to protect the identity of the child is understandable, commendable even. More likely however, the reason these incestuous perpetrators have not been identified by name has to do with the fact that they are “locals.” Regardless, the fact that they may be alcoholics or addicts probably won’t be quite as swaying in their defense in The Sandbox as it would in the States. It is, however, interesting to note that Sociologist Adel Munawwar tells us this:

“Drugs and intoxicants are the root causes of several types of brutal crimes. Drunkards and drug addicts never seem to be aware of the depth and gravity of the crimes they commit.”

Um-hmm. That may be very true. But that shouldn’t negate PERSONAL responsibility. Ever!

And, what of the mother who didn’t report that her child was being raped? She needs to have her head examined and then she needs to be called to the mat. Same with the three other people that purportedly knew Couey had Jessica. What is it? I just don’t get it. How could ANYONE know that a child was being harmed in this way, shape or form and NOT do anything???

It. Is. Just. Sick. All of it. The men [and women, too] who commit the crimes; and those that enable them to do so.

There is only hope that the criminal justice system here [yeah, whatever they want to call it] has a hierarchy like the States: Baby raping is considered the lowest of the low; they prosecute their own on the “inside” if you get there – say – if you’re NOT TO SHORT FOR PRISON! And, if when you saw or heard this story when it was “news” you didn’t just shake your head…There shouldn’t be second chances for ANYONE that rapes a child. The gavel comes down, a guilty verdict is returned, and off you go. Straight to whatever jail or prison will take you. And there you remain. You do not pass Go, you do not collect $200.00 and you cannot use a “get out of jail free” card. You do not get put in special “lock-up” where you are not included in the general population. And, while you’re there, until you can pay for your own castration no cable T.V., no canteen privileges, nothing! [Damn, I just wish I was in charge…]

More than One Wife

I know a Western man, here in The Kingdom, that thinks it is funny to joke with his wife about how he’ll just find another one [wife] if she doesn’t reorganize his sock drawer, or iron his collars both on the top and bottom, and then with the proper “crease” along the top – where it folds over, or ________ [fill in the blank with some other trivial tidbit]. The wife of this particular man has no problem holding her own and responds, “Honey, you can’t handle the one you have now, how will you ever handle two?” And, better, “Go ahead and find another wife. I could use a ‘good wife’ around here, too. I hope she likes to cook a whole lot more than I do.” It will never happen – this Western man taking on another wife. Oh, sure, it’s good for the occasional chuckle, but that is where it ends. And, besides, not only can “this” Western man barely handle the “one” wife he has, I’m pretty certain he can’t afford two wives.

His current wife has an extensive shoe collection and she is constantly, always on the look-out for others to add to it; she is also a “clothes horse” [the meaning of which is here, dictionary]. But even worse, for him - better, for her, over the years, this wife has developed an acute ability to walk into a shop – any shop – clothing, “kids” toy stores, house wears, furniture – and immediately gravitate to the most expensive item without ever even looking at the price tag. It’s just “exquisite” taste. However, that isn’t really the point I’m trying to make. This is the point: Since Islam dictates that each wife MUST be treated equally, that would mean that if the first wife bought shoes then the second wife would get a pair. Nope, with a decree like that – that it must be equal – the Western man I know won’t be taking on a second wife. And, this is purely from a financial aspect, forget about the rest of it – sharing your time equally among your wives, etc. [Oh, stop it you guys. You’re not all as studly as you think you are, and unless you have a prescription for those little blue pills, there’s no way you are going to be able to keep up with all those wives!]

Which brings us to "this stud" – umm, yeah. You THE man! It isn’t the first time we’ve seen articles that [old] men are taking [young] wives for the umpteenth time. This man wanted a fifth wife who can cook [didn’t I already say that I wanted one of these, too? Well, a second one, not a fifth one, anyway…]. And, this man has had so many wives he can’t remember their names [sad, if you ask me]. This guy got really lucky! One of his wives gave him another wife as a gift. [Just how do you wrap this up? Oh, my gosh! As this flashed through my mind – I got this mental picture of simply gathering up all the loose black material at one end, the bottom, and tying a ribbon around it. Ditto for the top. Oh, yes, by all means, choose a contrasting color – a bright, vivid color like fuchsia or teal would be a must! With a really BIG bow! Problem solved. {You did not know that this newbie blogger had a Martha Stewart-streak in her, did you… Yeah, well, neither did she.} Now that we all know how we would wrap this kind of present, fret no more ladies! When that next special gift-giving occasion rolls around and you’re at a loss to find the perfect present for your husband… Get him another wife! No need looking for a box to wrap it her - you probably won’t be able to find a box – you never can when you need one [or find the scotch tape, for that matter]. I have just graciously shared this “how to” with you – how to put a bow on a “wife” when you are giving one as a gift. You’re welcome!] And, this guy, who’s married some fifty-something times, has divorced almost as many times. [In skimming these articles, did any one happen to notice a pattern in line with the number fifty? Must be something to that “magic number.”] Multiple marriages. You get the idea. Lest you think that this really is the “norm,” here in Saudi, there are some sane, rational men out there. I do actually rather like this man, Tariq Al-Maeena, purely from an intellectual standpoint, mind you, and I tend to agree with his viewpoints more often than not. And, finally, I’m pretty sure this is highly illegal in ALL states – regardless of whether or not she’s your cousin, and I don’t think any joke would be funny if it involved marrying a ten year-old! The mother says she was shocked! Just shocked! Ahh, “Umm Bint,” [“mother of girl” in Arabic] were you in a coma when your TEN YEAR OLD got married the first time?!? I can think of a reaction but it is not shock. It. Is. Sick!