I love this country, what it is about and what it stands for. I love western culture, the majority of its history and what it has done to raise the quality of life for those who live in it.

That said, it constantly amazes me that we assume everyone in the world should adopt our philosophy, standards of human to human morality and ethics, and standards of behavior. Perhaps we would do well to intersect with other cultures and understand why they continue to live in and endorse these behaviors, laws, and morays we consider so reprehensible? Try reading the Koran and see if allegiance to this religion (which a large number of people seem to adhere to), is rationally connected to some of the rules we find so objectionable. Anyone can tell you that all acts in life within this religion are governed by the dictates of the religion and that separation of church and state is a much more ephemeral thing than it is in western culture.

It is interesting that Osama bin Laden's whole point (And I do not support or condone any of his tactics or the actions he seems to feel necessary to make his point) is that secular government should be totally subordinate to the Koran and that governments which direct Muslims to act in ways not endorsed by the Koran are blasphemous. his objection to the West is that we support these governments and their actions contrary to what he believes and that we should mind our own business. ( I know: the world is a complicated place and we need to act in ways that support our economic and geopolitical interests).

by the way, I am Jewish.

The article in question here is in support of women's rights.(and basic human rights). I totally agree. This is outrageous- by OUR understanding of right and wrong. The actions of the Saudi courts are certainl;y reprehensible by OUR standards; apparently not by their's. Perhaps we can remember; it was not so long ago that torture , stoning, and religious persecution and war were perfectly acceptable in western culture?

Are we currently debating what torture is in this country? Is our support of capital punsihment: we KILL people?, considered an outrage of human morality and ethics by most of the countries in the world?

Less than a hundred years ago, there was very strong male opposition in this country to women voting as they were foolish creatures incapable of weighing in on such a heavy topic as politics? I went to Georgia Tech just shortly after it decided to let women major in engineering curriculums.

Perhaps we should re-read the history of the Pullman Strike and the Bonus March in this country less than a hundred years ago, and then see what we think about Tiananmen Square?

Folks: a hundreds years is an eye blink in human history.

So you're going to give them a pass because of Islam? Hogwash. The Saudi ruling class accepts all the advantages of Western culture they wish to, our technology, our engineering, our MEDICINE, and then treat one half of their population as though they were living in the 7th Century. The reason people are upset is because the Saudi ruling class knows better. Many have been educated in the West and know about human rights. Their reliance on religion to justify their whimsical cruelties is poppycock. Other Islamic societies behave differently and treat their citizens differently.

I see Muslim women walking down the street every day in my city. They seem content and unafraid. I wonder if it's because they live in a society where their basic human rights are respected and insured.