Made-in-Israel Paper Cups Used in Saudi Hospital

[Proletariat]

I don't why this makes me laugh.

According to hospital officials, the matter is being investigated and action will be taken.

The article concludes with this:

The paper cups were quickly withdrawn from use but might there not be other, less obvious, Israeli products in our shops and marketplaces?

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&sect...=22&m=8&y=2005

[Adrian II]

I don't why this makes me laugh.

Because beards, burka's and paper cups don't match? This made me laugh most:

The Filipino employee who works in the Al-Musbah coffee shop asked: “Why is everybody mad about the cups?” He was told: “Because they are made in Israel!”

Fortunately, the matter has now been referred to 'the authorities in Riyad'... You think they will declare a national emergency?

[Proletariat]

Sounds like this poor Filipino would've gotten a less horrified response if he had asked, "Hey, anyone want to go for a spot of child molestation?"

Hopefully international aid is already on the way, A2.

[English assassin]

I don't know what you two are all laughing about. Those cups might, well, they could, err, well at the very least it shows the reach of the zionist conspiracy that runs world history, doesn't it?

My FiL drinks black market Israeli-made vodka when he is in Tehran. I don't even want to think what would happen to you if they caught you with that. (Well, actually, the same as if they catch you with anything else. A bit of baksheesh in the right palms and off you go.)

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Oh noes! The ZOG is taking over Saudi Arabia! Runs! Runs! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! First paper cups, what's next....*gasp* toilet paper? We cannot let that filth pollute our Saudi Brothers' behinds! To Arms! To Arms!

[Ser Clegane]

You think they will declare a national emergency?

I think there is need for a antional paper cup purge

[Gawain of Orkeny]

I dont believe you all take an example of rampant anti racism and make fun of it. You should be condemning these actions. Ah but its Israel. Thats fair game.

[Ser Clegane]

You should be condemning these actions. Ah but its Israel. Thats fair game.

We condemn it by ridiculing and making fun of the silly perpetrators.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

I dont believe you all take an example of rampant anti racism and make fun of it. You should be condemning these actions. Ah but its Israel. Thats fair game.

It's funny. Just shows how brainwashed the Saudis can be Have a ballon

[Proletariat]

I dont believe you all take an example of rampant anti racism and make fun of it. You should be condemning these actions. Ah but its Israel. Thats fair game.

As far as I can tell, all the jokes are aimed at the morons who are over reacting.

[Slyspy]

I dont believe you all take an example of rampant anti racism and make fun of it. You should be condemning these actions. Ah but its Israel. Thats fair game.

Take it easy with the righeousness mate. Not every thread has to be turned into a low grade left/right style arguments. Riducule is the ultimate criticism - it implies that the subject is so petty and of such low significance as to be worthless.

[Adrian II]

Sounds like this poor Filipino would've gotten a less horrified response if he had asked, "Hey, anyone want to go for a spot of child molestation?"

I imagined the Filipino going 'dzjees!' under his breath. And the Saudis:

'What was that you said?'
'He said "Jesus".'
'He wouldn't dare!'
'Yes he did, he clearly said "Jesus".'
'Me too, I heard him say "Jesus".'
'Right, that's two muslim witnesses against one kafir.'
'Call the police!'

I hear the Filipino has been fined 25 camels...

[Don Corleone]

Slyspy, your point is well made, and perhaps Gawain is a bit on the defensive side. But you have to agree, any argument that "The Israelis & their supporters are just paranoid. Nobody is 'out to get them' " just went out the window, as frequently heard here in the Backroom.

[Adrian II]

Ah but its Israel. Thats fair game.

LOL! Oh Gawain, you are a real piece of work. The Saudi beards are fair game in this thread, man. I hear they are sending burka's to Mississippi to shelter the homeless.

[Goofball]

Just one small nit-picky point:

Women in Saudi Arabia don't wear burqas. For the most part, they wear either western clothing or they wear abayas, which are quite different from burqas.

[Adrian II]

You picked the wrong nit, Goofball.

1. EXTRA LONG Double Layer Saudi Burqa - With Screen - No Nose String


A traditional extra long size (elbow length) Saudi style double layered burqa. Burqa is worn over the hijab, and screen can be pulled up over the head (as pictured) for better vision. When screen is down you can see out, yet prying eyes can not see in. Tie closure. Fabric is a quality light weight georgette, yet is not see through. Imported from Saudi Arabia. Available in black, olive, or grey.

Link

No nose string, can you believe it!?

From Geert Hofstede's country guide:

Do not discuss the subject of women, not even to inquire about the health of a wife or daughter. The topic of Israel should also be avoided. Sports is an appropriate topic.

Sounds like a fun country. Do Saudi jokes come in black, olive or grey as well?

[drone]

Doesn't a state of war still exist between Israel and most of the Arab States (including Saudi Arabia)? IIRC, only Egypt and Jordan are at peace with them. So, disregarding whatever views you have about the conflict, a company in State A is purchasing goods from State B, which State A happens to be at war with. Isn't this generally frowned upon? If a company in the US was buying goods from North Korea, wouldn't you expect the same reaction? Something akin to supporting the enemy regime?

[Adrian II]

Something akin to supporting the enemy regime?

By buying paper cups? That would be the olive Saudi joke, right?

[drone]

By buying paper cups? That would be the olive Saudi joke, right?

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. Did you hear the one about the mullah and the hot dog? The hot dog.... oh crap, the morality police just showed up.

But seriously. Buying cigars from Cuba? Buying rugs from Iran? All of these are illegal here in the US. No financial support of the "enemy regime" is allowed. Same principle applies here, with a tinge of religious fervour. I imagine a hospital goes through lots of disposable paper cups, since they are more sanitary.

[Don Corleone]

Saudi Arabia & Israel have never been at war. Israel has only been at war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan & Palestine. AFAIK, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen, Oman, Iran and (until recently) Iraq did not recognize the existence of the state of Israel, and all official maps only showed 1 country, Palestine.

[Proletariat]

For the most part, they wear either western clothing or they wear abayas, which are quite different from burqas.

What?

Women who breach the strict dress code for women also face arrest. Margaret Madill, a Canadian nurse working in Saudi Arabia in 1993, took a taxi home with a female friend after a shopping trip in Riyadh. Suddenly a mutawa' jumped into the taxi and forced the driver to go to the headquarters of al-Mutawa'een. When they arrived, the women were locked in the taxi in the extreme heat for up to six hours. They screamed for help and were then beaten. They were accused of indecent dress and public intoxication. They were then transferred to al-Malaz prison and held for two days, before being released without charge.

http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/...riefing/4.html

[Goofball]

You picked the wrong nit, Goofball.

No I didn't. I lived in Saudi Arabia for ten years, and never once saw a burqa. In fact, I never heard anybody even mention the word burqa. This website can talk about "Saudi burqas" all it wants, but that doesn't mean that Saudi women are wearing them.

I've also been to Amsterdam several times, but never saw anybody walking around in "Dutch Wooden Shoes." (Except for this guy)

[drone]

Saudi Arabia & Israel have never been at war. Israel has only been at war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan & Palestine. AFAIK, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen, Oman, Iran and (until recently) Iraq did not recognize the existence of the state of Israel, and all official maps only showed 1 country, Palestine.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq both sent troops to help during the 1948 war, while the Saudis and a lot of other Arab nations sent troops and financial support during the 1973 war. This may not constitute a state of war, but then again, how can you declare war on a state that you don't think exists? I would be surprised if they didn't have an trade embargo in place though.

@Goofball, nice shoes! Fess up, that's you in full tourist mode, right?

[Don Corleone]

I didn't mean to imply that I thought the other nations were more supportive of Israel. It was my point to highlight that they do not consider Israel a nation, and they view the Jews there as having no right to exist. I mean, at one point, Saudi Arabia national television had a telethon on raising money for Palestinian suicide bombers, in which an Imam, which I know are educated men, get up and declare that Jews aren't people, they're really a hybrid of pigs & apes. In light of that, an embargo on paper cups seems like a drop in the ocean. Yet some people find this laughable, and insist that Israel has nothing to fear from it's neighbors. Hmm.

[Adrian II]

Did you hear the one about the mullah and the hot dog?

Would you believe it, people? The mullah would love to have one, just like an American. But his religion doesn't allow it. So... he hates Americans!

(laughter, isolated booh's)

[Adrian II]

No I didn't. I lived in Saudi Arabia for ten years, and never once saw a burqa.

I know people who lived in South Africa all their lives and never noticed any racism.

[Papewaio]

So are Americans racist against Cubans because they ban the sale of Cuban cigars?

[Goofball]

I know people who lived in South Africa all their lives and never noticed any racism.

I didn't say I didn't notice them, I said I didn't see them. Not noticing a thing implies that it was there, but simply didn't come to your attention.

Let me be even more clear:

I saw thousands of Saudi women in my time living there, and none of them were wearing burqas.

At any rate, I bring this point up not to defend the Saudi treatment of women; I saw it first hand and I know how benighted they are in that area.

I bring it up only to point out that there are very large cultural differences between Arab/Muslim countries, just as there are large cultural differences between say, England and Germany. But since 9/11, everbody sees pictures of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and assumes that things are like that in every Muslim country. And that's simply not the case.

[Adrian II]

I bring it up only to point out that there are very large cultural differences between Arab/Muslim countries, just as there are large cultural differences between say, England and Germany. But since 9/11, everbody sees pictures of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and assumes that things are like that in every Muslim country. And that's simply not the case.

Saudi dress codes forbid any display of nudity

Notice any difference with Afghanistan? I don't. And I don't notice 'very large differences' in the position of women either:

BBC News
Friday, 15 March, 2002, 12:19 GMT

Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue

Saudi Arabia's religious police stopped schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress, according to Saudi newspapers.

In a rare criticism of the kingdom's powerful "mutaween" police, the Saudi media has accused them of hindering attempts to save 15 girls who died in the fire on Monday. About 800 pupils were inside the school in the holy city of Mecca when the tragedy occurred. 15 girls died in the blaze and more than 50 others were injured.

According to the al-Eqtisadiah daily, firemen confronted police after they tried to keep the girls inside because they were not wearing the headscarves and abayas (black robes) required by the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam. One witness said he saw three policemen "beating young girls to prevent them from leaving the school because they were not wearing the abaya". The Saudi Gazette quoted witnesses as saying that the police - known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice - had stopped men who tried to help the girls and warned "it is a sinful to approach them".

The father of one of the dead girls said that the school watchman even refused to open the gates to let the girls out. "Lives could have been saved had they not been stopped by members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," the newspaper concluded.

Relatives' anger

Families of the victims have been incensed over the deaths. Most of the victims were crushed in a stampede as they tried to flee the blaze. The school was locked at the time of the fire - a usual practice to ensure full segregation of the sexes.

The religious police are widely feared in Saudi Arabia. They roam the streets enforcing dress codes and sex segregation, and ensuring prayers are performed on time. Those who refuse to obey their orders are often beaten and sometimes put in jail.

[Proletariat]

I saw thousands of Saudi women in my time living there, and none of them were wearing burqas.

Your anecdotal evidence is just excoriating with insight, really it is. But when you get done sharing your life experiences could you comment on the Amnesty link?