House of Saud

I watched the documentary film on PBS which was excellent, balanced views of Saudi Arabia. It is called 'House of Saud'.

It covered everything from history, its royal family, its rapid growth with modernization and its conflicts with Islam. Basically, we have to recognize that Saudi Arabia is only 73 years old. When the nation was unified under the House of Saud, it does not have any technology. It does not have a car, air-conditioner, computer, warship, television or even a radio. They learned that Iraq and Kuwait has "great natural resources" and they believed that they do have it.

Sure enough, oil comes in the picture.

Can you imagine the nation that goes from nothing to have everything else, especially in a country that ruled by Islamic deeds? Very difficult thing to do. One Prince confessed that he sat by a new refrigerator for 16 hours, waiting to see an ice cube developing -- he smiled and said, "16 hours because I opened the door too frequently."

Little by little, it overwhelmed the masses to a point where some people preached the return to fundamentalism, to a point where the Saud members were denying that a problem was brewing between Islam and modernization.

It is called a growing pain which is very normal for any country. People in Saudi Arabia are starting to question on women's rights, their civil rights et al. That takes times to evolve -- after all, they changed a lot in 73 years, believe it or not.

They also questioned the educational system, the religious system and so on in order to improve itself. They also addressed about the fundamentalism. One Muslim cleric said that they are working on changing the system where hate is not encouraged against the Jews and X-ians but he also pointed out that the American textbooks are biased against the Muslims. That is true. We need to change that, too. WE cannot tell them to change while we cannot do the same for ourselves.

At first, the House of Saud denied that their people could be the active participants of Islamic fundamentalism to wreck the global cooperation. But now, they are taking it upfront with the problems.

At least, they are trying to reform over many things. After all, they changed a lot in 73 years. The United States changed in a gradual process over the period of 229 years, the Saudi Arabia did not have the luxury of that slow change. It has to change to keep up with the world. Give 'em time and space, they will change. But do not provoke them -- the Sauds will feel overwhelmed, threatened and alienated from the world. We must be supportive of them like Franklin Delano Roosevelt did to King Aziz.

One Prince, I believe it was the Minister of Interior Affairs, indicated that the corruptions are very common in Saudi Arabia but it is better than many countries. He has a point -- look at his country, less than $400 billion were used to transform from the third world country into one of the most powerful Arab countries in less than 50 years. The Prince said that about $50 billion out of $400 were corrupted and guess what he said next, "So what!" He is right.

Speaking of Roosevelt, when he met the first ruler of the House of Saud on a warship, the ruler of the House of Saud was mesmerized with Roosevelt's wheelchair to a point where Roosevelt donated his wheelchair to the ruler. That says a lot about the House of Saud's enthusiasm to learn and embrace the steps of modernization. Don't push it, don't force it, don't antagonize it.

Good job, PBS!

R=

Remote Control Cannot Apply To That Box

When you picked up your remote control and tried to use it on the computer monitor without realizing that it does not work that way, that means you're on the computer bit too long.

That's what happened to me earlier in the day. Oh, well. This is bound to happen if your TV set is not far away from your computer monitor.

R-

Why IMs Answering Machine Not Good Idea

Ridor9th: Are you ready to let me de-virginize you today?
Auto response from DaBamoor: Hi, I'm unavailable.

Er ... Well ... Aversion Therapy Do Not Work

You know the motto -- once you tasted a cock in your mouth, there is no turning back.

What does the Germans think they are doing? They think they can just toss women in the cage and convert the gays back?

Oh, yeah, right. Like it will work.

R-

50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers

Thanks to Wojnar (!!) for providing the link to the article.

This is very interesting article.

I'm disappointed that I was not named as one of the 50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers, as Wojnar also mentioned that to me.

When I reached No. 1 on the list, I absolutely *agreed* with the pick.

Cheers,

R-

What Gives?

Category: Sports

After opening up the season at 16-5; 5-2 in the ACC, Virginia Cavaliers seemed to be in a good shape until it blew 16-point lead in the second half and lost the game to North Carolina State.

Then they came back home to play No. 6 North Carolina. After leading as many as 12 points, the Cavaliers decided to stop playing and fell apart as UNC had two runs of 16-0 and 11-0 to beat Virginia, 75-56.

But this picture is cool.

Virginia Struggles

Better luck next time, I guess.

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Why I Do Not Go To Weddings

I was reading DowntownLad's entry about how much should we contribute to my friends' wedding gifts? Since the country decided to turn blind eyes on my dreams to marry a guy, I decided *not* to attend any of my friends' weddings nor shed a cent on gifts.

That is until I have the significant other by my side -- I might visit few weddings but no promises. Generally, I do not like to go to weddings alone because it makes me miserable.

Travis Imel can vouch this because he was there when it happened. In Jacksonville, Illinois -- a blimp in the middle of state, really, where my frat brother, Chris Kuhn married Linda Sue Mehring. Suffice to say, I was invited and all that baloney stuff.

It was pretty ordinary Midwestern wedding, very simple and plain but yet so cute.

Later in the evening at some clubhouse, I was sitting when Chris Kuhn summoned all "available men" to get together for the traditional toss of the bride's garter belt.

I chose not to join because I am gay and not allowed to marry, according to the laws around me. I mean, what is the point of shoving and pushing men just to get a garter belt? Not my thing.

Bob Dramin was a college friend of mine who married and settled down in that watering hole where I will not be caught dead. Bob walked over to my table where Travis and I was yapping, Bob asked me to go ahead and join the group of men who are waiting for Chris to toss the garter belt.

I smirked and said, "I'm not interested, you know, I'm gay and I care less about that thing."

Bob was stunned, "You're gay? Are you serious? You like sports and stuff like that, and you're gay?"

I smiled as Travis said, "EVERYONE knew he is gay, for years."

Bob muttered, "I must be behind the news. You once told me that you had a roommate who was a wrestler, right?"

I nodded -- Bob was referring to Brent, a fella I knew from Georgia/Illinois -- cute, crazy and dumb guy, another story for another day, really! He and I talked few things about the sport, wrestling. It was all in good conversation. Then Bob mentioned about Charles Hammack. I told him that I heard of his name because Brent used to look up at him as a role model for wrestling -- Charles Hammack was one of few Deaf wrestlers to win the state championship. Later, Brent joined the small list of wrestlers who won the state championships.

Bob mentioned that Charles is here in the party. I thought it was interesting. Shortly, Bob introduced Charles to me -- I shook his hands and talked a little about this, that and there before Bob interrupted our conversation and told Charles, "You know, Ricky likes ..."

Bob pointed at Charles' groin. I was speechless. Charles was baffled then quickly told me that he is not gay and he is not interested. I was bewildered with Bob's cheap antics but lucky, Travis interfered and blasted Bob for his insensitivity and rude approach. Bob claimed that he was doing it as a joke. I told him that I did not find it funny.

Suffice to say, Charles and I had a lousy conversation from that point on -- it was all ruined. It was pretty much awkward and wary on Charles' part because of one stupid prick in Bob Dramin.

From there, driving back to Washington with Travis, I reached the decision that I will not attend any weddings for a long, long and long time. Because I do not want to deal with the hassles. It reminded me that I am not normal. It reminded me that I am not allowed to be myself. It reminded me that there are stupid pricks out there.

That was five years ago. And I did not regret at all. I absolutley have no interests in dealing with people's lives. If I have close friends, I might be interested but right now? No, no thanks. Not for a while. Ok?

R-