Last week, while in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia I visited the National Museum. It was entirely impressive, preserving the history of this country with utmost reverence. Matt, an American Interloper commented:
He: You would never see anything like thus in the US.
Me: So true. They do not have a great deal to revere or respect. Rarely have and never will. Their leaders have, with one or two exceptions, been seriously (shall we say) flawed.
The Kingdom Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has been blessed with wise rulers, both in the past and now with MBS. A photograph contained Selected Sayings of King Abd al-Aziz.
“I have conquered the country first with God’s grace then with Arab morality. My citizens are all soldiers, together we march as one. I never consider myself their superior.”
Contrast that with July 16, 2023 news from Al Jazeera reporting
Washington, DC – The United States House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a resolution proclaiming that Israel is “not a racist or apartheid state”, in a message directed at progressive critics.The measure passed in a 412-to-nine vote on Tuesday, hours after Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with President Joe Biden at the White House. One lawmaker voted “present”.
What planet are those so-called Representatives living on? Look at the vote 412-9. Massive delusion and denial. Did someone put something in the water to cause absolute insanity and total lack of reason???
The definition of ‘what planet does someone come’ from is said to mean that you think someone has crazy ideas, or behaves in a very strange way, or does not understand something at all. That does describe the House of Representatives. Who in their right mind could understand a totally deceptive statement that Israel isnot a racist or apartheid state. It has been so for 75 years – how long does it take the US to catch onto that simple fact? Forever, it seems.
The why of such an atrocity is beyond comprehension and should not be attempted. The Islamic Faith instructs its adherents to walk away from evil but where in the world are avoiders of evil supposed to go? I was lucky enough to escape to Canada. It now seem like a stroke of luck, my lucky star , immense good fortune which arrived in the form of massive discrimination levied against me for being a Muslim woman. I was forced to leave. Looking back now it was the best thing that happened to me. Well the second best thing – the best thing that ever happened to me was that I reverted to the Islamic Faith – and from that everything flowed.
Well a slight detour, going first to the UAE – but I got out of there, defying all odds. The UAE is a Muslim majority country, that is true, but not governed by true Muslims. Pretend Muslims. That is not true of Saudi Arabia. Its Rulers and people are true Muslims. I should know I have spent two months here. Journalists who write of Saudi Arabia do not even know where it is located in this world. I have a solution to that problem – but need the ear of MBS to implement it. So far do not have his ear (nor any other part of him). Hahaha Thought you needed a little humour at this moment.
There remains a slight problem The USA ‘pays’ me – my retirement income comes via the Marin County Employee Retirement Association. I receive some consolation knowing that contract law is contract law and it makes the world go round. MCERA is contractually bound to pay me. The American dollar will decline in value but as retirement funds are well invested (and I get a raise every year), I should be okay. If not I shall just marry a rich Saudi man. Problem solved.
But back to the Excited States:
Palestinian rights advocates expressed anger at the measure on Tuesday, as well as towards Democratic leaders who sided with Republicans to slight their own progressive colleagues. “Sadly, Congress overwhelmingly passed this resolution, once again landing on the wrong side of history, as the leading and most respected human rights organisations in the world, after extensive research, have labelled Israel as apartheid,” Palestinian-American comedian and activist Amer Zahr told Al Jazeera.”
I would not say ‘sadly’, I would say tragically. The whole world is united against Israel – only rogues are taking their side. Israel has exhausted the sympathies of all thinking, sane and moral people. Why do Israelites think they can continue to get away with this? Well Israelites and Americans. This is beginning to be a different world. Wake up and smell the roses you two countries.
More from Al Jazeera
Laura Albast, a Palestinian-American organiser in the Washington, DC area, said the intense opposition has come to be expected.
“As we grow stronger in advocating for Palestinian rights, for Palestinian liberation, so does the opposing side that is oppressing us; it grows more forceful in trying to silence us,” Albast told Al Jazeera. She questioned why US legislators are taking the time to pass a resolution in favour of a foreign state when the country is facing major crises, including rampant gun violence.
I followed the link to rampant gun violence to find the following shocking fact.
The US is struggling with mass shootings and incidents of gun violence. There have been more than 340 mass shootings in the country so far in 2023, according to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive.On Tuesday, President Joe Biden decried the “wave of tragic and senseless” shootings and called on Republicans in Congress to join him in pursuing “meaningful, commonsense” gun reforms.
They ain’t listening to you Joe – they are busy supporting Israel. Not exactly axe example of leadership in action. You could try looking to King Abd al-Aziz for an example but it is a little late for that.
Me: President Biden, first you would have to convert to the Islamic Faith.
He: I cannot and will not do that.
Me: Then you have an immense problem You and your fellow Americans. And you cannot come to Canada. Sorry we are not your safe house. Canadians barely let Canadians in their country these days.
More from Al Jazeera: “On Tuesday, James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, a think tank, said the House resolution would not change the facts about Israel.“Memo to Congress: Israel is an Apartheid state. It’s Israel’s racist system of laws & practice that discriminate against Palestinians that defines reality — not how you vote on the nonsensical [Pfluger’s] bill,” he wrote on Twitter.”
I hate to admit it but Zogby said it much better than I did. Oh well, I tried my best.
Back to the Riyadh Saudi Arabia National Museum for photographs and a definition. I described Matt, the American, as an interloper. An interloper is a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered. The synonyms are most descriptive: encroacher, trespasser, invader, infiltrator, unwanted person, uninvited guest, alien.
I was at the Conceirage Desk at the Riyadh Hilton, heard Matt ask about the National Museum. I had hired a tour guide to take me there and offered him a ride. In my absence, heturned it around completely. Told the tour guide (trusted AK) that I wanted him included on the tour, did not contribute to the cost at all. Took advantage of me all day, took up AK;’ time. He bragged to his ‘family’ that he was having the craziest time, the best day of his life. I could not stand the man, he was a typical ugly American. It was a huge effort to contain my hostility to him. Only later did I discover his total duplicity. He works for NEOM, is in charge of Security. Spent years in Afghanistan apparently. Something destroyed his soul. I am positive he is not reading this blog. He of course can but won’t. As he left, said to me:
He: See you at breakfast tomorrow morning.
I did not respond. I guess he assumed that I went to the Hilton Riyadh Buffet Breakfast at the same time he did. I do not eat at the Buffet Breakfast anymore. Good food but too much food and pandemonium. I quietly breakfast and enjoy coffee at the AmBar where I once met MBS’ law school professor who informed me that MBS was a diligent student. Most impressive that MBS. I wonder if President Biden was a diligent student. Doubtful. If he was he has clearly forgotten everything he might have learned.
About ten days ago I thought my American passport had been stolen. It was not, it was merely misplaced. So I have it back. I treasure it because my passport picture is most glamorous whereas my Canadian passport picture, in taken earlier years n London, England, is not attractive at all. An amusing story, my ability to get my Canadian passport after an absence from Canada of some 50 years. Stay turned I shall get around to telling you later.
From Instagram.comes this superbly strong statement made against those who wrongfully support Israel. Some people write and speak so eloquently voicing their support of Palestine. I bow to them featuring them on my blog: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CupSvUrIGzN/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
In the meantime here are some National Museum photos.
