The Purdah Police It is truly a shame that still for some people Islam begins from the beard of a man and ends on the Purdah of a woman.

A Challenge to Saudi Culture # 49 Burpinder

You can say that again. Totally agree!

# 53 wiseguyin

No, all of us don`t clap. Some of us cry too. But if the idea of all Muslims being big bad wolves help you live in your bigotted, delusional world please go right ahead. I have yet to see a post from you that actually has some constructive, imagiantive or for that matter any value to it.

# 56 dehliwala

No present Saudi Arabs are not our role models. Our only role model is and should be the Prophet Muhammed. I hope that Muslims can learn to take control of there own faith and religion rather than being herded by the Mullahs and so called guardians of Islam.

A Challenge to Saudi Culture harish_hyd and muslimpaki, both of you guys please cool down. All hindu`s don`t slaughter Muslims and all Muslims don`t behead non muslims. Pls. dont`t get pulled into the same hatred that makes people fanatics. Please play nice.

A Challenge to Saudi Culture Dear Mohammed Gill

A very nice article. There is nothing constant but change.

I don`t think all Saudi`s are morons and we should not generalize. The right change no matter how small should be appreciated and written about. Because in today`s world we all need to hear and read about positive change more than ever. I hope Prince Talal`s effort leads to other people to think and act for the good of their people and the Muslims worldwide. It is an accepted fact that a lot needs to be done in Saudi Arabia but a journey of a million miles begins with the first step.

Dear all on Chowk, I enjoy reading all your posts (swear and name calling not included). But sometimes I feel that most of you have your own agendas and try to steer every issue towards it. Pls. try and discuss the issue on hand and the piece written. Pakistan, India or religion bashing is not a positive way to encourage dialogue. I believe in freedom of speech but I believe more in freedom with responsibility.

The Fertility Debate A good article. My mother is a family planning consultant and has worked in the most economically deprived areas of Pakistan. I am all for planned families, but I am not exactly a fan of abortions (unless they are done for health reasons). Every right comes with responsibilty. If a woman/man has the right to have control over her/his sex life then they should also be ready to take care of a new life when the condom rips.

I as a women and mother understand the need to be able to have children when you are economically, physically, psycologically and emotionally ready to have a child. Allah is the one who will provide for all souls that are on this earth but we are the ones who need to raise them as good human beings. Once my mohter worked in a very poor locality and a woman who was 20 yrs old already had 4 children and was pregnant with her fifth. The children she already had were sick, hungry, uneducated. What did the 5th child have to expect. But when the subject of family planning came up she was all for it but her elders used to say if you women will not have children then how will we get Imam`s and scholars!!! The locality had the most number of delinquents and drug users.

Family planning is not a woman or man issue. It is a mutual understanding and decision of both husband and wife.

Across the Line of Control I am not a political analyst nor an expert on the Kashmir issue. I am just a hard working, tax paying Pakistani who is now sick of the Kashimir issue. I don`t know what Jinnah believed or if Gandhi was a saint or a devil. And I and the coming generatiosn will probably never know, because of the distorted history books taught in schools of both countries. The people of both countries have sufered long and hard because of this issue for more than half a century. I truly believe that if this set of Governments can not find a full and final solution to this issue, then millions of other Pakistani and Indian people will continue to see their taxes being wasted on gigantic and unreasonble defense budgets. I am keeping my fingers crossed but they are beginning to hurt now.

Bollywood and Gender Equality I think Bollywood has made a lot of good movies. Any movie making making industry has to have a mix of movies. The industry has to make money and parallel cinema or art movies are not money making movies. But it doesn`t mean that these movies are not good. As far as the role of women in the entertainment industry is concerned, a lot needs to be done. But the responsibility does not lie only with directors and producers it also lies with the actor. The woman who is dancing half naked on the cinema screen is doing so out of choice.

I used to watch a lot of indian cinema but now most of the films are not my cup of tea. I only watch movies which people recommend. I do miss the time when you could differenciate between the vamp and the leading lady.

I have recently seen WATER and it was amazing.