To Sash

Submitted by s (United States), Jan 12, 2008 at 23:03

I found this website while I was searching for some papers written by Daniel Pipes. I am sure you and every other person who reads this blog is familiar with Mr Pipes, right? No, I am not bitter but I do have a serious problem...I believe in being forthcoming and honest. I was shocked when I began to read some of the comments. As a matter of fact, when I told some of my women friends about this blog, they, too, were shocked.

I can assure you that I had no idea that women would actually send money to men they have never met face-to-face. Nevertheless I just found some fascinating but sad information and here it is: " Nearly one in three people in the Arab World is illiterate, including nearly half of all women in the region" the Tunis-based Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation reported on January 7, 2008. Three-quarters of the 100 million people unable to read or write in the 21 Arab countries are between 15 and 45 years old and equally alarming, some 46.5 percent of women in the region are illiterate, the aforementioned Arab League group reported.

ALECSO (the Tunis-based group) is urging governments to put the fight against illiteracy at the top of their agendas. According to ALECSO, the region has failed to meet a 1990 United Nations goal to halve adult illiteracy over the subsequent decade. The article further stated "while illiteracy affects the entire Arab world, the more highly populated countries - such as Egypt, Sudan, Algeria and Morocco - are particularly vulnerable. We westen women are truly blessed aren't we? We can be anything that we want to be as long as we work hard, set realistic goals and work hard to achieve our goals.

No, Sasha, I am not bitter. I am probably one of the most sensitive women you could possibly meet. I just have very high standards and I refuse to give a man other than a family member money and then I expect them to pay me back the money they borrowed. I also am not going to be treated like a second class citizen. My grandmother and great-grandmother did not enjoy the equal rights that my generation does. I owe them a big debt and the best way that I can repay that debt is to carry myself with dignity and respect. If you still think I am bitter, you have that right. I wish you the very best.

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