XPost: alt.flame.airlines, alt.politics.immigration, alt.airline   
   XPost: rec.travel.air, alt.travel.uk.air   
   From: spam@un.u.nu   
      
   Matt  wrote:   
   > "Miguel Cruz"  wrote:   
   >> Matt  wrote:   
   >>> Yes, then there was Desert Storm, when the troops came in to Saudi   
   >>> Arabia, but then most of them left.  Saudi Arabia is no more Westernized   
   >>> today than it was 20 years ago.   
   >>   
   >> This conclusion seems to be based entirely on having been there 20 years   
   >> ago but not since. I don't get how that provides a basis for determining   
   >> anything.   
   >   
   > When I was there, the first Burger King was just opening up, so maybe you   
   > are right about western name brand stores popping up.  And you're right, I   
   > haven't been there in 20 years so maybe things have changed....I just doubt   
   > things have changed that much.  Ok.....lets see.   
      
   I'll answer these in case you're genuinely curious.   
      
   > Can women now drive, or vote or go out in public wearing shorts?   
      
   Nope on all three, though they could drive 20 years ago.   
      
   > Are the newspapers and television no longer censored?   
      
   Still censored.   
      
   > Do they still close down the shops several times a day for prayers?   
      
   Yes, and restaurants do lock-ins. Some vending machines and ATMs have   
   stickers requesting people not to use them during prayer; I imagine the   
   technical capacity exists to shut the ATMs down but never saw it done.   
      
   > Do you still have to be a friend of the Royal Family to have any position   
   > of power?   
      
   No comment.   
      
   > Is alchohol now allowed in the country, or pork, or Coka Cola?   
      
   Coca Cola by the tankerfull. No on the other two, though of course alcohol   
   is pretty widely available, given how easy it is to make.   
      
   > Are there now laws regarding selling illegal copies of music CDs or tapes   
   > in shops?   
      
   Yes, and the activity has moved ever so slightly underground.   
      
   Anyway, I don't think this series of decontextualized observations about   
   lingering differences answers the question about whether the country has   
   become more westernized. "Is the patient still sitting upright? Has he   
   continued not to vomit? Has he complained at all? Ok, in that case I think   
   he's fine." "But doctor, he hasn't taken a breath in four hours!"   
      
   miguel   
   --   
   Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)