When I heard on the news that in Saudi Arabia women would soon gain the right to vote for elected officials in their nation, I was surprised. I had learned of Middle Eastern countries where only men were allowed to express political views; maybe it's a post 9/11 mindset but don't all Middle Eastern men disrespect the women in their lives?
After reading a follow up article I learned how off my opinions once were. What I thought was a country that only allowed men to vote is really a country where the leader's vote is the most significant.
In America's ongoing battle to spread Democracy worldwide, has its people become spoiled with the concept of Democracy and the power of one's voice? I don't think so. I do not believe that Democracy can be viewed as a luxury but more appropriately, a necessity.
As portrayed in the media, I had thought that Saudi Arabia was a country where suppressed women were ignored when it came to anything related to politics and that the men are the only beings with power. Now that's somewhat correct but even more upsetting is the fact that men have far less power than once assessed in this country and that the leader of the nation is ever-powerful.
With the leader taking steps to grant women the right to vote in the 2015 elections, maybe this country is seeing the error of its ways and beginning to get on track with the twenty first century.
My hope is that one day Middle Eastern women and men can not only equally vote in a Democratic format for leaders of their country, but can also have an equal, unbiased opportunity to gain office.
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