So Time Magazine has declared the self-publishers and self-producers of the world "People of the Year." In a way it's a recognition that anyone can freely generate content and share it with the world to get recognition. A recent Washington Post story offered some insight into how this phenomenon is playing out in Saudi Arabia:
When he was a college student in Washington state, Saudi Arabia's most popular blogger, Fouad al-Farhan, donned a T-shirt emblazoned with "Animal Rights Equals Human Rights" and slept on the campus lawn during a hunger strike protesting the slaughter of foxes.
That type of freedom during six years in the United States gave Farhan a taste for expressing himself that he was unable to satisfy when he returned to Saudi Arabia in 2001.
"You can't write whatever you want in the newspaper here; you can't even lift up a poster in protest," said Farhan, 31, a computer programmer who attended Eastern Washington University in Spokane. "On the blog, it's a different world. It was the only way to express myself the way I wanted."
The article chronicles the charter meeting of "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Bloggers" and its attempt to produce a manifesto for the now 2,000+ Saudi bloggers. The article also claims that half of all Saudi bloggers are female, and describes an encouter with Mystique (who now hints on her blog that the meeting has forced her to stop blogging):
When the woman who blogs anonymously under the name Mystique finally shows up for an appointment at Starbucks on trendy Tahlia Street, she seems used to causing a stir. Heads turn when the 23-year-old walks into the coffee shop minus the mandatory head scarf worn by most Saudi women, her caramel-colored hair cascading past her shoulders. She is wearing a black cloak with a shiny copper-colored print on the sleeve, a black Prada purse slung over her shoulder.
She orders a Frappuccino, then sits down to talk. "I've been in touch with my sexuality ever since I was 13," she said. "Why shouldn't I write erotic fiction? It's one way of expressing myself..."
"Sometimes I push. I want to show that women are oppressed," she said. The situation "is not normal. I would like people to see that."
And then the closing line that sums up the hope and worry about the future:
Omran, 23, like many young bloggers, said he hoped that blogging would speed up the country's glacial pace of reform. Sometimes he is afraid, not knowing whether he had crossed a line, but he continues to blog, eager for change, democracy and more personal freedoms, he said.
"I want our society to move forward, and I want to be part of that change," Omran said. "I don't want to be 40 and still struggling with the issues we're dealing with now."
Chilling.


Dear Sir,
I want post our company product.
Sincerely Yours.
Mr. Sam Michael.
Posted by: Sam Michael | February 13, 2007 at 03:32 AM
This is
http://hentainaruto.blogtur.com
http://milfhunter1.blogtur.com
Posted by: marken | June 01, 2007 at 06:06 AM
http://ultram.ohost.de
Posted by: greenwod | June 02, 2007 at 03:53 PM
NIKO! Pliz buy love its sites!
http://herbalphentermine.dzite.com
Posted by: greenwodik2 | June 22, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Good site! It very impressive, easy to find helpful information. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Aldo Shoese | July 09, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Thanks for a good site with a very good info. I searched the whole web on this information in find your site! Good work
Posted by: Dsw Shoesw | July 12, 2007 at 04:23 PM
What a good site! I think it wasnt easy to post here so much information. Thank you, I will add it to my bookmarks
Posted by: Aldo Shoess | July 14, 2007 at 11:49 PM
walmart pharmacy online steroidal inflammatory drugs
Posted by: genesis cover band | July 27, 2007 at 08:03 AM
Wonderful and informative web site.I used information from that site its great.
Posted by: vme | August 09, 2007 at 09:52 AM
Wonderful and informative web site.I used information from that site its great.
Posted by: vme | August 09, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Wonderful and informative web site.I used information from that site its great.
Posted by: vme | August 09, 2007 at 12:07 PM
The quality of education is, is not lower than 15 years ago
Posted by: book diego san store used | August 12, 2007 at 08:56 AM
I just don't have much to say lately, but eh. Pretty much nothing notable happening worth mentioning. I've more or less been doing nothing worth mentioning.
Posted by: Replica watchesnrs | August 14, 2007 at 12:23 AM
I can't be bothered with anything recently. I've just been sitting around doing nothing. Today was a loss. I just don't have much to say. Nothing seems worth thinking about.
Posted by: cat suit pic | August 16, 2007 at 11:40 PM
Males should be allowed to go shirtless at home only - Or vary with places for another persuasive speech topic
Posted by: homer simpsons dad | August 21, 2007 at 03:45 PM
An integrated, segregated society is better
Posted by: dealer discount tire | August 27, 2007 at 04:37 AM
Global Warming Isn't A Threat
Posted by: about-promotion | September 05, 2007 at 04:17 PM
Sexism is, is not a problem in society
Posted by: pass | September 21, 2007 at 08:23 PM
bgsktm lczdrso fwdkra pmbcx hvpsklr nhquj jiqtbnfku
Posted by: pfxsw kmler | October 01, 2007 at 03:20 PM
sgbei srwvd jymetpc cgjn saldzeno vuxoczef gkucnqjs http://www.gqwlbn.tskyu.com
Posted by: ftvuprbnh qbnrop | October 01, 2007 at 03:21 PM
Power to the people is, is not a good idea
Posted by: movieaccess | January 05, 2008 at 01:15 AM
well i must say they way your discribe your point of view was just aswesome , i love reading your blog, i am looking forward too see some more stuff like this in future .
Posted by: compounding pharmacy | December 24, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Thank you very much for the information I really appreciate it!!
Posted by: Order Tadalafil | March 17, 2009 at 11:44 AM
really interesting site.. thanks!
Posted by: Buy Canada Viagra | March 17, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Hi, It's the second time i'm posting you without a reply. I found your site using Yaehoo, does your site support firefox?
Posted by: Yaehoo | April 30, 2009 at 09:49 PM