Saudi Arabia VS America “Economically"

Saudi Arabia VS America “Economically”

(A citizen’s perspective)

In Saudi Arabia, people think that America is better than Saudi Arabia in all respects. That stereotype can be found under every roof there. Every single child there asking, “When we will be like America?” Actually, I was asking that question until I arrived the country which all children in my country dream to live in. However, I found out that Saudi Arabia overtakes America in several sides such as prices, family bonding and governmental services. For me as a young student who still developing himself, I think that “only prices matter” because of my unstable financial situation. Therefore, I will be focusing in this comparison specifically on the prices differences between Saudi Arabia and America. In fact, what discriminates Saudi Arabia is that it has free colleges, cheap gasoline and low-priced food.

            In every district in Saudi Arabia, there is at least one governmental school for boys and girls. Governmental schools are completely free, and they provide students with books, which are free too. Teachers there get high salaries compared to the prices in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, each city in Saudi Arabia has at least one governmental university. For example, Hofuf which is a small city in KSA has a big university “KFU” that contains many colleges such as engineering, medicine and business. Furthermore, college students do not have to pay for college, it is for FREE.  Besides that, college students live for free in the campus. This is not the end; Saudi students receive monthly stipends too! However, American students have to pay to study in the university even if it was not private “state university”. For example, The University of Texas, which is a public institution, requires $5,164 per semester for in-state residents. In addition, students have to pay for housing too which has different prices depending on the region. For example, In Boston, it is hard to find place to live because of the enormous number of universities, so landlords exploit this chance to raise the prices of rents there. Eventually, the student will be the victim! In short, Saudi government encourages college students by smoothing their studying way which is virtually non-existent in America.

            If you want to visit Saudi Arabia, do not be amazed if you saw school students using their own cars to go to school. Saudi students use cars more than others; they prefer to use their cars even if they live beside their schools. The fundamental reason for that is the cheapness of oil. Until today, you can pay only 0.61 dollar per Gallon. For example, my father pays only 5 dollar to fill his car with oil! Because oil in Saudi Arabia is not a big deal, most of Saudi students have their own cars. On the other hand, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the oil prices in America which equals to six times the price in Saudi Arabia. Because of that, Americans reduce using their cars reluctantly seeking different ways as alternative solutions. One of these solutions is the bus system which covers all American cities. For instance, In Austin, I can go wherever I want inside the city by using the bus system. Actually, I would like to buy a car because it saves my time. For example, if I want to go to Wal-Mart, I have to wait for a bus then I have to wait till I arrive the bus stop of Wal-Mart. However, if I was using a car, I should not wait for anyone, so it saves a lot of time. Unfortunately, I cannot buy it because of the oil price here.

            Another aspect is the food which is a big deal, especially for international students like me. In Saudi Arabia, I get my breakfast, lunch and dinner with a cup of coffee by $16. On the other hand, I pay $35 (at least) to get the same things in America. In Fact, In Saudi Arabia, I can buy with $35 three big meals which can feed three families! In addition, although Coke is an American drink, it costs $0.25 per can in Saudi Arabia while Americans pay more than one dollar for it! The same issue is with water. Even though water is more expensive than gasoline in Saudi Arabia, it stills much cheaper than water in America. For these facts, Saudi Arabia distinctly beats America with prices.

           

In every country, there are negative sides and positive sides. For me as a student I focused on these sides more than others because these aspects are the most important for me and for the people who face the same circumstances that I face. Therefore dear reader, you can realize that all my points were economical points. In conclusion, living in Saudi Arabia is more beneficial economically than living in America.

“Legalizing Gay Marriage”

When I read about gay marriage in American newspapers, I started to thinkabout the subject regardless of what other people say. My view is to refuse this kind of marriage because it contrasts human instinct and many religions’ perspectives, and I hope that government does that too.

In fact, we all are living because of a man and a woman. No one had lived without this equation since the first day of human history in earth. Therefore, this is theinstinct that we had created with. Jesus said “But from the beginning of the creationGod made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife” (Mark 10). Because of that, men should be inclined to womenand vice versa. Actually, I think that is our job to keep this instinct as long as possible.By approving gay marriage, we would betray this integrity which we should deal with honestly.

Moreover, gay marriage is forbidden in many religions such as Islam, Christianity and Judaism.(1) In Muslims perspective, no one can be a Muslim unless he/she believes the holy book “Quran” which forbids this marriage by proving what the prophet Lot said to his people "Verily, you practise your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by committing great sins)." 27:55 Therefore, all Muslims condemn gay marriage, and they consider it a great sin. In fact not only Muslims deny that, but also Christians and Jewish people do.Because all Christian people and Jewish people believe the Old Testament, so they have to disapprove this marriage because it mentioned in Leviticus that "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." 20:13. Therefore, gay marriage is forbidden in three main religions in world. In fact, the population of these religions adherents is approximately 3.5 billion, which represents half of the world’s population! Therefore, this concept will constitute a threat which would make them struggling to keep it illegal.

On the other hand, people who support gay marriage believe that this kind of marriage represents the perfect democracy which is an ambition of every single person. However, I believe that sanctioning gay marriage is not related to strengthening freedomnotion. Sidney (2007) said that Freedom is not to do whatever you want. (2) There are redlines, which we stay away from. In fact, there are a lot of things we cannot do because of law such as killing, prostitution or extortion. These laws make our lives more organized because without these laws life would be savage and uncontrolled.

Another argument is that gay marriage supporters remonstrate that legalizinggay marriage may achieve stability. In my view, I think that stability cannot happen inthis marriage because it contrasts the human instinct. Moreover, gay marriage does not produce children. Therefore, it is not complete marriage, and stability cannot be with incomplete thing. Based on that, this is unacceptable argument.

In my view, God had created us and he made the rules too. One of the rules is to disapprove this marriage because it contrasts our instinct, and our role is to keep these rules enrolled in our constitutions forever. Therefore, I am not only against this marriage, I am against legalizing it, too.

Bibliography

1- Brooks, Alison. Gay and Lesbian Communities the World Over. By Rita J. Simon. N.p.: Lexington, 2011. 7-19.

2- Sidney, Waldman R. America and the Limits of the Politics of Selfishness.N.p.: Lexington, 2007. 89.

Golden Era!

“I wish that we could see our brothers” that what prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said about us as followers. undoubtedly, I wish to see him even if it was just a dream. In fact, prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had sorted in the first rank in Michael Hart’s book “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History”. He established a great empire which covered the whole world. He gave the message completely as he heard it. If I have a time machine, I will return back 1435 years to see my leader who I love more than anyone else. After Muhammad (PBUH) died, his followers carried the flag of Islam continuing spreading the message around the world until they covered the area that includes all countries from Morocco to China and some parts of Spain. It was really the golden era of Islam. Indeed, I hope to see how people were so free to pray to god in China and Spain. I really want to see the big mosques and the great buildings which were in Al-Andalus “Spain”. Actually, heritage monuments of Islamic civilization in Andalus still exist in the current Spain which made Spain a great place to find historical attractions. Absolutely, if I were born at that time, I will be so thankful. 

"I'm not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful" (1)

According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), controlled motivation involves doing a job with a feel of pressure, demand, or coercion. Indeed, That’s what money does! For example, if I was working only for money that would affects negatively on my determination. However, working a lovely job motivates me to be more creative and comfortable.

Creativity is desirable in every single corporation. Every single boss appreciates the creative job because it eventually benefits the company. If I were doing something I don’t like, I wouldn’t complete it perfectly even if my boss would give me extra money "bonus". In contrast, if I were doing something I like, I would work to complete it creatively with no pressure but much fun! SDT defined that as “autonomous motivation”, which means doing a job engagingly with eagerness and volition. In fact, when workers feel that they have the choice and willingness in their jobs, they will do it much better than if they were forced because of money. Steve Jobs said, "Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful -- that's what matters to me." Basically, Money does not matter to him because he loves his job more than money. In my view, I think it was the most important secret in his career live. Furthermore, working enthusiastically makes me very comfortable and satisfied with the outcome of my job, and that would not happen unless I have an enjoyable task. However, having a boring job makes me very disappointed which makes me do my job carelessly. Then I’ll get bad results that could be enough to send me away from the company!

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it; there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness” (2). We only live once, so we should seek for happiness. Obviously, Money is not the right place to seek in! Being comfortable in every aspect in your life is the secret. Getting a job is an important part of our lives, so we should choose the right choice uninterestedly about money. 

------------------------

(1): Marilyn Monroe

(2): Benjamin Franklin