Saleh Al-Turaiqi Okaz newspaper Often, when I read what so-called social experts have to say on certain issues, I am swept away with what begins as amusement but gives away to disbelief, sadness, and ultimately outrage. This happened recently when I read what “experts” proposed the terms that should be applied to agencies that transport female students. One said that in order to appoint Saudi drivers, certain conditions would have to be met. The conditions stated were that the driver be an elderly Saudi citizen, and that his wife accompany him in the car on all trips. What they seemed to be implying is that all young Saudi men cannot be trusted and that even elderly Saudi men who are not accompanied by their wives are untrustworthy. It is sad indeed that our “experts” produce such sweeping generalizations. Moreover, their logic is faulty and borders on preposterous. What would happen if the driver's wife fell sick? What will happen to the students who depend on the driver to get to school? Will the students be given a holiday until the driver's wife regains her health and can accompany him again? It seems to me that these terms can in fact promote polygamy! If driving jobs are given to elderly Saudi men, naturally they will marry four women, so in case one of the wives gets sick, the students would not miss class because another wife would fill in for the sick one. Moreover, it can ease the burden on the Hafiz unemployment allowance since more women would be employed perhaps under the category of “entertainer of the driver.” Then, I'm struck with another thought: Why doesn't the wife perform the driving duty of her husband if he becomes sick as long as she continues to remain an employee like him? Or should she divorce him and marry his replacement? Such incredulous advice our social experts offer makes me wonder: How have such people have become experts by providing bizarre solutions to society's problems?
