Taghreed Al-Tasan
FOR a long time, the role of women has been clear. Women have volunteered during political crises and wars. They have been nurses and social activists and have worked hard to help members of society.
When we read history books about the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we find that women played a prominent role. For example, Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman supported her brother King Abdulaziz when he conquered Riyadh and embarked on unifying the Kingdom. She was a first-class social activist who knew how to alleviate the suffering of people, thanks to her strong compassion and strength. Both she and King Abdulaziz realized the important role women could play in these situations.
Following the North Thunder military drill that recently took place in the northern part of the Kingdom with the participation of several Arab and Muslim countries, we need to determine the limits of the achievement of women in the Kingdom today and what they have done for the country. Our brave soldiers are still stationed near the Kingdom’s borders to protect our country and some of them die as martyrs, leaving behind wives and
children. What have Saudi women done to help these bereaved families?
As far as I know, women have not set up a foundation to help the families of soldiers who died defending our country. Some dead soldiers might be the sole breadwinners of their families. Women have not organized seminars or lectures to educate people about the reasons why the Kingdom entered this war. I wonder why we have not seen any women’s foundations being set up to rehabilitate post-war victims and help them cope with life. Every member of society should know why we are at war so that they can support our brave soldiers on the frontline.
Schools should coordinate with the families of martyrs and work together to make the names of martyrs live forever and ensure that their names are never forgotten because they are the reason we live in complete security and safety. They should also organize annual events for the sons and daughters of martyrs and honor them so that they feel proud of their fathers.
What about the families of criminals? They also need help and in most cases they have had nothing to do with the criminal activities of their sons. There is no women’s foundation to help such families. These questions always come to mind when I sit with my children at home feeling safe and secure.
It is high time that Saudi women participate in alleviating the suffering of families who have lost their breadwinners. We are not going to carry arms and fight, our men will do that. What we need to do as women is build our society and engage all civil institutions in helping the wives, sisters and mothers of soldiers who lost their lives defending our country.
