Nayf will assure any progress made will be rolled back, and some.

You make an interesting point. Having been born and brought up in the UK, not once have I celebrated Valentines Day. This is mainly because it all seems really fake to me.

Although the intentions may have been good to start of with, it has (along with the Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter) become driven by material excesses, where large extravagant gifts are better than small, meaningful and love-filled ones. If a celebration can be made where real romance and love is celebrated, I would embrace it fully (I don’t know about your Saudi Ulemaa though, they seem really extreme).

As for the King’s reforms, they’re a step in the right direction but I get the feeling it’s too little too late. Saudi needs some big reforms such as allowing women to drive (this should have happened a long time ago) and being a lot more conciliatory towards the Shia (what happened last week was a disgrace).

To your question: “Why do you need to ape a consumerist tradition of the West?” I would offer the thought that our young people would likely support an indigenous festival that celebrates romantic love in a materialist way.

However, as you know, we would be forbidden to create any such day of celebration by the ulemaa.

However, failing that, they will import one.

If your objection is to the whole notion of a “consumerist” celebration, I would offer the thought that many are tired of ulemaa supporters who preach non-materialism, while their own personal lives speak of a love of material excess.

Consumerism can have positive attributes, as for example an appreciation of art, or film, is viewed by some as consumerism.

Similarly, if providing flowers and some sweet goods to a beloved person is viewed unfavorably, as being “consumerist” then I believe this is an unreasonably narrow prescription for the lives of those who experience romantic love.

Finally, I would offer the view that using a racial epithet towards Saudis is just another way to denigrate us.

Saudis are not to be denigrated.

We have the inherent right to be consumerist if we choose, just as we have the right to be non-materialist.

And both choices should be ours as individuals to choose.

We as Saudis should NEVER be denigrated as “niggers” or any other hate-filled term.

We deserve and merit respect!