The Hajj

I was really disapointed to realize the level the Saudi government will go to keep non-Muslims (and some actual Muslims) from entering Mecca. As someone who finds religions incredibly interested, I love visiting religious sites, so it is sad for me to realize I will probably never get a chance to visit this one. It was so strict, it actually reminded me a little of watching Lisa Ling in the National Georgraphic video of North Korea filmed before her sister was detained there for five months. It was almost the same level of crazy histeria involved keeping people out with the same amount of danger for those who sneak in.

I wish we had learned more about the American woman from the video as well as Hammoudi's family life. It would have been fascinating to talk to their familes and learn how they were raised. Watching the video, it was hard not to think of the woman as being naive. Had she not had cameras following her around (and I'm guessing, acting as protection of a sort, along with the group she went with) I wonder if she would have been treated different, as had one of the men featured in the video. This is not a critisism of Islam, so much as a critism of human nature. One of my Jewish friends is blonde and blue-eyed and I know she was looked at a little oddly when she went to Israel.