Jean P Sasson - [Princess 02] by Princess Sultana's Daughters (pdf) Page A

a frank discussion about her apparent obsession.
    Before I could respond, my husband spoke into the house intercom and instructed Amani to come into our living quarters immediately.
    Together, Kareem and I waited for Amani in the sitting area that is attached to our master bedroom.
    Amani's black eyes sparkled with interest as she swept with sprightly grace into the room.
    Before I could defuse the situation, Kareem bluntly asked, "Amani, tell me, what is your object in life?"
    Amani, with childlike serenity, replied without hesitation, "To save all the animals from man."
    "Saving animals is nothing more than a pampered passion of rich Europeans and Americans,"
    Kareem angrily responded. He looked at me as if I were to blame and said "Sultana, I thought your child would be more intelligent."
    Amani's eyes began to tear, and she asked to leave the room. Uncomfortable with female tears, my husband thought better of his sarcastic tactics. Kareem tempered his approach and spoke with perfect seriousness. "And, Amani, after you save all the animals, of what consequence will you be to yourself, or to your family?"
    Amani squeezed her lips together and looked off into space. Without responding, she gradually came back into our world. Unable to formulate her thoughts, she looked at her father and shrugged her shoulders. 
    Remaining wisely uncritical of her great love of animals, Kareem clarified the need for greater purpose in human life, to create and inspire those of our own kind. He reminded Amani that she could perform good deeds for four-legged beasts while still influencing civilization. He added, "Advancing civilization is the responsibility of those who are mistreated in a society, for only out of discontent with imperfection does mankind seek to better the society in which he lives."
    Amani scoffed at his message. She raised her voice and asked her father the obvious question, "In Saudi Arabia? What can a female do that will make a difference in this country?"
    My daughter looked at me and waited for my expected agreement.
    Just as I was about to argue with Kareem, he interrupted me and, to my astonishment, pointed me out to our daughter and said that I, as an unheard female in Saudi Arabia, had not reconciled myself to the life of a royal idler, but that I had become educated and was utilizing my knowledge to further women's causes. He continued by saying that one day women's roles would develop, and our influence would be felt outside the home.
    Dumbfounded at Kareem's words, I could add little to the conversation. Never before had my husband acknowledged the righteousness of my vision of freedom for women.
    After a discussion of more than an hour, Amani promised her father that she would look beyond her furry friends and find a second, equally challenging purpose in her life.
    As affectionate a child as ever lived, Amani kissed each of us good night, and said that she had much thinking to do. As she was closing our bedroom door, she turned back and, giving us a wonderful smile, said, "I love you, Dada, and, Mummy, you too," bringing back to mind the innocent girl our youngest daughter still was.
    Thrilled at what he declared a huge success, Kareem held me in his arms and spoke of his dreams for his daughters, as well as his son, saying that if it were up to him, "All the ridiculous restrictions placed upon the heads of women would disappear, just like magic." Kareem snapped his fingers in the air and gave me a tender look.
    Cynically I thought that there is nothing like a beloved daughter to induce a man to clamor for adjustments in an unfair world.
    Longing for unaccustomed peace in a household of three lively children, I welcomed the idea of the peaceful family life that Kareem promised would come, now that Amani would surely get over her love affair with the world of animals.
    Shortly afterward, the Gulf War began, followed by the culmination of Maha's mental instability.
    During this stressful period, a stymied and