The Death of a King

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

According to BBC, the Saudi Arabian king, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, had passed away due to lung infection. Shortly before his death was announced, televisions throughout Saudi Arabia were changed involuntarily to Koranic verses, which are used to identify the death of a senior royal. Abdullah was 90 when he passed away. His 79 year old brother, Salman, had taken on his responsibilities when he was ill. However, now that Abdullah has passed on, Salman will take 100 percent of the responsibilities of the country of Saudi Arabia. Abdullah actually seemed like a decent man, as he was a reformer who believed that women should be allowed to have careers and government criticism should also be allowed. Abdullah was also the main authority in the corporation known as OPEC and he had even gone so far as to aid the United States in their conflict against Al Qaeda. Both President Barack Obama and former President George H. W. Bush stated their condolences to the country and to the family of the king. However, the fact that Abdullah passed away on a Friday, an Islamic Sabbath, is viewed as "a good omen" to many of those that live in Saudi Arabia. It can only be hoped that the new king is as good as Abdullah sounded.