Because they rely on wrong informations .
I was reading this article by Marc Lynch, trying to analyse why the Arab springs have not taken place yet, not in full swing at least, in the countries of the Gulf .
The reasoning evolves around the issue of absolute monarchies .
It goes completely off track .
I am sure, as I read on his biography, that he is a great academic, but I assume he has no experience on the ground .
First of all, we can't forget the role played by Western powers prior and during the springs, and so we need to consider the different type of relation, each European country and America had with the rulers and governments of Maghreb .
Different relations mean different impacts on their economies as well, other than the political level .
The monarchies of the Gulf have always been more independent in their alliances with the West .
Then there are different traditions and culture .
The tribal environment in the Gulf is pretty different than that of Northern Africa .
This turns also into different approaches toward life, which is one of the reasons why, there have been light revolts which up to now brought no real revolution .
The rulers in the Gulf area deeply know his people and always worked for them .
Never took away from them the wealth coming from the oil, and never gave it to them just as money .
But they always gave them the best in terms of services, such as schools, hospitals and benefits .
Contrary to what was happening in Africa, they did their best to empower their people .
This is something probably unknown here, due to negative reports from the press, but it is the reality .
And the religion as well, despite differences in sects, unites people with their rulers .
Monarchs in the Gulf never gave up on their relationships with the people .
They always worked for them but of course made mistakes .
This is why in any kind of rebellion from Oman to Bahrain, the rage of the people was mostly against corruption of the middle men without holding rulers responsible .
There is a small number of persons who think otherwise, but for now they are a minority .
This is the point that few in the rooms of power in the West, cannot understand .
Showing posts with label Gulf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gulf. Show all posts
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Why I will not read Matt Bissonette book
I am not sure anybody out there is interested, but I just want to make my point .
After I converted to Islam, I started to have problems with my family .
It was issues I hadn't seen coming, because of the way religion is lived, here in Italy .
True that very few are practicing Catholics, and even less know exactly what's being taught to them at schools and churches, but Catholicism is a sort of talisman, something each national is born with, without asking .
So cutting with it, for an Italian, often means also to cut with roots, a part of them at least .
It became so uncomfortable to live with my family, that I decided to move to the M.E.
There things unfolded also worse, because for how much one loves the culture, he or she will never be part of it .
And Islam is only a part of Arab culture, important but just a part .
There in the Gulf, I had the opportunity to challenge myself, to know different people, to appreciate other aspects of life .
But all in all, it was an awful adventure .
My local sponsor cheated me, a guy stole all my money, most of the people I thought to be friends, just turned their back, and I had to rush back home .
I had gone there with a bunch of money and dreams .
Had to go, also blacklisted for three years, because a dishonest person asked me for money, big money, left me without visa and ran away .
I entered like a princess and went out like a beggar, all this because a bastard took advantage of my silly good heart .
After two years I am back home, I'm still missing the place and people and trying to go there again but with no positive outcome .
I rejoined my family also sewing fractures there had been between us in the past .
Actually I am not happy, but at least I'm alive and that's a lot .
In all these years and carrying on with tribulations, I've always thought that my disgraces had been caused by only one person : Osama bin Laden .
If he hadn't done what he did, I was thinking, I would not have even tried to go out .
In reality bin Laden was just a symptom .
The real disease is that Italians are not used to deal with differences .
Multiculturalism is an unknown word to them .
They cannot come to terms with the fact, that despite being raised in this culture, one can be perfectly happy by adding to his/her interests another inclination, like a different religion, or also can come from a mixed background .
In Arab lands instead, they haven't realized that Arabs are just leaving aside their religion, they behave as if they were not Muslims.
They cheat, they lie, they misbehave as if they had no morals .
These were the real causes of my troubles, other than the fact that I was not good in making choices .
Along with the years I've been pondering on the happenings of my life and on how they were related to the world events .
In the same way that, I was telling to myself the tale that bin Laden was responsible for my tribulations, on the other hand, I was listening to political and police experts, sociologists and media persons and understanding that OBL was the root of all evils .
And also, every time there was some story or details around him and his family, the way he started, the way he was thinking or speaking, I was just listening .
I listened to each kind of theory about his life and misfits and about his capture .
I learned about his background, his evolution (if it can be defined thus), his wives and children, his habits, everything .
When he was captured and killed I spent hours in front of television and computer to know details .
So I was thinking it was finally finished .
But the next day I woke up and realized it was not .
People in my country are still racists and bigots (many not all), Arab Muslims still prefer beer to prayer (many as well, not all) and Obama is still there blabbering about terrorism and launching drones, specially at elections time .
So I realized that the problem was not Osama bin Laden .
He was just a tool in the hands of God, to let us understand we have problems and we must solve them, following His way .
I don't think this book either, will change anything .
And I will not buy it, despite being passionate of police operations .
Also the true name of the author, reminds more of a baguette than a war hero .
And last but not least, Penguin is the editor of books which I used to read when I was at school .
My school memories are not that good .
So here are three good reasons not to read mr. Bissonette, or Mark Owen book .
No easy day is more the story of my life, than that of a chap who killed a coward in a hole .
With due respect .
After I converted to Islam, I started to have problems with my family .
It was issues I hadn't seen coming, because of the way religion is lived, here in Italy .
True that very few are practicing Catholics, and even less know exactly what's being taught to them at schools and churches, but Catholicism is a sort of talisman, something each national is born with, without asking .
So cutting with it, for an Italian, often means also to cut with roots, a part of them at least .
It became so uncomfortable to live with my family, that I decided to move to the M.E.
There things unfolded also worse, because for how much one loves the culture, he or she will never be part of it .
And Islam is only a part of Arab culture, important but just a part .
There in the Gulf, I had the opportunity to challenge myself, to know different people, to appreciate other aspects of life .
But all in all, it was an awful adventure .
My local sponsor cheated me, a guy stole all my money, most of the people I thought to be friends, just turned their back, and I had to rush back home .
I had gone there with a bunch of money and dreams .
Had to go, also blacklisted for three years, because a dishonest person asked me for money, big money, left me without visa and ran away .
I entered like a princess and went out like a beggar, all this because a bastard took advantage of my silly good heart .
After two years I am back home, I'm still missing the place and people and trying to go there again but with no positive outcome .
I rejoined my family also sewing fractures there had been between us in the past .
Actually I am not happy, but at least I'm alive and that's a lot .
In all these years and carrying on with tribulations, I've always thought that my disgraces had been caused by only one person : Osama bin Laden .
If he hadn't done what he did, I was thinking, I would not have even tried to go out .
In reality bin Laden was just a symptom .
The real disease is that Italians are not used to deal with differences .
Multiculturalism is an unknown word to them .
They cannot come to terms with the fact, that despite being raised in this culture, one can be perfectly happy by adding to his/her interests another inclination, like a different religion, or also can come from a mixed background .
In Arab lands instead, they haven't realized that Arabs are just leaving aside their religion, they behave as if they were not Muslims.
They cheat, they lie, they misbehave as if they had no morals .
These were the real causes of my troubles, other than the fact that I was not good in making choices .
Along with the years I've been pondering on the happenings of my life and on how they were related to the world events .
In the same way that, I was telling to myself the tale that bin Laden was responsible for my tribulations, on the other hand, I was listening to political and police experts, sociologists and media persons and understanding that OBL was the root of all evils .
And also, every time there was some story or details around him and his family, the way he started, the way he was thinking or speaking, I was just listening .
I listened to each kind of theory about his life and misfits and about his capture .
I learned about his background, his evolution (if it can be defined thus), his wives and children, his habits, everything .
When he was captured and killed I spent hours in front of television and computer to know details .
So I was thinking it was finally finished .
But the next day I woke up and realized it was not .
People in my country are still racists and bigots (many not all), Arab Muslims still prefer beer to prayer (many as well, not all) and Obama is still there blabbering about terrorism and launching drones, specially at elections time .
So I realized that the problem was not Osama bin Laden .
He was just a tool in the hands of God, to let us understand we have problems and we must solve them, following His way .
I don't think this book either, will change anything .
And I will not buy it, despite being passionate of police operations .
Also the true name of the author, reminds more of a baguette than a war hero .
And last but not least, Penguin is the editor of books which I used to read when I was at school .
My school memories are not that good .
So here are three good reasons not to read mr. Bissonette, or Mark Owen book .
No easy day is more the story of my life, than that of a chap who killed a coward in a hole .
With due respect .
Monday, 20 August 2012
Choco-flowers
There are two kind of things one may expect never to find in the Gulf region, due to high temperatures and humidity : flowers and chocolates .
Nevertheless, these are quite fruitful businesses in each country .
When going by car or walking through the streets, one cannot but notice the beauty of flowers beds placed everywhere, specially during holidays celebrations .
It is mostly Asian workers being in charge of their cure , mainly in the early hours of the morning and late afternoons .
There are many flowers and plants shops, and if one wishes to send them as gift, it is possible to do .
It is slightly more difficult to deliver abroad, depending on the area one is living in, but mostly hotels help in this task .
Also chocolates have a huge market .
Most of them are from foreign producers, but actually also local ones are increasing .
I was reading about Oman's Salma's chocolates, but there are also others .
Nowadays each house or mall, let alone offices building, are equipped with AC, so it is not uncommon for families and individuals to indulge in such pleasures .
Sweets and cakes are very popular in coffee shops and cafeterias and many ladies are starting their home business with delivery .
Greatest part of the market is occupied by Arabic sweets, no alcohol in them, but huge quantities of sugar and syrup giving heavenly tastes .
As I said earlier, being Asian an important segment of the population, their cuisine can be found and appreciated everywhere .
So also cakes and sweets are part of their heritage in the Gulf .
Of course there is the other side of the coin, namely obesity .
When in a hot place, one doesn't have big meals, mainly salads, bread and legumes, but pastries and chocolates play a great role, specially in Ramadan .
So children start to be overweight at an early age, and older population suffers diabetes and cholesterol .
Doctors are starting to educate people .
For now anyway, the alternative is given by gyms, very popular among expats and locals of the young generation .
Nevertheless, these are quite fruitful businesses in each country .
When going by car or walking through the streets, one cannot but notice the beauty of flowers beds placed everywhere, specially during holidays celebrations .
It is mostly Asian workers being in charge of their cure , mainly in the early hours of the morning and late afternoons .
There are many flowers and plants shops, and if one wishes to send them as gift, it is possible to do .
It is slightly more difficult to deliver abroad, depending on the area one is living in, but mostly hotels help in this task .
Also chocolates have a huge market .
Most of them are from foreign producers, but actually also local ones are increasing .
I was reading about Oman's Salma's chocolates, but there are also others .
Nowadays each house or mall, let alone offices building, are equipped with AC, so it is not uncommon for families and individuals to indulge in such pleasures .
Sweets and cakes are very popular in coffee shops and cafeterias and many ladies are starting their home business with delivery .
Greatest part of the market is occupied by Arabic sweets, no alcohol in them, but huge quantities of sugar and syrup giving heavenly tastes .
As I said earlier, being Asian an important segment of the population, their cuisine can be found and appreciated everywhere .
So also cakes and sweets are part of their heritage in the Gulf .
Of course there is the other side of the coin, namely obesity .
When in a hot place, one doesn't have big meals, mainly salads, bread and legumes, but pastries and chocolates play a great role, specially in Ramadan .
So children start to be overweight at an early age, and older population suffers diabetes and cholesterol .
Doctors are starting to educate people .
For now anyway, the alternative is given by gyms, very popular among expats and locals of the young generation .
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Still on Bandar boy
I still read journalists and bloggers, or supposedly to be thus, wondering wether Prince Bandar is alive or not .
And some coming to this blog as well, mainly from America, where H.R.H. best friends live .
Well latest picture I could spot of him, is on the day of the OIC meeting in Makkah, on the 15th of this month .
Probably others will come out these days of Eid, the celebration for the end of Ramadan, when families gather to exchange wishes .
To those who argue that these photos going around, are just photoshopped, I answer that this is not the Saudi way, or the way of Gulfians to be correct .
When there is some fight in the family or things must be sorted out before a funeral, they just do not announce the death and no mention on the specific person is done on media .
Other Arab or Islamic countries, may use such "Korean " methods .
The Arabs of the Gulf and their royal houses, are not of that sort .
Rage
I was reading the US department statement regarding the pussy riots verdict, on Alec Ross Facebook wall .
And I was highly disappointed .
Other than the fact that entering a church and shouting against Mr. Putin, can't be called as an example of freedom of expression, one needs also to acknowledge that Russia is not a third world country with a puppet government as Americans tend to point .
Russia is a sovereign country . It can't be urged to review a verdict, as it was issued by a court which is highly qualified to do that .
When living for some time in the M.E., one develops a certain feeling of disappointment .
It can be against bureaucracy or sponsorship .
In general it is against injustice .
If you are not inclined towards rage, sooner or later you will become .
It's mostly against Israel or the USA .
People in the West think that it is a specific attitude of the Muslims .
In my opinion it is something cultural, rather due to history .
It comes from frustration, to see how things are not that good at home and outside also, and will never change .
The Palestinian issue, is of course the genesis of this frustration .
If one ponders, it can't be just a coincidence or bad luck, and not even the governments mismanagement only .
People see how their rulers are dependent on America and British governments, which on their part, are tied to Israel, and come to the conclusion that it is all their faults .
Local governments know this, and try to use it for their own benefits, so people's rage is against America and not against them .
On the other hand, they use al Qaeda threat, or at least they did before the springs, in order to convince the US to remain on their soils and to provide more arms .
It is a snake biting its tale .
It is all around the fact that Gulf governments have never been able to establish a partnership with Western countries, based on terms of equality .
And I was highly disappointed .
Other than the fact that entering a church and shouting against Mr. Putin, can't be called as an example of freedom of expression, one needs also to acknowledge that Russia is not a third world country with a puppet government as Americans tend to point .
Russia is a sovereign country . It can't be urged to review a verdict, as it was issued by a court which is highly qualified to do that .
When living for some time in the M.E., one develops a certain feeling of disappointment .
It can be against bureaucracy or sponsorship .
In general it is against injustice .
If you are not inclined towards rage, sooner or later you will become .
It's mostly against Israel or the USA .
People in the West think that it is a specific attitude of the Muslims .
In my opinion it is something cultural, rather due to history .
It comes from frustration, to see how things are not that good at home and outside also, and will never change .
The Palestinian issue, is of course the genesis of this frustration .
If one ponders, it can't be just a coincidence or bad luck, and not even the governments mismanagement only .
People see how their rulers are dependent on America and British governments, which on their part, are tied to Israel, and come to the conclusion that it is all their faults .
Local governments know this, and try to use it for their own benefits, so people's rage is against America and not against them .
On the other hand, they use al Qaeda threat, or at least they did before the springs, in order to convince the US to remain on their soils and to provide more arms .
It is a snake biting its tale .
It is all around the fact that Gulf governments have never been able to establish a partnership with Western countries, based on terms of equality .
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Sand pens
The tradition of bloggers I described before, started from the need to have a reliable account of the life in Arab countries .
And this was not possible, due to the fact that ten or fifteen years ago, the press was really not free .
After blogs came, things changed depending on the place .
Governments understood the importance of transparency .
One of those , which in my opinion made great steps ahead, was Saudi Arabia .
There this great myth about Saudi newspapers being just regime puppets .
But this is very far from truth .
Saudi journalists were those who showed a great will to be more open, and they were allowed to do so .
They have a huge ability to analyse facts and situations .
Of course they will never go on barricades yelling at the rulers who own the newspapers .
But they found their way to introduce issues in need to be re-examined by the establishment .
Actually I think that Arabnews and Saudigazette are among the best in the Gulf .
Kuwait and Bahraini newspapers reflect the complexity of the political situation .
Having a parliament and sectarian problems, does indeed make the difference .
Dialogue and confrontation, also on media, is inevitable .
Qatar press, is of course represented by al Jazeera, which both in its Arabic and English versions, were supposed to be the fresh revolution within the Arab world .
And they were, initially .
Then the leadership, probably pressed also by America, realized it was better to have media tackling issues in a certain way .
And the dream came to an end .
Nowadays Qatari publications, in my humble opinion, are just flat .
Then there is the Emarati, which keep their taste of independence, but indulge too much in celebrating their rulers and highlighting how bad the rest of the Gulf governments are .
In Oman the situation is at low levels since the times of Sultan Said bin Taimur .
When Qaboos came to the throne, despite being very liberal, didn't do really much to encourage free press .
The current Minister is very strict (I am telling what journalists there say, not sure it is true . Omanis have this tendency to complain a lot .) and so the quality of press products is not really good .
It's enough to recall that H.M., every time some peculiar public remark from him is needed, he gives an interview to Ahmed al Jarallah, from Kuwait .
Other then being in friendly terms with the Sultan, Ahmed is a good journalist, and of course he's picked not to show that the interview is a sort of advertising for H.M.
But this move gives also the feeling that Qaboos very well knows the limits of local press .
Last but not least, we have Yemenis .
Their production in Arabic is very interesting, but also English newspapers, the times and the observer, are quite useful to give a glimpse of what is going on there .
Most journalists in the Gulf are nationals educated and trained abroad, but many are Indians .
They give a great input, not only to tell about their fellow citizens problems, but to bring ways to write about politics and social matters .
And this was not possible, due to the fact that ten or fifteen years ago, the press was really not free .
After blogs came, things changed depending on the place .
Governments understood the importance of transparency .
One of those , which in my opinion made great steps ahead, was Saudi Arabia .
There this great myth about Saudi newspapers being just regime puppets .
But this is very far from truth .
Saudi journalists were those who showed a great will to be more open, and they were allowed to do so .
They have a huge ability to analyse facts and situations .
Of course they will never go on barricades yelling at the rulers who own the newspapers .
But they found their way to introduce issues in need to be re-examined by the establishment .
Actually I think that Arabnews and Saudigazette are among the best in the Gulf .
Kuwait and Bahraini newspapers reflect the complexity of the political situation .
Having a parliament and sectarian problems, does indeed make the difference .
Dialogue and confrontation, also on media, is inevitable .
Qatar press, is of course represented by al Jazeera, which both in its Arabic and English versions, were supposed to be the fresh revolution within the Arab world .
And they were, initially .
Then the leadership, probably pressed also by America, realized it was better to have media tackling issues in a certain way .
And the dream came to an end .
Nowadays Qatari publications, in my humble opinion, are just flat .
Then there is the Emarati, which keep their taste of independence, but indulge too much in celebrating their rulers and highlighting how bad the rest of the Gulf governments are .
In Oman the situation is at low levels since the times of Sultan Said bin Taimur .
When Qaboos came to the throne, despite being very liberal, didn't do really much to encourage free press .
The current Minister is very strict (I am telling what journalists there say, not sure it is true . Omanis have this tendency to complain a lot .) and so the quality of press products is not really good .
It's enough to recall that H.M., every time some peculiar public remark from him is needed, he gives an interview to Ahmed al Jarallah, from Kuwait .
Other then being in friendly terms with the Sultan, Ahmed is a good journalist, and of course he's picked not to show that the interview is a sort of advertising for H.M.
But this move gives also the feeling that Qaboos very well knows the limits of local press .
Last but not least, we have Yemenis .
Their production in Arabic is very interesting, but also English newspapers, the times and the observer, are quite useful to give a glimpse of what is going on there .
Most journalists in the Gulf are nationals educated and trained abroad, but many are Indians .
They give a great input, not only to tell about their fellow citizens problems, but to bring ways to write about politics and social matters .
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Hate
“Unfortunately, that’s exactly what has happened. But the fire has been under the Gulf sands much longer than your time away. This region has been under attack in many ways. The Israeli axis tried indirect control, and that wasn’t enough. They tried invasion and occupation and failed. But what they always succeed at, is what worked for them during the colonial era — divide and rule. So here we are, quarreling over issues that were dead 1,400 years ago, while the neocolonialists enjoy the show, waiting for the right moment to take us by surprise.”
Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi
One of the most difficult tasks to accomplish for a Muslim convert of non Arab descent, or also for a Muslim of second/third generation living in the West with the family, is to match the religion with the culture .
Islam is very much compatible with cultures which are not Arab, but of course it takes time and committment, to find the points of contact .
Being in touch with Arab Muslims, specially if one lives in the Gulf area, will give a taste of this dichotomy between traditions and the religion just embraced .
One issue is that for them, Islam belongs to Arabs, and the other, is that modern culture in a western context, is just corrupted .
This is another consequence, of the hate atmosphere in which many Arabs live, and hate speech is definitely part of it .
Also many who went abroad for studies or work, fall in this trap .
They can't understand that the more they indulge in it, the more they will be at loss .
Complaining without acting, is counterproductive .
And some outsiders, very well know how to take advantage of this .
Scholars up to now, didn't do much .
I think that if rulers, in such an important venue like that of the Islamic conference, did a strong statement against this attitude, then people would start considering to go for a change .
Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi
One of the most difficult tasks to accomplish for a Muslim convert of non Arab descent, or also for a Muslim of second/third generation living in the West with the family, is to match the religion with the culture .
Islam is very much compatible with cultures which are not Arab, but of course it takes time and committment, to find the points of contact .
Being in touch with Arab Muslims, specially if one lives in the Gulf area, will give a taste of this dichotomy between traditions and the religion just embraced .
One issue is that for them, Islam belongs to Arabs, and the other, is that modern culture in a western context, is just corrupted .
This is another consequence, of the hate atmosphere in which many Arabs live, and hate speech is definitely part of it .
Also many who went abroad for studies or work, fall in this trap .
They can't understand that the more they indulge in it, the more they will be at loss .
Complaining without acting, is counterproductive .
And some outsiders, very well know how to take advantage of this .
Scholars up to now, didn't do much .
I think that if rulers, in such an important venue like that of the Islamic conference, did a strong statement against this attitude, then people would start considering to go for a change .
Monday, 13 August 2012
Shisha
Manama: A topflight football team in Saudi Arabia is imposing financial penalties on a group of players caught smoking shisha.
Saudi club cuts salaries of players caught smoking shisha | GulfNews.com
Contrary to what one may think, shisha contains a higher quantity of nicotine and tar, which can damage health .
To a foreigner, who has just arrived, shisha is quite a fascinating practice .
It is smoked in nice coffee shops with a warm atmosphere and not only by men .
Often girls go together for a night out, and enjoy their time .
It is definitely quite a sociable way to spend time .
It is made also with many flavours added .
But it is definitely strong .
I've been smoking for only a few months in my life, in the first years of university .
I did it, to get the feeling to be out of home and away from mum and dad control .
But it was really not my thing, so I quit .
When I went to the Gulf and was out with friends, I tried shisha a few times .
And still I had that old impression of my youth years, that smoking was not for me .
So I didn't indulge much in it .
Smoking in these countries can be a huge problem .
Cigarettes are very cheap, and despite rules, also boys at a very young age, buy them .
They are largely distributed in bars and night clubs .
People are so addicted to them, that also most religious people before Ramadan, start having like every year the old dilemma : is it permissible or not ?
And of course it is not, like everything creating addiction and turning away from the love of God .
Moreover with empty stomach, fasting time becomes more of a burden .
But many men find several excuses in order to smoke .
They just can't quit .
In my opinion the only solution is to raise the prices .
If they lived here in Europe, and had to bear other costs, they would stop this bad habit, straight away .
Players who were reportedly spotted smoking shisha in a coffee shop in Abu Dhabi, where the team is taking part in a friendly tournament, will lose up to half of their salaries for breaking the rules and regulations of Al Nasr team, Saudi Arabic daily Al Sharq reported on Sunday
Contrary to what one may think, shisha contains a higher quantity of nicotine and tar, which can damage health .
To a foreigner, who has just arrived, shisha is quite a fascinating practice .
It is smoked in nice coffee shops with a warm atmosphere and not only by men .
Often girls go together for a night out, and enjoy their time .
It is definitely quite a sociable way to spend time .
It is made also with many flavours added .
But it is definitely strong .
I've been smoking for only a few months in my life, in the first years of university .
I did it, to get the feeling to be out of home and away from mum and dad control .
But it was really not my thing, so I quit .
When I went to the Gulf and was out with friends, I tried shisha a few times .
And still I had that old impression of my youth years, that smoking was not for me .
So I didn't indulge much in it .
Smoking in these countries can be a huge problem .
Cigarettes are very cheap, and despite rules, also boys at a very young age, buy them .
They are largely distributed in bars and night clubs .
People are so addicted to them, that also most religious people before Ramadan, start having like every year the old dilemma : is it permissible or not ?
And of course it is not, like everything creating addiction and turning away from the love of God .
Moreover with empty stomach, fasting time becomes more of a burden .
But many men find several excuses in order to smoke .
They just can't quit .
In my opinion the only solution is to raise the prices .
If they lived here in Europe, and had to bear other costs, they would stop this bad habit, straight away .
Blogging in the middle of the East
As pointed by some Omani bloggers, blogging in the Gulf places, is a sort of grey area, because there are no specific laws on the issue .
So rules and regulations on media, are generally applied to blogs, forums and social networks .
But also in this case, it is not known how laws and the way they are applied, put limits to writings .
So up to now, individuals mostly rely on common sense .
Arab people are very introspective and good in telling stories, which is why the first blogs started, were about personal life .
When people realized about the potential of the internet allowing a rapid spread, and also due to the fact that serious discussions already took place in forums, they tried to optimize the process through blogs .
I am speaking about articles mainly written in Arabic .
After bloggers understood the importance to have an interlocutor, namely the US dept. and the American people in general, they increased their English production, which was not that difficult, as most students nowadays go to private schools where they are taught in that language .
This raised also a tendency towards Saudis in particular, for the American government to be the bloggers ghost ally .
Countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, being the most loyal friend of theirs, had most of the support from US dept .
In a way, the main reason why the spring did not take place there, is precisely this : Americans, through their backing, make activists believe that, despite being governmental boosters, are also vouching for civil liberties .
So this keeps things quiet .
Many popular bloggers who expressed apparent dissent, later migrated in North America and are working as journalists or opinion makers .
The rest of them, often are paid a trip in the region or to America to confront themselves with other bloggers and if they have some complaint, they are backed by the department .
The main topics dealt with in blogs, were social and political as writers were local .
In Oman, where certain topics are sensitive, tribal customs and abuse of Islamic laws are also a matter of great interest .
Also expats are given great space in the English blogosphere, as they introduce the Arab world in the West, with its pros and cons .
Sometimes they fall into disputes with locals, because constructive criticism of local customs, is not yet belonging to Arab mentality .
Nevertheless they give a precious insight both for educated nationals and those from abroad interested in the region .
So rules and regulations on media, are generally applied to blogs, forums and social networks .
But also in this case, it is not known how laws and the way they are applied, put limits to writings .
So up to now, individuals mostly rely on common sense .
Arab people are very introspective and good in telling stories, which is why the first blogs started, were about personal life .
When people realized about the potential of the internet allowing a rapid spread, and also due to the fact that serious discussions already took place in forums, they tried to optimize the process through blogs .
I am speaking about articles mainly written in Arabic .
After bloggers understood the importance to have an interlocutor, namely the US dept. and the American people in general, they increased their English production, which was not that difficult, as most students nowadays go to private schools where they are taught in that language .
This raised also a tendency towards Saudis in particular, for the American government to be the bloggers ghost ally .
Countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, being the most loyal friend of theirs, had most of the support from US dept .
In a way, the main reason why the spring did not take place there, is precisely this : Americans, through their backing, make activists believe that, despite being governmental boosters, are also vouching for civil liberties .
So this keeps things quiet .
Many popular bloggers who expressed apparent dissent, later migrated in North America and are working as journalists or opinion makers .
The rest of them, often are paid a trip in the region or to America to confront themselves with other bloggers and if they have some complaint, they are backed by the department .
The main topics dealt with in blogs, were social and political as writers were local .
In Oman, where certain topics are sensitive, tribal customs and abuse of Islamic laws are also a matter of great interest .
Also expats are given great space in the English blogosphere, as they introduce the Arab world in the West, with its pros and cons .
Sometimes they fall into disputes with locals, because constructive criticism of local customs, is not yet belonging to Arab mentality .
Nevertheless they give a precious insight both for educated nationals and those from abroad interested in the region .
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Distances
Many years ago, during one of my first trips to the Gulf, I was meeting a Saudi friend at my hotel, in Manama, Bahrain .
While we were sitting and enjoying a drink at a coffee shop in the lobby, I started to notice some strange movements .
Young guys came and sat at the tables nearby, and after some time also a group of old men appeared .
I was puzzled by the fact that my friend was much more interested in them, than in our meeting, so I asked if there was anything special going on .
My friend explained that the Bahraini Minister of Interior was at the table next to us, and he was busy discussing something with a Chinese delegation visiting in those days .
I was surprised and asked whether we should go away .
He said that it was not necessary .
I observed that if we had been in Italy, security would have kicked us straight away .
My friend smiled and whispered : "I know that, but here is different" .
After some years and experience, I understood what he meant .
Definitely royalty and richness are bound to certain families and tribes, but this is not a reason to create social gaps between classes .
This is something coming both from Islam and Arabic culture .
There's indeed a great deal of admiration toward people who made the history of the country through political events or by building commercial ties, but it is not felt as a sort of inferiority complex .
It is rather seen as a model to follow, a source of inspiration .
In the same way for example, it is the relation between families and their maids or drivers, mainly coming from India, Philippines and Sri Lanka .
While here in the West, despite being very respectful of their rights and wages, we put lots of barriers between them and us, in any Gulf country, it is not uncommon to find a nanny or a house cleaner, sitting at the same table with their family and participating at Ramadan or Eid celebrations or going with them on holidays, even if their services are not required .
I remember I was surprised to hear a friend speaking quite fluent Hindi at a shop, and when I enquired about his ability, he candidly answered : "it's many decades they are coming here for work or business . They practically live with us . The minimum we can do, is to learn their language " .
Of course it is not all gold as it shines .
Reality is made also by tyrant rulers and abused maids, but that is not the majority .
Here in the West, there is a lot we need to learn from Arabs .
While we were sitting and enjoying a drink at a coffee shop in the lobby, I started to notice some strange movements .
Young guys came and sat at the tables nearby, and after some time also a group of old men appeared .
I was puzzled by the fact that my friend was much more interested in them, than in our meeting, so I asked if there was anything special going on .
My friend explained that the Bahraini Minister of Interior was at the table next to us, and he was busy discussing something with a Chinese delegation visiting in those days .
I was surprised and asked whether we should go away .
He said that it was not necessary .
I observed that if we had been in Italy, security would have kicked us straight away .
My friend smiled and whispered : "I know that, but here is different" .
After some years and experience, I understood what he meant .
Definitely royalty and richness are bound to certain families and tribes, but this is not a reason to create social gaps between classes .
This is something coming both from Islam and Arabic culture .
There's indeed a great deal of admiration toward people who made the history of the country through political events or by building commercial ties, but it is not felt as a sort of inferiority complex .
It is rather seen as a model to follow, a source of inspiration .
In the same way for example, it is the relation between families and their maids or drivers, mainly coming from India, Philippines and Sri Lanka .
While here in the West, despite being very respectful of their rights and wages, we put lots of barriers between them and us, in any Gulf country, it is not uncommon to find a nanny or a house cleaner, sitting at the same table with their family and participating at Ramadan or Eid celebrations or going with them on holidays, even if their services are not required .
I remember I was surprised to hear a friend speaking quite fluent Hindi at a shop, and when I enquired about his ability, he candidly answered : "it's many decades they are coming here for work or business . They practically live with us . The minimum we can do, is to learn their language " .
Of course it is not all gold as it shines .
Reality is made also by tyrant rulers and abused maids, but that is not the majority .
Here in the West, there is a lot we need to learn from Arabs .
Saturday, 11 August 2012
When a man loves a woman
Speaking about marriage in one of my posts, I said that love is complicated .
Although I never got married, I understood by now, that love is the last factor in a marriage .
Marriage is more about understanding, compromising, sacrificing, sharing goals .
So it is complicated anywhere in the world but in different forms, depending on the mentality and traditions of the place .
For example my Emaraty lady friend I mentioned in my previous post, she had an incredible life seen from outside .
She got married to this police officer, I believe he was in some high rank, they had beautiful, healthy and educated children, lived in a marvellous house, came to Europe for holidays, bought expensive stuff .
Yet there was something not working .
During an internet conversation, my friend confessed she had had a couple of arguments with her husband, which led her to think about drastic solutions .
First, he did not want their daughter to go to a mixed university .
He was bedouin, which means not very much open minded and very tough .
But in a way she had won that battle .
It was she and the daughter against the husband, his brother and her own sister who had married him, but she did it .
She explained the girl needs and that the world is moving on from some standards, so time had come also for them in order to do so .
When again there was a dispute about the fact that being her children all grown, she wanted to try to have her own way in business, her husband was even tougher .
She told me : "see, he has given me everything he could . Treated me and the children in an excellent manner, and also I gave everything to the family .
Now, I feel the time has come to give everything to myself . "
So she came to the conclusion that if he hadn't allowed her, then they would better go for devorce .
And that I think, shocked her husband, who, after so many years of marriage and knowing how much love there was between themselves, regardless of their union being arranged , understood that his wife needed more .
Bedouins are tough and simple minded, but in their simplicity there is a great heart .
So he understood and allowed her to start her business, just proposing himself as curator of the commercial part, and she accepted .
She went for a gym with a coffee shop and felt herself relieved .
Marriage, as earlier explained, is a family thing, so when there is some particular issue, they all are somehow part of it, in good and bad .
When the matter is on marrying a foreigner, that can be painful .
If the family is very conservative, the man can also go through it, but he must have a very strong personality and stand by his wife for every little thing, without entering in conflict with his relatives .
I recall a friend, whose mother was American and Catholic, who used to say : "every time we go to our grandmother house for Friday's visit, we are always the last left for greetings, as if we are some second class grandchildren" .
And this was not due to the fact that her mother was Catholic, rather for being a foreigner .
Marrying an outsider for some, is a sort of betrayal .
This is not the mentality of all .
I remember reading that Carol, the author of one of the most famous blogs of the Gulf, American bedu, has great memories of her family and especially of her mother in law .
This is the same attitude which brings some Arabs to be racist against black people or against fellow Arabs with mixed blood .
I remember being at a restaurant once, and witnessing a fight between two of same nationality, with one accusing the other to be black and not of pure descent .
They were drunk of course but as they say, in vino veritas .
There is this thinking that an Arab is worth to be called so, only if both mother and father are .
In general, I would say that some Arabs lack flexibility due to their being closed in their own world and fearing that opening up, necessarily means to lose something of their identity .
In the same way, here in Europe we fear to be stripped of our sovereignity as long as more foreigners come to our land .
With time, education and exchanges, I am positive this attitude will slightly modify .
Friday, 10 August 2012
Coffee time
I was reading a very interesting article by Mariam Nihal on Saudigazette, about Arabic coffee (or Arabian, as a commentator claims, I'm not sure about it) and this reminded of my experience with it .
First time I tried kawa, I was in the UK .
By coincidence, I met an Emarati lady I used to know through a chat, who was there for holiday with her husband, a police officer .
We arranged a meeting with her children, in a coffee shop .
Back then, I was not very familiar with some unwritten rules which regulate the man-woman relation, so when she insisted in inviting me to her flat, to know the rest of the family, I was a bit reluctant, as it was late already and I was having my flight the next day .
Then, after exchanging a few words with the husband, I understood : he was polite guy, always at the service of the family, and expecially of his wife, but he was very tough on some rules, which is why for example she had come to the meeting with her daughters .
An Arab Muslim woman (not all but many) far from home, cannot go around by herself .
And this is not just to oppress her as we in the West tend to think, but to give her true protection .
So in a way I think, this lady wanted to show me her world by insisting on her late evening invitation, and she wanted to prove as well to her husband, that also western women are good people (some have this misconception on the west, in the same way we have few others on the east) .
I remember during the conversation, he noted that for sure I was a good person as I had accepted Islam, but reminded me that wearing scarf was part of it, and invited me to do it, because I was not, at that time .
When coffee was placed on the table, at the end of the dinner, I was not even considering the idea of drinking it, as I am a great lover of it, but I am also aware of my limits .
Drinking coffee at night time, is definitely not my thing .
But then he gave me such a disappointed look, and who knows Arab men, knows also what I'm talking about, that I suddenly took a couple of sips and he smiled happy .
Some years after, I learned that rejecting food when invited to an Arab house, is really a great offense and it is taken as a sign of mistrust .
There is an episode in the Quran, when the angels visit prophet Ibrahim and refuse to take the meat, which gives very much the idea ("he felt some mistrust of them") .
It was a strange coffeee, of a yellow colour, not with the taste I used to know .
Good and strong .
They also explained me how it is done .
I was so happy to have found my way with them, that I was not even angry because that night I did not sleep at all . Just raised from bed at five am and ran straight away to the airport .
Kawa definitely is for strong people .
I had a further occasion to realize this, when few years later I moved to the Persian gulf .
I didn't bring my coffee machine there, and soon became accustomed to the American coffee .
Nescafe has a huge market over there .
I became so addicted to it, that even now that I'm back to Europe and to my old habits, I keep doing well with it .
On my first Ramadan, the lady who helped me in the house, left the dinner ready in the kitchen, with coffee as well .
She explained it was extremely energetic . It was good both for the beginning of the fast and at the end, as it helped to go through the day without eating and at the end when just tired .
Drink it madame, she said, all Arabs drink it and like it too much .
And so I did .
Back then I was not aware of the fact that given my family history with gastro-esophageal reflux, I was doomed to it .
And so I started having palpitations and burnings for some days .
I was thinking about heart problems but when I went to hospital, the doctor smiled and understood the problem immediately .
He said that reflux was the main cause for people going there on the first days of Ramadan .
Taught me how to prepare the stomach well before fast, what and how to eat after, and most important, that it was maybe preferable for me not to drink kawa, which he explained, was a kind of bomb for my stomach .
So I had to quit almost completely that lovely aromatic coffee and every time I visited friend I just brought as excuse some patologic condition in order not to disappoint them .
But really I miss Arabic or Arabian kawa .
First time I tried kawa, I was in the UK .
By coincidence, I met an Emarati lady I used to know through a chat, who was there for holiday with her husband, a police officer .
We arranged a meeting with her children, in a coffee shop .
Back then, I was not very familiar with some unwritten rules which regulate the man-woman relation, so when she insisted in inviting me to her flat, to know the rest of the family, I was a bit reluctant, as it was late already and I was having my flight the next day .
Then, after exchanging a few words with the husband, I understood : he was polite guy, always at the service of the family, and expecially of his wife, but he was very tough on some rules, which is why for example she had come to the meeting with her daughters .
An Arab Muslim woman (not all but many) far from home, cannot go around by herself .
And this is not just to oppress her as we in the West tend to think, but to give her true protection .
So in a way I think, this lady wanted to show me her world by insisting on her late evening invitation, and she wanted to prove as well to her husband, that also western women are good people (some have this misconception on the west, in the same way we have few others on the east) .
I remember during the conversation, he noted that for sure I was a good person as I had accepted Islam, but reminded me that wearing scarf was part of it, and invited me to do it, because I was not, at that time .
When coffee was placed on the table, at the end of the dinner, I was not even considering the idea of drinking it, as I am a great lover of it, but I am also aware of my limits .
Drinking coffee at night time, is definitely not my thing .
But then he gave me such a disappointed look, and who knows Arab men, knows also what I'm talking about, that I suddenly took a couple of sips and he smiled happy .
Some years after, I learned that rejecting food when invited to an Arab house, is really a great offense and it is taken as a sign of mistrust .
There is an episode in the Quran, when the angels visit prophet Ibrahim and refuse to take the meat, which gives very much the idea ("he felt some mistrust of them") .
It was a strange coffeee, of a yellow colour, not with the taste I used to know .
Good and strong .
They also explained me how it is done .
I was so happy to have found my way with them, that I was not even angry because that night I did not sleep at all . Just raised from bed at five am and ran straight away to the airport .
Kawa definitely is for strong people .
I had a further occasion to realize this, when few years later I moved to the Persian gulf .
I didn't bring my coffee machine there, and soon became accustomed to the American coffee .
Nescafe has a huge market over there .
I became so addicted to it, that even now that I'm back to Europe and to my old habits, I keep doing well with it .
On my first Ramadan, the lady who helped me in the house, left the dinner ready in the kitchen, with coffee as well .
She explained it was extremely energetic . It was good both for the beginning of the fast and at the end, as it helped to go through the day without eating and at the end when just tired .
Drink it madame, she said, all Arabs drink it and like it too much .
And so I did .
Back then I was not aware of the fact that given my family history with gastro-esophageal reflux, I was doomed to it .
And so I started having palpitations and burnings for some days .
I was thinking about heart problems but when I went to hospital, the doctor smiled and understood the problem immediately .
He said that reflux was the main cause for people going there on the first days of Ramadan .
Taught me how to prepare the stomach well before fast, what and how to eat after, and most important, that it was maybe preferable for me not to drink kawa, which he explained, was a kind of bomb for my stomach .
So I had to quit almost completely that lovely aromatic coffee and every time I visited friend I just brought as excuse some patologic condition in order not to disappoint them .
But really I miss Arabic or Arabian kawa .
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Love in the middle of the East
Love is already a complicated affair, at least it is for me .
In the Arab world it can be also more .
And not for religious reasons as one may think, when reading certain media .
Things get ugly mainly when tribal issues and family members get mixed in the relation .
Usually, engagements and marriages happen within the same circle of families, that is a tribe .
There are exceptions though, depending on how open the mentality of the tribe one belongs to, is .
Islam in difficult cases, when the father doesn't want to grant permission for marriage, comes to help .
If a girl wants to marry a boy which is not liked by the family, she goes to court to present the case, and if everything is fine by the laws, they can get married with the sheikh acting as her wali (protector) .
It is not easy though, because the girl will be isolated from the rest of the family .
In some cases she runs away .
In worst scenario relatives will try to stage honour killing as well .
This is something people think happening only in Yemen or Pakistan, but they take place also in remote areas of other countries of the Persian gulf .
So, often girls follow their fathers desires, because they know their dreams are almost impossible to achieve and they don't want to lose the family of origin of course .
The average Western reader will think that the father permission is useless .
As every Islamic tenet, its logic is that of protecting the girl .
When it is abused, it becomes a burden .
Speaking about polygamy, another issue frowned upon in the West, it needs to be clarified that in Islam it takes place only when required and under conditions which are per se difficult to fullfill .
And still this practice is abused .
Many men get married again, to show off their wealth or to have a younger spouse .
They do not even respect the rule to be fair to all their wives and children, so often kids grow up very uncomfortably, with a sense of rage against their fathers and siblings .
When it comes to marrying from outside, this is still very difficult for women, while the men's task is relatively easier .
The logic behind these legal obstacles, is to keep alive local tradtions and heritage, and also to avoid a boys drain .
If all were free to marry from out, most ladies would stay unmarried .
There is many discussions about westerners getting married to Arabs .
In my opinion one has to be oriented toward diversity and be ready to compromise and sacrifice .
That is the key to avoid bad stories which we often read about devorces and children of mixed couples .
And of course the lady must pick an honest Arab guy who will not play tricks but rather inform her of all the laws of the country .
Another reason why girls nowdays do not marry very easily, other than the fact that now they prefer to work or study, is mahr, that is the amount of money asked by the father, to be given to the girl by the future husband .
In Islam it has the meaning of entering a new life provided by the man .
It is merely symbolic .
Prophet Mohammed, peace and blessings upon him, married girls who were gifted just a ring or a cloak, by their spouses .
But today's fathers are very greedy .
Depending on the country and the mentality, the request can be up to 30000 euros and more .
And of course it is difficult to find such rich men .
So girls just stay unmarried .
And if their family's thinking is very traditional, also their younger sisters do not get married, because the idea is that they can go married only after the eldest .
I know all this can sound quite backward and cruel, but also here in the West despite modernity, relations between men and women are not that good .
I fell in love with a man of the Gulf when I still was not much familiar with these issues .
And yet I was lucky, because he didn't play games with me .
Sometimes gulfians are not honest with foreign ladies .
We met on internet of course, as it often happens .
Then we met in real life, during one of my trips and we started a relation which became complicated when I moved there .
Real life is much more difficult than the virtual one .
Oddly enough, I was the conservative between the two, while he was very naive or bohemienne, let's call it so .
A writer very much Western oriented, in love with life and dreams, could not match the expectations of a woman who was fancying the Arab blue prince .
I was not patient enough to wait as one of his friends suggested, and so we lost each other .
I found him back a couple of years ago, married to a young smart lady .
They had a cute baby (he has already three from a previous marriage) and we all became friends .
They are actually also helping me to sort out some troubles .
She is younger than me but very wise . She accepted the way he is, while I wanted to change him .
I admire her a lot .
I understood also how love can finish .
When I was with him, I was thinking great loves do never end .
But when i met him again, I just felt a great affection and friendship for him .
I don't know if it is because it was not the love with the big L or just love, as every human happening, can finish all of a sudden .
In any case, it just was not meant to be .
Despite the age, I am in my forties, i am still waiting for the blue prince, but to be honest, I am not very positive about it .
I feel like I don't deserve it .
In the Arab world it can be also more .
And not for religious reasons as one may think, when reading certain media .
Things get ugly mainly when tribal issues and family members get mixed in the relation .
Usually, engagements and marriages happen within the same circle of families, that is a tribe .
There are exceptions though, depending on how open the mentality of the tribe one belongs to, is .
Islam in difficult cases, when the father doesn't want to grant permission for marriage, comes to help .
If a girl wants to marry a boy which is not liked by the family, she goes to court to present the case, and if everything is fine by the laws, they can get married with the sheikh acting as her wali (protector) .
It is not easy though, because the girl will be isolated from the rest of the family .
In some cases she runs away .
In worst scenario relatives will try to stage honour killing as well .
This is something people think happening only in Yemen or Pakistan, but they take place also in remote areas of other countries of the Persian gulf .
So, often girls follow their fathers desires, because they know their dreams are almost impossible to achieve and they don't want to lose the family of origin of course .
The average Western reader will think that the father permission is useless .
As every Islamic tenet, its logic is that of protecting the girl .
When it is abused, it becomes a burden .
Speaking about polygamy, another issue frowned upon in the West, it needs to be clarified that in Islam it takes place only when required and under conditions which are per se difficult to fullfill .
And still this practice is abused .
Many men get married again, to show off their wealth or to have a younger spouse .
They do not even respect the rule to be fair to all their wives and children, so often kids grow up very uncomfortably, with a sense of rage against their fathers and siblings .
When it comes to marrying from outside, this is still very difficult for women, while the men's task is relatively easier .
The logic behind these legal obstacles, is to keep alive local tradtions and heritage, and also to avoid a boys drain .
If all were free to marry from out, most ladies would stay unmarried .
There is many discussions about westerners getting married to Arabs .
In my opinion one has to be oriented toward diversity and be ready to compromise and sacrifice .
That is the key to avoid bad stories which we often read about devorces and children of mixed couples .
And of course the lady must pick an honest Arab guy who will not play tricks but rather inform her of all the laws of the country .
Another reason why girls nowdays do not marry very easily, other than the fact that now they prefer to work or study, is mahr, that is the amount of money asked by the father, to be given to the girl by the future husband .
In Islam it has the meaning of entering a new life provided by the man .
It is merely symbolic .
Prophet Mohammed, peace and blessings upon him, married girls who were gifted just a ring or a cloak, by their spouses .
But today's fathers are very greedy .
Depending on the country and the mentality, the request can be up to 30000 euros and more .
And of course it is difficult to find such rich men .
So girls just stay unmarried .
And if their family's thinking is very traditional, also their younger sisters do not get married, because the idea is that they can go married only after the eldest .
I know all this can sound quite backward and cruel, but also here in the West despite modernity, relations between men and women are not that good .
I fell in love with a man of the Gulf when I still was not much familiar with these issues .
And yet I was lucky, because he didn't play games with me .
Sometimes gulfians are not honest with foreign ladies .
We met on internet of course, as it often happens .
Then we met in real life, during one of my trips and we started a relation which became complicated when I moved there .
Real life is much more difficult than the virtual one .
Oddly enough, I was the conservative between the two, while he was very naive or bohemienne, let's call it so .
A writer very much Western oriented, in love with life and dreams, could not match the expectations of a woman who was fancying the Arab blue prince .
I was not patient enough to wait as one of his friends suggested, and so we lost each other .
I found him back a couple of years ago, married to a young smart lady .
They had a cute baby (he has already three from a previous marriage) and we all became friends .
They are actually also helping me to sort out some troubles .
She is younger than me but very wise . She accepted the way he is, while I wanted to change him .
I admire her a lot .
I understood also how love can finish .
When I was with him, I was thinking great loves do never end .
But when i met him again, I just felt a great affection and friendship for him .
I don't know if it is because it was not the love with the big L or just love, as every human happening, can finish all of a sudden .
In any case, it just was not meant to be .
Despite the age, I am in my forties, i am still waiting for the blue prince, but to be honest, I am not very positive about it .
I feel like I don't deserve it .
Ramadan
Ramadan in a Muslim country is a great experience not only for Muslims, but for other people as well .
It helps to understand both the culture and the religion .
It is of course also a very commercial event, same as it happens in the West with Christmas and new year's eve, but it keeps more its spiritual level .
First of all it is an event which evolves around family .
It is a time when people are together, not only for iftar (meal after sunset) or suhor (pre-dawn meal), but also during day , to spend more time with other members of the family and to teach children the Quranic meanings and recitation .
The fact that work places are closed in the afternoon, that makes the fasting easier, but it is actually so long that people are accustomed to it, that they could fast also at full rythm .
Children are required to fast when ready, but I met many who started since very early age .
These same children have already learned by heart the entire Quran by the age of 4 or 5 .
Recitation is something very easy for Arabs .
Usually food related shops are closed during day times and expats are asked not to eat in public .
They just close the doors of the office during break .
I am speaking of most Gulf countries .
Not sure if in Saudi Arabia, which is supposed to be very orthodox on such subjects, it is the same .
As I am a Muslim myself, I've been discussing this matter several times with other brothers and sisters, whether allowing restaurants or coffee shops to stay open for non Muslims .
And we came to the conclusion, that it wouldn't make such a difference to us .
Fasting is a state of mind and heart, a religious duty we do love to fullfill for God's pleasure .
We wouldn't be upset to see people eating in front of us, which is what happens here in the West anyway .
But I think this rule was made as a sign of respect toward Allah and the holy month .
To be completely honest, nowadays Ramadan lost somehow its spiritual dimension .
At least ten days before its start, families runs to supermarkets to buy tons of food : rice, sugar, meat .
Tables are full and nothing is wasted .
Much of it, is given to charities and to people who come at the door .
Charity is the most important part of fasting .
It helps purification from sins and opens the doors for God's forgiveness .
Also night cycles have changed .
Many people prefer to go malls or to gym, or also to watch Ramadan soaps rather then joining fellow Muslims at the mosque for night prayer .
Yet they remain attached to their duties to God .
Now that I am back to Europe, my Ramadan is a little bit sad .
I am all alone here .
Waking up in the morning or breaking up the fast alone with junk food, makes it feel less meaningful .
I know it is my fault and I should try something to fix it as we can be full Muslims everywhere .
But up to now I haven't found the solution yet .
Inshallah things will change .
Inshallah , God willing .
It helps to understand both the culture and the religion .
It is of course also a very commercial event, same as it happens in the West with Christmas and new year's eve, but it keeps more its spiritual level .
First of all it is an event which evolves around family .
It is a time when people are together, not only for iftar (meal after sunset) or suhor (pre-dawn meal), but also during day , to spend more time with other members of the family and to teach children the Quranic meanings and recitation .
The fact that work places are closed in the afternoon, that makes the fasting easier, but it is actually so long that people are accustomed to it, that they could fast also at full rythm .
Children are required to fast when ready, but I met many who started since very early age .
These same children have already learned by heart the entire Quran by the age of 4 or 5 .
Recitation is something very easy for Arabs .
Usually food related shops are closed during day times and expats are asked not to eat in public .
They just close the doors of the office during break .
I am speaking of most Gulf countries .
Not sure if in Saudi Arabia, which is supposed to be very orthodox on such subjects, it is the same .
As I am a Muslim myself, I've been discussing this matter several times with other brothers and sisters, whether allowing restaurants or coffee shops to stay open for non Muslims .
And we came to the conclusion, that it wouldn't make such a difference to us .
Fasting is a state of mind and heart, a religious duty we do love to fullfill for God's pleasure .
We wouldn't be upset to see people eating in front of us, which is what happens here in the West anyway .
But I think this rule was made as a sign of respect toward Allah and the holy month .
To be completely honest, nowadays Ramadan lost somehow its spiritual dimension .
At least ten days before its start, families runs to supermarkets to buy tons of food : rice, sugar, meat .
Tables are full and nothing is wasted .
Much of it, is given to charities and to people who come at the door .
Charity is the most important part of fasting .
It helps purification from sins and opens the doors for God's forgiveness .
Also night cycles have changed .
Many people prefer to go malls or to gym, or also to watch Ramadan soaps rather then joining fellow Muslims at the mosque for night prayer .
Yet they remain attached to their duties to God .
Now that I am back to Europe, my Ramadan is a little bit sad .
I am all alone here .
Waking up in the morning or breaking up the fast alone with junk food, makes it feel less meaningful .
I know it is my fault and I should try something to fix it as we can be full Muslims everywhere .
But up to now I haven't found the solution yet .
Inshallah things will change .
Inshallah , God willing .
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Rain
Living in a very hot country of the Persian gulf, makes you somehow forget of bad weather, change of seasons, heavy clothes .
A place where the sun always shines, is a joy for the heart .
Waking up in the morning with the sun for the greatest part of the year, gives a different taste to life .
Even if one has problems or is a little bit sad, the sun means there is always hope behind the corner, that things will change .
Buildings and infrastructures in Arab countries, at least in past times, were not planned in order to support heavy rain collaterals .
But bad weather is there, for at least two or three weeeks every year, and that is where problem starts .
If it is just little rain, then it is awesome to watch children running outside the houses and dancing around, showing happiness and surprise .
When it is hard rain or some storm, then complications start to arise .
Problem is that there is no or few drain channels and dikes, so if you are in the middle of a storm in your car, that can be quite a nightmare cause your vehicle will turn into a ship .
Houses also, are not always built with the necessary precautions, so you will take a bath in the living room .
I remember my first storm in 2007, coming all of a sudden, through an sms sent by the police to all residents .
Tropical storms can be predicted no more 12-16 hours in advance, so there was not much to do .
Some flew outside of the country, but it was difficult as well, since the airport was assaulted .
Some others moved to other areas, where rain was supposed to be lighter .
Most of us ran to malls and supermarkets, to arrange at least the essential food .
When I got there, everything was finished, I mean everything practical to eat .
No bread, no canned meat, no nothing .
People had gone completely crazy .
Homo homini lupus finds its meaning in times like this .
So I ended up with some frozen stuff .
The lady who used to help me with cleaning in the house , left a big bowl of biriani ready .
That covered half of the week .
I always regretted not to let her stay with me, cause she was living on ground floor, and those flats got the worst damages .
It started exactly when and how the MET had predicted : early morning, before prayer, few drops then more .
I remember I woke up thinking it was the birds . Doves are your closest neighbours in the middle east .
But it wasn't them. It was rain .
Strange but true, the internet kept working and I was lucky to stay in an area not affected by electricity breaks .
It kept on raining for at least five days .
I used to collect water in my bedroom every 3-4 hours .
Moved to sleep in the living room and far from window, to avoid thunders .
I was lucky cause I was on the third floor, so I didn't have mud .
Then finally the sun was back .
On tv I could see what happened outside .
The wadis (big holes close to the roads) and valleys full of water, houses fully covered by water .
Part of town was destroyed .
I started crying like a baby .
I first had gone to that country some years back . I had seen it growing, developing . And now it seemed destroyed .
I couldn't imagine it could come back to life .
Then at the news, they said that the ruler had gone around the capital, stopped here and there and spoke with the people, telling them words of encouragement .
It was not easy for the deads and for the living , but today the place is beautiful again .
There are nights I still dream of it and wake up crying.
I didn't want to leave, but I had to .
A place where the sun always shines, is a joy for the heart .
Waking up in the morning with the sun for the greatest part of the year, gives a different taste to life .
Even if one has problems or is a little bit sad, the sun means there is always hope behind the corner, that things will change .
Buildings and infrastructures in Arab countries, at least in past times, were not planned in order to support heavy rain collaterals .
But bad weather is there, for at least two or three weeeks every year, and that is where problem starts .
If it is just little rain, then it is awesome to watch children running outside the houses and dancing around, showing happiness and surprise .
When it is hard rain or some storm, then complications start to arise .
Problem is that there is no or few drain channels and dikes, so if you are in the middle of a storm in your car, that can be quite a nightmare cause your vehicle will turn into a ship .
Houses also, are not always built with the necessary precautions, so you will take a bath in the living room .
I remember my first storm in 2007, coming all of a sudden, through an sms sent by the police to all residents .
Tropical storms can be predicted no more 12-16 hours in advance, so there was not much to do .
Some flew outside of the country, but it was difficult as well, since the airport was assaulted .
Some others moved to other areas, where rain was supposed to be lighter .
Most of us ran to malls and supermarkets, to arrange at least the essential food .
When I got there, everything was finished, I mean everything practical to eat .
No bread, no canned meat, no nothing .
People had gone completely crazy .
Homo homini lupus finds its meaning in times like this .
So I ended up with some frozen stuff .
The lady who used to help me with cleaning in the house , left a big bowl of biriani ready .
That covered half of the week .
I always regretted not to let her stay with me, cause she was living on ground floor, and those flats got the worst damages .
It started exactly when and how the MET had predicted : early morning, before prayer, few drops then more .
I remember I woke up thinking it was the birds . Doves are your closest neighbours in the middle east .
But it wasn't them. It was rain .
Strange but true, the internet kept working and I was lucky to stay in an area not affected by electricity breaks .
It kept on raining for at least five days .
I used to collect water in my bedroom every 3-4 hours .
Moved to sleep in the living room and far from window, to avoid thunders .
I was lucky cause I was on the third floor, so I didn't have mud .
Then finally the sun was back .
On tv I could see what happened outside .
The wadis (big holes close to the roads) and valleys full of water, houses fully covered by water .
Part of town was destroyed .
I started crying like a baby .
I first had gone to that country some years back . I had seen it growing, developing . And now it seemed destroyed .
I couldn't imagine it could come back to life .
Then at the news, they said that the ruler had gone around the capital, stopped here and there and spoke with the people, telling them words of encouragement .
It was not easy for the deads and for the living , but today the place is beautiful again .
There are nights I still dream of it and wake up crying.
I didn't want to leave, but I had to .
Royals
I was reading about prince al Waleed bin Talal topping once again the list of the most important Arabs, in the Arabian business annual chart .
And that reminded me, that very many years ago, while chatting with a friend in Saudia, he spoke about him in quite raw terms : with all the money he has, yet cannot find the right cure to keep under control his Alzheimer, he said .
Back then I was pretty shocked, because this person is a very religious and moderate one, respectful of traditions and ranks .
Then when I started visiting the Gulf, I realised how complex, is the relation between the average citizen and the ruler or the entire family .
First of all, we must acknowledge that there is different generations nowadays, within the ruling families, and same as commoners they belong to tribes having their ethics and codes and their little rivalries .
Moreover they are human beings who are capable to make mistakes .
All this, is very well known to people ruled by them .
There are three generations of royals actually in place : the founding fathers, their sons and nephews, and of course the youngest one .
To the first category,belong personalities like Sheikh Zayed and King Fahd, who are not alive anymore .
But still we have King Abdullah and Sultan Qaboos.
This generation is a source of inspiration for their people, who are well aware of the fact that countries of those areas, were built by such great men .
If today the desert has left lot of its extension to houses, schools, industries, hospitals and much more, this is due to the wise government run and key alliances hold by the founding fathers .
There is a special relation between the people and these rulers, which goes beyond fear or respect .
It is something which shapes from the heart .
Then there is the middle generation, to which respect is due, depending on how much, they follow their fathers or uncles footsteps, or if and how, they keep themselves humble same as them .
And last, we have the rampant youth, who like their fathers, are western educated (Harvard or Sandhurst) and still must conquer their space on the main scene .
So for now they are known for their love affairs, marriages, entrepreneurial activities .
The reason why my friend was pretty harsh with prince al Waleed, is because he is not fully a Saudi, he is a pure businessman who according to some, was too much lucky , if true he started with only 30000 rials, and he is very Western oriented .
These are characteristics that a traditional Arab, considers as faults .
The Arab spring did not take place yet in the Gulf area, and I don't think it will, precisely because of the special bond between the people and their rulers, and because people know, that despite living in luxury, having extramarital affairs and not always being fair in their business, the main preoccupation of kings, sultans or emirs, is still their fellow citizens .
They are not providing jobs now because of the fear of revolts .
This is something they always did .
They are just adjusting schemes and pushing their people to be more responsible, by changing their mentality .
They want the best for them and people want to live in peace, for still long time .
So unlike us westerners, they are more inclined to search for dialogue and understanding despite differences .
JKPU2Y7MQ89B
And that reminded me, that very many years ago, while chatting with a friend in Saudia, he spoke about him in quite raw terms : with all the money he has, yet cannot find the right cure to keep under control his Alzheimer, he said .
Back then I was pretty shocked, because this person is a very religious and moderate one, respectful of traditions and ranks .
Then when I started visiting the Gulf, I realised how complex, is the relation between the average citizen and the ruler or the entire family .
First of all, we must acknowledge that there is different generations nowadays, within the ruling families, and same as commoners they belong to tribes having their ethics and codes and their little rivalries .
Moreover they are human beings who are capable to make mistakes .
All this, is very well known to people ruled by them .
There are three generations of royals actually in place : the founding fathers, their sons and nephews, and of course the youngest one .
To the first category,belong personalities like Sheikh Zayed and King Fahd, who are not alive anymore .
But still we have King Abdullah and Sultan Qaboos.
This generation is a source of inspiration for their people, who are well aware of the fact that countries of those areas, were built by such great men .
If today the desert has left lot of its extension to houses, schools, industries, hospitals and much more, this is due to the wise government run and key alliances hold by the founding fathers .
There is a special relation between the people and these rulers, which goes beyond fear or respect .
It is something which shapes from the heart .
Then there is the middle generation, to which respect is due, depending on how much, they follow their fathers or uncles footsteps, or if and how, they keep themselves humble same as them .
And last, we have the rampant youth, who like their fathers, are western educated (Harvard or Sandhurst) and still must conquer their space on the main scene .
So for now they are known for their love affairs, marriages, entrepreneurial activities .
The reason why my friend was pretty harsh with prince al Waleed, is because he is not fully a Saudi, he is a pure businessman who according to some, was too much lucky , if true he started with only 30000 rials, and he is very Western oriented .
These are characteristics that a traditional Arab, considers as faults .
The Arab spring did not take place yet in the Gulf area, and I don't think it will, precisely because of the special bond between the people and their rulers, and because people know, that despite living in luxury, having extramarital affairs and not always being fair in their business, the main preoccupation of kings, sultans or emirs, is still their fellow citizens .
They are not providing jobs now because of the fear of revolts .
This is something they always did .
They are just adjusting schemes and pushing their people to be more responsible, by changing their mentality .
They want the best for them and people want to live in peace, for still long time .
So unlike us westerners, they are more inclined to search for dialogue and understanding despite differences .
JKPU2Y7MQ89B
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