Kuwaiti “Narcissism” and Qatari “Democracy”
Jamil Ziabi Al Hayat - 05/10/05//
“Miserable are the people in love, miserable indeed”… It is true there is a huge difference between love and identity. Love differs from identity, but love of the place and soil, where a person is born and brought up, turns this love into adoration and passion for identity to the point it becomes more akin to madness.
What was really striking was the information published by the Kuwaiti newspapers last week on the issuance of a royal decree to grant the Kuwaiti nationality, according to article no. 5, to some Bedouin members. Some of these were hit during the assault on the convoy of the Kuwaiti Emir in 1985. Others are the sons of six “Bedouin” martyrs, out of which two were killed in a military jet crash accident in France during training maneuvers. Nationality was also granted to four others, the remains of which were found in Iraq lately, after the past Iraqi regime executed them.
You can begin to imagine the sons of these “Bedouins” who died defending Kuwait and none other… Kuwait (the land, the nation, and the State). What is the state of their sons after 20 years? What is the state of their widows after their demise? How is it possible that they remained on the list of “Bedouins” and no swift decision was taken in their favor, out of compassion and mercy, and as a tribute to their deceased fathers, who died while carrying out their duties towards Kuwait? Does granting them the Kuwaiti nationality after 20 years represent their reward? Is this how virtues and love of nations are cultivated in the sons’ minds following their ancestors? Does the father die and his son burn in life and in death? Will the Bedouins remain in the prison of the “Bedouins” until they all resort to European countries looking for lost Gulf nationalities?
You can begin to imagine the wasted years and the “hateful bureaucracy” ship, which refused to grant the nationality to the sons of men who served the government and people of Kuwait? As a result, their offspring and mothers would have to live, after their death, in the tunnels of darkness, without wages, sound education, or sufficient medication, instead of finding good treatment and Kuwaiti identity. Do the Kuwaiti people believe that the son will grow out to be loyal in such a manner, which I would rather leave to the Kuwaiti officials to describe?
Why can’t they embrace him and sign the identity document for him and his family the first year following his martyrdom or imprisonment in order to secure his affiliation and real loyalty, especially that he represents “the cannon of a nation which died while defending it”. He was survived by loyal sons that should be looked after and taken care of. Integrating them to the heart of the Kuwaiti society falls in the scope of honoring and respecting the performance of their fathers, instead of keeping nationality differences.
It is true that the love of nations is not disclaimed by not carrying the identity of the country. However, this white identity is one of the necessary moral incentives and human justice that should be granted to whomever was born and brought up in a certain country, when his’ and his family’s nationalism, as well his national affiliation are confirmed. What can be said then of the sons of martyrs or prisoners who died for the sake of Kuwait?
I remember the story of a friend and fellow journalist from the Bedouins who migrated from Kuwait in the mid 1990’s, when he had no choice but go to Geneva, and there from he resorted to London. When he speaks with a Kuwait accent about his past in this nation, he pours out tears. When he is asked about his nationality, he says “Kuwaiti” as he did not try to forget a country which dismissed him when he was a young man. He was one of those who opposed the Iraqi invasion in 1990, and unlike others, he refused to get out of it. But when he found that the environment was going in the opposite direction, while he possessed all practical success factors, he migrated to the western nations, hoping to improve the situation.
The issue of “Bedouins” naturalization remains a delicate problem in the Gulf countries, which should strive to resolve it, include it in their upcoming agendas, and reveal real results in this respect, not studies and recommendations that the Bedouins are tired of hearing. Every year, the latter have to wait for the convention of leaders and rulers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, hoping that the situation will change to the better.
But this pessimism will keep on surrounding the homes of “Bedouins” and “non-Bedouins”, especially that the one which has recently set up a new flag in the democratic methodology of the region, namely Qatar, is dismissing around 6,000 of its natives. It is also withdrawing their nationalities in the middle of the day, so that they would have to seek shelter under the sky at night and roam the desert with no water or cover.
Can we wait in order to proclaim victory? Or should we rather find optimistic solutions for the problem of “Bedouins” as the Gulf natives get kicked out of their homes with no shame. Yes… this is the despicable dictatorship and what the angels of punishment dictate, and not the alleged democracy. Between the Kuwait “narcissism” against the Bedouins and the tyranny of Qatar against the family of “Mara”…. The question remains: Leaders of the Arab Gulf countries, till when the situation will remain as such?
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