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Saturday, October 27, 2007
Are you a Kuwaiti Bidoon?Do you know one?
I am very interested in a variety of your personal experiences. I do know many Bidoons, from different
"levels" of Bidoon'ness. But I would like to know more, and what better way to learn than from the individuals
living it daily?
Please feel free to use the contact box at the bottom of the page to email me in English or Arabic.
If you feel comfortable you can leave your contact information, or you can just email something you think I might be interested
in knowing about you. You do not have to leave your name or email address to contact me.
Anything you share with
me will remain confidential and never shared with anyone else unless you would like for me to. Thank you so much for sharing
with me.
27 oct 07 @ 6:31 pm amst
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sex, Drugs, and Rap Music?!In America many people have made the tragic mistake of allowing society to raise their children. By "society" I
mean television, music, video games, and other children. This wasn't the case 40 years ago, and in the Islamic culture,
it's still not the case.
Of course they have television, games, etc. here as well. However,
they are taught about Islam, family, and values long before they learn to manipulate a game controller. So, when
they do begin to experience the outside influences they don't take over their every thought.
A few generations ago in America we had similar values, regardless of the religious beliefs. Children were raised watching
their parents work hard, with a school teacher who would paddle them if they got out of line, and with a community that frowned
on negative behavior instead of promoted it. Children had bedtimes and playtimes. As well as school clothes and play clothes....because
school had value and was respected. Families attended church with pride, and even dressed for the occassion. Prayers
were said before meals, and before sleep. Televisions only worked with "rabbit ears" and children had to be called
into the house before dark, instead of encouraged to get out of the house and away from the video games. Children feared getting
bad grades, or misbehaving in school because not only would they be punished by their Teacher, but also by their parents at
home.
Years ago, Elvis wasn't shown from the waist down on television because he shook his hips. Now our children
are watching half naked women on MTV and this is considered "normal."
Years ago, songs had a positive
message about life, love, relationships, and respect. Now they're teaching children how "cool" it is to deal
drugs and shoot people. Again, to some, this is "normal."
However, let me say this -- I believe 100%
in freedom, and that's what America allows us. Freedom.
But when does one cross the line from being free into
just being a bad influence on society? How free should we really be? Is being free to sing about killing someone just someone
using his right to freedom of speech? Or is it simply someone who was raised with little morals and values, lack of discipline,
and lack of self respect?
At what point does America start raising their children with morals and self respect
again?
24 oct 07 @ 9:36 pm amst
Monday, October 22, 2007
And another one...I know...WHY do I keep posting pictures of car accidents? More pictures.
Well, I am not some sadist, I can assure you. However, Kuwait is a very small country with a great deal of money. They
have the ability to pass laws, make changes, and actually save lives. Perhaps if people see the tragic events with their own
eyes (even though it's pictures), they might begin to take action. There is a speed limit in Kuwait (120kph
- 85mph) which is entirely too fast to begin with. But, even worse, people will pass a police car like he is standing still
without any hesitation at all. Why? Because everyone knows rarely do people get pulled over an issed a ticket here. They have
cameras set up on the side of the roads which takes pictures of speeding cars, and then a ticket is sent to your home a few
months later. Keep in mind, we all know where the cameras are located, and we are all smart enough to slow down when approaching
one. Also, there are no laws requiring the use of seatbelts, and let me tell ya, not only do people not wear seatbelts,
but I have never seen a baby or small child in a car seat here either. Imagine that? Finally,
cell phones are more a way of life here than they are in the states. Consider the fact that "girlfriends" and "boyfriends"
can't call one another's home, so cell phones are pretty much mandatory if you want to keep in touch with "friends."
Now you have speeding drivers, without any seatbelts, texting and talking, and trying to pass others while flashing their
headlights like an psychopath, and usually smoking a cigarette. Who is holding the steering wheel?? In these pictures I am not sure what took place. It appears he lost control of the vehicle, ran off the road, and hit a fence. But with the
extensive damage I would assume another vehicle would have been involved.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
If you're stopping by...Feel free to send a comment via the form at the bottom of the page. Or using the same form on the "Contact Me" page.
Obviously, when one owns and maintains a website, they also review their site statistics. So, when you're
reading about me, I know who you are. Don't get me wrong, I welcome everyone and I hold no grudges. Your comments and
thoughts are invited and encouraged....good or bad.
18 oct 07 @ 12:21 pm amst
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Kuwait WeatherKuwait has four seasons too!
So hot you think you might die.
HOT!
Windy, Sandy, and hot.
Drizzly,
muddy, not so hot at all. -- This one lasts about a week.
The last season is my favorite. This is usually from
late November to late February. The skies are filled with clouds (yes! real clouds!), rain and drizzle fall just enough to
make huge puddles of sticky mud. And, as if driving in Kuwait wasn't already a hazard to one's health, when the rain
comes the roads are almost as slippery as ice. However this proves to be "fun" for some younger boys with fast cars.
"So hot you think you might die" is from about June - early September. This is my least favorite
time of the year. Temperatures reach the upper 120's, and even sometimes the lower 130's. The moment you walk outside,
even in the shade, you literally feel a burning on your skin, you realize what you were going out to do just wasn't that
important, and you turn around to go back into the air conditioning. Even inside a car with the coldest air conditioner blowing
on high still feels very warm inside.
HOT! Well, this is from late February until late May early June, then starts
again in early September and lasts through late November. I think everyone has a fair grasp of what "hot" means,
so I don't need to describe it.
The windy/sandy/hot season is tricky. It can sneak in during either of the
two latter seasons. One day it will appear to be sunny and hot, and all of a sudden the skies get brown colored, the winds
pick up, and you realize you're in the middle of a sand storm. I suppose "dirty" best describes this weather.
Now that we're in the middle of October we're still in the HOT! season. Temperatures are steadily staying
above 100 degrees, reaching around 104 to 106. Next week we should be down in the 90's which will almost feel like early
Fall. At night, as long as there is no humidity, the weather feels perfect. In the mid to upper 80's, a light breeze,
and no sun!
At home I am a Fall/Winter person. Here in Kuwait I get to semi-experience that for about a month.
I can't wait!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Safety First!Keep in mind, the country of Kuwait is smaller than the state of New Jersey. 23 die in one month:
Twenty-three people, including 11 Asians and six Kuwaitis, lost their lives in traffic accidents last month, reports Al-Nahar
daily.
Statistics issued by the General Traffic Organizing Department showed that 5,760 accidents took place last
month. Out of these, 2067 took place in Hawalli, 1,410 accidents took place in the Capital governorate, 932 in Farwaniya,
733 in Ahmadi and 348 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Looking for cheap gas in America was their first mistake....This is from the Arab Times Newspaper today: | Kuwait-born Arab pleads not guilty | TAMPA, Florida, (AP):
A Kuwaiti-born Florida university student pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of transporting explosives across state
lines in a case where another Arab student is also accused of making an Internet video showing how to use remote-controlled
toys to detonate bombs.
Youssef Samir Megahed and Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed — both University of South
Florida students from Egypt — were arrested during an Aug. 5 traffic stop in South Carolina. In the trunk of the 2000
Toyota Camry, according an FBI agent’s statement, police found 20 feet (6 meters) of fuse, a box of .22-caliber bullets,
a drill, several gallons (liters) of gasoline, PVC piping and gun powder.
Megahed entered
his plea Wednesday. Mohamed, who was also indicted on a charge of distributing information relating to explosives, destructive
devices, and weapons of mass destruction, will be arraigned on Oct 17.
A prominent Florida defense attorney said
in court that he will likely be retained by the Egyptian government to represent Mohamed.
John
Fitzgibbons is best known as the attorney who represented Florida middle school teacher Debra Lafave who is serving a three-year
house arrest sentence after pleading guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old student — a case that provided endless
fodder for tabloids.
Ahmed el-Qawassni, an official in Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, said the government is closely
monitoring the case and confirmed that an attorney is being hired for Mohamed. He did not identify the attorney.
“We are responsible for the sons’ of Egypt abroad with no exception,” el-Qawassni said.
Fitzgibbons
said Mohamed would also plead not guilty.
Authorities said they found on Mohamed’s laptop a video he made
demonstrating how to convert a remote controlled toy into an explosives detonator.
Mohamed told authorities he made the
video “to assist those persons in Arabic countries to defend themselves against the infidels invading their countries,”
according to the agent’s statement.
Mohamed said “he considered American troops, and those military
forces fighting with the American military, to be invaders of Arab countries,” the statement said.
The video was
uploaded to YouTube, according to court documents, but it was not clear whether it was ever publicly viewed.
The
students told authorities they were carrying fireworks; Megahed’s attorney now contends that he did not know anything
about the items in the trunk.
The students have told family and attorneys that they were on their way to a North
Carolina beach and that they ended up in Goose Creek, near a naval weapons station, because they were looking for cheap gas.
If convicted, Megahed faces up to 10 years in prison. Mohamed could be sentenced to up to 30 years.
After
the hearing, Fitzgibbons said he had not seen all the evidence and declined to discuss the case.
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Friday, October 5, 2007
Another tragic accidentPhotosHere in Kuwait traffic laws seem to go by the wayside. Yes, they have them, but few actually follow them. Not
just the speed limit, but red lights, traffic signs, turn signals, lane changes, etc. Rarely will you see someone truly following
the traffic laws and driving defensively, and when I do, the first thing I think is, "Oh, they must be from another country."
My mother, the very wise insightful woman she is, always told me that one's driving was indicative to their
personality. No idea why she told me this unless it was her ploy to get me to drive safely as a teenager. But for some reason,
this seems to make sense to me. In Kuwait I have slowly learned what's important to the people here; Allah
and family. In that order...period. Unless they're a man, then behind family would come friends, who are, in most cases,
their blood related family even if it's their brother in-law/cousin. Yes, marrying first cousins is common practice here. Back to the topic at hand; driving. To semi-safely commute from one location to the next here you have
two choices -- get in the far right hand lane and submit to all passing vehicles, or join the masses and pretend YOU own the
road. Neither guarantees an accident free day. These photos were taken on a road which connects Saudi Arabia to Kuwait, and is located in the desert where many dewaniyas (men gathering
place) are. The speed limit on this road is 120kph, which is approximately 85mph. Though it is not unusual to see cars traveling
at speeds of well over 200kph. Yet there are a lot of large convoys of very slow moving trucks on this road any given hour
of the day. It's not very well lit, and for a reason I will never understand, sometimes people in this country choose
to drive without their headlights on at night so they can come up on you at a high rate of speed, flashing their headlights,
scaring you half to death, and forcing you to move to the other lane out of a fear of being run off the road. According
to the newspaper, this vehicle was speeding and ran into a large truck hauling fuel.
5 oct 07 @ 12:40 pm amst
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