For those of you who read Arabic (I'm not one of you), there's a wonderful site called Kuwaitibedoons.com. Though I was unable to read the information on there for myself, I did have a friend read some of the information and postings on there for me, and I would highly recommend spending some time looking it over.

Because I wasn't able to read it for myself, I don't know who the site owner is, whether or not they're bedoon, or if they speak English. But I would definitely say their understanding of the tragic situation here in Kuwait is probably much better than mine. So please, take the time to read some of the things he and others have written there.

Also, for more information on the Bidoon situation here in Kuwait, and the findings of the Human Rights Organization in late 2007, please look up the 2007 Human Rights Report - Kuwait. It seems the HRO isn't satisfied with the minimal changes Kuwait has in place for the Bidoons. Insha'Allah next year's report will be more promising.

Arabic word; meaning -- one who built himself independently without assistance from others.

Below are the unedited words of a Bidoon who has very strong thoughts on the topic as well as a lifetime of personal knowledge.

Bedoons case in Kuwait is an example of human rights violation , let me explain to you my view , bedoos in my opinion classified in to two parts, the original bedoons which are here in fourteen & fifteen of last century before Kuwait liberation 1961 and those who came after 1970 from neighbor countries seeking a jobs , what ever the case all these bedoons  are from the same back ground of the Kuwaiti society, it is a matter of time who came earlier five years up or down ,,,the Kuwaiti government issue a law number 17-1959 for Foreigners and issue article 25 – D in the mention law said exactly "we except those who enter Kuwait from desert to do their usual jobs which used to handle from this law" so legally they are her by law. (This part from the law cancel in 1987 but not handle or treat the situation create by the previous law!).

I believe the Kuwait society have three source of power socially the first is the sune'a civilized old families and second are Shea'a families and the third is tribes families majority also sune'a.The first part the sune'a civilized old families which have the power , money , relation with the royal  family these families know afraid from the new generation of the other parts, which become more powerful more educated more relation with some leaders , so they afraid to loose their power their favored from government.To avoid all of these risks they are fighting to exclude bedoons from getting their rights to avoid the imbalance with the other parts of power, this bedoon "phobia" is not correct and not fair if you really believe in democracy and leader-ship and cooperation to deal in country frame. So this disease causes this part to always delay the bedoons solution, and always create problems to exclude bedoons from their rights.

In general the main claim of this part is to accuse bedoons in their loyalty, and says those people are not loyal to Kuwait and some of them during the invasion help Iraqi against us. For that I am asking them the following question:-

If they are not loyal why they fight Iraqi during 2-8-1990?

Why they withdraw with Kuwaiti forces to Saudi Arabia?

Why they fight Iraqi with Kuwaiti resistance troops and many of them considered as martyrs and some of

them as POW's (Prisoners of wars)?

Let us believe some of them forced to register with Iraqi army during the occupation but I will discuss this matter free how?

During the occupation the Iraqi forces announced that all the Kuwaiti forces in Kuwait must register with Iraqi army in Shuwaikh (Popular Army-Supporting Process) and who are delays to register after 15-9-1990 will be hang or executed! so I am not lawyer to give a judgments  her, but I believe those who are register before the nominated date are loyal to Iraqi .However those who are register after the date are forced by occupation, otherwise why they do not register earlier if they are loyal to Iraq? I believe this situation must handle by court to avoid any mistakes.

(Which always refused by this part sune'a old families and supporters because they know they will not win this case because it is a false case, without any legal evidence) !!

After all of these evidences that the bedoons are loyal to their mother country Kuwait.

Why did not the government issue a law to release our rights from their jails?

The bedoons case is a post bonded case for long time, no body have power to change Kuwaiti government view about us, forget these human right community & UN, what they did to other to do for us, we do not have money or media to be effective, we are here for ever we believe this is our country and we are loyal to it, but not necessary to love our killers!

 

OK, maybe not lions, tigers, and bears....but how about dogs and cats? We'll discuss livestock in another post.

Let me start by saying that I suppose we can pretty much all agree on the fact that every living being (human or animal) was created by God. Sure we consider some more intelligent than others, and in our own way, I suppose humans would be considered superior. Or are we? In our high tech world of computers, medicine, and automobiles of course we are. But perhaps we're not as "in touch" with ourselves or even reality as the "lesser beings." I mean, dogs and cats certainly never bother themselves with new inventions or creations, they're only concerned with the basic needs in life. No, I don't believe domesticated animals have the ability to create the next IPod or computer, but I do believe they might have the right idea about life.

Domesticated animals love unconditionally...unconditionally. Something so few humans can actually say they have ever done; even with their own children. Domesticated animals forgive quickly, and don't hold grudges. They only seek love and their basic needs for life in return. Domesticated animals don't seek to hurt people, use people, abuse people....or one another. They thrive in packs, and enjoy being part of the "human pack." There is a sense of loyalty with a domesticated animal that one can rarely find in people. They will protect you with their lives and never hesitate, they will make you feel secure when you're in a dangerous situation, willingly give you attention when you're feeling a little down, share their favorite toys and bones with pleasure, and go above and beyond to please their owner.

That being said, I believe Americans are doing pretty good at catching on to all of this. We have numerous facilities to care for homeless animals, as well as charities that provide enormous amounts of money to assist those facilities. We have people who give a percentage of their income, or their entire estates to the well being of animals.

However, in Kuwait there's very little of that taking place. This has nothing to do with religious beliefs, because nowhere in the Quran does it promote cruelty to animals, or even neglect of animals. This is simply a cultural difference due to lack of education and emotion.

In my life I have encountered some people who are purposely cruel to animals. These are commonly people who are lacking something within themselves -- self esteem, happiness, etc. So to be mean to an animal gives them a sense of power, and control. Perhaps making them feel stronger and more a man or woman by inflicting pain on an innocent being. These are also usually people who have come from a place where love wasn't abundant, kisses and hugs were few, and discipline with a firm hand was much more frequent....sometimes to the point of being considered abuse.

Kuwait is very unique in many ways. But one of them is that more often than not a complete stranger is raising the children in the home of the Kuwaitis. Usually an Indian or Phillipino woman who is paid a very minimal salary, mistreated, and sometimes abused. She is expected to meet standards in the home that very few people could, such as sleeping on the floor, caring for several children ranging in age from birth to teens, laundry for the entire house, cooking for them all, cleaning, serving every member of the family at all hours of the day and night, washing the family vehicles in some cases, grocery shopping, homework with the children, and even attending all parent/teacher meetings at school. It can be difficult for a woman to maintain her own home and children, much less that of someone else. So where are the hugs, kisses, and love coming from? Or are they coming at all? Boys in this country are still taught that crying is for gilrs, and girls are taught that they're not as important as the men. Who is teaching them about love? Anyone?

Is it possible Kuwait has created its own monster by raising children without emotion towards anyone at all? Is it possible that this lack of love and compassion is what leads to high rates of animal abuse and neglect? And is it possible that a country filled with very little love isn't really an Islamic country after all...but just one big facade?

OK, it's a really old cliché but could it really be any more accurate?

I'm at a place in my life (mentally, emotionally, and physically) where I am literally sitting back watching it "go around" and taking a little bit of silly pleasure in it. Of course I never wish anything derogatory on anyone, however, when one suffers due to the actions of their own hands and acts against others, they should only expect bad to happen to them in return.

For now I think I'll put my feet up, relax, and watch life unfold.

And smile.

Today I am truly thankful for being one of the "good guys."

I didn't take any of these pictures since I seemed to have missed the entire storm....but here they are anyway.

As much as I love the storms and bad weather, I seemed to have missed this one completely!

Storm rips Kuwait, 3 killed

Kuwait Friday was hit by a sandstorm that blew at 56 km/hr from the East and the Southeast of Kuwait, causing showers at a couple of places in the country, says Musaed Al-Hammad, Head of Mirzam Observatory. He was talking to the Arab Times soon after studying the recordings of the weather conditions from his observatory. The visibility during the storm in the desert was zero, about a kilometer in the city and 4 km in Wafra. The unexpected storm uprooted trees, damaged minor structures in different parts of Kuwait and flooded the Gulf Road. All shipping movement at Kuwaiti ports was stopped. The Sharq area was also flooded. Musaed said short and indecisive showers are a characteristic feature of the Al-Sarrayat season, which lasts for a month and is due to end on May 3. This is one of the last rains of the year, he added. “There is a 70 percent chance for some more showers on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. “During this season, clouds fleet by close to the ground shedding incessant rainfall at various places, causing wet and dry conditions in the state. Since the clouds move very fast, the season has been named Al- Sarrayat or ‘The fast mover.’” This month can upset plans as the weather can be very indecisive and people have to be prepared for unexpected sandstorms and rains, the astronomer noted. He said there are two types of sandstorms: one that blows from the neighboring deserts in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and the other kind which blows from far off zones, which are more powerful. Friday’s sandstorm was mild. Three people were killed in separate incidents during the storm, Major Khaleel Al-Ameer, Head of the Public Relations at the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) told the Arab Times. In the first incident, two Egyptians were burnt to death after their car collided with another vehicle in Kabd. Firemen rushed to the scene and removed the vehicles from the scene before referring the remains to the Forensics. A man drowned in the beach water after he and his son had gone fishing near Shaab. Major Al-Ameer added that the boy was rescued by passers by while a rescue team managed to fish out the body of the man after a massive search. No further details were available. Al-Ameer also said that a total of 21 rescue operations were conducted and that 11 fire incidents were reported until 9 pm.  Al-Ameer further added that several incidents of trees being uprooted and cars damaged were reported. According to Al-Ameer, four firemen were injured in a two-vehicle collision, even as the firemen were on their way to an accident site.

"I remember when I was a little boy, playing outside, sneaking out during the day hoping our mother wouldn't catch us because it was too hot to be outside. I remember my father would gather all the kids and my mother together on the weekends and take us to the desert where we would share a huge meal and play all day.

I remember when my father worked for the police, was provided a large house that had enough rooms for us all to live comfortably. When they built new ones, we moved there and they were even nicer. Our home had a big dewaniya where we often had guests, always served coffee, tea, and dinners for special occassions.

I remember going to school with everyone else...and we were the same. We always had new dishdasha before the school year, and new shoes.

I remember in 1990 my oldest brother was in the Kuwait Army and faught during the Iraq invasion. He was a prisoner of war and held in Iraq for months. Eventually he came home and was promised citizenship for what he had done for Kuwait....but he never got it.

I remember my mother would always cook, and there was so much food in the house all the time. She was so happy then.

I remember so clearly before there was such thing as a "bidoon".

Now there is no house. No food. No retirement or pension for my father though he was promised he would get it. No dinners in dewanyia. And for a long time, no free school. My mother eventually sold all of her gold so I could finish High School and get my diploma."

That's just a small part of one man's story in Kuwait. Just a portion of how his life has dramatically changed and how he had no control over it.

We usually set goals for ourselves, and try to obtain more in life. As a bidoon, their goals and dreams were taken away, and they have had to learn to live with very minimal necessities.

Much more to come.