Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi... What Gives?

By now, there is no one in Kuwait that doesn't know the name "Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi". Kuwait is small, I know, but she is arguably one of the most well known, non-former MP, candidate in the country. Why is that?

In the 2008 elections, Aseel (while articles normally abbreviate using the last name, her first name has become somewhat iconic and is used even in the daily papers)was the first woman to become part of an election grouping. At the time, that grouping was pushed forward by the National Democratic Alliance and inclueded two of her colleauges: Faisal Al-Shayee and Khaled Al-Khaled. She outperformed them significantly.

In fact, Aseel was a mere 600 votes away from snatching victory from HADAS candidate and co-founder Dr. Naser Al-Sane (a seasoned politician who's had a seat in Parliament almost continuously since the end of the Iraqi Invasion). Dr. Naser isn't running this time around.

What is it that makes this candidate, out of all the other male and female candidates, so special? Perhaps its her ability to relate to the youth of the country, by adapting her campaign to the online arena and her extensive use of facebook, youtube, and her Obama-sized website. Is that it? Her facebook group boasted more than 2000 members in less than 4 days, and consists of voters in the district, voters out of the district, a strong underage following, and I even saw a few foreigners in the mix.

Maybe its her calm and logical demeanor. She does have a PhD in political science, and from the US no less. Still, there are very few people, especially from the academic world, that can enter advanced argumentation without sounding eletist and condescending. Strangely enough, after watching more than my share of Aseel interviews, I can say that she sounds sophisticated but not snobby, smart but not stuck up, logical but not bitter.

The more seasoned politicians tend to sound bitter these days. It could be their vast experience in Parliament has worn them down, much like a warrior who's fought one too many fights. It could be that these politicians believe that voters are looking for those who are just as bitter as they are to represent them in office. If the latter is the case, I believe there has been a grave miscalculation. Even the most bitter person wants to believe in our future. They just don't know where to start. Is that it? Is Aseel's continuous message of hope, change, and rejuvenating our nation as generations before us have done the key to her growing popularity?

I honestly can't say what it is that makes Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi such a magnetic personality. Or why its tough to switch the television channel when one hears her talk about what Kuwait can be if we take the time to envision it first. Maybe I like the higher standard of political rehtoric she uses and the fact that she doesn't feel that the Kuwaiti veiwer needs you to "dumb-down" your thoughts for them. Maybe I feel that her educational background gives her resources that many of our previous MPs were lacking, and equips her to make change instead of only talking about it. Or maybe, just maybe...I believe her. You have to decide for yourself, wheter or not you believe her too.

Note: Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi's official headquarters opens tonight, April 29th 2009 under the heading - "A Nation Renewed"

Some People Just Don't Learn

Al-Qabas today wrote a feature piece and on the release of Former MP Dhaifallah Buramia. I'm not gonna get into details about it, but for more information you can find the article and the source of this picture at the following link:

http://92.52.88.82/alqabas/Article.aspx?id=492962%20&date=23042009

Suffice as to say, I'm a proponent of freedom of speech. I boast about it to all my foreign friends (from the Gulf and otherwise) claiming that Kuwait is the truest form of democracy in all the Arab world. I stand by that statement now, just as much as when I said it. Some will attempt to rebuff that argument by discussing the freedoms enjoyed in Lebanon, and how they are the first country to have more than 10 daily journals. While I agree with those facts, I would argue that Lebanese democracy as of late (and pretty much for my natural life) is closer to shooting down the other opinion with a gun rather than freedom of speech. In any case, as Kuwaitis we only wish on the Lebanese people stability, prosperity, and happiness.

Having discussed my high regard for Kuwaiti freedoms, I think we can dive in slightly deeper into this sticky Buramia topic. People, in the United States you can stand at the White House and say whatever you want. You can insult the President, call him a thief, a war-monger, Nazi what have you...and you will still spend the night in the saftey of your bed. HOWEVER, try just once, going to the White House, and mentioning an intention to change the leadership by "any means necessary". Not by "force" mind you, but by any means necessary. Suddenly, out of the bushes around you, secret service agents reveal themselves with the undeterrable goal of locking you up (in the most painful way possible I'm sure). Why is that? Its simple: the U.S. Constitution says that while you enjoy the freedom of speech, you cannot conspire against the Government.

We have a constitution in Kuwait. Although it looks very different than Americas, Kuwaitis are no less proud and see that document as the protector of our rights as human beings. A country's constitution is a reflection of their culture, their ambitions, and their will to be free. I've said all of this to reach one point, and one point alone:

When we trust the constitution to protect our rights as citizens, why are we not equally eager to protect the constitution from those who would do it harm?

The law is clear in Kuwait. You are innocent until you are proven guilty. Buramia has not been convicted. However, Kuwaiti citizens just like Buramia pulled him in because our Judiciary system believed that this man breached the constitution. Today he's released to a hero’s welcome, without of course knowing the verdict of the immense accusation he faces. If you want the Constitution to protect you, you have to be willing to protect it back. Celebrations do not a hero make.

Of Cats and Government

Did you know that controversial Al-Watan columnist Fouad Al-Hashem has a TV show now? I think it may be for the election period only, but basically, he interviews one person a night and they've all been either Ministers (Ahmed Baqer) or people running for office.

Anyway, there are those who love him and there are those who hate him. There are those that consider him the worst thing that ever happened to Kuwaiti media. There are those that see him as the true voice of the Kuwaiti citizen. To call him controversial is an understatement. Now I'm saying this because I plan on quoting him, without commenting on my personal feelings or position when it comes to this man. The quote, however, I subscribe to 100%:

On his show, Al-Hashem began discussing his encounter with this old Egyptian teacher. They used to sit together and speak of politics, and social aspects. So he recounts a story that this Egyptian teacher told him, in the following way:

"One day, a man was about to get married. He went to his Father and asked him if he had any pearls of wisdom for him so that his marriage will be long and successful. The Father looks at his son and says 'Do what I tell you, and you will have a long and fruitful marriage'. He went on to tell him to hide a cat under their bed on the night of their wedding (ringing bells anyone?). 'Then, once the cat makes the slightest sound, you quickly grab him from under the bed and execute him in front of your wife'.

The wedding night comes and goes, and the man decides against his Father's advice. He loves his wife very much, and the idea of killing a cat in front of her seemed cruel and arcane. After 40 years of marriage, the man reflects on all that has happened and realized that this woman undermined him, disobeyed him, scolded and even hit him for his entire life. On that day, after another one of her yelling sessions, he decided that he'd had enough. He ran out to the street, found a stray cat and brought it back to the house. After the woman saw her husband kill a cat in front of her, she said "Oh honey, its a little late for that, don't ya think?"

That's the story Fouad Al-Hashem used to describe our Government. I think he hit the nail on the head with that story. Nevertheless, correcting our mistakes is important and reviving the lost prestige of the law is worth the effort.

Far3eeyaat and Paperclips

Its funny what things people will turn into games. When you walk into someone’s office (who has way too much time on his hands), you might catch him stringing up paperclips. After you sit down, pick up the newspaper on his desk to scan through the headlines, you lower it, and still find him fiddling with those paperclips. You let out half a smile, and lift up your paper until the CEO of the company walks in to the office. Suddenly, you find yourself up on your feet, “Saba7k Allah Bil 5air Bu-Flaan”. Besides the wide age gap between the CEO and yourself, there is the significant difference in stature: he’s a CEO and you’re an employee. Then to your surprise, you look to your friend who’s sitting on the desk…

He’s let out a smile “Saba7 il 5air”, yet his eyes are still fixed to the paperclips, and he’s made no effort to stand. The CEO seats himself down, and now its you, your fiddler of a friend and the man who decides your future all in one small office. To your surprise, the CEO begins a conversation with your friend, while not really reacting to the fact that your friend is replying in “hmms” and “ahaaas” working on what he’s now decided will be the longest paperclip snake in the world. After 3 minutes, the CEO with his mood unchanged, stands up and leaves this office. No reaction to the blatant disregard to company time, no reaction to the lack of respect shown to his stature, no reaction to the nonchalant grunts that countered his attempt at dialogue…. What the hell just happened?

Congratulations to the tribes on their successful far3eeyat…you officially have the longest paperclip snake in Kuwait.

Give me a Quackin Break! (Part I)

This story took place a few weeks ago:

Q80 calls his Dad:

Q80: Hi Yubba, wainik?

Yuba: I'm at Markaz Sultan (Kuwaiti Carrefour) buying some stuff for Diwaniya night. Im not feeling well, I wanna go to the Clinic and catch it early.

Q80: Ok Yubba, Im not far from you. I'll come and take the food the Diwaniya and you go to the clinic.

Yuba: La la, it wont take time. Moo laazim.

Q80: Laaa yubba, its gonna cut into your sleep. I'm already on the way.

Yuba: Ok, khalas...see you soon.

I arrived to Markaz Sultan, and like a good little son, I took the things to Diwaniya. Shortly afterwards, my phone rings:

Ring Ring Ring....

Q80: Alooo?

Annoying Insurance Lady (AIL): Hello sir, you're speaking to AIL from Gulf Insurance. I just wanted to inform you that your full coverage on your 2008 "car" is going to expire this Friday and see if you were interested in renewing. The cost will be...

Q80: One second maam. Before discussing the cost, I've had your insurance for a year and have never been clear about what it covers. Can we start there.

(The road to the house was long enough for AIL to be a welcome distraction)

AIL: Well sir, we cover blah blah and blah, change blah and rotate blah, we also do 4 by 4 blah...and change damaged winshields and...

Q80: One second, one second AIL...did you say damaged winsheilds? Well...a rock hit my windshield in the same week I bought the car. Do you cover that?

AIL: Of course sir! We at Gulf Insurance recognize the hazards of driving in these condi...

Q80: Where do I go to fill out the claim.

She gives me the details...I fill out the claim...the car is at the "car" garage courtesy of the driver the next morning.

A day after, I get another call:

Q80: Alooo?

Sexually Confused Philipino (SCP): Hello Thir!! This is Remigio from Lexthuth Garage. HOW ARE YOU!!??

Q80: Um..Fine, thank you.

SCP: That's bery good thiirrr. I'm calling to tell you, that un-for-tune-at-leeee, we were not able to get you're automtive. We're thooo thorryyyy.

Q80: That's fine, but when will it be ready?

SCP: Oh...I don't know...Inshallah tomorrow thirr. Its good you brought insurance thirr, normally dis winshield berry expensive. 210 KD, for material.

Q80: Really? Ok. Tomrrow will be fine inshalla. Thank you.

(Q80 lifts up his collar in pride over his quick thinking and goes ahead an pats himself on the back)

The car finally comes back. After having glued the window to the car, the car has this smell so I decide to leave the windows open.

The next day, the smell is still there. And the day after that.

On Saturday, I went to the drivers room to send him to bring something from the house, and lo and behold...the smell was even more repugnant and reached the room of the driver, almost 12 meters away:

Q80: Francis...what the hell is that!??

Francis: Too much smelling sir. I don't know why it won't go.

Q80: Francis, this is not normal! Khalas...I'm convinced. There is something dead in my car.

Francis: No sir, how something will just crawl in and die...

Q80: Francis, there is something dead in my car!!!

Francis: I don't know sir.

Q80: Francis...go find whatever died in my car!!

Francis: How I will find?

Q80: OPEN THE TRUNK FRANCIS!

As we approach the back of the truck, the smell becomes more potent, more repugnant. I step away from the trunk, almost like my entire life was a preparation for this moment...The trunk flips open.

Q80: HOLLLYYY SHIIITTT!!!

(I gag, swallowing back my Fu6oor)

Francis: Who left ducks here??!!! Ok ok..you go sir, I will clean.

Q80: God bless you Francis...PEACE!

I drove my brother's car after that. After two days under Kuwait's sun with the windows and trucks open, my cushions have absorbed the smell of Donald and Daffy's corpses. I can't drive in it, not for fear of the unimaginable stench so much as the fear that I walk around this country of mine smelling like dead duck.

Ring, ring, ring...

AIL: Hello sir, this AIL. I just called to inform you that we are giving a special offer on Insurane...

tooooot, tooooot, toooot

AIL: Sir? Sir?? (Looks to her friend, who's twirling a pencil around her hair) I think he hung up on me!....I'll try him later.

Masquerading in Kuwait

I spent a lot of time outside of Kuwait. So much so, that I feel I tend to see things as an outsider would. A lot of times, what surprises and shocks me is seen to be normal and what I find to be normal surprises and shocks the people around me. Don't get me wrong. If you haven't read my earlier posts, or still feel like you don't know me, my attachment to Kuwait is very strong. Its built on sense of duty, honor (inshallah), and nationalism that has become more and more scarce in our beloved country. I remain optimistic….

You know what though? Optimism is faced with daily tests, particularly in Kuwait. Today, I'd like to discuss one of those tests that has me baffled, astonished, annoyed, angry, deceived, underestimated, and slightly disgruntled:

The other day, my family and I were sitting at the dinner table trapped in a general discussion ranging from "True Blood" (HBO's new vampire-related series) to the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Around the later portion of this conversation, one of my cousins entered. Being an educated man, with an engineering background and the tendency to speak in Fus7a (proper Arabic – Think 9 O'clock news), he gave us his input with regards to the stock market and international markets in general.

Now, this would be fine if such input would stop at the "tea time" conversational level. It never does. He went on to discuss how the global markets have zero affects on the local market, that there is a conspiracy by certain families (listing the same families who have literally lost tens of millions in this "conspiracy") and that its all the Central Banks fault. Please realize that no opinion has been voiced. Through his eyes, he has stated a number of unshakable truths, regardless of the fact that he is not linked to the stock market in any shape, way or form (not even as a citizen trader).

Again, such statements (voiced in Fus7a, that people with Islamist inclination so love to embrace) may be argued without opposition if no one at the table was equipped or knowledgeable in this matter. I mean that's when people are supposed to argue something, right? When they actually know what the hell they're talking about? Well, to his dismay, at the dinner table was an MBA from an Ivy League university and business school graduate who happens to work in one of the major investment companies in the country. Now when the MBA started talking, she used her background bachelors degree in economics to argue certain points like monetary policy etc etc. He dismissed her point of view. When the business school graduate started to quote the traders perspective, he again dismissed his view. "Hathee ma6boo5a min zimaan, wil shurra 3ala illy maa gidar yinuthimha gubbil il 6aay7a".

The lesson is this:

In Kuwait, one of the major shocks I received, and continue to experience is the way that people enjoy masquerading. After all, what other name can you assign to someone who claims to know everything about something he actually KNOWS nothing about. Moreover, how can that very same masquerader, when placed with someone who has stayed true to his one and only face, still manage to belittle and disqualify that expert (at least expert by comparison) opinion.

Now, it's not to say the person is a bad guy. I mean there are the old ladies that have no problem prescribing medicine, or the random Joe who thinks he knows what's wrong with your car just by a noise you describe, or the person from a broken home who wants to give married people advice on healthy relationships. These people exist and are part of our everyday lives.

One thing for sure…masquerading is a Kuwaiti pastime, and I for one will never get used to it.

Democracy Shmocracy: A Kuwaiti Story

We are only 19 days away from elections as the country heats up, more electoral headquarters open, and people filter down their last few candidates. Tonight is the opening of Al-Tahaluf Al-Watani which is the viewed as the liberal party in the race. Liberal here does not mean the same as it does in the United States. In America, Liberal is the direct opposition of Conservative. Here in Kuwait, Liberal is set as the opposite of Political Islam. While it can still be referred to as such, anyone who knows who Rush Limbaugh is should know that Kuwaiti Liberalism is closer to a mesh of Republican economic policies with the Democrats humanitarian agenda, so I am not sure if Rush would even bother giving it airtime. Yesterday was the opening of Khaled Al-Sultan who is the head of the Seleffy organization, one of the two (perhaps three if you include Al-Umma) Political Islam groups in Kuwait and a respected leader among those circles across the Arab world.

What a wide range we enjoy in Kuwait. You have the leftists the extreme rightists and everything in between. Democracy, competition, and increased focus on corruption have made this election more issues-focused than any previous one we have ever experienced. You talk to one person, and say will you vote for Joe Shmoe? He'll ask "Where does Joe Shmoe stand on increasing minimum wage?" My previous post about transition covered the change Kuwait is facing. So what's the problem? Aren't things becoming better?

I talked to a coworker of mine and asked him: "How are the elections with you? You fired up?". Keeping in mind that this person is at least ten years my senior, he replied "Oh I don't watch that garbage, I'm not registered". Wait a second…how can he not be registered? I mean granted, there are a few people out there who falsely believe that their failure to play a role in change is the same as protesting the current situation and choose not to vote. This person has never registered. He went through college, worked for years and years and just refused to take part in the democratic process. I asked him why, and this was the conversation we had:

Middle Aged Boss Man: There is no such thing as real democracy. Not even in the United States (I love that someone who has never lived in the US thinks they understand it like its Adailiya). Oh don't get me wrong…the US has freedoms. Freedoms and democracy are not the same.

Saracen: Ok…then what type of system would you like for Kuwait?

Middle Aged Boss Man: I think we have to have one supreme ruler who can make the decisions for all the country. He is the final word and we obey. Everything is at a halt because of the Parliament and the problems they caused throughout the year. Look at Dubai…because it’s a one man show, their leader can go invest tons of money where ever he wants and the people don't have a say.

Saracen: Yeah, but what about you? What about your voice? The Parliament is the watchful eye of the people, making sure that the forces of corruption stay in check so that Kuwait can remain beautiful. Are you happy with just being a passenger?

Middle Aged Boss Man: There is no such thing as Democracy! This is not democracy, this is a farse.

Saracen: What if someone came and said that our current conversations is against the law? What if someone came and said that your daughter is not allowed to receive an education. Or because your son doesn't do well at school, he has to be moved to a school of lesser caliber. Who will you go to?

Middle Aged Boss Man: I don't need to go to anyone. The ruler decides and we obey. Listen Saracen, we are behind and its all because of these individuals. Anyone who is actually good and is running for Parliament is STUPID, excuse my language. If they were really good, they would not run."

Saracen: Ok, well that's how you see it…but wait a second. You never registered? I would understand if you were disenchanted with the current situation just because of crisis after crisis…but what about before?

Middle Aged Boss Man: I believe in one man rule. Democracy Shmocracy.

My opinion is and will always be that the worse Parliament is better than no Parliament at all. If you are one of those who believe that there is in fact no one worth voting for, than practice your obligation in selecting the lesser of all evils. However, with the selection of political views and the array independents that are in each electoral district, don't hide behind undeveloped and uneducated understanding of democracy. Don't justify laziness by sounding some grand view of anti-Democracy mumbo jumbo. Its sad and pathetic and we're on to you.

What we are all supposed to be...