The Reply

After my two previous posts The Patriot and The Audacity , I got some pretty interesting comments (and one hate mail). I decided to reply to the comments in a whole post because replying to each individual will result in an extreeeemely long comment.

First off, to clear some things:

In The Audacity post when I said I’d rather be an Isreali than a Hezbollah member, yes I meant it, and still do. To me, it’s much worse for people of the same religion killing each other, than for people of opposite religions to do that (at least each one of them has a completely different faith). I don’t encourage any kind of hate, especially religion, but when it comes to choose, I’d choose the lesser of the two evils.

For Shosho who asked if they found out who hijacked the Jabriyah plane. The whole world knew ever since the event happened that Meghniyeh (and Hezbollah) were behind the hijacking of the plane because there were hundreds of witnesses on board who attested to that fact.

Anonymous, who are you kidding when you said that Hezbollah is protecting Lebanon from Israel? They’re Iranians who were smuggled into Lebanon during the civil war and took place there. They’re not even original Lebanese. Their whole beliefs and ideologies were the product of Khomeini, leader of the Iranian revolution.

Israel was Lebanon’s neighbor since the beginning of those countries’ existence, and they had their fair share of conflicts, but definitely not as much as now. Now tell me why is it that Hezbollah decided to change its goals, deciding to become protectors of Lebanon? Maybe to give a more legitimate reason for their existence in Lebanon? Wasn’t that also Syria’s reason for staying in Lebanon? To protect it?

I can’t see how Lebanon has been protected, because you can’t turn a blind eye to what’s happening there these past few years. Now tell me, where are those great protectors of yours? Lebanon sure could use them at this time, don’t you think?

Other points I’d like to add:

You don’t have to defend Hezbollah if you’re a Shiite, they’re not prophets, and they’re humans like you and me. Just like you don’t have to defend Taliban if you’re a Sunni. They’re both groups of individuals who I believe made really bad choices in life.

Some MP’s in Kuwait decided to ignore the public’s feelings and hold a funeral/ceremony for that murderer. This hurts.

Shosho also said, not all Shiites are loyal to Iran. You’re absolutely right. I know so many prominent Kuwaiti families who have been in Kuwait for as long as anyone can remember. The Behbehani’s, Marafie’s and so many more families, many of whom have never even seen Iran. I know for a fact that the majority, if not all, of Kuwait’s oldest Shi’a families have loyalties that are rooted to the grounds of this country.

It really gives me immense pride and pleasure to see so many of you ‘patriots’ coming forward and not afraid to reply to my posts or say ‘We’re with you’ and ‘You’re right’..

Most of us were too young to remember details of the Iraqi Invasion in Kuwait, but my parents always tell me that it was at that time that people really knew they were one community with one loyalty and one faith.

I urge people and encourage them to forget these little differences. I’m Sunni and you’re Shi’a. So what? I’m Bedouin and you’re Hathari? So what? I’m liberal and you’re conservative? Again so what?

I’m a Kuwaiti. You’re a Kuwaiti. That’s all that matters.

Note: If any of my friends have been missing me visiting their blogs these past couple of weeks, I've been really busy applying for jobs, and doing interviews and stuff. I'm going to be away for a week during the vacation. So I'll see you when I get back inshallah. I can't wait to see what you've all been up to!

The Audacity

The audacity of some people. The mother-effing audacity!

We were watching the news today after lunch and they put clips of the events taking place in two different parts of Lebanon.

In Beirut, crowds of people gathered to listen to Lebanese MP’s in a political rally, and remember the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hareeri, on February 14, 3 years ago.

In the Southern part of Lebanon, it was something so unbelievable. It was like Iran inhabited Lebanon! They were mourning the death of Imad ‘Gone to Hell’ Meghniyeh. They had soldiers and a military parade and flags and the whole shebang. And you know what the sheer audacity of the event was? That IRAN sent its MINISTER OF EXTERIOR AFFAIRS to speak on behalf of President Ahmedi Nejjad.

The man was a famous terrorist, and yet you choose to acknowledge him in front of the whole world. Says a lot doesn’t it? And just to send another message to the world, the guy started talking Farsi. It’s Lebanon for God’s sake, why are they talking Farsi (Iran’s mother tongue)? If you love him so much, why not hold the funeral in your country?

Then Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader, started rambling about how Meghniyeh was a martyr, and yada yada yadaa.. And then of course he rambled on about Israel, and how they were responsible for Meghniyeh’s death, and that this was an ‘Open War’. Who are you to declare war on a country????? You’re not the president!! You are a leader of a group of people who inhabit the South. That’s it. Not even Iran is stupid enough to say that. They just feed you the bait and you take it like a hungry fish.

Well, you know what? I’d rather be an Israeli, than be a Hezbollah member. Matter of fact, I LIKE them. Because they’re beating the crap out of you, and you deserve it. And because unlike you, they never hurt us innocent Kuwaitis. You talk about how they kill Muslims, well SO DO YOU. They monopolize other countries? SO DO YOU. They want to take over the world? OH, MAN. SO. DO. YOU.

I think that’s enough. I’d just like to add that even with all this bad news, today brought a new sense of happiness, or comfort at least to two Kuwaiti families, and the rest of the country as well. The families of the two men, Khalid Ayoub and Abdullah Al-Khaldi, who were killed on board the Kuwait Airways “Jabriyah” plane that was hijacked by Meghniyeh and other Hizbollah criminals.

What happened to them was something tragic of course and it must have been torture for their families to know that the killer was still at large. Although their sons will never come back, I wish the families peace and solace in the news that their sons’ murderer was gone for good.

Rest in peace Khalid and Abdullah. Rest in peace.

The Patriot

I’m feeling patriotic today. Actually not today. Everyday.

I love my country. I love this freakin’ land! I love it! I adore it! I would die for it! Yes I would!

I was born and raised here. My parents were born and raised here. Their parents were born and raised here. And their grandparents were born and raised here. Their great grandparents were born and raised here... And well, you get the picture.

I don’t just love it because it’s my home. I love it because it has been good to me and everyone else. The majority of Kuwaitis live a well-off life compared to the rest of the world. Where else can you get free healthcare, free education (from kindergarten to university), free housing, and so much more? It’s a place where everybody knows everybody else. And even though we’re not without faults, we’re still a pretty good place.

But you know what really guts me? What kills me? What makes me want to punch someone so hard they would end up in a coma for the rest of their life? (Yeah, it’s that serious to me)

It’s when people live off this land that has been nothing but good to them, only to reap the benefits and not give back anything to this country.

The men in my family refused to leave Kuwait during the Iraqi Invasion in 1990, and spent 7 months battling terror and pollution and simply stayed put in the land that made them who they are. They lived without their families, electricity, cars and the food that they were used to, while others fled the country without looking back.

Before you attack me, I know that not everyone who fled was a coward because some didn’t want to leave their families alone abroad. I know. I’m talking about the others. They know who they are. The ones who packed up and left, thinking this country is not coming back.

How about those politicians, ministers, government authorities who think that just because Kuwait is a rich country, then it’s ok to stuff some of its money into their pockets? Their bank accounts are so full of 000’s from all the embezzlement; they must need accountants (plural) to do their bookkeeping for them.

Then we have those evil EVIL politicians who claim they want to benefit the country by forcing us to abide by non-existing Islamic laws, whereas we all know that they hide behind a curtain they call Islam, only to monopolize people into thinking they’re right so that they can become filthy rich and powerful. God, how I hate you idiots!! I hope you burn in hell for all of the problems you’ve caused this country.

And today, I heard the most audacious thing ever. Iranian politicians and Hezbollah members in the Middle East (INCLUDING KUWAIT – please don’t tell me we don’t have Hezbollah members here) mourning the death of one of their commanders, Imad Meghniyeh. The man famous for hijacking planes, kidnapping westerners, terrorist attacks on embassies, and so much more. A MURDERER. He was one of the people responsible for the hijacking of Kuwait Airways in the 1980’s. And please no one tell me that Hezbollah were not responsible. They were. He’s guilty, they’re guilty and you damn well know it. And I think I know why you might be defending him.

I could go on and on and on… but I won’t. I’m too tired. I just have this to say:

To all you people who call yourselves Kuwaitis, but your true loyalty lies in countries not too far away. To all you leeches who suck the blood out of this country and then leave it and go when you have nothing more to take. To all you idiots who don’t know what you’ve got until you lose it. I hope the day comes when this country exposes you for what you are, you filthy maggots. I hope you rot in hell, and while you’re there, I hope you see us true patriots in Heaven, looking down at you and not having an ounce of sympathy for you and all your maggot friends.

I’m done.

A Sad Post..

I'm feeling especially sad today..

My teenage cousin was just diagnosed with Cancer. The doctors say it's in Stage 4. I've always heard this term. "Stage 4". But I never really knew what it meant. I searched online and to put it simply, it's the most dangerous type because it means the cancer has progressed far along in the body. As some people put it, "There is no Stage 5".

It hurts so bad to know what my cousin is going through. She's really young, she didn't finish school yet and she has her whole life ahead of her. And she now has to endure all the pain and suffering from this disease, not to mention the rough times she will have from the chemotherapy. She's going to be treated outside of Kuwait, so there's the added pain of being away from home.

I wish her all the best. I wish there was some way me, or anybody else can help her. The only thing we can do is pray for her, and be as positive as we can.

Please, please pray for her, people. She really needs it.

My Darling Government

Ok. I am pissed!! No actually I’m seething! I’m seeing red. There’s smoke coming out of my ears and nose. I feel like crying. Our darling and very clever government announced today that it is initiating a program to monitor Kuwaiti political websites and blogs.

Al Watan Newspaper reported today that Minister Abdullah Al-Muhailbi said that the government will propose a law to the Parliament that will enable them to monitor all Kuwaiti political websites and blogs. This is to promote and ensure the well being of the Kuwaiti society by preventing the establishment of rumors, political and otherwise, and decreasing the exchange of misleading information as well as minimizing public indecency.

You can read the whole article here (in Arabic – sorry)

The Minister goes on to say that this proposition will not affect the law of freedom of speech; instead, the law only aims to protect the society and its values. Those who will not abide by the ‘law’ will be punished (of course).

What a load of crap! By monitoring our writing, you’re trying to limit us from saying what we feel like saying! What? We shouldn’t speak our mind?? We shouldn’t criticize? Stop sticking your heads in the sand and face up to the fact that no society is without its fair share of sins and corruption. Don’t lie to the world and act as if we’re perfect.

The internet is free grounds. We should be able to say what we like without anyone interfering. If I like something, I’m going to say it, whether it’s considered ‘immoral’ or against my culture’s values. And if I don’t like something I’m going to say it too!

And frankly, dear government, I do not like you right now.

Oh, I forgot to add that by ‘monitoring’ there will be restrictions for the writers because the Minister said that those who will not abide by the ‘law’ will be punished. Of course! How could we think otherwise?

I’m so sad. That’s our government for you. One step forward, 10 steps back.

Boycotting Starbucks

What is up with Starbucks hiking up their prices in Kuwait? I haven't been to Starbucks in a while, but today I just got slapped in the face when I ordered a (small) latte, cheese sandwich and a skinny blueberry muffin (which tastes like sugared cardboard by the way). I took out 3 KD (approx. $11 - American reader) and the barrista said "4.750 KD, ma'm" (17$).

*Blink. Blink* Whaaaaaat??

Remind me again what I ordered?? There is absolutely no reason why the prices are this high!
Everyone knows that a teabag costs you less than 10 cents from the poor tea-leaf pickers from Sri Lanka or some other poor undeveloped country. Oh, so the coffee is more expensive? 30 cents for a shot, and I think I'm overrating it, too. You also employ cheap labor like Philipino and Indian barristas. You don't want to give higher wages. That's why you stopped employing Lebanese workers.

Starbucks-Kuwait people, if you want customers to make Starbucks a daily routine, why don't you try attracting them? Don't assume that this country is full of money and is therefore willing to spend so much on a measly cup of coffee. My Nescafe at home does the job just as well, if not better. I can add cocoa powder, vanilla or cinnamon, and I don't have to go bankrupt. So there!

You can call me cheap if you want to, but I'd rather save 90KD a month and buy something useful, than waste it on money moochers like Starbucks.

This lady is boycotting Starbucks. Until further notice.