I know this might have been put out there as a joke, how many of the parliaments that we've seen come and go have been joke-worthy, a waste of time, and downright ridiculous?! Is it a satire? A farce? A joke? Or something deeper, intended to stir people's consciousness?
This guy is making valid points for the country and creating controversy and conversation. Commentaries are showing up in mainstream media like this article today in the Kuwait Times. I've been watching the buzz in blogsphere and on the social media sites. People are talking.
This is the first time - ever - in recent history when someone/ANYONE had the balls to ask that alcohol be legalized. It is now precedent-setting. Joke or no joke, Mr. Green is now a pioneer. Everyone has whispered about legalizing alcohol for YEARS. It has been the topic of conversation at more than one party I've been to with politicians, lawyers, and even a few MPs. (Cheers, my friends!)
And, I whole-heartedly agree with the concept of the establishment of Islamic resorts. Fundamental Islamists should not HAVE to see women scantily clad in bathing suits! They should have the freedom to vacation "skin-free" in resorts to cater to their beliefs. However, they can do the same by driving a few miles down to Saudi Arabia, but a whole lot of people seem to be complaining in Kuwait, so why not make it easier for them with Islamic resort options and let the rest of us wear our thongs? - not me, per se, but just saying. Furthermore, I do not believe these resorts should be built next to "open" or non-fundamentally-Islamic resorts, however. Far too much temptation.
And while I'm agreeable, I completely agree (yet again) with Green's stand on achieving people's demands and economic development. I don't think that either one of these issues is being met. The country has been in stagnation mode even though they put a heck of a lot of work into a tourism and development plan while back, didn't they? Built a whole lot of (now-empty) hotels (perhaps they aren't fundamental enough?); and a few major international hotel chains pulled out of Kuwait all together. Other GCC countries very happy; like Abu Dhabi where hotel bookings by Kuwaitis has increased by 61% in the 1st Quarter of 2014 from the previous year.
And as for people's demands? I know a whole lot of Kuwaiti friends who fly down Dubai - to their apartments (they own) to have a drink and a dance on the weekends. Why shouldn't they be able to do that (dance, drink, afford an apartment) in their own country should they CHOOSE to (and it should be a choice in my opinion). God gives you free will; you can choose what you want to do. Dubai: choose to go to a bar or to a shopping mall or to an entertainment park. CHOICE. People don't decide if you go to Heaven or Hell. God does. It's between you and God. Kuwait isn't any "MORE Muslim" than Bahrain, UAE, Qatar or Oman. All Islamic countries. Only difference is that Kuwait's economy is stagnating.
Right now in Kuwait, drugs are SO much less expensive than alcohol. There are increasing number of overdoses and guess what has just been introduced recently to Kuwait: Meth. Oh joy. Now THAT should be fun on the highways. Let's call a thing a thing, people (Ilanya!)
Where is Waleed Al-Nasser's diwaniya? Lets go show him our support!
I 100% agree with you. Let's push things forward.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is a joke, I don't think he's even aware of himself. The only thing I like about his existence is that it makes a point: the current parliament is as moronic as this guy, and hopefully we will see a dissolution soon.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against non-Kuwaitis who like to drink alcohol, that's their own choice, their own freedom. But for Kuwaitis, it's a different story.
It's a known fact here that any Kuwaiti who drinks alcohol is looked at like a freak, someone who brought shame to his family. People will automatically avoid that person and advice their families to even avoid his family, because his family failed to raise him the right way.
The Kuwaitis who drink alcohol and support the idea of legalizing it, or the ones who take drugs, meth, or whatever, they are a very, very small number of people who do not represent the community here. Actually, they are that type of small group that hides from society for their shameful acts, and end up traveling to Bahrain or the UAE to do them there.
I honestly hope no one looks at them and think, "oh, so this is what all Kuwaitis do, or think."
Every long-standing community has that type of stray group that was created from bad parenting, and this is ours.
Again, I'm not looking down on people who drink alcohol in general. But I am looking down on the people of our community who failed to follow this country tradition.
No one in this community wants alcohol legalized, there's no reason for it.
Hi Abdulaziz,
ReplyDeleteRespectfully, everybody has their own perspective and lives within their own section of society - including Kuwait. Perhaps you view the issue from your section of society.
Nothing against Kuwaitis who don't like to drink, but there are quite a few who do and would like to see it as a choice in their own country. These are the people that I know. As you say, it is their choice and their freedom, so why not make it a legal choice in their own country?
Yes I am a foreigner who likes to drink, but I have also had quite a few of those drinks within the walls of Kuwaiti family homes in Kuwait (and if we are going to reach to specifics - Article 1 families). I don't believe any of those people are the product of "bad parenting" nor would I judge others based on their personal choices.
Alcohol was legal in Kuwait prior to Sheikh Jaber. Plenty of Kuwaitis (and some that I know personally) went to hotels and nightclubs here and danced and drank and partied into the night. I don't consider them bad people. I also don't believe that they are from a small cross-section, nor hidden from society for "shameful acts".
There is no reason not to legalize alcohol. I have found in talking to people that Mr. Al-Nasser is not alone in his opinion; there was another candidate for parliament who was ELECTED, with a campaign towards the legalization of alcohol. I don't believe that this is a subject that will go away. Beware - the "freaks" (as you say) just may vote.
@Abulaziz 6:36 AM - Obviously you are not on my FLYDUBAI flights to Dubai and watch your nationals make a bee-line to the liquor store at Dubai Duty Free? What I find interesting is the Kuwaiti Islamic fundamentalists (bearded with short distashis) that are buying loads of alcohol. My question to you is, how can an individual drink that much alcohol in a week-end? You are delusional and need to speak to residents of the UAE from taxi drivers to GCC citizens who view Kuwaitis as very 'open people'. What erks me and why I am commenting here is that I am fed up with the facade you try to feed the press on who you are, when we see you in a totally different light - let's face it you are the least conservative in the GCC. The only reason why liquor is not legalized in Kuwait, which could be in a conservative manner like other GCC countries, is because the people that are controlling the underground liquor market here are from very 'influential' families and they are making a fortune. My comment to the Green candidate is that "Could you throw in recycling in your agenda"!
ReplyDelete