All Fired Up

I got all fired up this morning about someone who was under the assumption that I am a "typical" westerner. First, and foremost, I don't believe that anyone is typical; God made us all individuals for a reason. Second, I don't like prejudice of any kind. You can't judge anyone without knowing them and to know them - knowing people takes time.

I'm not bored because of Kuwait or because of Kuwaitis. I love Kuwait and thankfully, I find something new every day (you can do that anywhere, by the way - it all depends on your perspective and where you look). I was bored because it was Saturday - similar to a Monday in the States; the beginning of the work week where you just don't feel motivated. But hey - again - that could be the same circumstance anywhere in any country on any continent.

It is okay to call me typical. I have more Kuwaiti friends (and have had most of my life) than Western ones. I worked during the Gulf War to help Kuwaitis - even when the Kuwaiti embassy closed at 5 pm and my diplomat friends who worked there went to bars. I don't believe that they were typical either - it just was what it was. I am still reminding my young Kuwaiti friends of what happened during 90 and 91 because many don't remember. I do. To me, it was like it happened last year.

As far as reading books and going to the cinema - I do when I want to. That's my business. I try not to post negative comments on anyone else's blog because life is already full of negativity. Live and let live.

Okay, with all that out of the way, my friends, NT and Sio, called me at around 9:45 this morning - reminding me that life is too short to worry about trivial matters. They both live right off Shaar Al Mataaem where the shootout took place this morning (9:30 - 10:00). NT called me with the sounds of grenades and gunfire going off behind her; not just once, but for an entire 30 minutes. It sounded like a war zone. Sio was walking down the street between Blaajat and Restaurants Street. I don't know what's wrong with that girl! I told her to duck in anywhere. She must have been the only stupid Westerner on the street!

I really wanted a Sheel ow Meshi sandwich today, but I guess that is out of the question right now. I hope those guys are okay.

For as much as we complain about the police here, I've got to hand it to them: They are stopping a lot of violence before it occurs. The bad guys probably would have launched attacks in crowded areas in Kuwait. My prayers go out to the families of the policeman and the Bahraini who were caught in the crossfire.