socio-political rant
taken from Daily Star, April 7, 2006
"HAMAS EXPECTS KUWAIT'S PROMPT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Hamas led government expected to receive 80 million US dollars from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emerates to help pay March salaries"
Oh really? a7na shakoo! Why should we pay for their march salaries? In fact, why are we still sending money to these countries! Its time we let our 'arab brethren' (what a myth!) to learn to be economically independent from our neverending and unconditional generosity.
Thank god that these people are involved in terrorist activities and thank God the US is presently on high terror alert - it is the perfect excuse Kuwait can use not to fund their foolishness.
I say its time we stop extending our extremely generous lending hand to ungrateful countries and start using our resources for Kuwait's own social programs, which seriously and painfully suck! Yes we do have free medical care, but would you ever dare get your diagnosis/operation at a government hospital? After numerous horrifying experiences and misdiagnoses, I have resorted to private health care and I only wish the Ministry of Health would stop sending people for summer vacations (aka 'check ups) in Europe and start hiring competent staff that don't request a 'was6a' for an MRI check up.
Now I realize that in the past it was a strategic decision for Kuwait to provide extravagant handouts to these countries so that they support our government and shut their traps on how rich we are. But now we no longer desperately need their political support since any threat they might impose ceases to exist what with dear ol' Uncle Sam to protect us (or oil prices to be exact).
This rant aside, I was quite disappointed with Mohammed Al-Khaledi's preposterous statement on government employees on a seperate article:
"More than 90 percent of the national workforce of 300,000 is employed in government jobs with higher pay and shorter working hours than in the private sector"
Excuse me? Where did you get 'higher' pay from? Enlighten me please.
And shorter working hours! Now that seems to be the popular rumour. When I signed my contract to work it stated that working hours are from 7:00 am- 3:00 pm. My friends in the private sector work from 8:00 am-4:00 pm. Its the exact same amount of hours. In the USA the typical schedule is from 9:00 am -5:00 pm, with a one hour lunch break! There is no shorter working hours!!!
There is however, something called 'as7ab siphone' which entails arriving 2 hours late, and leaving 2 hours early which is entirely dependent on the boss's carelessness, and apathy. Though such bosses might be prevalent in the government sector, it by no means pronounces or officially means that government jobs provide shorter working hours. It only means that you can get away with being mediocre.
posted by Closet Diva @ 9.4.06
18 comments
18 Comments:
If we must pay the Hamas goverment, we should tie to conditions like:
1) Apology from Hamas for celebrating in the streets when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq.
2) American style funding, meaning the funding goes to pay for Kuwait Business contracts and Kuwaiti shipments to the Palestinian territories rather than cold hard cash.
3) Public and formal acknowledgment of gratitude from the Palestinian goverment and people for all that Kuwait has done for the Palestinian cause and an apology and compensation for any falsehoods said about Kuwait.
There are more points, but those above would be a good start.
Don V,
It would be cool if we do the American style funding, but Hamas is expecting cold hard cash to pay for March salaries.
And the American style funding that involve construction contracts always end up benefiting one specific powerful kuwaiti company instead of a range of all kuwaiti businesses in general.
Oh and I am with you that we at least should have an apology before we even CONSIDER helping them out, but is that even gonna happen?
Why should we support saddams palestinian friends ?
Is this going to be a monthly handout to Hamas ?
Why should we pay someones else (we have 300,000 of our own)government employees ?
How does this benefit Kuwait ?
Hamas is one of saddam hussein biggest supporters they should ask his wife for a handout.
CD: I know american style funding would only benefit some Kuwaitis but at least we can track where the money goes rather than lining the pockets of the current PA leaders. As for Anon, I would like to volunteer Suha Arafat as a donor also in addition to Saddam's Wife, both Women have net worths in excess of 5 billion US$, so if $180 mil is enough for 1 month salary, then the widows' combined billions should keep the PA employees paid for a long long time.
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what with dear 'ol uncle Sam to protect us
Please correct me if I am wrong, but are you actually proud that as a sovereign nation, you are unable to protect yourselves? :( That is very sad, if that is actually the case. It makes me realize how fortunate I am to live in a nation that not only can defend itself, but also defend others, and give monetary assistance to those who need it. Alhamdulillah!
white silk,
Please be a little more realistic. Kuwait's population is less than a million, what kind of armies do you expect we can produce based on this figure?
I'm happy for you that you come from a country with a bigger population that is able a create a sophisticated defense system -but I don't envy you and never will! :P
I am VERY HAPPY and proud to be Kuwaitiya. Alf Alhamdillah.
I think the best thing is to fund ilHilal il'A7mar more to go and deliver the aid directly to the needy there. and screw apologies or gratitude, thats BS imho. If you give someone a hand and he slaps it away, does that reduce ethawab 3end Alla? only pushes it higher.
People there are living on the brink of survivability. Y3awroon ilgalb.
That is an excellent point, Closet Diva--I did not think of it from the numbers point of view. Thanks for pointing that out. Hahaha, I sometimes also don't envy me for living in this part of the world--having more by way of wealth and technology, etc. is sometimes a burden, as we are more accountable to Allah for how we handle his bounties, as we are all very aware.
I too am glad you are Kuwaitiya, coz reading about perspectives from another culture/civilization is always awesome and inspiring, and you have a gift for communicating your culture in a way that is truly gripping! How boring it would be if we were all the same. Thank you for sharing your spirit with the world--you are inspiring to all! Be proud n be loud, girl! :) Lots of love :)
CD, instead of paying those terrorists the government should be more generous with its own employees and should stop being too stingy about increasing our payrolls. After years of begging to get our salaries raised they finally agreed but with what and how much??? all this fuss just for a stupid 60-80 kd. inzain manabee salary raise we want better health care why should i have to spend at least 50-70 kd a month on private health care while the government clinic is right across my house. why cant they hire better teachers in government schools build better facilities for our children so i wont have to pay 2,000 kd anuually per child for tuition fees.
The money should go to improve two main sectors health and education and it definetely should NOT be Allocated to support a terrorist organizations
check my recent post re: palestine :)
"...start using our resources for Kuwait's own social programs, which seriously and painfully suck! Yes we do have free medical care, but would you ever dare get your diagnosis/operation at a government hospital?"
unfortunately some people don't have a choice.
The Educational system is in dissaray. The Health care system is dangerously underfunded (honestly it is!).
But people are short-sighted... they rather have a 200KD bonus for just waking up in the morning. It doesn't occur to them that if they were in a car accident ... no amount of was6a will save them. Sometimes bad luck strikes you unexpectedly.. and u may not have the time to sort out where u want to get treated. Heart attacks, prematurely delivered babies, strokes... are examples of things that you may have never planned for...
It is a shame that people suffer unnecessarily or die... when those 200 KD given to you by the government to buy yourself a new bag... could have been used to save many lives over.
excuse the rant,
Misguided
Are u sure you're arab? Are u muslim? Horde your fuckin oil dollars..because u know as Kuwaitis..u work sooo hard for your money. Have u heard of a city called Jerusalem, of someone called Mohammed (PBUH)? Do u know any history? Do u care? If u don't want to give your money to help the Palestinans..please don't. They don't need ingrates like u supporting them. Stick your money where the sun don't shine for all i care. When the fuck was kuwait created..and do u think the oil is their god-given gift? Fortunately i believe you're in the minority..as many Kuwaitis still consider themselves arabs and muslims. What u don't understand is that it is privelage to aid the palestinians..not a burden. I'm sure many in the Gulf spend the 80 million on booze and Russian prostiutes in about a month..much better ways to spent the money! Brighten Up!
heheh, anonymous LOL
thanks for making my day :)
Misguided,
Its nice to see you here :)
And feel free to rant as much as you want. Il bait baitik.
FS,
You have a point. But its not about them being ungrateful backstabbers, its about them being terrorists.
And its also about Kuwait needing the money to fix its own problems.
To anon
kuwait has helped the palestinian cause for the last 50 years.
The PLO was established in Kuwait.
The present leader of Hamas went to school in Kuwait.
Both of the above supported saddam hussein.
Concerning your comment on russian prostitutes and vodka how ironic russia has pledged to support hamas.
to anon #2,
pay no attention to the anonymous before u. His/her people will eagerly backstab and bad mouth anybody, including the very countries that support their government!
A few awkward moments in a police station in kuwait
Filed under: Front Page
Setting: A police station in Kuwait, sometime last week.
Characters: Ibrahim al Sabah, Police inspector; Mahmoud al-Zahar, Foreign Minister, Palestinian Authorityal Sabah: Salam alaikum.
al-Zahar: Salam alaikum.
al Sabah: What seems to be the problem?
al-Zahar: (Shifting around looking around nervously) As you know, I am a representative of an oppressed people, the Palestinians, suffering from a cruel occupier. You can’t possibly know what it’s like …
al Sabah: Actually, I can. Saddam claimed Kuwait as the 19th provnce of Iraq, and, if I remember correctly Yasser Arafat, your beloved leader supported Saddam.
al-Zahar: (turning a bit white, still shaking a bit nervously) Ah. Yes. But he was Fatah. We are Hamas. We’re different.
al Sabah: Of course you are. But enough pleasantries. Why have you come here?
al-Zahar: Well, while I’ve been visiting your fine country, a sum of money was stolen from my room.
al Sabah: How much?
al-Zahar: (in a hoarse whisper) 450.
al Sabah: Dinar?
al-Zahar: (in a quick hurried whisper) 450 thousand dollars.
al Sabah: That’s a lot of money. What form was it?
al-Zahar: Cash.
al Sabah: Cash?
al-Zahar: Small unmarked bills.
al Sabah: (smirks)
al-Zahar: (very nervously)Remember, I told you we’re nothing like Fatah.
al Sabah: (soothingly)Of course not.
al-Zahar: Look this is very embarrassing. I really can’t afford for this to get out. Can I count on your discretion?
al Sabah: Of course.
al-Zahar: Don’t forget, silence is important.
al Sabah: Of course, we don’t forget.
Technorati tags: satire, Hamas, Kuwait.
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