Comments on: Equitable solutions

By: Global Voices Online » Bahrain: Reactions after the riots and arrests

Global Voices Online » Bahrain: Reactions after the riots and arrests — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 06:05:43 +0000

[...] for a change Mahmood wants the country to move on: There seems to be no end in sight. Each side is steadfast in their [...]

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By: Capt. Arab

Capt. Arab — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:34:31 +0000

Our main problem, or specifically with all Arabs is the patience factor. Nobody likes to wait, and unfortunately a large majority of Bahrain have this understanding that Bahrain has to/will transform at the speed of light.
That will not happen, mainly because we have not changed our thinking process. Ask anybody what democracy is to them, and it should paint the bigger picture. Think about how long it took other governments to transform to a transparent stage, with all cards on the table? The last 7 years definately signal improvement, change, etc… But like the lady said… If we still whispher our discontent, nobody will hear us. Change requires people to be forward thinkers, ready to adapt to change, ready to experiement and learn from those hurdles and pot holes. That’s goes for the pople and the Government. Unfortunately, most Bahraini’s just want, want, want… Only a few are prepared to give. They mumble and talk about foreign workers taking jobs, but Have we really tried hard enough? Or have we stopped at the first hurdle and made our decison? Something, Roosevelt said which I remember from my school days: “Ask not what your country can do for you, But what you can do for your country”… Not everything works out for me the way I want it to, but I don’t give up at the first fall, and eventually I make the best out of what is available on hand. It may be the next generation that sees real radical change, where a citizen is considered a customer of the Government ministry he has dealings with, with SLA’s (service level agreements), courtesy and above all that “priceless” majestic feeling of belonging to a country called Bahrain. We should all work together, educate our young, have patience and learn from our mistakes, and never be afraid to admit our short-falls and flops. Only then will change ultimately happen and flourish to the true meaning of the word. Just blocking the proposed Martyrs Day just causes contention and want-not situations every year, on the other hand violence, rioting and damaging public property where the true innocent are jailed is not fair. As a Bahraini I have my local Councillor, MP, Parliamnet, and other Political Associations to raise my concerns… Causing choas serves nobody, not in the short or long run.. It just causes additional delay, and out of the 10 steps we took forward, trust me… We have just taken 6 steps back.

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By: J

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 23:08:12 +0000

Sadek!

sorry you have perceived and “sensed” all of those unholy virtues and vices within me from that simple reply!

I have most respect for the foreign worker here in bahrain whether they are indian or indonesian..

fact is that they are hard working people striving to make a living for their families back home.

however i wanted to criticize the bad conditions and low payment they have here in bahrain which is a fact. they are inhumane conditions. this gives them an advantage over bahrainis.

bahrainis work in all of the fields that foreign workers are brought for and the fact is that they do want to work if they get the chance and the proper conditions.

why is there less bahraini construction workers than indians.. because the contractors dont want bahraninis!

i am not blaming the indians for wanting to make a living.. if you see the poverty they come from you will understand how they can accept such humiliating work here in bahrain.. they dont go back as maharajas yes i was exaggerating..but they can support their families is what i’m saying.. bahrainis cant!

in fact i remember one of them who’s desperation brought them here in bahrain to support their family and to save enough money to go back home and then get in to university there! you can not but bow down in respect for such people.

however still the blame i am putting is on the system and the fact is that lower class bahrainis are at a disadvantage because of it. anyone who claims that bahrainis are lazy and dont want to work probably has a good cushy job and doesn’t do enough work himself and think the rest are like him.. if they would come out from their air conditioned offices and go around bahrain a bit maybe theyll see the fisherman, the farmer, the constructor, the garbage collector… look closely.. their very dark skin i not always indian..it bahraini skin darkened by bahrains hot sun..

in fact i remember a bahranini who worked for decades as a garbage collector.. i would sometimes look through the window at 5am and see him bending over picking each piece of snotty tissue or chewing gum he can find.. unfortunately i dont see him anymore.. not because he is lazy..not because he doesn’t like to work.. but because at age 70 the sun has weakened his eyes and now he is practically blind.. now crippled in his house with no pension his children take on his legacy of hard work until the end snd supprot him and this country in whatever possible way they can.

May God help them and all the poor people around the world for a batter life.

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By: Sadek

Sadek — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:52:49 +0000

J seems to have a common Arab problem, blame somebody else for one’s problems. In this case the Indians, forgetting that they are the ones that build our roads, clean our streets, collect our rubbish, and just about do anything that we are so averse to doing. This crap of them going back like Maharajas is contemptuous to say the least. As for his comment on the Merchants, am I sensing in J a budding Marxian, who likes to blame the capitalist, but putting his head in the sand in not realising that to run a business the need for productivity, or lack of it, unlike the government, is a necessity.

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By: The Joker

The Joker — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:11:42 +0000

How is branding bahrain going, guys?

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By: Bahraini

Bahraini — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:58:18 +0000

The issue here is that “the country did not recognize the sacrifices of its citizens.” What sacrifices are you talking about?! The crowd that wanted to “recognize the sacrifices of its citizens” are sadly not even citizens. Its hard to label such people as citizens, when they intentionally go out on a particular day-national day.
They have no sense of citizenship, they weren’t even recognizing the sacrifices they claim to be doing. They went out on the streets intentionally to RIOT; burning, throwing bricks, stealing weapons. What are they trying to get at?!
Those days were to be celebrated for eid, but were spent more like we were in Iraq or Palestine. If those people are born to be such hooligans then why don’t they just move. We want a united country, of peace. People fear the safety of their children.
But sadly the country has dealt lightly with such matters. If this were the States or the UK, they would not have allowed such nonsense. This is not a demonstration, its an act of violence and the country must put these people in line. There is a difference between demonstration and what was done a few days ago.

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By: J

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:20:49 +0000

because the indian worker is a poor single man who can live on a piece of bread and an onion for 10 years in bahrain..sends most of the money back home and return after those 10 years as a maharaja!

Asians are cheep labor and can work in inhumane conditions and they accept it..IT IS basically serfdom in the modern world.

it is good for them to come for a few years..eat shit..make a fortune..and go back..

unfortunalty the BAHRAINI YOUTH (and the old) cant send their money anywhere to become mahrajas (not to mention he rising inflation here) and obvioulsy wont accept been treated like shit.

it is also stupid shortsighted MERCHANTS who keep feeding the demand for this slave industry.. some only hire bahrainis to get more quota to bring in more “slaves” from he east.

SAD!

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By: I

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:48:51 +0000

It really is a shame to think how inactive the youth of today has become.

In the 1960′s and 70′s all the maintenance at BAPCO was done by Bahrainis. No Indians or Filipinos at all. The carpentry, plumbing and electrics. All maintained by Bahrainis.

Now look at it. Where has the work ethic gone ? If it was good enough for the fathers and grandfathers, why not the youth of today ?

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By: Sadek

Sadek — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:22:03 +0000

The last three contributions are so valid. There is a malaise in the system: on the surface, the concept of a continous holiday, minimal work and let somebody “take care of me” has become so embedded in our system that it has become scary.But more deply throw in sectoral tensions, a dysfunctional parliament, eductational system, corruption of many forms and you have an incredible recipe of stasis.

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By: glideslope

glideslope — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:07:17 +0000

everyday problem that I have seen here in my nine years training Bahraini individuals in aircraft maintenance.

1. Poor english skills.
2. General overall malaise.
3. Mobile phone addiction.
4. I need a jazzaa.

They ask me why they bring more foriegn mechanics here and pay them more and give them benefits; I tell them they need A/C to fly not sit on the ground. It amazes me people in this country even wonder why there are so many foriegn workers here, most important aspect they are reliable. Go to any small buisness say Ammar store in sitra you will see what I am talking about; large buisness any bahraini indiviual with a basic mechanical training could be working there but you see none the money guy is an indian, yet you have many finance graduates on the dool sitting at home.
All you here in Bahrain is college graduates; what about trades technical skills, plumbers,electricians,A/C mechanics,carpenters. I went to Yateem A/C a few years back 25 foriegners making all of the ducts from scratch a semi-skilled sheet-metal job and not one Bahraini bending tin, this is a big shame. Any person who has studied basic sociology knows that a large number of unemployed youth especially angry or disenfranchised will eventually boil over and lead to forms of anarchy some of which you can witness as we speak. The sad fact of the matter is this is capatilist driven economy, nothing else.

Silent observer

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