I don’t have much to add about the situation in Bahrain with the first anniversary of the Bahraini Spring just three days away other than to reiterate that there still is no honest attempt to find a solution and get us on the path of reconciliation.
The general “wisdom” seems to be to crush the spirit of protests and demands for a better and more equitable future. Well, that ain’t gonna happen. So better take that fact on board, comprehend it, understand it, embrace it and think of what’s best for this country, rather than just a few individuals.
Like everyone else, I’m fed up of this situation too, but I’ll be damned if I would simply give up my rights for a better future and to be treated as an equal human being.
Deal with it.
On the 14th of February 2012, I shall be remembering and honoring the martyrs of this country who sacrificed their very lives in order for us all to have a better life.
They shall never be forgotten.
Comments
Well said, Mahmood. The forces of reaction (we all know who they are, but I’ll refrain from mentioning them here) have badly miscalculated.
This won’t go away no matter how much repression, no matter more livefire, no matter “union”. The only solution is a genuine, externally verifiable change.
There’s a real role here for international intervention, but before this happens there’s a big struggle to raise decision-makers consciousness about what’s really happening in Bahrain.
My whole family is off to the London demonstration today.
Nothing will or needs to change. There are many other examples that demonstrate that your so called rights and democracy as a whole are overrated. What the Bahraini people need to realize is that their future is tied to making Bahrain as a whole successful as an economic hub, a business friendly, and internationally open nation. You can eat democracy and it certainly doesnt guarantee erasing poverty.
Dignity doesnt come in meal size. But money in your pocket does. Look at Singapore, small nation, no democracy, but thriving economy and enviable standard of living. Leave power to those who have it, focus on building your country, your lives and making money. Because at the end of the day, nothing else matters. How much money you have will determine what education your kids have, what kind of home you live in, and where you shop and have great vacations. Instead blaming the government for all your ills and how you cannot live a day without hand outs and social welfare, get off your backsides and innovate, produce, create, and do something useful.
Imagine if the Bahraini people channelled the same amount of vigor and energy that they have done into protesting and violent (and vile) confrontation with the police, into business and innovation. Imagine, but for that to become a reality, some turban wearing dude has to say it is true. Until then democracy is better… yum yum.. make sure you put some salt on that…
>>Imagine if the Bahraini people channelled the same amount of vigor and energy that they have done into protesting and violent (and vile) confrontation with the police, into business and innovation
Presumably you have then? Any Nobel prizes or IPOs to your name yet, or are you still working on chasing girls in Bukuwwarah?
like everything is good and the only thing we need is the economic to be improved, so there is more cash in the country so every Bahraini will enjoy the welfare !! I wish its this way! but it isn’t the regime is deeply corrupted and those who are enjoying the welfare is very limited people.
Fahad, fair point that you can’t eat democracy, and that Singapore is a success.
However, Lee Kuan Yew’s government made sure that all the people of Singapore benefited from economic development; not just hundreds of his own relatives and allied families, who became billionaires and multi-millionaires. Similarly, Lee Kwan Yew’s entire extended family are not above the law, do not all receive automatic preference for high profile jobs, and do not personally own 75% of the land and 95% of the coastline of Singapore. And Lee Kwan Yew did not import thousands of uneducated foreign mercenaries to enforce the above.
I agree that there is a case to be made for benevolent dictatorship. But is has to be benevolent.
As a retired person who spent 20+ years working for the Bahrain government I agree with you 100% you hit it dead on. I have seen many hundeds of Bahraini youth mainly Shia who could not serve there own country in the Royal bahraini air force, while they would see 50 plus % of those technicians be over 50 year old retired pakastanis. I ask anybody who say the youth of Bahrain have every opprotunity to serve explain this to me and how would you feel in your country if you were denied this right to defend your country. I could not even fathim this happening in my country but it is the norm in Bahrain.
Fahad,
so, you think nothing will or needs to change.
Are you therefore saying that if we continue with the status quo exactly as is, Bahrain will be thriving commercially and become the kind of place the 2030 plan envisages ?
How ?
This is probably one of the best articles I have read about Bahrain. It puts the current uprising within the context of Bahrain’s decades-long history of political movements: http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/4363/political-movements-in-bahrain_past-present-and-fu
So, one year on – and to me it looks like a future scenario similar to Palestine is not too far fetched at all.
The lockdown seemed to have been quite effective, and the outside world not too concerned with how it was achieved.
Could it be that this kind of thing will become the norm..?
Don’t wana Add much it was a well written article as always Mahmoud .
To Fahad money isn’t everything ! Besides I believe Bahraini people proved thier innovations plans , banner , poetry , websites to support thier revolutions ! Even clips editing ! People are innovative and smart However out government are not fostering thier innovation!
Amal, people are not only innovative, also incredibly brave and resilient.
I can not begin to imagine how people are living through a year of daily repression – and with it now flaring up so brutally once again. And yet, many still have the courage to make their voices heard, to go out there.
Still there is creativity. Still there are new ideas. Still, there is hope, where so much has been done to try and stamp it out.
The past days have shown so much cruelty and brutality again – and from the ground it must feel like a desperate, futile struggle against an almighty giant with limitless means and power.
And yet, people do not give up. People continue to march towards the roundabout. Call them stupid for going up against impossible odds, and odds that they get hurt, or worse — but these are people who believe in something and let no force stop them. How many of us would be that brave ?
Women protest, people protest daily, – even though they get teargassed for even raising a voice.
I don’t know if I would have that strength and courage.
I wonder how creative, innovative and resilient someone like Fahad would be if they had to trade lives with someone from one of the villages, for even a month.
Fahad,
Lets say that you’re right. But whats the solution to monopolizing those resources by only a share of the population that may be even less than 1%? Have you heard of the twin towers costing only 1 BD? Would they except to sell it if I offered 500 BD in cash???