Mahmood's Den

In a world where it is so easy to get confused, misled and misunderstood, it’s extremely important to create a level of understanding and unity through alternative or inventive means.

As Bahrain was rocked recently by shocking and most curious controversy, it is only appropriate to counter it with an even and balanced stance, one that truly takes away the mysticism caused by the situation and reinforces an important element within our community. Undeniably, the power of the Internet today is simply too great to ignore.

All over the world it is being utilised for many purposes and on many levels.

Over the past few years many powerful and influential campaigns have been born online and have gone further to achieve great things, influencing public opinion and supporting noble and fundamentally significant causes. The trick is to generate enough interest and buzz and make enough people “talk” about it so that eventually everybody else notices it.

From then on, it will gain enough momentum to grow further, develop and reach a wider population.

There are too many of them to mention and I’m sure you have come across one or two yourself, while surfing the net. Bahrain finally has one such campaign, the potential of which is not only great, but very, very important. Not two weeks ago, Mahmood Al Yousif, Bahrain’s most renowned blogger (www.mahmood.tv) has launched an exciting and timely campaign in response to the recent developments in the country, using his own blog (online diary/journal). The JUST BAHRAINI campaign is one aimed at bringing the Bahraini people together, regardless of ethnicity or religious background. It is more of a unified stand than a political statement. In fact, it has nothing to do with politics. It simply promotes the idea of a united nation, of a country with proud citizens.

Hopefully, this will be the start of a new generation of campaigns in Bahrain, ones that focus on raising public awareness rather than anything else, by using inventive and unique methods. The JUST BAHRAINI campaign is gaining momentum, with the idea already beginning to expand and reach out to more people.

There’s the website (www.justbahraini.org), the buttons, and soon enough, the T-shirts, wrist-bands, baseball caps and bumper stickers – the sky is the limit, as they say. In addition to its value and purpose, the campaign is promoting cultural understanding and creativity. We are witnessing something being transformed from the cyber world onto the real world and admittedly having an impact, using the creativity of the online community.

The way Mr Al Yousif is promoting this idea – to have the public as much involved as they feel comfortable with – is encouraging more people to join in. As if that wasn’t all enough, the campaign title in its own right stands as a cultural statement.

I could see it easily catching on as a “catch” phrase amongst the youth of today and becoming the eulogy of our generation. I have always felt uneasy at the question “Are you Shia, or Sunni?” as if it were a test of character, or as if my personality will be judged by the answer I give.

I’ve always felt it is too personal a question, especially to ask a stranger you meet for the first time!

It’s a question every Bahraini is too familiar with. We face it probably from the very first day at school and it goes with us all through our lives. In fact, just as recently as last month, I was faced with it again.

During one of my book signings, a gentleman dressed in traditional attire approached me and asked that very question.

To which I replied, with a smile, “I’m Bahraini, just Bahraini!”
Ali Al-Saeed :: GDN :: 24 Oct, ’06