tackiness:
‘This is my chance to give something back,’ Mr. Alabbar said. ‘I represent the Dubai dream and now I’m going to show young people how to turn their dreams into reality. We have been set a marvelous example here in Dubai by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has shown that dreams – even the most visionary – can be turned into reality. Everyone in business in Dubai who has been a success can be said to have been his apprentice.
full release…
Yes I know it’s better than Big Brother, but still the height on tackiness. If they wanted to really “inspire” and create opportunities for their people, don’t you think they would have at least created some semblance of popular participation in governing the country, rather than be run by a single person who has been elevated wrongly to a position of God?
And they want to pay the winner $300k for the privilege of being a performing monkey for year? You can take your $300k and shove it where the sun don’t shine for all I care, and that goes for Mark Burnett and the pouty Donald (duck) Trump as well.
“represent the Dubai dream” my big toe. You were most probably there at the right time with the right ass to kiss. Don’t talk to me about equal opportunities and entrepreneurship.
Comments
The pinnacle of…
Mahmood, maybe you could meetup with the (duck) himself as he’ll be at the International Entrepreneurship Forum & Exhibition in Dubai in May. 😉
The pinnacle of…
Mahmood,
What is really pathetic about this whole issue is the fact that Dubai is trying to copy the whole concept of the American Dream, and at the same time, trying to fine-tweek it to fit their own “culture”. Dubai has lost its identity years ago, where the population is made up of nearly 90% plus foreigners. As a Bahraini, I know citizens of the U.A.E enjoy tremendous amounts of benefits that I can only dream of, but I really don’t give two shits if they have the tallest building in the world, or the biggest mall in the world, or the biggest ski resort in the world, or if the palm islands can be seen from space or whatever it is that they boast about.
I’m not a big F-1 fan, but I was more than excited when Bahrain was given the green light to host the first F-1 race in the Middle East, and Dubai was given the shaft. Bahrain is still home to the strongest financial center in the Gulf and it seems to be the only industry that can’t be penetrated or overtaken by any other country in the Gulf.
Although Bahrain is years behind in regards to media, maybe the expected break-up of the Ministry of Information will encourage the enormous task of having privatized television stations (with government regulations, of course).
And I don’t get what Al-Abbar is actually saying. “We have been set a marvelous example here in Dubai by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has shown that dreams – even the most visionary – can be turned into reality.” Yeah, no shit, anyone could do that if they ruled the f***ing country and the businesses that are situated in it. We have the same problem in Bahrain with the PM, but he doesn’t go around boasting about the uncompetitive advantage that he has over all the other businessmen. In my eyes, Dubai is a theme park that promises all the fun and excitment of a rollercoaster, but if you stay there too long, you’ll be throwing up by the end of the ride. Thats the real Dubai experience.
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See how skillfully and effortlessly mentioned HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and blah blah blah…
The pinnacle of…
a direct hit, right on…
The pinnacle of…
Although I agree that you are right in that equal opportunities and entrepreneurship aren’t exactly concepts our countries have grasped, I don’t agree that it’s tacky. Maybe this show will help boost equal opportunities? And although I would say “sigh, not Dubai again…” I would also say good for them too because Bahrain wouldn’t be able to host something like this yet. (They can host big brother because that’s just the house with a few kids in it, and Big Brother is the pinnacle of tackiness.)
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That’s not really what I object to. My objection is centred on even for this piece of crap ENTERTAINMENT, Shaikh Mohammed has to be given copious credit for. How much ass-kissing can we stand and take? I’m personally getting really sick of it.
It’s just entertainment for goodness’ sake, call it what it is. Don’t try to disguise it as yet another brownie point for Shaikh Mohammed. Although he’s the one who REALLY owns Emar (and just about everything else in Dubai) but give us a break, this is just sick.
Call it an entertainment show. It is being held in Dubai which I have no argument against at all as they not only have the necessary business to support it, but also the entertainment and broadcasting infrastructure, this is something that Bahrain is at least 15 years behind Dubai (heck it’s even behind Saudi at the moment!) so there is no way a show like this can be done in Bahrain.
They (Shaikh Mohammed, WLL) need another PR manager.
The pinnacle of…
No they get no brownie points because, again,- like Millionaire and Big Brother and Weakest Link, and “Superstars” (now thats a show that IS tacky with every sense of the word) – it’s a format show taken from other points. When orginal programming starts being shown on ME Tv sets then I’ll award them brownie points.
[Modified by: bilbo (bilbo) on January 29, 2005 11:55 AM]
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They like to tell you of the story of how the Japanese “copied” stuff before they got to “create” stuff and that we (the ME) are in the copying phase of our development… I don’t think we will EVER leave the “copying” phase as long as the first and foremost criteria of success is how well you kiss-ass.
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and how close they are to you in the family tree…..
The pinnacle of…
Sad real sad, another 10 years they will run out of “ideas”…I wonder what we will do then…till then, lets just enjoy DUBAI . 🙂
The pinnacle of…
“In my eyes, Dubai is a theme park that promises all the fun and excitment of a rollercoaster, but if you stay there too long, you’ll be throwing up by the end of the ride”[quote]
Now that’s the best thing I’ve read so far. Besides, when are we, Bahrainies, going to stop concentrating on what we don’t have and start appreciating what this country has done for us?!
you know I often find it amusing what John F. Kennedy once said ” Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country “.
Chew on that for a little bit.
The pinnacle of…
I totally agree with the comment that Duabi had lost its identity years ago .. and that it is turning into a fun park with no soul and eventually a real taste!.
Bahrain has a much better chance to structure its own future… why?
Coz Bahrain has the most important element in any real development plan .. PEOPLE!.
Among all Gulf countries and most of Arab and Middle East countries, Bahrainis are the most educated and (compared to the rest) are more mature and aware.. All what your country needs is the moment where the Govt. realize that its success and continouty is only and only dependent on a better and closer relationship with its own PEOPLE!.
Love Bahrain : )
from the other side of the (hated) causeway
The pinnacle of…
Hello,
I just want to ask something aobut the culture/customs in your country. I’ve heard that there are countries in the MIddle East where the men hold hands and kiss as a sign of friendship and nothing more. In such an article, your counrtrry was mentioend. I’ve even heard that in some of these countries, men kiss on the lips as a sign of friendship and NITHING MORE. Althougth the aricle didn’t mention kissing on the lips, I just wonder if men gret as freinds like this in your country? I think it’s so beautiful that men can and do greet like this in some middle east countires.
He’s a web address that shows two Arab men doing this, I believe only as a greeting of friendsihp. Can you tell by looking what cuntry they might be from?
http://www.betar.co.uk/articles/pictures/arab_men_kissing.jpg By that I mean can you tell what country they’re from since one man has his mars around the other man’s nake and the other man isn’t hugging him back, but is standing there letting him kiss him on ht elips.