Just Bahraini in the news

Just Bahraini in the news

Just Bahraini in the news, originally uploaded by malyousif.



This appeared in today’s Al-Ayam newspaper on the back page! Now we need more exposure in the news, so if you have any contacts go ahead and use them.. if you can write articles, do so and send them to the editors…

Al-Ayam

Comments

  1. Sadek

    Mo
    Keep it up. Lets see if our other newspapers will be as enlightened as Al Ayam. 🙂

  2. Darth

    I just saw someone with a Badge at work today, …. this is spreading well…Are you still collecting money for it???

  3. The Joker

    I don’t want to become all “lawyer”y and technical here, but mahmood I think this movement should be patented and copyrighted as soon as possible.

    You don’t want the wrong kind of people (EX-Parliment Members, guest stars on Bandargate, potential debutants on bandargate, etc) jumping on the wagon.

    I reckon since this idea is picking up very well, some people want to use it if only for the association, or to hedge their ass.

  4. Seroo

    Well, “The Joker”, not to be all “lawyer”y on you, I think things are fine for now.

    Copyright laws clearly state that if something is original, recorded, has had some effort put into it and is an artistic work, then copyright laws will protect it for a certain extent. Not to mention the movement has been recorded on this blog with many-a-supportive witnesses, I don’t think there would be a problem identifying who the “owner” of this “work” is.

    You shouldn’t be worried about so-called Bandwagon jumpers – this is a movement and not a marketing scam – attention and awareness is the most important thing at the moment. Of course, Mahmood should consider next steps as to keeping his work safe under his name, and I don’t think that should be a problem.

    There are many real lawyers in Bahrain, I’m sure 🙂

  5. mahmood

    Actually I’m not concerned at all, and state unequivocally here that this work is public domain, if you or anyone else would like to use it to produce their own t-shirts, etc, please do so. My request is to release the resultant goods for free to the public.

    My intention is not to make money of it, but rather to spread the “One People” message, the One Bahrain and anti-sectarianism. Therefore, as it is a non-exclusive entity, the more people use it the more good and the more awareness it will make.

  6. Anonymous

    I suppose It’s because this whole new campaign originated on an online blog, therefor seen by a few old farts as a “youth movement”.

    Something else I’ve just spotted! =P
    Was the girl’s low neck top photoshopped in order for it to be able to go into print? If you look at her picture on the Just Bahraini flickr group she’s got more skin showing! 😆

    Anyways – It’s irrelevant. It was just an observation.

  7. The Joker

    Seroo you’re absolutely right. I don’t mean compensation, licensing, merchandising ma dri shino…

    I mean elections are coming up in a month.. I think if mahmood protects his slogan “bas ba7raini,” he might stop hypocrits from using it unfairly.

    Hypocrits i.e. beards that chant with their hands over their hearts about unity and resolution during elections and pick up cheques from the establishment later on.

    But now that you briefed me on copyright laws, I stand corrected.

  8. Chimi^

    I really hope this will have a REALLY BIG impact on Bahrain.

    I’ve always told people “doesn’t matter what sect you are, etc etc” but obviously – one person won’t make a change.

    Especially a 16 year old still in school :P.

    Best of luck Mahmood.

    I’m trying my best to spread it’s news in my family/friends.

  9. can we talk now

    brilliant,
    I wish i was in Bahrain now so I can wear my button everywhere with pride..
    power to you all guys, may we grow in number

  10. Ibn

    Was the girl’s low neck top photoshopped in order for it to be able to go into print? If you look at her picture on the Just Bahraini flickr group she’s got more skin showing!

    …. Damn! I think you’re right Anon! I hadnt noticed that – wow. That bad eh? 🙄

    -Ibn

  11. amal

    Was the girl’s low neck top photoshopped in order for it to be able to go into print? If you look at her picture on the Just Bahraini flickr group she’s got more skin showing!

    …. Damn! I think you’re right Anon! I hadnt noticed that – wow. That bad eh? roll

    -Ibn

    err.. they actually put the whole picture on the website.. i think it’s been photoshopped because of the printing space..

    i’d chop their hands if they mess with my picture
    =D

  12. Ibn

    Amal,

    I dont think its space – if you look at your..errm…cleavage area on the flickr, VS that of the paper, the paper seems to have covered up your cleavage more than the actual photo does.

    …not that Ive been studying your cleavage all night… ..im just saying … =P

    -Ibn

  13. Hussain

    i came here for that specific reason .. how about when the site is up and running fully we take up donations to put ads in the major local papers .. it would be simple, the round logo and underneath it the site’s address

  14. Anonymous

    “…not that Ive been studying your cleavage all night…”

    Well I have been obviously, because I spotted it! 😆
    Amal was photoshopped! If you look at her original picture on flickr that Mahmood uploaded, you’ll see that she’s wearing a single piece top. Anyways, It’s quite obvious. The people @ Al-Ayam must have used the ‘clone’ tool to extend the pattern & conseal some of her chest.

    I think I’ll stay Anon for this post. =D

  15. amal

    Okay, that’s enough now, leave my cleavage alone..

    Hussain, totally agree with you, we do need to place ads in the local papers..

  16. H

    As for exploiting the slogan, I think it is highly probable that some twat would hijack it as it would be their ticket to the parliament. Come to think of it, it could be exploited and even misunderstood in many ways.

    The idea is great and even it extends to a small community, we’d be lucky to be one of. The effort is (I hope) there, and it would be only a matter of time for it to gain people’s instrest and support.

    However, I think it would be a good idea to come up with a clear, however minor, missionary statement.

  17. Ibn

    Good idea Amal! 😀

    Hussain, thats also a great idea – I dont know if Mahmood would like his website on there, but I think this will be a good time for at least someone in Bahrain to start up a website/blog for all liberals in the area.

    -Ibn

  18. Another H

    Just a word of caution about advertising in newspapers – its expensive and might not necessarily be that effective especially at this stage. Advertising by definition has been paid for, and then readers always ask the question ‘by whom?’ With a grass roots campaign like this its better to try to use blogs and get bona fide press coverage through speaking directly with journalists.

    Btw, Amal, like the poetry – that’s passionate stuff!

  19. Thogba

    This is a good move. I think showing only the flag of Bahrain is enough because showing the girl here may make people think this is a jewelry selling advertisment!

  20. mahmood

    okay, then take a picture of you wearing one, or putting it in what “you” think is an appropriate situation and then upload the picture to the group. we’re talking tolerance which means that we have to respect everyone’s view, so go ahead and show us yours.

  21. Samar

    It is really a brilliant idea, i think and hope from my heart that it will have a positive effect.

  22. Anonymous

    Mahmood you should be very proud.

    your not only known in bahrain anymore…

    gulf news (emirati newspaper) has your story.

    Blogger aims to bridge growing sectarian rift
    http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10074643.html
    10/13/2006 10:50 PM |

    Manama: A Bahraini blogger has launched a campaign to resist and reverse the emerging divide between Sunnis and Shiites in Bahrain.

    The ‘No Shiite, No Sunni, Just Bahraini’ campaign was started a few weeks before the municipal and parliamentary elections which many observers fear will be held on a sectarian platform.

    “We are at a historic crossroads. We either eliminate this repugnant sectarianism or it will burn us all. Let us work together because we cannot be free if we do not stand united and we cannot live happily if we are not together. We are one people with one heart and one history,” said Mahmoud Al Yousuf, one of Bahrain’s best-known bloggers.

    “Sectarianism will only sever ties between the sons and daughters of Bahrain. Say neither Sunni nor Shiite, but Bahraini.”

    Al Yousuf, a Shiite, said that Bahrainis were united in the 1920s, 1950s and 1990s, “without these over-the-edge sectarian tones”, but the country has over the last few years split squarely along sectarian lines.

    “There must have been an event, deliberate or haphazard, that started these sectarian flights of fancy and pitting one against the other. I do not know who started it, but we are all accomplices in it. We do it blindly now. The very first thing that goes into our head when we meet someone is deciding whether the person is Shiite or Sunni, whether they are with us or against us, if he is from us or belongs to them. When we plan to marry, rather than asking ourselves whether we can make a good home with the other person, we ask whether they are from the right sect,” he wrote in his blog.

    http://gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10074643.html

  23. Publia

    Looking on from American, this is one great campaign! And sure can’t hurt with the “beautiful people” wearing the button–on the back page of the paper, no less. Hats off to you, Mahmood!

  24. Costa-guy

    mahmood

    okay, then take a picture of you wearing one, or putting it in what “you” think is an appropriate situation and then upload the picture to the group. we’re talking tolerance which means that we have to respect everyone’s view, so go ahead and show us yours.

    dude.. where’s the tolerance you were talking about?

    well, i think “thogba” was right.. in fact, from my point of view, i think the timing of the campaign is not right judging by the fact that it’s an election time, i.e. it’s all about طائفية =D and for me i didnt bother about the girl’s photo but i couldnt help hearing people discussing it and saying quote ” they didnt need to put the photo of the whole girl, they should’ve stuck to the badge or concentrated on the badge! ” and although the neckless she was wearing was a neckless for (girl’s power) thing, people interpreted it as a “Cross” 🙄 so i also heard quote “no sunni no shii, just christians”

    i’m just telling you what i heard, you dont have to come back attacking me =P

    anyway, regardless of those people’s sarcastic comments.. Nice idea and nice campaign but as any other campaign, goals should be clear and the timing & intellegence is essential.

    what do you i mean by intellegence?

    1- A campaign like this during an election month will definitly be interpreted as a slogan for one of the upcoming election campaigns, thus; people will definitly ignore it as if it is a lie.

    2- I know what you meant by tolerance, but to reach your goals in your campaign you should reach to the hearts of people, no matter how tolerent you were or intolernt people were, but a photo like that for the Bahraini people during Ramadan??? 🙄 You could’ve been smarter. Although i didnt see anything wrong with the “censored” edition.

    sorry for the long reply but i was just passing by searching for something at 5 a.m and entered your site and read the article 😆

  25. mahmood

    thanks Costa Guy, I appreciate your guidance.

    and you can’t please all the people all the time I guess, though we’ll battle on with sincerity and hope for the best.

  26. Ibn

    ” and although the neckless she was wearing was a neckless for (girl’s power) thing, people interpreted it as a “Cross” roll so i also heard quote “no sunni no shii, just christians”

    Typical conflabulation of the truth by conspiracy theorists. And I bet no one actually took the time to look at the freaking necklace before making that statements.

    That necklace is the symbol of the planet Venus, as well as the symbol for “female” (in, I think, some old greek culture). If someone cant tell the difference between a cross and a circle with an arrow sticking out of it, they are idiots, but less so than the people that actually believe them.

    -Ibn

  27. jasra jedi

    costa-guy ..

    i may be missing something, but please explain to me why this picture is inappropriate during ramadan please?

  28. unJane

    Mahmood – I’m SO proud of your accomplishments. When I saw your blog mentioned in today’s Gulf News, I told my husband “that’s my favorite Bahraini guy I’ve mentioned before”. May your movement continue to grow and gather speed. Good luck! =D

  29. mahmood

    unJane thanks very much and your prayers (and ours) are on the way to being answered.. I’ve just been informed that another “bandargatewebsite has been launched specifically to track all that needs to be tracked about this issue, AND a petition to the king to form an investigative committee has been initiated too!

  30. Lorena

    Ya Mahmood! Im very very very very PROUD of you! I smile when I read the news! 🙂 Im glad and happy that you are making revolution! heheheh 😉

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