The GDN this morning carried a piece stating that 8 women will be contesting the parliamentary and municipal elections in Bahrain in 2010. I hope they all get in. I’m convinced that they will do a much better job than the current crop of MPs and councillors whose vision, for the most part, is to turn this country into another Afghanistan, Iran or another flavour of religious/sectarian extremism.
The question is, though, will my compatriots who chose these bozos actually change their minds now and select their representative based on criteria other than chauvinism and sectarianism?
I’m not too sure, people who elect to have someone like Saidi not only represent them, but allow him to actually dictate the country’s agenda – Yemen is only one example – will probably require a generational change to get them to alter their behaviour, precepts and allay their unreasonable fears.
However, being an eternal optimist, I am glad that a woman is contesting that seat. Ms. Amal Shereeda, according bahrain2010.com is a retired banker with 25 years of experience in banking and business management and apparently supported by the Supreme Council for Women. For parliament, she might be the ideal person to replace 8 years of sectarian under-dealing and the spread of hatred and strife throughout the community. We are much more in need of professionals to run for parliament and get engaged in actively helping our country progress, rather than someone who wears political religiosity as a vehicle for self aggrandisement and practical sedition.
I am just as glad that another lady is contesting the seat of Khalifa Al-Dhahrani the two-timer. Presided over parliament for two terms is frankly long enough. I think it’s time for him to also start walking, and it would be a sweet thing if Lateefa Al-Bunoatha – the manager of planning and projects in the Ministry of Education – helps him on his merry way.
Will all this be a pipe dream? Will the powers that be create seats in outlying islands to ensure that women are adequately represented in parliament? I don’t know. What I do know; however, is that there is a dire need for change in this country. People more than ever are pessimistic, and while that pessimism cannot exclusively be attributed to the parliament, their shenanigans certainly aid and abet that destructive feeling.
Yalla. It’s time for change. And change is in our hands!
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I completely agree with you Mahmood that changed is needed desperately for this country, especially with all the significant issues currently facing us. The previous parliamentarians, for the most part, proved to be useless and nothing more than religious extremists ready to destroy this country by jabbering through their idiotic fatwas.
I have to tell you though that, at the same time, the Gov’t here has not given parliament it’s due authority regardless of the constitution’s dictation in this regard, so I do sympathise somewhat with some of them, who are always blamed for doing nothing, which is not entirely true.
Anyways, I have no affiliation to any of them, but I do believe in democracy, and choosing our future leaders is the ONLY way for future progress and prosperity for all Bahrainis. Hopefully, as you have said, this time some positive change will come along our way, since Bahrainis are more aware of the need for it for the good of this nation!
Very well written. You bring us all hope with your powerful words.
I don’t want to be a negative nancy, but what makes you think that a woman in the parliament would change anything? I’m pretty sure it will be something out of the norm, but it sure as hell won’t change the situation one bit.
I don’t want to start pointing fingers at anyone, but lets just say that putting one good apple in a box of rotten apples won’t work the same way as putting a rotten apple in a box of good apples.
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I don’t think they can do any worse!
One hopes that professional women of the calibre of those who have confirmed their candidacy so far, would at least bicker less, gossip less and work more than the esteemed members we currently have in parliament.