If you guys did not find it offending well I certainly have and I for one am not going to keep quiet about it.
Here is the article which was published under the name “Affluent Qataris Seek What Money Cannot Buy” by Michael Slackman -> Click here to read Article
I recommend that you read the article first before reading my response to understand the whole idea of why I actually took time off my study schedule to write this
He begins his article by painting a picture to the reader of how “all Qataris” are just so well off and have the best lifestyle by saying
“Citizens of Qatar appear to have it made. They tend to drive big cars, live in big houses and get big loans to pay for big watches and an outsize lifestyle. They have an army of laborers from the developing world to build a sparkling skyline and to work whatever jobs they feel are beneath them. And their nation has enough oil and gas to keep the good times rolling for decades.”
Then he simply asks “So why do so many people here seem so angry?”
1. We’re angry because you speak without enough proof, for example he quotes people speaking against Qatar without any proof to things he says like this
“Qataris are very spoiled,” said Mohammed Saffarini, a non-Qatari Arab who serves as research director for health science at Qatar’s Science and Technology Park. “They are only valuable in this cultural and political context,” he added, contending that Qataris often lacked the skills, education and qualifications to be competitive in many other economies.”
“Qataris are very spoiled” he said. You can’t say all Qataris are spoiled, remember Mister Mohammed Saffarini you’re talking about 15 % the population here, I’d agree with you if you said some are spoiled which could be like 5% but aren’t there spoiled people in every country?
Isn’t that human nature? If you’re going to start talking about spoiled people then you’re actually talking about 25% of the world population, I bet there are people who are very spoiled from your own country as well.
Secondly, HOW DARE YOU SAY
“They are only valuable in this cultural and political context,” he added, contending that Qataris often lacked the skills, education and qualifications to be competitive in many other economies.”
M.S. has no right what-so-ever to say “Qataris” does he have any proof that all Qataris lack skills other than cultural and political!
Did he not meet Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham Vice President for Research in the department of civil and architectural engineering in Qatar University?
Did he not hear of Hamad Bin Salman Al-Thani a Qatari Artist who can paint/picture you better than any professional camera can ever?
Did he not meet the young Qatari Student Eman Saleh Al-Shmari who won many prizes ranging from 1st to 2nd place in many articles about identity and health matters?
What M.S. said is highly offensive to many creative and talented Qataris. I listed the ones I know personally and I bet there are hundreds of Qataris out there with many other kinds of creative and amazing talents and skills
2. The writer then talks about Qatar’s world class reputation in international relations, art and higher education and brings in Dr.Momtaz Wassef response saying
“It’s all a sham; it’s all a veneer,” said Dr. Momtaz Wassef, who was recruited from the United States to serve as the director of biomedical research for the Supreme Council of Health. Now he says he is disillusioned with Qatar and is planning to leave. “They never admit they make a mistake,” he said. “They only say they are the best in the world.”
Dr. Wassef’s wife asked that he not be quoted until he left Qatar, but Dr. Wassef would have none of it. “I don’t give a hoot,” he said, clapping his hands together for emphasis.”
So basically, He is saying that everything you see about Qatar in the educational, art and international relation is an illusion?
Well excuse me Dr. Momtaz Wassef have you not been in Education City yet?
Have you not seen the many schools recently built giving free education to Qatari’s and Non-Qatari’s all together with all the best and high-tech resources all for Qatari’s and Non?
Qatar is doing its best in giving everyone the best education they can by building the best school and teaming up with the best universities in the world and if they cannot do it here, they offer scholarships out of Qatar as well which is fully financed and give monthly allowances, so tell me who does that?
Next on the list is International Relation, I have a question for Dr. Momtaz Wassef,
Do you have a T.V. at home? Do you read the news papers? Do you take part in any political conversations? If so, I`m sure you’ve heard about the war in Lebanon 2007!
Qatar was the first country to jump and try to make peace and as a result thousands of lives were saved. So, Is that an illusion? Something Qatar made up to give itself a good reputation in front of the world?
In Dr. Momtaz’s words Qatar never admits it’s wrong? So can you please give me proof for that, when did we make a mistake and not admit it? And most importantly can you please tell me who said we think we are the best in the world, I mean you did say “THEY SAY” so can you define they for me?
Moreover, IF, IF and IF Qatar said they were the best, then I think they earned that title for all the right reasons.
3. The writer then tells a story of how Qataris are rude to foreigners by telling a story of a Qatari driver and a Canadian driver
“I am Qatari, and this country is for me,” a driver shouted as he forced his way into a parking space that a Canadian driver had also been trying for. “This is my country.”
Now, I`m not a journalist and don’t know much about journalism but I think that he made a mistake not naming those 2 people, I mean how could he want the reader to believe such story? It has a high probability of being a “lie”,
I`m not saying all Qataris are angels and do not make mistakes but I for one am not going to believe this story, because there is no proof to it being true.What i`m going to believe is that Qataris get called “Terrorists” when they walk in foreign streets minding their own business and I speak of experience.
4. He ends his article speaking of how a Qatari woman Moza Al-Malki is wrongful and wronged at the same time.
She is wronged because of she lost her position when someone else was hired in a center that she had set and she was wrongful when she asked her Filipino servant to walk around the mall carrying her bags as she enjoyed breakfast.
It seems as if this article was written to make Qataris, no Middle Eastern, no Arabs, no wait “Muslims” look bad
All I have to say in the end is that not all people are good and not all people are bad, and if Moza Al-Malki will be the one representing “the bad” side of Qatari Women to the world on the New York Times, then I`l lbe the one setting “the good” side of Qatari women on my blog, the Filipino woman that works at my house is well treated and respected by my sisters and I, she sits on the table with us during meals , and the smallest example for us respecting her is the fact that we call her “Ate” and Ate is a Filipino word used for Respect, which means Big Sister.
I am not saying that Moza Al-Malki is a bad person, I don’t know her to judge her, but from what is written in this Article I believe that she is just a victim just like the whole Qatari population in this article.
To conclude, I just want to say that people should stop looking at the bad side and most importantly stop saying things about others without “Enough Proof”
Qatari’s do their best to help everyone, including non-Qatari’s, so stop being envious about what Qatar is offering for its people because it is the country's right towards us!
And like Ibrahim Al-Muhairy said
“Everyone is getting what they – DESERVE – and more”
In the end, I am nothing but a young Qatari student who just has a lot to say, you can go against me or just be with me, it doesn’t matter because all what I wrote over here is an opinion and an opinion can never be wrong or right.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah. A. Al-Derham
34 comments:
I don't agree with you completely. I'm a Qatari as well and I know my brothers and my family think that the jobs foreigners behold are beneath them, in fact, my whole family (except for my sisters and I) think so as well.
what was offending about the article was, how one-sided it is. They are generalizing, and that is one thing I really dislike.
"Now, I`m not a journalist and don’t know much about journalism but I think that he made a mistake not naming those 2 people, I mean how could he want the reader to believe such story? It has a high probability of being a “lie”"
I took a course in journalism last year, you're right. if the source is anonymous the story becomes less credible.
I believe all those bad things mentioned DO exist in Qatar, we can't deny that but there's good and bad in everyone and everything. I believe most of those bad things are starting to fade away. Us, the new generation are changing many of these things. I would not have been so offended if that article was about Qatar 10 years ago, you know?
Overall, I think I agree with you more than I disagree. There's good and bad in everything.
- Sarah H.
You are right and I'm on your side, and if those people are here just to make Qatar look bad then why did they bother and stay here ? How can he say all that whithout one single proof ? This is the second time I see something offensive to Qatar in the New York Times..
@Sarah H.
To what are you disagreeing exactly?
I spoke about the fact that the writer was pointing out things about Qatar with out ENOUGH proof,
I am not denying all the bad things,What I`m trying to say here is that he shouldn't just go and say things without proof and the 2nd reason is the "generalizing" part which you dislike.
I said in my response, not all people are good and not all people are bad.
What I did here is respond to which I see is ruining the image of Qatar, like I concluded there is not wrong and right in an opinion and you have the right to agree and disagree with me.
Thanks for your reply :)
xx
@The 2nd Anonymous Post
Thanks for your reply,and i`m glad you took time to read it (:
x
5% of 15% is about 33% of Qataris, I disagree. We are more spoiled than we think we are. I'd say at least 45% of Qataris (at least) I also speak of personal experience but we both grow up in different households, you know? we come from different backgrounds. My family is old-fashioned, close-minded and have their minds locked on 1950 (not really 1950 but the exaggeration was intended) lol
Maybe that's why we disagree on that point :)
- Sarah H.
@Sarah H.
Well 45% is still not even half the population :P
shukran 3al muda5ala though,
btw its hard to believe that your family are close-mineded :P (no offense) lol
x
This article is laughable and I can say is "when people start talking about you its a sign you are successful" so let them say what they want to say as long as we know who we are. hold your head up high.
1- yes, Qataris have the right to be first in everything if they are good at it! it is their country after all.
2- not all of them live in big houses or drive fancy cars, so don't generalize.
3- 7 days is not enough to collect information.
4- make up your mind Mr. SLACKman first you are for and then you are against?
5- come to Qatar and we will change your mind and show you the truth Qatary Style.
6- All I see in Mr. SlACKman's article is ignorance ignorance and more ignorance and then an attempt to be sarcastic at the end.
Well done Sarah.! *thumb up*
من قدها قطر الناس يغارون منها
yours,
Shane
@Shane
Thanks for your response,
and well he was just doing his job by writing what he saw, but he mad a big mistake when he did not do enough research on the topic.
Like Ray William Johnson said "Once its seen, It can't be unseen" , so the writer should make sure of whatever information he lets out there because he is ruining the image of a whole country not just one or two people he speaks about in his article.
x
*made
Hey Sara,
The first idea came to my mind is how could The New York Times newspaper publish such an article, it's unprofessional and as you said there aren't enough proof, by saying "he, they, ..." Ok who are they!
Plus, they were taking side; the bad side.
I think the topic itself requires an at least 10-pages research not a newspaper article, because there are many things were discussed but it needs more info to be clarified, for example "The problem, many Qataris say, is that they resent being treated as a minority in their own country, which is what they are." In fact, Qataris are the minorities in their country, and there isn't any comparison between Qatar and Dubai! Because fairly, Dubai is just a city and the other cities are full of emirates, but Qatar is a whole country! I think I lost the "minority" topic here but still the article is unfair.
Thanks
@Anonymous
I agree with you, If you noticed I tried to put as much names and proof to most things I said and I hope the writer realizes his mistake.
and about the 10 page research, actually if somebody wanted to study Qatar and how locals choose to behave in their country, it would fit a book and it should contain the good and the bad all together not just focus on one side.
I really appreciate your comment.
Thank you
x
Hey Sarah,
- “All Qataris.” Okay so I’m A Qatari haven’t met him yet. Why is he generalizing, has he met the whole Qatari Community?
I Study Journalism at Northwestern University, Which is an AMERCIAN UNIVERSITY AND FOLLOWS THE AMERICAN SYSTEM! One thing our professor has taught us never to forget, to ASSUME NOTHING! Even I a journalist in the making with very little experience know better than to assume.
I see you have assumed Mr. Journalist Sir.
- He says, “Citizens of Qatar appear to have it made. They tend to drive big cars, live in big houses and get big loans to pay for big watches and an outsize lifestyle.”
So now we all drive big cars. So?! Many expats drive luxury cars as well. Going back to the image used for this article, a man surrounded with Rolls Royce vehicles. Not every one in Qatar owns a Rolls Royce sir. Why didn’t you put a picture that shows Qatari men driving normal Toyota cars? Is it because it conflicts with your story? Cause people will think that there is something that is not right? Smart move.
- “Qataris are very spoiled,” said Mohammed Saffarini.
Now everyone in the Qatari community is spoiled? Mr.Saffarini just like the write of this article, have you met each and every individual Qatari? Do you know that there are Qatari men and women struggling everyday to give their family a good life? Just because many Qatari citizens are well off you decided that they are spoiled? Well money does not grow on trees Sir. In order to have a good life, you must get a good education and also a good job.
Dr. Momtaz Wassef, if you do not like it here, then why are you staying? Is it because the country might be paying you well? You are provided with everything you need or maybe the opposite that is why you have so much anger.
If you are not happy I do not think there is someone tying you up and begging you to stay. Your wife on the other hand seems to enjoy Qatar since she did not want you to be quoted fearing you would be deported.
- Moza Al-Malki, is one of the leading Qatari women in this country, she was the first Qatari woman to ever apply for a license, “I paved the way.” She said.
Surprisingly Journalism freshmen class of 2013 has had our huge media projects if she was such a bad person as you show the world. Do you think our professor who is more experienced than you will ever be will agree for us to interview her?
If it is about the maid who went and walked around? Perhaps there was a conversation before you came there, maybe the maid wanted to go buy something and this was a deal between them?
Have you asked? And if you were right why not add that little sentence in your article that Moza said etc.
- I left this part for the ending, which I would like to emphasis Oil and Gas. Why so jealous? If you aren’t then why speak of it. The United States is very well off true it has suffered some economical crisis but tell me, don’t you have oil? Don’t you have gas? Also don’t you have people with fancy homes and cars?
Let us take a little example MTV a very well known channel worldwide, airs a show called “my super sweet sixteen.” Where 16-year-olds host birthday parties that would cost thousands of dollars and at the end receive a new car with the party, hmmm.
SSSOOOOOO it is okay for 16-year-old underage teenagers to have new expensive cars? Whereas grown Qatari men or Qatari women reach the newspapers? Hmmm… please tell me sir, who is the spoiled one.
One last thing, every community has its good and bad side. People are different no matter where they come from. Seven days in Qatar are certainly not enough for you to understand the culture. You do not have credible sources to back up your article, nor do you have proof on the driver Canadian story. Please next time do your research and visit education city which is one of the most leading institutes holding top universities and talk to the students, professors and even the works where you will see that many of them have decided to live a stable life in Qatar.
M.A.A
@M.A.A.
you're a doll,
I couldn't have said any of what you posted better!
baradtii 7aretii walla,,
3afya 3ala banat Northwestern!
Thanks for the support & Reply !
xx
I seriously think you have out spoken yourself, but I loved each and every part of it. I am Qatari my self and I agree with everything you say.
من قدهاقطر , محترين, ماعندهم سالفا
Qatari's are free to say what they want, I'm not trying to imply the fact that we should scream at people in the streets or threaten to get people kicked out of the country, but we do have our rights!
Loved Every Part of It!! <3
Thanks for writing this. So glad to have found ur blog. Am sooo upset by this unacceptable 'journalism'. Keep writing!
I honestly agree with every single word you said and that article was pathetic and uncalled for. I would name that piece "an example of bad journalism!". No matter what they say, that's just their point of view and the most important thing is that we know that we pride ourselves on being dependable, hardworking and on demonstrating the highest ethical behavior.
-Maha A. AlSuwaidi
Fact1- always a mistake to stereotype anyone, regardless
Fact 2- fire all you expats- from your engineers to your doctors, your drivers and your maids- you think you'll hire a "Qatari driver"? Think again. This is a world of coexistence where such a mundane article shouldn't ruffle your feathers, but make you realize we all need each other to exist and expand- not one single nation can do it all " on their own" least to say such a young nation as Qatar.
Open your eyes, be more tolerant of others criticizing you and use it to improve yourselves rather than getting oh so "offended"
I'm Swedish, lived in Doha for a few years- they fired my dad because he overtook an influencial Qatari man on the road- he followed him to work and had him fired- in my experience, they are lazy arrogant ignorant slobs who DON'T deserve God given oil!! Let them sweat it out without natural resources and see what their skills do for them! The originally cited article doesn't do justice to their arrogance! And I can safely say this covers 99% Qataris!
@RayoOmii
Thanks for your comment,
but allow me to say this,
I agree with you and don't at the same time,
I agree with everyone having the right to say what they want but I don't agree when its "Offensive"
Because thats what Islam taught us "you are free to do what you want as long as you respect others"
Thanks again
xxx
@SMA
I feel the same as well,
but all we can do is forgive but not forget,
there will be more people trying to ruin Qatars reputation, and as loyal citizens we shouldn't allow them
thanks for your support.
xx
@Maha A. AlSuwaidi
Yes, It is a point of view.. a very bad one which we have the power to change by showing them the good in us.
I`m not against the writer and I don't blame him,
Like Shane & M.A.A said 7 days isn't enough to judge a whole population and that was the only mistake he made that lead him to all this.
But still, we are an Islamic country and Islam taught us this "When you see something wrong from your brother, try to fix it" :)
Thanks for your comment
xx
@anonymous 3
Back in the old days before oil and gas, Qataris did everything on their own.
And now that they have this great wealth, People came here to work we didn't force them to come and work here.
They came on their own so why would they "Complain"
Like you said, whenever someone says something offensive it shouldn't make us mad but should make us stronger, and I strongly agree with you in this point.
But when someone says something which isn't true and starts ruining the image of not one Qatari or two but the whole Qatari population, thats when someone has to speak up !
And all I did was defend my country in what I know they are innocent in, I am not denying that some things aren't true, I`m just defending the innocent ones like myself, friends and family who never hurt a fly.
I`m not here to convince you and your not here to convince me as well, its just a topic which has many opinions and like I said there are no wrong or right opinions.
Thanks for your comment :)
xxx
@TL
If you read my piece of writing again, you'd notice that I am not here to win a debate about Qataris being good or bad, All I`m saying is that there's been something very wrong published.
And as you read again you'd notice that I said that there are good and bad in every country, people being wrongful and people being wronged! thats because no one is perfect.
Something bad happened to you in Qatar from one Qatari person just like something bad happened to my friend Ghada Jassim Al-Thani and her family by Swedish people on one summer.
See like I said, good and bad "everywhere".
If some people in Qatar are bad that doesn't stop me from defending the rest of the good people
One more thing, you shouldnt have said those things about all Qatari people, But I`ll set a good example of them and let it slide
Thanks for your comment
and sorry about your Dad
xx
Derhamiya .. thank you for taking time to write this. I would like to give a more comprehensive answer but due to time constrains I can't at the moment, will come back in a week with more details. However, I would like to say that this article is completely biased and makes fun of Qataris at the same time. I don't know why, but it seems that those people are simply envious. They ignored the contradictions withing their own cultures. And they attack Qatar and Qataris for not being perfect while they forget about their own wrongs back at home. no ones is perfect so cut us some slack and stop fabricating the truth.
It the article it just showed how Qataris are complaining over nothing, how Moza has a maid and is arrogant, and the other guy has a diamond watch and Mer .. etc a droupout makes 49,000$ .. etc. It is exactly what I have spoken about and discussed in my blog. And you will see all different sorts of answers from exptas to show how poor and innocent they are and how Qataris are the villains.
I was a bit disappointed that not many Qataris participated in the response, and it was mostly expats pointing the finger at us. Qataris need to rise together to stop this non sense!
mimizwords.wordpress.com
@Mimi
I really appreciate your comment,
and I am looking forward for your detailed reply next week.
I currently have a million things on my to-do list so, I will visit your blog later today inshallah :)
Thanks again for your reply
xx
Excellent post. Excellent blog! Good work.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم_بداية قبل النقد وتحليل الحقد اود ان اقف وقفه فخر بأني صديقه انسانة مثقفه ذات آخلاق عالية مثل صديقتي سارة،سأعود لأطراء اسلوبك العذب الواعي اللي أتمنى الجريدة العالمية الي نشرت هالمقال تدري فيج واجوف حرفج الهادف في مكان الحروف المتخبطه السطحية__اما بعد فأنه من المخجل ان ي/تقرأ المواطن/ة هذه المقالات المكتوبه من دعم ابناء الوطن وان دل يدل على نكران جميل لولاه بعدالله تعالى لما تقدمنا_وأختصر قولي بأن الأصيل هو الذي لايقذف حجرا في البئر الذي شرب منه_تحياتي
Please see my response to Mr. Slackman's article here:
www.thebrirafile.wordpress.com
Thank you and I hope you Enjoy.
Bint Khalid
The Brira File
Hm...in your post you said new schools are built for Qataris and non-Qataris. Based on my personal experience it is hard and close to impossible to get a non-Qatari into a public school here in Qatar. Please correct my by example if I am mistaken.
To begin with, I'd like to apologise for this being such a long post I've had to use 2 posts. I know I am a bore, but a do believe I've got some valid criticisms of this post.
Fristly, I think some people are missing the obvious point. I have lived in Qatar my entire life, although I will admit to being a foreigner, but the policy of "Qatarization" which has been carried out over the last 10 or 15 years has seen the firing of many foreigners, including many who have served in their jobs for 25+ years, getting fired in order to bring in a Qatari who is less qualified, less experienced, etc, but does have that crucial distinction of being a national. Now, I am not saying that this is the case all or even most of the time, but it happens often enough in the professional world, especially in companies such as QP, to be an area of real concern. These people have made homes here, worked for Qatar since the 80's or even 70's, have kids in schools, and yet have been fired because they are not Qatari. And because they can only live here because of their work contract they have to leave the country, get a new house, find new schools, etc etc.
I a not commenting on the right or wrongs of Qatarization, but to ignore it's happening is either glossing over the fact, or ignorance of the realities of professional life in Doha.
I agree that the NYT article did show a certain bias, but there are a couple of other things I'd like to point out.
1) The "No-Names" Issue
Hmm, well considering it's an anecdote about the difficulties of car parking in Qatar, its unlikely that it would even be possible to get the names, even if the anecdote is true (which you suggest it isn't). Secondly, even if it isn't true, anyone who has lived in Qatar for any period of time will recognize the situation. You're saying you've never seen anything like this happen in the car park of City Centre? Finally, if it was possible to get the peoples names, they may not have wanted to give them - surely you are not ignorant of the danger of openly criticizing Qatar? Dr. Wassef's wife certainly isn't.
2)The Victimization
Erm, sorry but "This article was written to make Qataris, no Middle Eastern, no Arabs, no wait “Muslims” look bad" is a blatant falsehood. How did you extrapolate from an article saying "Many Qatari's feel victimized" to an insulting of the whole ummah? Considering all the people interviewed and named are obviously Muslim ("Mohammed Saffarini, a non-Qatari Arab", and Dr. Montab Wassef, who you quote in your response), it seems unlikely that this is an attack on all muslims. This is just being childish as if you can't accept critisisms (some would say VALID critisisms) of Qataris, so you have to make it out as if the article has an anti-muslim agenda. It weakens your otherwise well thought-out and well written response.
3) Nowhere in the article does the journalist assert all Qatari's are like this. People who are interviewed do, and THEY are making gross generalisations which should be critized, but you must separate the journalist from the sources - they are not one and the same. In fact, the journalists writes that "they are right about how they are perceived" - he's reporting on peoples perceptions of Qatari's, not necessarily an accurate report of ALL Qataris, like you make out in your blog.
[.........]
Finally...) The articles obviously touched a nerve, which ironically, only confirms its point as correct. Michael Slackman writes of a sense of "victimization" and that there is "tension, anger and frustration between Qataris and foreigners". Judging by the above comments, maybe he has a point? Obviously some people are frustrated and angry about the situation. Again; I'm not commenting whether I believe this sense of victimhood and anger is justified, merely that it clearly exists.
In a country like Qatar, we have an uneasy truce. Foreigners couldn't be here without the great hospitality of the Qataris (which they do not get enough credit for) - but then again, can you imagine a Qatar with only Qataris and no foreigners? It would collapse. The entire infrastructure is built on foreign labour. Many Qataris are arogant, obnoxious, rude, and look down on foreigners. Many foreigners resent Qataris. I think both these respective groups are minorities, and our view of them is blown out of proportion due to their vocalness - rude and obnoxious people, resentful and prejudice people are louder, and stand out more, and therefore seem disproportionately common. However, the kneejerk reaction of your blog is emblemic of a wider problem in Qatar society - the general inability to take criticism. The denial of free speech, free write to protest, the power of "sponsors" over foreign employees - make Qatar seem very insecure. A mature nation, a free nation, a nation in the 21st century, built on more than just oil money - which Qatar has every possibility of being - cannot just ban any critisism, or brand it an "attack". Maybe it would be better to listen to the critisism, enter a dialogue, perhaps admit to certain failings, and argue rationally against unfair critisism (both Qataris and foreigners need to do this, but power in Qatar obviously rests in Qatari hands) - only then can we move on from this "frustrated" state of affairs.
PS: I will not be leaving my name. I am not as brave as Dr. Wassef
"To begin with, I'd like to apologise for this being such a long post I've had to use 2 posts. I know I am a bore, but a do believe I've got some valid criticisms of this post. " Haha, oh my days that was badly written. You know what i mean though.
I completely disagree. This article is dead on. Sure, it generalizes, but but generalizations come from somewhere.
This is what is frustrating to me, when people get really defensive when people report the current situation of their country (not just Qatar), regardless of how true it may actually be. Of courses some reports are completely bogus. From my experience in Qatar and the Gulf (I have lived in the region my entire life), this article seems to portray a relatively accurate point of view. The author does not deny anything about talented people in Qatar which of course there are some successful, talented, intelligent people, but you can't deny that most of the positions that require certain skills are held by foreigners. Look, I agree that Qatar is trying to improve itself through many ways including Education City, but at this point, this is the reality.
Hi there,
Firstly, I would like to say that your article in response to the NYT writer is one commendable piece coming from a very young lady which in my opinion help gave us non-Qataris some insight on what the locals thought about the write-up.
As a foreigner living in this country for just over three years, I couldn't agree more with
'A foreigner in Qatar' point of view about the whole situation in Qatar, especially with the 'Qatarization' policy, which honestly, I wouldn't have agree with my husband to accept the offer if we had known there were such thing in the company.
Nevertheless, besides seeking O&G job experience outside of my home country and in the same time wanting to learn, we pack our stuffs and came here. Besides, I am sure Qatar is still a better off place for foreigners especially women compared to KSA :).
I had posted and commented on this NYT article in my blog BUT had it done 'very safe' in order not to be 'too much' and facing the possibility being sent home without notice.
I am not joking here.
Although there aren't any restrictions towards women's freedom in running their daily errands without being accompanied by a muhrim, I had been too overly careful when it comes writing and driving in Qatar.
Being adviced every now and then by my husband on not to be overly provocative in writing about the country and the people, it made me 'volcanic' with what i feel about Qatar, the infrastructure, the services, and especially critical when I wanna get things done fast, because let me tell you, getting things done here can make me drives up the wall especially when dealing with people from India who are the majority of the country's workforce.
And you might have never and ever will, experience having the parking lot you've waited for being taken abruptly, you've not experience being rudely cut by the locals while lining up at a bank or sometimes while paying for your shopping items.
(FYI, after second incident, I learnt to tell the person off. Nicely of course...)
And Im sure you wont have to feel scared offending any locals on the road because you're one of them.
And the 'technically-know-who' in Qatar is the main culprit that made us foreigner feel insecure when it comes to manifesting our thought, both verbally and in action.
( that is why I suspected loads of non-Qatari women disguising themselves by wearing abaya and had their face covered in order to get better treatment!?).
I came across some non-Qatari men wearing the thobe too...hahaha.
Anyway, from my personal experience and observation, there are some awfully nice Qatari families but those are of the older generations.
Those who are in the their 20s and 30s are the most arrogant lot of all.
Perhaps I think I can relate to why some of the locals are feeling the way they felt towards us foreigner.
I came from Malaysia and I have seen my country receiving more and more foreign workers the past 15 years especially from Indonesia, India, the Philippines and recently Vietnam.
There are pro and cons about having foreign workers, and there are things that the locals must learn to accept open-heartedly in order for the government build the country.
And while doing that, the locals must not be slacking and complacent and keep on striving for betterment, failing which the 'Qatarization' would never work as it is expected to be.
And who would want their country to be 'colonised' by outsiders?
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