Secret Dubai diary Intrigue and adventure in the United Arab Emirates





iPhone RPGs

Dubai Info

Best role-playing games
Spiderweb Software
for Mac & PC





02 July, 2006

Kretinous editorial

It's been twelve hours now: twelve long, tortured, painful hours of brainwracking and bewilderment, but it is time to concede defeat. If anyone has a micro iota of a clue what Mohammed A R Galadari's (henceforth "Marg") editorial in today's Khaleej Times is about, could they please send their answers in immediately by cyber-postcard. There are no prizes, just peace of mind.

The editorial starts by talking about a case with zero apparent relevance to the UAE. The confession of a murderous paedophile, with form as long as Sheikh Zayed road, will be thrown out of a Florida court due to wrongful police procedure.

Now the normal moral one might draw out of this, were one given to the ghastly Victorianesque sermonising so beloved by the KT, would perhaps be: "if police don't follow proper procedure, dangerous villains may get away with their crimes".

But no. Marg interprets this as: "THIS is a victory for the people and cause of justice."

It's highly doubtful that the average Floridian is jumping around celebrating victory and justice over this legal loophole, but it's obviously excited Marg. We move on. Next comes a little paragraph of patronising baby-talk where Marg explains US law to his "Dear readers". Thanks Marg.

Then we get to the crux of the brainfuck:

"Dear readers, this interesting case also reminds me of our own force, Dubai Police. "

How? How exactly does US police buggering up procedure in the case of a murderous paedophile remind Marg of Dubai coppers?

We finally arrive at several paragraphs of hyperbolic sycophancy extolling the wonders of the Dubai police. Clearly this is the sole point of the entire editorial: Marg is wastamongering "truly inspiring police chief" Lt Gen Tameem. Clearly Marg felt that he couldn't just praise Dubai police by finding a few impressive examples of their prowess. Instead he has to hang his fawning on some irrelevant, disturbing, negative incident that Dubai police would be highly embarrassed to be connected with.

Labels:

39 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dubai Police are great, but "Marg" is obviously on crack. Time for Dubai Police to drop by and see what kind of stash he's got.

02 July, 2006 23:38  
Blogger Parv said...

"...you don't come across or hear of anyone being treated badly or suffering at the hands of Dubai cops." (sic)

Does someone actually believe we would "hear" of such things?! In the newspaper?!!? Definitely not on our trusty ol' Kretinous Times.

03 July, 2006 00:21  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Readers

The Economy of Class: Capitalist discourse in the works of Burroughs

Stefan D. U. McElwaine

Department of Sociolinguistics, Miskatonic University, Arkham, Mass.
Rudolf C. Werther
Department of Politics, University of Illinois

1. Burroughs and neotextual libertarianism

The primary theme of the works of Burroughs is the difference between narrativity and class. It could be said that several theories concerning the role of the artist as reader may be found. In Port of Saints, Burroughs denies Lyotardist narrative; in The Last Words of Dutch Schultz, although, he affirms neotextual libertarianism.

“Sexual identity is fundamentally used in the service of class divisions,” says Debord; however, according to McElwaine[1] , it is not so much sexual identity that is fundamentally used in the service of class divisions, but rather the failure, and subsequent futility, of sexual identity. Therefore, the premise of Lyotardist narrative states that class, somewhat paradoxically, has intrinsic meaning, but only if culture is equal to sexuality; if that is not the case, culture is dead. Bataille suggests the use of conceptual construction to challenge capitalism.

In the works of Burroughs, a predominant concept is the concept of pretextual narrativity. It could be said that Porter[2] implies that we have to choose between neotextual libertarianism and postcapitalist desituationism. Foucault uses the term ‘capitalist discourse’ to denote the common ground between language and sexual identity.

“Narrativity is intrinsically a legal fiction,” says Lacan. Thus, if Lyotardist narrative holds, we have to choose between neotextual libertarianism and structuralist semanticism. Derrida promotes the use of capitalist discourse to analyse society.

The characteristic theme of de Selby’s[3] analysis of neotextual libertarianism is the defining characteristic of subpatriarchial sexual identity. But Parry[4] states that we have to choose between Foucaultist power relations and dialectic precultural theory. Neotextual libertarianism implies that class has objective value.

Thus, an abundance of deconstructions concerning the capitalist paradigm of consensus exist. The main theme of the works of Spelling is the role of the poet as reader.

It could be said that the feminine/masculine distinction intrinsic to Spelling’s Robin’s Hoods emerges again in Melrose Place, although in a more postcultural sense. If Lyotardist narrative holds, we have to choose between neotextual libertarianism and Marxist class.

Thus, Lyotard uses the term ‘capitalist discourse’ to denote the futility, and subsequent stasis, of dialectic society. Several narratives concerning the role of the participant as poet may be revealed.

In a sense, Foucault uses the term ‘neotextual libertarianism’ to denote a self-fulfilling whole. The primary theme of Humphrey’s[5] model of Lyotardist narrative is not, in fact, discourse, but prediscourse.

But Porter[6] suggests that the works of Spelling are postmodern. The premise of capitalist discourse implies that art serves to disempower the underprivileged.

Therefore, Foucault suggests the use of neotextual libertarianism to deconstruct class divisions. Sontag uses the term ‘the dialectic paradigm of narrative’ to denote the role of the observer as artist.

2. Expressions of absurdity

“Truth is part of the rubicon of culture,” says Lacan. However, the characteristic theme of the works of Spelling is not desituationism, as Lyotard would have it, but neodesituationism. Marx’s critique of Lyotardist narrative suggests that society, perhaps ironically, has significance, but only if capitalist discourse is valid; otherwise, we can assume that the law is capable of significance.

But the primary theme of Hanfkopf’s[7] essay on Lyotardist narrative is the stasis of cultural class. Foucault uses the term ’subdialectic narrative’ to denote the role of the writer as participant.

However, the subject is contextualised into a Lyotardist narrative that includes art as a reality. Any number of dematerialisms concerning capitalist theory exist.

Therefore, the collapse, and eventually the futility, of neotextual libertarianism which is a central theme of Spelling’s Models, Inc. is also evident in Charmed. Sontag promotes the use of capitalist discourse to attack and read sexual identity.

3. Neotextual libertarianism and neocultural textual theory

If one examines the precapitalist paradigm of context, one is faced with a choice: either accept capitalist discourse or conclude that language is fundamentally unattainable, given that narrativity is interchangeable with sexuality. In a sense, the characteristic theme of the works of Spelling is the paradigm, and subsequent absurdity, of constructivist truth. Baudrillard suggests the use of neocultural textual theory to challenge capitalism.

“Class is elitist,” says Sontag. Thus, Debord’s model of Lyotardist narrative implies that society has intrinsic meaning. Foucault uses the term ‘capitalist discourse’ to denote the bridge between class and consciousness.

In a sense, the subject is interpolated into a Lyotardist narrative that includes art as a whole. Sartre uses the term ‘capitalist discourse’ to denote a neodialectic reality.

However, a number of sublimations concerning not deconstruction, but subdeconstruction may be found. Lyotardist narrative holds that the raison d’etre of the artist is significant form.

In a sense, Lyotard promotes the use of neocultural textual theory to analyse society. The subject is contextualised into a cultural presemiotic theory that includes sexuality as a whole.

However, in The Heights, Spelling reiterates neocultural textual theory; in Melrose Place, however, he affirms capitalist discourse. The premise of neocultural textual theory suggests that academe is capable of intentionality.


------------------------------------

1. McElwaine, E. G. Z. ed. (1980) Capitalist discourse in the works of McLaren. O’Reilly & Associates

2. Porter, Y. R. (1971) Realities of Collapse: Capitalist discourse and Lyotardist narrative. Loompanics

3. de Selby, Q. H. E. ed. (1996) Capitalist discourse in the works of Stone. Panic Button Books

4. Parry, B. D. (1984) The Reality of Rubicon: Capitalist discourse in the works of Spelling. Schlangekraft

5. Humphrey, R. ed. (1993) Capitalist discourse in the works of Cage. Panic Button Books

6. Porter, I. M. E. (1988) Deconstructing Sontag: Lyotardist narrative and capitalist discourse. O’Reilly & Associates

7. Hanfkopf, C. ed. (1972) Capitalist discourse and Lyotardist narrative. And/Or Press

Generated by computer - http://www.elsewhere.org/pomo - I wish Marggie was too

03 July, 2006 01:19  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since I'm not on crack, sorry can't comment on Krack Times editorial, I just breeze through Golf News (surely not for news) but to see people bitching, whining and complaining about trivial issues and non-essence. Christian Science Monitor; now that's a newspaper or IHT.

03 July, 2006 08:12  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi SD,
it was indeed uproarious caustic remark on the KT editorial. i think people of this kind wish they were not your targets. your comment was circumstantially composed.
mai i point out here what Dubai police is also about? no doubt partially i agree with MARG when it comes to praise Dubai Police. but here is my recent experience. i was thinking of writing about it in this blog but never thought the opportunity would come so fast.
it was thursday and as usual i came from office in the afternoon, parked my vehicle below my building and went home. when i came out with my family to go out in the evening, i see my vehicle was siezed! the rear wheel was 'locked' by a mysterious device. at first i didn't understand who did it. so i went to the police station near by, they told me to go to the traffic dept. since it was thursday, the dept was closed. so i had to wait till saturday morning. when i went on saturday morning i found that the request has come from a particular police station in dubai and the traffic dept asked me to go to that police stn. i went there to find out that there was a fine for a car a month before i bought my car! and the car's model was also different. but the number was same as my car's. upon showing my 'mulkhiya' and my request they forfeited the 'mukhalfa' and sent the request back to 'muroor' to unlock my car.
fianlly i got the car on saturday afternoon.
two days of discomfort, failed plans of weekend and unknown fear were the result of this episode. and as a compensation i didn't even hear a sorry from Dubai police. it was however agreed by them that it was their mistake.
So there is no doubt out of 10 years of my living here, this was the first time that this incident happened to me. but it could have been avoided by so called so efficient police.

03 July, 2006 09:15  
Blogger marwan said...

'Marg' is truly inspired. See also, Marjorie, Madge, etc.

03 July, 2006 09:32  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Allow me to join in this showering of praise on Dubai Police.

This happened about a month ago.

I was driving along on past Media city when a completely blacked out Corrolla started tailgating and flashing. Unfortunately I couldn't move over (too much traffic) so the Corrolla does a crazy Hard shoulder move and cuts in and almost causes an accident. I honk in anger. which only causes our friend in the corrolla to get angry and follow me till I reach my destination (Next to Dusit).

The guy in the corrolla turns out to be an off duty cop (still ni uniform). Now this great guy goes onto abuse me (threatening to send me back to India and other stuff).

Finally I am joined by a Police Patrol Car, who also join him in abusing me. After a couple of slaps (to myself) I was sent on my way.

I would like to extend my thanks to Dubai Police, in being very efficient in putting me in my place.


Oh, and now, I have decided to pack up my business of about 80 people (thanks to the stupid employment laws as well) move back to India. All this has just left a bad taste in my mouth.

One thing I have promised myself is if I do see a local on my turf (i.e: India) he/she will experience some serious abuse from my side. I know it is the wrong thing to do but I dont care, and I just want to give them a taste of their own medicine.

- Manish

03 July, 2006 09:44  
Blogger al-republican said...

Manish-

Reading about your incident leaves me speechless! It is very unfortunate that such a thing transpired and that you were not just verbally, but physically abused as well! Did you try following this up and reporting it to higher authorities? Unfortunately, it takes all kinds to make a society.

Please reconsider your understandable frustration to pay in kind. You may end up abusing some Arab who is actually a nice person. He may end up categorizing all Indians to the way you handle him/her. Unfortunately, these bad apples always target the good fellows, which is what makes them bullies. I trust you will not stoop to the shallowness that you met with.

03 July, 2006 11:11  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Manish, I don't think packing up and just leaving and then smacking someone on your home turf is the solution. You have to tackle what you endured here itself. Do what you have to do, report your incident, pursue it further aggressively and have those that abused you be brought to justice. That's tit for tat instead of abusing and smacking some unknown innocent person on home ground. Mine is just a suggestion but I wish you Good Luck in the right direction :-)

03 July, 2006 11:32  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

manish

it is very sad that this happened to you - but unfortunately this is the norm. I dont understand how this place will become a tourist hub when this is the behavior people have.

I had a similar incident once when i was in a traffic jam and the little spot that opened in front of me on the road a car swerved in. This did not leave enough time for me to break so i touched it on the bumper lightly. I got out and asked the guy what was he thinking at which he went all berserk and said he is a police and he is local and called me a bastard. At that point i actually felt sorry for him because the guy was just crazy and left him (note how he didnt stop to file the police report). I was fined by the rent a car company.

If you notice most tourism based economies - it is service with a smile - whether it is immigration departments, police, etc.

I usually find the contrast between west and arab countries interesting - ppl in western countries have adopted all the nice humanitarian habits muslims were told to have.

I doubt that the cop would have behaved that way if Manish was a whitey or a local.

03 July, 2006 11:36  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

al

this is your islamic ummah at work so stop coming up with excuses.

Manish or any other colored person (including muslims) would have more chances of their human rights protected in western lands than any muslim country. So much for your islamic fairy land wishes.

03 July, 2006 11:40  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Louis, I'll make another post to compliment Manish's

- This was a fair few years ago and the event consisted of a group of about 8 of us having a high school reunion type catch up (from Oz, Uk, India, Poland, Sudan) who had been out clubbing. We took one 4x4 with a designated driver to drop us back.

When we dropped off some of the girls, the driver got pissed when reversing as someone would not move from standing directly behind the car - turns out it was a Cop In Dishdash who was upset by this and my friend assuming the guy was someone random. A CID car pulls up. 3 guys get out. Then a cop car pulls up a few minutes later.

The story they gave in detaining us overnight and taking mugshots AND fingerprints as well as generally harrassing us was that there was a robbery in the area, or that we were driving recklessly (pointing to a road we had not been down) or that we had 'parked the car and it was on and moving inside' in apparent reference to the one polish girl who remained and 4 of us lads gangbanging the crap out of her when we never stopped. They actually asked the girl for her passport, to check, then let her go back home.

So the story was never clear, but even the fact that we were obviously not dressed for a robbery, or logic of any order (one of our friends had arrived from London that very evening and so robbing a flat somewhere near Karama would not be the 1st thing on his mind) did not seem to appease them.

The cops had our passports overnight - and the next morning after we were briefly released and asked to come back to collect them in the afternoon (turns out that we actually had to convince someone to give them back), the geniuses actually asked me for ID. Upon mentioning the complete stupidity of the request, they moved a bit faster.

But to basically summarise, I completely agree with MARG's editorial. What on Earth would we do without them?

03 July, 2006 12:03  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Manish, don't take your anger on any Emirati you find in India. It's not an Indian thing to do. What's the point of hurting innocents?

There are other ways, have you wondered by Emirates is not getting more flight rights to India? Why DIC is finding it hard to set up 'Smart City' in Kerala? ....

You hurt an Indian here, he is going back and going to vote for the baddest MF who is going to give them hell.... in a non-violent way.

03 July, 2006 13:48  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Al Republican,

What you say is right but you know what I don't care.

Moving on.

What happened to me is not an isolated incident.

One of my nephews was arrested in Abu Dhabi just because his girlfriend shouted at a cop (off duty again) to stop harassing her in a nightclub. When he left the club later on with her. He was pulled surrounded by 3 cop cars who went onto arrest him and charge him with drinking and driving even though he had not got into his car yet and more importantly he doesn't drink. He ended up spending a week in jail.

And this is not an isolated incident. Such incidents happen with regularity over here and it is always the asians who are targeted.

I keep hearing about how thankful we should be for being given the opportunity to live and make money in this country. If this is living, then I don't want it.

I am not moving back only for this reason. This local sponsor crap is a filthy practice as well. While my old sponsor was decent (compared to the new one) his son has done nothing but try to take more of my hard earned money each year (for doing nothing other than sitting at home and sleep with hookers). And now he wants to take over the whole business and give me about 1/20th of what it is worth and get rid of me. And I expect to lose this battle in the courts. So I have started dismantling my operations and ruining the company so when I leave he is left with a the offices and thats it.

This has been my experience with the country over the past 10 years.

And the worst thing about this is how they spout all that religion stuff saying how fair and kind they are but nothing is farther from the truth. I have traveled and lived all over the world and I have never seen more racism, hypocrisy and perverts than in the Middle East.

I don't need this.

And unlike most Indians who tend to be calm and peaceful and would turn the other cheek, I plan to give as good as I recieved. I don't care if it is an innocent. Just so some of them understand that hey, mess with people, and we will mess you up completely.

In fact nothing would make me happier if they don't ever come to India.

- Manish

03 July, 2006 14:13  
Blogger al-republican said...

Anonymous @ 03 July, 2006 11:40

Very regrettably, you are right. Rights of people are not respected in Muslim countries. This is not about being non-Muslim either; Muslims actually go through more problems as concerns basic human rights by their own governments.

I was not offering any excuses for the behavior that Manish met with. Rather, I was pointing out at a general fact about how sometimes one ends up facing similar or even worse situations in all corners of the World - including the West.

I can give you a long list of things I have gone through with security individuals in the US while I was there. But, I respect Manish and wish him well and certainly dont want to take this off on a tangent. I know what it is like being in an alien country and being treated with disdain just because of your color/religion.

As a Muslim, it shames me to see my fellow brethren do such things though. This is certainly not the way to handle your own brothers let alone outsiders who not only are here on your invitation but are actively contributing to the growth of this country.

03 July, 2006 14:16  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guys:
Did u hear about the army surrounding Rass El Khayima, even Abu Dhabi army has moved in on RAK and big time, Julfar Project is taking place on some1 s land, and ...all arabian bloggers are writing about it
U wont hear this in the evening news I bet, or any news

03 July, 2006 14:20  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sarcasm Mode On:

"Manish, you shouldnt complain over anything here because you are better off here than in India, where caste system is still prevalent.

Of course a white person wouldnt be treated as you were because white people are smart, intelligent and rich. After all, most famous scientists were white, and Western countries are so much richer than India. "

Sarcasm mode off

03 July, 2006 14:22  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Al-Republican; as a fellow Muslim, may I ask what exactly it is that you are doing about it?

Do you own a house, where the labourers are paid a pittance (and that even late)whilst the prices are comparable to the West (or slightly cheaper, but not offsetting the inhuman labour costs)?

Do you wonder why at Umra or Haj we wear the same clothes and eat at the same places, but when we come back, we feign laughter as others put different races down?

We're all in someway responsible for this mess.

03 July, 2006 14:24  
Blogger al-republican said...

Coming back to the topic at hand - MARG the magnificient - SD, I gave up reading on this guy about a year ago. He "writes" so much of nonsense that does not pertain to him. In fact, most of what he writes does not make a dirham's worth of difference to people in the UAE!

I even refuse to click on the link and read what is the latest tripe he is ranting over that led to this post on your blog. It really is a waste of time!

03 July, 2006 14:26  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Has anyone read the statement made by Gaddafi in today's Kretin Times?

Apparently he wants all people to be allowed to circle the Holy Kabaa. What an egalitarian thought?

The real gem in the statement lies here "Col. Gaddafi said that other religions are not at fault, but their only mistake is the adherence of believers to these religions after the appearance of Islam...."

Oh thanks, Mr. Gaddafi (you murderous f*ckwit), thanks for letting me know that I am wrong for following the religion of my choice.

And he goes onto add "Muslims should convince those people that their holy books are faked as they are not genuine."

OH! Gosh! And all the while I thought my holy book was right.


The really scary bit is that I am sure a lot of people actually believe this and this eventually ends in these people trying to kill off all the non-believers.


Another case of "its ok to denigrate others but not ok if others deingrate us"


- DD

03 July, 2006 14:30  
Blogger Earthbound Misfit said...

What the hell is the Abu Dhabi Army doing in RAK??

Does anybody know whats going on??

Simsim??

p.s: Manish's incidents are very typical of the kind of stuff that happens to the Sub Cons here

03 July, 2006 14:33  
Blogger al-republican said...

Anonymous @ 03 July, 2006 14:24

Kindly note - and I am highlighting this for the umpteenth time - that I am NOT an Arab! Nowhere even close!

Yes, we have all contributed to this problem. Racism is a problem with all races (weird enough) and Islam came to eradicate it completely. Yet, we see these problems in our ummah.

I am just as desi as Manish. So there isn't much I can do help Manish with respect to this. Had these been an incident in my own country, I would have personally gone out of my way to get him justice. Perhaps some local reader here who yields some influence should step up and help out? Although there isnt much that can be done about the sponsorship issue. It's a demon we will all have to live with for the time being.

03 July, 2006 14:34  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Galadari's favorite topics:

1) How third world immigrants are spoiling Britain (After 7/7 he claimed that illegal immigrants caused the attacks)

2)Why Caucasians are the most superior race(yes, he wrote on this topic 18 months back)

3) Why Bush is the best leader America has ever seen and how only Westerners contribute to charity

03 July, 2006 14:42  
Blogger SIN said...

So i had the misfortune of working for MARG or MadMan, as we ex-Kretin Timers fondly call him - and he really is clinically psychotic. Oh the things I could tell you.

Anyways, around the time of the UN summit in NYC a few years ago, he wrote his most priceless editorial yet - advising then Indian PM Atal B. Vajpayee and Pak. Pres Mussharaf to have an informal meeting on the side.

Heeding Madman's advice, the 2 heads of state should have dressed in 'Bermuda shorts' and gone to dinner. The dinner should have been Chinese, 'to improve relations with China'. Over dinner, they could have 'discussed Vajpayee's poetry' (he has published some) to break the ice. And to solve the problem of who's asking who out on this 'date', he suggested that keeping in mind 'local customs' the younger of the two should have invited the older one as a 'mark of respect'.

I resigned one week later.

03 July, 2006 15:02  
Blogger SIN said...

Around the time of the last Indian elections, he wrote another charming piece on why Italian-born Sonia Gandhi should not be PM of India as...and i quote...'she has not been born out of an Indian stomach'.
Let's just say that after one week of advertisers cancelling on them after some high profile members in the Indian government pressured the companies to do so...Madman rendered an apology the only way he knew how...asking three of his lapdogs to write another editorial.
So is life...

PS: And just so you wonder, the charming front page design of KT is usually approved by his (now) 12-year-old kid...

03 July, 2006 15:07  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is going on in RAK and how come MARG hasn't reported in Kretinous Times?

03 July, 2006 15:11  
Blogger SIN said...

If the news on RAK is true, it probably has something to do with the power struggle between the Crown Prince of RAK and his brother that took place 3 years ago.
For those who don't remember that incident...read on:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030616/asp/foreign/story_2072621.asp

and the http://www.aljazeerah.info. Sorry couldn't paste that so plz run a search.

03 July, 2006 15:33  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Also a similiar event happened to my friend who is a fellow indian here in dubai approximately one year back. After working for 5 years in KSA he took up a job in dubai as some chemical treatment head for a reputed construction company and he got settled here with his family. He is a very decent guy in his thirties (almost 40) and always he tried his best to help people in need while he was in KSA.

One day he went to one of his site and parked his car and then all of a sudden around 6 locals came out of nowhere and rounded up and caught him as if he has just robbed someone and running off. When he asked for their identification they said they are from CID and took him to police station (or some CID office) and kept him locked. They also ordered him not to use his mobile phone and switched it off. When he requested to tell him why he has been detained none of them bothered to answer him back and kept him locked up for about 6 hours. Finally one guy came to him and took his finger prints etc etc and on repeatedly asking why he has been detained he recklessly said we have some problem with you and its a normal procedure and never mentioned the real reason behind the scene. Meanwhile his wife and children (Its been a week since they arrived dubai by then) got panicked of not getting home and his mobile being switched off. They called all of their friends known to them and me. No one has any idea what might have happened.

Finally at around midnight he asked the guys there he need to goto washroom and went in and he made a quick call to his wife saying he is fine and switched off the phone as he dont want to invite any more trouble with them. After about 14 hours of locking up he was released and on repeatedly requesting they said nothing wrong just its a normal procedure.. go home.. Even till now he was wondering what is this system wherein there are no human rights.

I was literally shocked to know it happened here as I was thinking dubai police or the legal system here would be fair. Now I have changed my opinion on them...

An Indian.

03 July, 2006 15:46  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fact is that in almost every country minorities are abused over and over again. These could be minorities in terms of number or power and influence.
Yes it is unaccpetable, nor here nor anywhere else. Yes it does cause shock and revultion to hear about such stories. But this is the way it is, and has been, everywhere. Even in the home countries of most of us one can suffer discrimination and abuse from his own countrymen. Or am I wrong?

One other thing I noticed, most here are talking about stories where one person, or a small group of people, have been mistreated by other people, mostly local police and CID. I know of cases where thousands of people are abused and mistreated on a daily basis, treated like less than animals, all this by people originally of their own home country. I am talking about construction workers here.
My point is, more than being about a whole country or race being judged as racist, it is about fear from the different, and power and it's currupting effect on people.

03 July, 2006 17:08  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

By the way, I think that that Marg of theirs has a point concerning one thing.
Justice, as an utopist concept, is atomic and inalienable. For example if you agree to define the judicial process to be in this order:
1- Investigate and gather the facts
2- Analyze and judge by peers and pronounce judgment
3- Discharge or execute judgment
And have all three phases done by different parts of the System, then you cannot agree to having the investigators decide that the accused is guilty (a judgment), thus torture him(an executed sentence) for information and confessions, then present him to “Justice” for completing the paperwork.
If you accept going that way then you need to redefine the fundamentals of your values and Judicial system.

That’s my opinion today. I used to accept rough interrogation as a necessity in some very rare cases, but I changed my mind. More on that on a post I’ll put elsewhere.

03 July, 2006 17:34  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

interesting views aro, but why is your site blocked?

03 July, 2006 18:10  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

cuz I put the wrong URL :-) t's more like aroblog.thearobace.com. sorry bout tha

03 July, 2006 21:00  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Manish,

I am afraid I have the same sentiment you have and I am not even Indian (or Asian for that matter). As an Arab, I have had more respect in almost every country I've been to than I have had in the GCC.

Of course, you could compare your experience here with what could have been in Saudi. I agree with you though, eye for an eye. It just doesn't have to be literal. As mutiny has pointed out, other ways are actually far more effective.

Think of what would happen if the Indian government does not allow construction workers to leave the country unless certain conditions are met (similar to how the Philippines is protecting their citizens who come to work as housemaids in the GCC).

To be fair though, what you have experienced (and many others have) is not particular to Dubai Police but is rather an Arab thing. Almost all Arabs I have come in contact with consider Indians/Asians to be subhuman (regardless of what they would otherwise say to their Western friends/colleagues).

There are good people out there. However, racism is rampant in the Middle East. It just so happens that Indians are an easier target in the GCC.

03 July, 2006 21:00  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Has it occurred to anyone that "Marg" is engaging in verbal irony?

While this is a bit sophisticated for the KT, (OK, very sophisticated for the KT,) it's a technique often used by the press in countries with censorship. "Marg" is actually drawing an unfavorable comparison between the U.S. justice system and the Dubai police.

03 July, 2006 21:54  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anon 21:45 ...you know what?
I read the article a few times over and I think I agree with you. Definitely a verbal irony and a very clever one too if I might add.

04 July, 2006 00:44  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is really about a point of law. Whilst a guilty man may have got away with a heinous crime, this is prefereble to an innocent person getting jail time because rigid procedures are not in place. This is akin to the person that has been arrested for carrying prescription drugs. Clearly there are rigid procedures in place, but these are inadeuate for their purpose. The correlation with Dubai police would seem to be that they have nothing better to do than arrest people with aspirin whilst ignoring the carnage on the roads.

04 July, 2006 09:52  
Blogger Samawel said...

Lt General Tameem, inspiring? I don't think so, Tameem just talks too much, nothing inspiring about a word-flood.

04 July, 2006 17:18  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahahahahahahahaaaahha!!



Marg= I.R. Baboon wit a big red butt.


Ps: Marg means 'Die, bitch!' (exaggerated) in Farsi. Quaint.

07 July, 2006 00:53  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi
The RAK army clash with nationals was reported by gulf news on Wednesday...for all those intersted ..cheers

07 July, 2006 15:01  

Post a Comment

<< Home



next issue is no. 12




Google Secret Dubai
iopBlogs.com, The World's Blog Aggregator
 Blog Top Sites

Powered by Blogger




StatCounter stats