‘It is Unacceptable to Disrespect Expats' Vs. Expats encroach on rights of Citizens

Ok, I am completely, utterly and profusely flabbergasted at this very moment.

Talk about turning a complete 180.

During August of 2010 I wrote an article entiteld "Infuriated; Expats encroach on rights of Citizens- are you kidding me?"

The jist of it was an opinionated and completely direspectful article published by one Khaled Al-Jenfawi (here is the article) regarding expats and their rights.

Now, fast forward to the present date, whilst I'm sitting and happily sipping my cup of tea and reading the latest issue of EEK! Magazine (Expats in Kuwait Magazine, subscribe to it by sending an email to info@expatserviceskuwait.com; its awesome), I come across an article with title above; It is Unacceptable to Disrespect Expatriates, lo' and behold, who is the author?

Drum Roll Please...

KHALED AL JENFAWI!

The article goes as follows:

Some of my expatriate friends frequently complain about the lack of respect they receive at the hands of few citizens. Such disrespect takes the form of negative attitudes, verbal abuse, insolence, and sometimes outright contempt!


No one can deny such anti-social, anti-expats behaviors, nevertheless, such attitudes do not represents Kuwait or the majority of its people. Yet, we need to introduce new codes of positive social behavior towards expats in our society.


We need to encourage respectable treatment toward our expatriates friends and partners. We as Kuwaitis pride our self of belonging to a civil society and as having large sections of our native population well-educated individuals.


In fact, we as Kuwaitis tend to view ourselves as more urban, sophisticated and polite individuals.


However, once in a while we read or hear about how some disorderly individuals who happen to be dressed in our national costume (Dishdasah), speak or imitate our national dialect, treat some expatriates as if they are subhuman or less deserving as human beings.

(hold on a second, so is he blaming impostors for the subhuman treatment of expats, and not some rowdy Kuwaiti nationals? What about the whole "ana Kuwaiti, asafrek" response, has it become a blanket rebuttal used by anyone in national costume?)

Personally, I do abhor intolerance in all its forms, whether it is directed against expats or others. Ill manners, rude behaviors, and any anti-social behaviors whether committed by citizens or expats is unacceptable, period! But, I do understand that we in Kuwait are in urgent need to introduce new positive attitudes in our local culture and to encourage fair, respectable and good treatments toward all expatriates. It is enough to consider the numerous contributions expatriates achieved for our society and economy, and such consideration should begin a spontaneous public outcry against those who continue to disrespect some expats.


Moreover, expats introduced diversity, tolerant values and amazing human experiences in our society. Indeed, hard working individuals from all nationalities have already positively influenced the way we look at the world. We pride ourselves as Kuwaitis that our country welcomes hundreds of nationals who constitute the bulk of our workforce.


In addition, expatriates have already enriched our Kuwaiti human experience. They brought with them new cultural norms, civil achievements and numerous other contributions, which shaped how our local culture reacts to the outside world. We should do our best to discourage any form of negative attitudes or behaviors toward expats. In fact, why not celebrate the multiculturalism we currently experience in Kuwait due to the presence of hundred of thousands of expats?

To conclude, instead of ignoring some negative reactions few individuals currently use against expats, we should refuse them, totally. It is no longer acceptable that some citizens, especially few rowdy youths ill-treat some expats. It is no longer acceptable to see some youngsters belting public buses just because their passengers happen to be expats!