Comments on: Qataris This…. Qataris That!!

By: Shaikh Farhan

Shaikh Farhan — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:48:54 +0000

While digging up on Lisa Clayton’s issue, I happened to to visit this link related to her:

By: Lubna

Lubna — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:27:15 +0000

This has always been a sensitive topic in Qatar, if not in the Gulf as a whole. One has to be objective in his/her analysis of the local culture and offer constructive criticism whenever it is needed. Otherwise, what is the use of having adopted impressive development plans if we don’t pinpoint the flaws and try to fix things? Being born and raised in Qatar, I have seen both sides of the coin. I was not allowed to join the girls scout when I was in middle school because I wasn’t Qatari, but I was offered one of the best educational opportunities at university level because I have been living in Qatar for so long. So we have to be just and neutral in evaluating the Qatari story as it unfolds. All my closest friends are Qataris, I am very comfortable with the culture and I cherish beautiful aspects of it, such as Qatari family life, warm hospitality and social connectedness. Indeed, you have individual incidents where someone threatens to deport an expat, mistreats his/her non-Qatari employees …etc. In my opinion, these are exceptions to the rule. And expats who spend years in Qatar without having interacted once with the Qatari culture, aside from taking excursions in Sealine dunes or strolls in Souq Waqif, are in no position to give an opinion about Qatar. They live in a bubble that they are content with, but think they are ‘educated’ enough to give a thorough study on Qatari values from a distance. I suggest that they leave this task to those with real firsthand experiences, who speak out of love and genuine concern for Qatar’s future.

By: Qatari

Qatari — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:51:39 +0000

The joy of the Us vs Them ! I find it intolerant the amount of criticism, stereotype, and hasty generalization that the “Them” group have towards the “US” group!
I’d like to state a few logical facts before I take the nationalism side of me ( and trust me I was not all national until I encountered narrow minded people like Eva, who surely had not much international exposure or privilege to travel and learn about other cultures and won a lottery ticket to sweet Qatar , landing a dream job with high pay and preaching the “Oh Qatari” old song).
Criticism is welcomed there is no deny in that, but the manner in which it is articulated , tone , disrespect and the lack of supporting evidence is surely not welcomed.
No one likes to be criticized its human nature! That’s only natural! But to say “ Qataris don’t speak English , that’s why we cant hire them” or “ Qataris are not qualified” or blah blah…is an ancient line that the “Them” have been leaning on to support their proclaims.
I am not indicating that all expats are like that, no I’ve encountered so many amazing passionate driven expats who have utmost respect for the Qataris and are truly passionate and driven towards Nationalism and developing the country.
Let me drop a question, why is that when the Qatarization law was reinforced the “them” group started to “freak out”? and rolled out a bunch of non-existing excuses? Old excuses! Why is it that the view the Qatarization law as an invasion of their proclaimed expert space? The government surely had a plan when they made a huge investment ( that no country in the west would have made) in education and giving the max luxury of opportunities to young Qataris , not only through elite education but events that allow the young Qatari to be exposed in many different aspects. The daily conferences that Qatar hosts on an international level, the seminars, the doha debates, the charity work, the film festival etc etc…and so much more…( excluding primer education!) Also, I would like to stress because the Qatari population ( Qatari nationals) in Qatar is very small, this only becomes an advantage of utilizing all the resources given to the nationals by the government, so everyone gets equal changes, everyone excels and everyone can speak English! Even my 80 year old grandma who wears a batolah can speak English, its not a big deal anymore! Let me ask the “Them” group a question, did you take the time to learn about the culture, the language and the people from a Qatari rather than exchanging negative comments during your barbeque beer get together pool parties?
Therefore I find it only natural that the government reinforces a Qatarization law, and demand Qatari hiring, they would like to see the Return Of Investment! And the fact that these mindless shallow stereotypes are being used to undermine the Qatari’s qualification is only evident of fear of loosing the good life here! If an expat is truly qualified he/she wil have no worry in encountering a job else where and will gladly be part of the collaborative force to develop the country and not hinder it with negativity.
I shall not use the “if you don’t like it leave my country” line, but you are in my country therefore you are required to show some gratitude of having the privilege to be part of this building experience. If the belief or mentality that the “them” group are hired because the “Us” group are lazy to do the work, that’s an illogical , shallow and superficial reason. Our government has brought you in here to assist us, not to work for us, to leverage knowledge not to hide knowledge ( which frankly I am starting to question their qualifications, most of the “them group are either retired military men wearing suits with no managerial experience, sacked bankers , school teachers and supermarket owners in LA etc…come and work in corporate offices and proclaim their education, knowledge , experience based on their country of origin!) so what is the “them” government doing about improving their homelands? Before going around criticizing and dropping bombs, I suggest to stop, think and compare because clearly you are here for a reason and it wasn’t a forced choice, it was a dream opportunity so embrace it and be part of the team rather than preaching old notes that do not exist anymore!
If you care to read the daily press, and see the young emerging Qataris who are educated, cultural exposed and respectful to other cultures you by natural fact not even address Qataris in a derogatory manner.
The “Us” group is driven by passion, desire and loyalty to develop our country, we are the default owners of this country, so our interest does not lay on monetary benefits like most of the “them” group.
We should work as a team rather than polarize the Us and the Them, this is a building nation experience it’s not come into my country and mock!
I was disgusted by the article published by an expat on the national day in Qatar. Opinions are welcomed, criticism is embraced but sarcasm has no room here! I find it unusually that because young Qataris chose to display their happiness or nationalism during the national day it is automatically viewed as barbaric? Or uncivilized? ( I never participated in the national day parade nor am I person who likes parades) .
Let me ask this, has anyone been in Europe when two countries lose a football match? Or in the stadium? Or the celebrations they have for national days? I’ve seen people running naked in fountains, and jumping around drunk and shouting, trashing streets and harassing other people in an act that is translated as “ expressing happiness or participating in country celebration”.
So if Qataris, chose to jump on their cars, sing, paint their faces, block traffic , put loud national music and pop their heads out of the car window etc…to express their nationalism and its viewed by the “them” group as savage like act, I wonder then their “celebration” acts back at their home origins can be categorized as ?
I am proud to be a Qatari, I am proud to be part of this nation and I am proud that I am part of the working group to develop our nation, our country so I ask for the “them” group to be respectful and join the one group in being a positive force in developing the country and not a negative one. This is a once in a life time experience, so embrace it , learn from it, you can learn more from the Qataris than you can imagine!
( I just like to stress that not only expats are part of the negative group, I have met delightful driven expats who are encouraging Qataris to be part of their team and enabling them, empowering them etc..the other negative group are people such as Eva, sadly there are many of those type floating around but will soon be on their way out )

By: Jinu Johnsion

Jinu Johnsion — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 06:15:25 +0000

Amal,

I am an expat but hand on heart I have to admit that I have to agree with what you are saying. the reason for my concurrence is exactly what you stated, I have Qatari friends, I have been to Qatari houses, I have dined with Qatari. I am 31 years old yet I have spend 25 odd years in the GCC. So I have had the privilege to know the human side of the Qatari’s.

The reason why most expats express anti Qatari sentiments vociferously is predominantly based on being overtaken by a Qatari in a landcruiser, they never have interacted with Qatari’s. If the expats were to see the human side of Qatari’s, I dont think any sane expat would continue to hold such beliefs.

The question is who should bridge this great divide and how. Maybe there should be more social interactions. Then again would each side want to have these interactions.

But do note that there are many like me, who are thankful for what this country has offered, it puts food on my familys table and for that we are ever greatful to the country and the locals.

Rgds,

J.J

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:17:05 +0000

It is excellent to watch the interesting pace of this blog.

Just to humbly add one point is regardless on how long the “train” of arguments will be (or even end one day,maybe!), the truth must not be ignored to the fact that a “change” is required.

Maybe, we must be empathetic & sensitive to each other. The “expats” must be sensitive to “locals” and “locals” must be empathetic with the “expats”. Each side will only understand when they become an expat and live in a foreign country or watch the foreigners living in their own countries.

Let us not forget our basic duty (more our own conscience!) to feel like a human and treat the other the same as we treat ourselves. As we have very few time in this earth and many deeds to do, let us not waste in ignoring that we are humans, we also need to be corrected when it is needed. Education is not in getting a high profile university degree but to remind ourselves we have respect for ourselves and we MUST treat others with respect!

I must ask everyone to remember a 19th Century (lovely!) poem of The Blind men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe. (It holds an essence of wisdom which is hidden to the blind but unlocked to one with a human heart!)

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:48:20 +0000

I find it very disturbing and frightening in fact to read some of the comments written on this blog. I’m a Qatari Engineer…I also have lived abroad for about 15 years….I visited nearly 30 countries….I speak three languages and I’m currently working on my forth. Out of those 15 years I lived abroad I had only 3 Qatari friends, so you could say my interactions were basically with the locals, and it’s safe to assume that a Camilian…I can pretty much fit into any environment and survive with no problems….WITH THAT BEING SAID

First of….to assume that there are no Qataries in the Oil & Gas field is absolutely ridiculous and misleading and I guarantee you stats in the company OFFICIALLY show over 50% Qatarization and RAPIDLY increasing

To assume that all of Qatari income is coming from Oil & Gas operation is plain ignorant considering the MULTIPLE announcements made publicly by the Prime Minister about Qatari investments and how Oil & Gas factor less everyday into the Qatari Budget

To assume that someone is incapable of doing something simply because you have never actually seen him/her do it…..well I do not really wanna dignify that with a comment!!!!

Bottom line…throughout those 15 years abroad NEVER ONCE did I try to fix “culture”….THERE’S NO POINT IN TRYING OR GOING SOMETHING NEW IF YOU EXPECT IT TO BE JUST LIKE EVERYTHING YOU’VE KNOWN BEFORE HAND!!!!. The idea of trying to link culture to reasonable facts is like asking why something tastes good…..or why spices are desired. The best you could do is….try it, and if desired repeat!!!! I find it absurd that when some are exposed to a new and foreign culture…they somehow try to make sense of it and when they cannot they try to mold it into some kind of hybrid which might be more desirable by themselves!!!….and as if that’s not bad enough THEY START PROJECTING THEIR THOUGHTS UNTO OTHERS AND WONDER WHY THEY R NOT FOLLOWING!!!!

If you move from Greenland to Kenya, you cannot complain about how horrible skiers they are!!!

By: Mohanalakshmi

Mohanalakshmi — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:01:44 +0000

Thank you Dr. Amal for starting such an insightful and important discussion about what was clearly an event of greater implications than anyone realized.

The important thing is that people are starting to talk (I hope) and really hear each other. Expats understand what is offensive to Qataris – and here I completely agree that language used is much more important than any message that is actually said in most human communication.

I hope also that Qataris will themselves begin to address the social concerns that face society – in terms that are appropriate and useful.

Those of us living in Qatar today have inherited a situation; just like any other society in the world. What we choose to do with it shows our true character.

In the end, people are people. You love some, you’d rather not see others.

Respect, the core value of any human relationship, seems to be missing when we get into our groups here. While I can have dinner with or share the secrets of my heart with Qatari friends suddenly all of this is erased when barriers pop up: “us” versus “them”; “expat” versus “locals”.

Groups give us the luxury of forgetting that we each bleed, laugh, love, and cry and make it all that easier to hate the other.

By: Lisa Clayton

Lisa Clayton — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:42:09 +0000

Eva,

I would never ask you to sympathize with me. I have lived here over 10 years an have interacted with a LOT of Qataris. I spoke up about something I found very distressing and apparently did not do it in the “proper” way. For that I apologized. But I did feel the right as someone who lives here (and has invested a lot of my time here for the betterment of the country that I have loved so dearly) so do not subscribe wholly to your idea that I am here to take a salary and get out. In fact, I couldn’t live for very long in any place where I didn’t feel I had the right to speak freely and critically when necessary. That said, I would do it differently if I had to do it again, and I would do it COMPLETELY ANONYMOUSLY (as I did on Qatar Living before being “outed” by alumnae who were on my Facebook friends list). I wouldn’t risk bringing problems to my university in the way this has.

I also think it is inaccurate to say there is “hidden hostility because I think there is huge hostility here between the expat and local community as a whole. The difference is, I don’t think it is hidden. But maybe that is because I have been on the receiving end of a lot of it and I seemed to have opened up this can of worms that far overreaches my post on Qatar Living.

Regards,
Lisa

By: eva

eva — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:06:41 +0000

I’d say i got the picture somehow. Europe is not the Atlantis (the perfect city) nor is any other place on earth. The whole idea behind posting on this blog was to interact with the locals and I’d say it was impressive ,although I felt a sense of hidden hostility because some people simply wouldn’t listen to other point of views with an open mind. I’ll conclude by wishing everybody a prosperous new year and a small advice to the locals to focus and keep focusing on academics.

By: Amal Almalki

Amal Almalki — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:30:10 +0000

Eva:

I think after several days of debating- our tones are neutralizing!!
First of all, Lisa’s is not the subject of this blog. I’ve started this blog last April. Lisa isn’t even the subject of the post- she was nevertheless one reason behind writing it.
Eva- you make a good point! Still, you are trying to convince me of what is already known, the disproportion of local/expats demographics. But again these expats that as you say will leave once oil and gas run out are due to leave anyway. They are here to do a job for couple of years then leave. It is a win-win situation for both parties.
Secondly, Our percentage as Qataris is too small to fill all these jobs. Texas A&M in Doha has been graduating Qatari engineers to join other locals who graduated from the States. Things will get better Eva but considering the country’s young age, the number of locals, and the speed of change to modernize the country, it will take time.
Thirdly, the question of having non-locals filling the jobs which locals don’t fill- whether because there is no tradition of them filling such jobs or because some find them demeaning is not a Qatari issue. For example, in London the ongoing debate is whether immigrants are stealing jobs from the Brits or that they are doing the stuff that the British wouldn’t do. Look at the streets in London and tell me who collects the garbage and who works in petrol stations!!!!
And when you come to Doha soon, check the MIA. I was so proud to see Qatari men and women working as security and guides.

Fourthly, the gap between social classes is widening as a result of modernity. Now are all Qataris wealthy? NO. Some don’t own a house! Are all Qataris educated? NO. So do you think those who don’t have a degree are in managerial positions? NO.

Also, Marwa’s comment just reminded me that we are only talking apparently about westerners here! A big percentage of expats are made up of Arabs, some like Marwa have been born here. Palestinians for example who lived here since the fifties and sixties have no other place to go. Qatar is the home for most of those people.

Finally, I’m not calling for expats to leave! On the contrary, I think this is how people get to know each other rather than depending on biased media. Just don’t allow media to shape your perception of others, ruining your actual interaction with them.

Have I addressed your concerns? Have we reached an understanding here?