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Tag(s): 2008 Election Presidential; 2008 Elections; Armageddon; Iran; Iraq; Iraq; Kuwait; Other Cultures; Other Elections; Predictions; (more...) Race; Rights; Work (less...)
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May 5, 2008 at 20:17:05

KUWAITI KALEIDESCOPE: May Day 2008, Elections, and other Insights

by ALONE Page 3 of 5 page(s)

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Al-Qatari states, "While Kuwait lives the hustle and bustle of the upcoming elections, anticipating the event with unceasing interest, college students in the country are weighing in a different way."

Qatari notes that, as in "Kuwait as a whole, Islamists dominate, liberals are divided and other minority groups exist but fail to achieve key positions of power."

Note: It does sound a little bit like the USA today, esp. if we replace Islamists with "conservative Christian" Republican types.

Qatari tells the reader, "When you enter the Faculty of Arts from its main gate, you notice to your left a garden with benches where students of both sexes sport the latest fashion trends and sit in groups for long hours. It's the hangout, or as we were told when we were freshmen, 'Love Street.' Students who sit there are not the ones that you want to talk with about politics or the Parliament. The guys there are fluent in sports cars and motorbikes, hair trends and football games. Even so, they all have sympathies or affiliationswith certain political blocs within KU itself."

As a whole, many students at KU live out a "disconnect between their personal and political ties". On the one hand, some of the students are alienated by the political landscape that their parents and older siblings have created.

One student named Ahmad shares, "I think there is no use of voting unless you want a direct benefit from the man you are voting for. The seats in the majlis have nametags already. You shouldn't waste your time with over-thinking,"

Nevertheless, Ahmad explained he will vote this year. "I still don't know to whom I'll vote. My family is voting for Tabtabae. It's crazy, I know, but my father is very conservative." Many young men and women who are liberal in their thinking are breaking away from family's restricted beliefs."

Ex- parliamentarian Waleed Al-Tabtabae is the man referred to. He lives within the district where the university is located, and the many Islamist parties and peoples of related tribal groups end up supporting whomever this kingmaker says they should vote for.

AROUND THE CORNER FROM LOVE STREET

On the other hand, Qatari writes that many young men and women are breaking away from family tradition and beliefs.

One female student said she would support Aseel Al-Awadhi, a female candidate this election. "I love her so much! We need people like her to fix this country before it turns into a wasteland!"

This same student, named Aisha, also explained that even though her mother supports one "religious candidate who is a distant relative", she tells her mother to think about Dr. Aseel.

Aisha moans that her mom simply responds, "I should either be helping this distant relative of ours or not vote at all." Aisha, herself, has also been politically active on campus before, running for office two years earlier.

The polarizations in Kuwaiti politics make it hard for many Kuwaiti youth to choose to move from one political affiliation to another.

One student, Jaber, who doesn't really like what the conservative religious parties do votes for them any way. Jaber explains why: "My friends [on the conservative tickets] ask me to work with them in putting up the posters and preparing the headquarters in campus. And [meanwhile] the guys from Mostaqilla and Wasat (aka Democratic Circle) have an appalling attitude to you if you look like a conservative or if you befriend people who do."

Moreover, in the bitter socio-political landscape of tribes and Kuwaitis it is easier to fall back on tradition for some.

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http://the-teacher.blogspot.com/

"I am from Kansas so I also use the pseudonym 'Kansas' when I write and publish. I keep two blogs--one with blogger and one with GNN. My writings range from reviews to editorials or to travel observations. I also make recommendations related to policy--having both a strong background in teaching foreign languages and degrees in teaching in history and the social sciences. As a midwesterner, I also write on religion and living out ones faith whether it be as a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist perspective."

On my own home page, I also provide information for language learners and travelers http://www.geocities.com/eslkevin/ , http://the-teacher.blogspot.com/ & http://alone.gnn.tv/

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5 comments

KEVIN STODA has been blessed to have either traveled in or worked in nearly 100 countries on five continents over the past two and a half decades. He sees himself as a peace educator and have been a promoter of good economic and social development--making him an enemy of my homelands humongous spending and its focus on using weapons to try and solve global issues."I am from Kansas so I also use the pseudonym 'Kansas' when I write and publish. I...

to see more of bio, click on member name
ALONEKEVIN STODA has been blessed to have either traveled in or worked in nearly 100 countries on five continents over the past two and a half decades. He sees himself as a peace educator and have been a promoter of good economic and social development--making him an enemy of my homelands humongous spending and its focus on using weapons to try and solve global issues."I am from Kansas so I also use the pseudonym 'Kansas' when I write and publish. I...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Note on labor back on the USA side of the globe.

Tentative Agreement Reached for
Tri-Counties Regional Center Workers Rally and Press Conference scheduled for Saturday, May 3 is canceled.

May 2, 2008 – SEIU Local 721 and the Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC) have reached a tentative agreement. The informational picket and press conference that was to be held in Santa Barbara outside of the TCRC board of directors meeting tomorrow has been canceled.

“This contract was not given to us, we earned it. The unity and solidarity that the members displayed was instrumental to our achieving this agreement and the support from the community and the people who we provide services for has been overwhelming positive” said Alice Forsythe, Chapter President and bargaining team member.

TCRC union members will be holding meetings and will vote on the tentative agreement at all six offices the week of May 5. Full contract details will be released upon ratification of the contract.

by ALONE (151 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 333 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 12:06:38 PM

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

I realize that you consider yourself an expert on the "tribals" now, but you don't seem to understand that some Kuwaitis are "tribals" (Bedu) and some aren't. There are well-known Kuwaiti "tribes" like Al-Ajmi, Al-Enezi, Al-Mutairi, etc.; any Kuwaiti can recognize whether a name is Bedu or not. Even among Bedus, some vote for ideological reasons and not solely for someone from their tribe - although since they can choose ten names, they can probably do both. (And if Ted Kennedy were running for office, wouldn't most of his clan vote for him?)

The people who vote for someone like Dr. Waleed Tabtabaie aren't voting out of any tribal affiliation; the people who vote for "Islamists" vote for them because they want an Islamic government. If you find out about the "Islamist" candidates, you'll find that they're quite different from your average preacher in the "religious right" in the U.S.; for one thing, many of them are highly educated, often with PhDs. They have a lot of support, including (maybe especially) among women - not because these women are ignorant and duped, but because they want a society run by Islamic guidelines.

I'm sure you're aware that the news carried in the English newspapers is geared towards foreigners and doesn't give you real insight into Kuwaiti society.--see the Teacher

by ALONE (151 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 333 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 12:08:00 PM

Yes and no --on all counts.

Yes and no --on all counts.

For example, the KUWAIT TIMES is run, I believe by a man outside the mainstream but who might be more oriented to the islamicists than the status quo pro USA ARAB TIMES.

Note, that I was summarizing young writers who interpret their family members persuading them to vote for cousin or family who is supported by islamists. This means one sees a connection between tribes, family and islamists--which your narration ignores. (Yes, one can argue that islamists are pro government, too.)

Anyway, the good thing about the three local English language papers is that they all do better than 80% of U.S. dailies.

For example, the Diwaniya section summarizes the other 8 kuwaiti papers, every day. Imagine if U.S.A papers had such a roundup!

We could then tell the newspapers apart--not all printing the same story lines most of the times.

by ALONE (151 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 333 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 12:08:39 PM

Anonymous replied...

Anonymous said...

Well, I usually read the Arab Times if I read one, but I agree that it has much better coverage of international news than the average U.S. newspaper, including major ones like the NY Times or Washington Post.

But it's also true that the English newspapers here cover different stories than the Arabic newspapers; as for local news, when they do cover the same story, the coverage is very different.

Your point about voters asking their fathers, brothers and cousins for recommendations before voting is an important one, because I've seen news reports lamenting the fact that women ask their husbands and fathers. As one Kuwaiti woman told me when I mentioned that, "Of course! that's Kuwait... The men ask their fathers, uncles and brothers, too." It's a very small country, where it's likely that you or some relative knows the candidate personally (or members of his or her family), so it's normal that they ask, and that such personal information is a factor in deciding whom to vote for.

by ALONE (151 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 333 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 12:09:34 PM

It is not just a phenomena of asking famiy whom to vote for.

It is not just a phenomena of asking family whom to vote for. The problem is that peer pressure and family pressure and tribal pressure are apparently higher here for many young adults than in many arenas outside of Asia.

(1) That is youth are not just told whom to vote for, they are pressured. They also are pressured with things like family and tribal honor.

(2)They are pressured in the same way that peers in the USA an elsewhere are by peergroups to join one fad or another.

(3)They are outright told that they will be expelled or marked as a black sheep it they take such and such position.

(4)They are warned "Better not to vote at all than to vote against us and our chosen reps."

by ALONE (151 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 333 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 12:10:33 PM