Recently, I have been hearing a lot of Kuwaitis ranting about different things in Kuwait, the increase of prices, the heritage demolishing, the inadequate funding of certain organizations or ministries, the roads, segregation, lack of nationalism, etc.
How would a Kuwaiti feel about a non-Kuwaiti activist? Is it “proper” for me to get involved and start acting or will I be told “if you don’t like it go back home” or “keyfna! deyretna!”
I was born and raised in Kuwait. As much as I love Lebanon, my home, Kuwait has become my home too. Yes, as many of you readers know, for the longest time I fought that fact and kept saying I am only here temporarily but let’s state facts here, Kuwait is my home and each day I stay here, I love it more.
I think it’s sad what Kuwait is becoming. I do not even want to imagine what could happen to this country if no action is taken. I don’t want to ever look back when Kuwait’s become another toon town and wish that I had done something.
On Saturday, Kleio, volunteered to take us to a tour of old Kuwait. I had previously visited some of the places, I had seen some of the other places, and some I never knew even existed. Walking down the street, through some alleys, allowed me to see some things with a different perspectives. The walk was refreshing and yet… depressing. It’s depressing to see a lot of the places ignored, or being demolished to replace with some artificial toon town-like heritage.
Where is the rest of the post?
The tour was amazing! When we visited the Dickson House it made me wants to build my future home in the same way but with wider rooms!
As for a non-Kuwaiti activist, I would actually encourage it! Why? Kuwaitis are not the only people who live here so the only right thing to to give all the people the right to choose whether or not they want to rally for or against something!
You know me, am anti-involvement, I just let things be, easier on my mind, easier on my stomach, the choice is up to you.
Even If you were an activist in lebanon you’ll face lame people with opposite opinions. I say do what you feel is the right thing to do. no one will ever agree 100% with you
Of course you have every right to be an activist! You were raised in this country, and anywhere else in the world you would have become a citizen by now. Just because our country has insane citizenship laws doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to speak your mind. The fact that you get sad and frustrated by the things you see going on around you, by what Kuwait is becoming, means that you love this country more than most Kuwaitis do. Lately it seems like the mentality in this country (as much as it saddens me to say this being a Kuwaiti myself) is for people to love it insofar as they can benefit from it and get something for nothing. There is no concept of what it means to be a citizen in Kuwait - to really care about your country and realize that you have a responsibility to take care of it and give something back. There are too few activists in Kuwait because everyone has become so darn complacent and are content to just sit back and watch things go by, and get destroyed, without any concern for what is happening. As long as they get to go out and buy the latest car on credit, as long as they can keep eating and keep sticking their head in the sand, why should they care or speak out or get involved? It’s such a shame. So yes, I say, speak out as much and as loud as you want, because there are too few Kuwaitis who actually care enough to do something, and we need as much of your support as we can get!
It was a pleasure being able to show you guys some of the hidden and most beautiful spots in Kuwait - before they too get destroyed or completely swallowed up by highways and skyscrapers. Since you guys left before we did the suq I’ll have to take you again because I guarantee you that there are sides of Mubarakiyya that you never knew existed!
[…] Rampurple, meanwhile, talks about her mini tour of old Kuwait and asks a question: How would a Kuwaiti feel about a non-Kuwaiti activist? Is it “proper” for me to get involved and start acting or will I be told “if you don’t like it go back home” or “keyfna! deyretna!” (It is up to us! It is our country!) […]