About a week ago, I was talking about the problems facing the youth getting married, and ive heard a man asking for a dowry of a Quran for his daughters hand, and it inspired this article. Now
I am not kidding here, Ive seen weddings worth at least 2 million dirhams... and that was not even one of the most extravegant. So whats the story? Does it prove that you will have a better marriage? Do you think he loves you more?
Not a chance
Look, I want any local girl reading this post to think about it for a second... If you truly loved the man, and he truly loved you back, do you think money would matter?
I know that a great deal of the blame lies with the parents in setting the dowry, for a mentality here is that "my daughter is not cheap" or "we have a family name to uphold", but a happy marriage is priceless.
But there is an argument for having a high dowry... A woman should be a princess on her marriage night, and she deserves a night like that, and a dowry sweetens the deal. But what if the guy, though perfect in every respect, was not rich? Would you accept a marriage for nothing? better yet, would your parents?
I dont have daughters, but I feel I would be doing the right thing by giving her away to a proper man, regardless of whether he was rich or not.
semper fidelis
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Once again everyone
"Analysts say the downward trend is likely to continue as long as speculators dominate the markets and Iran's defiance on the UN's nuclear demands may make investors jittery." (gulf news 29/4/06)
We need proper analysts.
Two days ago, the exact opposite was said. Something about the market being only in a temporary slump?
WE NEED PROPER ANALYSTS.
We need proper analysts.
Two days ago, the exact opposite was said. Something about the market being only in a temporary slump?
WE NEED PROPER ANALYSTS.
Monday, April 24, 2006
The solace of the sand
I grew up in a land of cousins and brothers
Where in Public, men never kissed their mothers
I learnt early on that staying silent was having grace
Yet passion's call does not allow for saving face
I sensed it was a forbidden love as I held her hand
Now in my heart's desert, I seek the solace of the sand
With the writing this poem I called forth an unjust shame
For my lonely night knows no forgiveness, remembering her name
Semper Fidelis
(I dont know whats gotten into me, but I had to write this... dont read into it)
Where in Public, men never kissed their mothers
I learnt early on that staying silent was having grace
Yet passion's call does not allow for saving face
I sensed it was a forbidden love as I held her hand
Now in my heart's desert, I seek the solace of the sand
With the writing this poem I called forth an unjust shame
For my lonely night knows no forgiveness, remembering her name
Semper Fidelis
(I dont know whats gotten into me, but I had to write this... dont read into it)
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Oh my God.
Yesterday as I was flipping through an arabic newspaper in the University coffee shop I noticed an article that has chilled my very heart...
This article was basically probing local traders opinions about the upcoming free trade agreements in the UAE. These agreements seek to break the current system of exclusive dealerships, and allow for a more free-flowing and competitive market place that would be open to foreign investment. Nearly every single trader in the article was talking about the benefits of these agreements, and how it wouldnt have a very negative impact on the current system if you were conducting your business properly... Save one man: Fardan Al Fardan.
I have always respected his opinions, and with this comment he summed up my fears:"who will protect the national (citizen)?"... While the rest of the traders were going on and on about how the increased productivity would benefit them, none of them stopped to think about whats protecting their investments... No one.
Most of the exclusive dealerships here are held by local families, so who is going to protect them? We are already grossly outnumbered by our foreign compatriots in our own country, and losing the one leverage locals have here in the UAE, the big businesses (which are mostly bsed on foundations of exclusive dealerships), would be a staggering blow.
My point is that even in America, "the land of the free", there are limitations to what foreign investors can own. Case in point: In the early 90's Prince Waleed Bin Talal, an investor in many companies in the US, was not allowed to maintain a 15% stake in Citibank, even though his investment was saving Citibank, a banking giant, from bankruptcy!
Where are those limitations here? Why arent they in place?
All I know is that when the American billionares decimate the businesses here, my reaction would be to close my eyes in sadness... And wonder why the ministers hadnt read my blog.
This article was basically probing local traders opinions about the upcoming free trade agreements in the UAE. These agreements seek to break the current system of exclusive dealerships, and allow for a more free-flowing and competitive market place that would be open to foreign investment. Nearly every single trader in the article was talking about the benefits of these agreements, and how it wouldnt have a very negative impact on the current system if you were conducting your business properly... Save one man: Fardan Al Fardan.
I have always respected his opinions, and with this comment he summed up my fears:"who will protect the national (citizen)?"... While the rest of the traders were going on and on about how the increased productivity would benefit them, none of them stopped to think about whats protecting their investments... No one.
Most of the exclusive dealerships here are held by local families, so who is going to protect them? We are already grossly outnumbered by our foreign compatriots in our own country, and losing the one leverage locals have here in the UAE, the big businesses (which are mostly bsed on foundations of exclusive dealerships), would be a staggering blow.
My point is that even in America, "the land of the free", there are limitations to what foreign investors can own. Case in point: In the early 90's Prince Waleed Bin Talal, an investor in many companies in the US, was not allowed to maintain a 15% stake in Citibank, even though his investment was saving Citibank, a banking giant, from bankruptcy!
Where are those limitations here? Why arent they in place?
All I know is that when the American billionares decimate the businesses here, my reaction would be to close my eyes in sadness... And wonder why the ministers hadnt read my blog.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Sprucing Up?
I need to improve on the look of the awareness,.,. The current "all-black" theme is not going down too well,.,.
Anyways, As the topic I chose is sprucing up, I have a solution to the obesity problem here in the UAE... A national initiative that starts at school!
Think about it,,, If kids were given a mandatory 1-hour awarness lesson, be it PE or just something to keep them active, would be extremely beneficial to our students.
Hmmm, But first lets improve on the standards of education first?
(sigh)
If only the minister of education was reading my blog.... Oh the wonders that could be achieved :-)
Anyways, As the topic I chose is sprucing up, I have a solution to the obesity problem here in the UAE... A national initiative that starts at school!
Think about it,,, If kids were given a mandatory 1-hour awarness lesson, be it PE or just something to keep them active, would be extremely beneficial to our students.
Hmmm, But first lets improve on the standards of education first?
(sigh)
If only the minister of education was reading my blog.... Oh the wonders that could be achieved :-)
Sunday, April 16, 2006
realization of time
As I look into the eyes of my past generations, I see a perched bird of trials unspoken of.
Feathers of innocence form its wings of love, and sense its worth is known in the heavens above.
I hear its sweet song of agony, and I fall to my knees crying tears for its undying love.
Though it will fly away, I will always hold in my heart a vividly white dove.
Semper Fidelis
Feathers of innocence form its wings of love, and sense its worth is known in the heavens above.
I hear its sweet song of agony, and I fall to my knees crying tears for its undying love.
Though it will fly away, I will always hold in my heart a vividly white dove.
Semper Fidelis
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The Invasion of the different
It was 1 am and my friends got the bright idea to go to Dhiyafa which, to all the ignorant people out there, is the city's original flirting street... You expect cars filled with guys and girls TRYING to work out their "groove thang"
Now, since this was a weekend (last Wed) traffic was expected... But not the kind of traffic we saw.... Let me clarify, we werent there for flirting. We were pretty much spectators to the fiasco, who incidentally were looking for proper fruit cocktails... And what we saw, was rather unnerving...
Having a few gay people out flirting is expected... But I counted 5 cars at 1:30 Full of gay guys, who were basically sloooowly undressing us with their eyes (no ma7'fee [tint]). Previously, gay people would never EVER flaunt the fact that they are gay... And that was just the half of it.
The girls were even worse probably since they have always been allowed to flirt like no tommorrow... BUT what confused me is "why now?"
Why are the collective primal urges of our youth coming to a head now?!!!
Is it because of new found freedoms ? Or is it because people are finally realising exactly what can be gotten away with?
I honestly dont know
I hope this craziness goes away... But I doubt my hopes would come to fruition.
....
On another note: Radars suck
Now, since this was a weekend (last Wed) traffic was expected... But not the kind of traffic we saw.... Let me clarify, we werent there for flirting. We were pretty much spectators to the fiasco, who incidentally were looking for proper fruit cocktails... And what we saw, was rather unnerving...
Having a few gay people out flirting is expected... But I counted 5 cars at 1:30 Full of gay guys, who were basically sloooowly undressing us with their eyes (no ma7'fee [tint]). Previously, gay people would never EVER flaunt the fact that they are gay... And that was just the half of it.
The girls were even worse probably since they have always been allowed to flirt like no tommorrow... BUT what confused me is "why now?"
Why are the collective primal urges of our youth coming to a head now?!!!
Is it because of new found freedoms ? Or is it because people are finally realising exactly what can be gotten away with?
I honestly dont know
I hope this craziness goes away... But I doubt my hopes would come to fruition.
....
On another note: Radars suck
Sunday, April 02, 2006
sleepless 2
Im sooooo sleepy, so Im just going to write anything, and hope it turns out fine... Apparently, I have a thing for late-night posts, but then again the blog is called DXB nights after all...
Who would you consider incomplete without? Have you found that significant other? How do you know he/she is not on speed-dial on your phone?
Some would think Im talking of love, of a love who lights up the night,,, But they are wrong. The only light comes from true friends...
All those songs about the heart's love, cannot compare to what we should owe true friends ,,, because the sheer pureness of their friendship burns me.
I just have to end with this (it wont make much sense because its sooo random):
A poet said: " ya 7abeeb ilgalb 3athbt il7esha"...
Who would you consider incomplete without? Have you found that significant other? How do you know he/she is not on speed-dial on your phone?
Some would think Im talking of love, of a love who lights up the night,,, But they are wrong. The only light comes from true friends...
All those songs about the heart's love, cannot compare to what we should owe true friends ,,, because the sheer pureness of their friendship burns me.
I just have to end with this (it wont make much sense because its sooo random):
A poet said: " ya 7abeeb ilgalb 3athbt il7esha"...
Saturday, April 01, 2006
nightmare
God, its too late to talk about anything worthwhile,,, so why not talk about nightmares?
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the worst nightmares exsist while we are awake,,, The once peaceful Iraq is being torn to peices from its insides, and everyone is suffering... The blood flows in rivers there, and I havent even started on the flow of tears... To think that we fear the darkness of nightmares, when we really should be fearing the darkness of our fellow men is tragic. But why do I stray so far? The thoughts I weave do not do justice to the blackness right here in the UAE... Labourers with no food, and no water... Orphans fearing for their futures... and the ghost of a growing ignorance grasping this great nation...
All I can do is pray for us all... and I hope you pray for us too.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the worst nightmares exsist while we are awake,,, The once peaceful Iraq is being torn to peices from its insides, and everyone is suffering... The blood flows in rivers there, and I havent even started on the flow of tears... To think that we fear the darkness of nightmares, when we really should be fearing the darkness of our fellow men is tragic. But why do I stray so far? The thoughts I weave do not do justice to the blackness right here in the UAE... Labourers with no food, and no water... Orphans fearing for their futures... and the ghost of a growing ignorance grasping this great nation...
All I can do is pray for us all... and I hope you pray for us too.
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