In my job, I interview private sector employees and analyze their jobs in order to set a training plan to improve their performance or ready them for a new position. The employees fill out an assessment form before I start and I just seen one of the worst, although a common sight, unfortunately. A young man, born on 1987, has a hard time writing properly. Simply writing! He left school at junior high, never finishing it. The number of Bahrainis that leave school is shocking me. I don't have numbers but I constantly see young, very young Bahraini's who are illiterate or are very weak in basic reading and writing. The fact that our kingdom has systems that allow illiterate people to exist frankly sickens me. As far as I know, primary education is mandatory. However, if I was, say, to not allow my son to study, are there any penalties to be imposed on me? Would anyone notice in the first place? I saw many illiterate working men my age or younger who dropped out of primary school. How on earth is it possible that we cannot track and stop such occurrences?
I suggest demand that education up to high school be mandatory. Parents who fail to allow their children to study up to high school should be punished by law. Repeat offenders may face numerous penalties aiming to benefit the child. Extreme cases need the child to be removed from the custody of his/her parents and allowed to study should his/her parents deny him/her education or lead destructive lives that prevents the kids from studying.
And to all the Maatams and Mosques, shame on you. You should step up your game! These places of worship are blessed with strong social relationships and has a social responsibility to society. They should address parents who allow their kids to not study or prevent them from doing so. These social measures would often be more useful than regular legal measures.
The ongoing problem is that the illiterate do not try to improve themselves at all. The government does provide alternatives for adults who wish to finish their studies up to high school, but I have yet to meet one who did despite spending 3 years on this project. I was really ecstatic to hear about A9eel which is a unique programme to promote good work ethics and in turn push for individuals to improve themselves. I hope that the data of my work helped Tamkeen see the extent of the problem and made them come up with this.
If you know someone who stopped studying, please, talk to them. If you know of a parent who allows their kids to not study, talk to them, to their kids or report them if so needed. You can make a change. Real change.
I am sure most of you know of the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Information to ban websites. I think we are all together that this is unacceptable, unimplementable, and simply put: ILLEGAL as it goes against the Bahraini Law which protects the freedom of speech.
A group of us tried to avoid this by introducing the Anti Hate Code of Ethics (http://www.bahraincodeofethics.com) and prefer that any offending website be prosecuted under the law with a chance of representation rather than resort to this old and ineffective method.
My friends,
Whether you signed the code or not, I implore you to write about the matter in your own blogs. We should also unify our forces to make our voice heard. We could hold up a rally or send one letter of objection bearing our signatures. I invite you to come up with more suggestions on what we can do about it.
Now, this has started with Shaikha Mai Alkhaleefa taking the helm as a minister. I am a fan of much of her work. She brought a breath of fresh air to Bahrain when she saved our souls with the “Spring of Culture”.
However, I would have to disagree with her on this virtual blind fold. Let me try to paint you a picture:
It is the 1980’s. No internet and no Satellite TV channels and nothing. The only communications we have with the outside world are videotapes, cassettes, books and magazines.
In these simpler times, banning something would actually work. If the government says for a reason or another that a film for example is unacceptable and not wanted, the majority of the population, if not all, will not get to see it. Tapes will be easily found and confiscated. And then what? Banning media at that age was quite effective.
But that was a long, long, LONG time ago. Just look at my brother, he was a mere idea in ’86 and was born in ’87. Today he is a 186 cm tall man, with a goatee, driving license and a college degree. Media has grown that much too.
What is the ministry hoping to achieve? Seriously? If they think they can stop people from accessing info and media in 2009, they must be delusional. Let me just count the ways that I, a non IT technician, could think of:
1.Use a proxy website. I know these get banned too, but hundreds pop out every day. The proxy websites are aware of that and email their customers a list of new addresses periodically.
2.Use a programme like Hotspot. Even if the download site is blocked, many have it and will circulate it through email forwards to all of Bahrain by this weekend.
3.Subscribe in RSS & Atom feeds: Simple. All blogs and many websites have them now. Simply click on “Subscribe to the Redbelt” to the right side bar and you will see the familiar orange box looking icon. Just click that icon wherever you go and you can get the posts immediately by email. Or you can use a service like Google Reader to read it there.
This is just off the top of my head.
Let us assume I had a blocked website (god forbid), I can easily clone my ENTIRE website and have it running from a free server with a new unblocked address. I can also email all my readers so they would know. Effectively making the ban absolutely worthless in 15 minutes.
I do understand that Shaikha Mai Alkhalifa, and the rest of the people at the ministry, mean well. So, here is my honest solution to the ministry: Go with the flow.
Example: In martial arts; to stop a punch you can either block it (which uses lots of energy and you risk injury) or... redirect it. Like Akido. Look at the following video.
Now, this is implementable in real life.In practice we can look at Apple:
One day, people found out that MP3s were popular. CD sales went down. Piracy went up. All the companies started FIGHTING mp3 sites trying to stop it, but they couldn’t. They still can’t.
Apple went and introduced itunes. If people want MP3s, give them MP3s! So simple. It worked.
The ministry is trying to block sites, which is pointless. I will still go to the same websites I went to and get all the media I got before the ban. I REPEAT: I will still go to the same websites I went to and get all the media I got before the ban. I am not affected. Bahrain is.
I am concerned about the public view of the ministry and, by extension, Bahrain as a whole. We don’t want the world to think that we are ruled by a dictatorship do we? Especially when reality is anything but that. In our post reform Bahrain, freedom of speech is guaranteed in the constitution itself:
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chapter III, Article 23 (General Rights and Obligations): “Freedom of opinion and scientific research is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to express his opinion and publish it by word of mouth, in writing or otherwise under the rules and conditions laid down by law, provided that the fundamental beliefs of Islamic doctrine are not infringed, the unity of the people is not prejudiced, and discord or sectarianism is not aroused.”
The National Action Charter also addressed the matter:
The National Action Charter, Chapter I (Fourth: Freedom of expression and publication): “Every citizen shall have the right to express himself orally, in writing or in any other way of expression of personal opinion or creativity. Under this law, freedom of scientific research, publishing, press and printing are ensured within the scope specified by law”, provided it is a responsible freedom within the scope of preserving the social fabric, and does not infringe on the freedoms of others or their religious, sectarian, or intellectual affiliation.
I strongly suggest that the Ministry uses our Judicial system. If a website is considered offensive, a court case can be filed and the law will take its proposed course (That is, after all, why we have courts in the first place).Even if there was a need to rush and take a site down in a short time, an urgent case can be filed and such an order can be had within a day.
I hope the ministry takes heed of my humble advice.
I thank the many bloggers who wrote on the matter:
We know that our local media lacks credibility. an example here: Alwatan prints reader letters that says that meat for fast food chains come from cattle that feed on dead cats and dogs. i love credible news like that. don't you?
So, Normandale Community College, USA, have turned its meditation room into a Muslims prayer room. It has a male and female section, prayer times, direction of the Qibla, and people can thankfully actually pray there now. Katherine Kersten writes about it, it gets posted into Digg, then Islamophobia breaks loose, just look at the comments of Digg users:
It'd be a good time to start carrying pork-rinds around campus, and offer them to anyone you meet. Since it's not politically correct to "profile", offer them to eveybody, especially those in the meditation room. It'd be rude not to offer.
It works on airlines, too........
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Wow.
I think a group of female students needs to go in there quite often and be sure to be uncovered, speak loud enough to be heard, and not stay in the small cordoned off area for women. Show these folks what gender equality means.
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Come on diggers, you talk of free speech and bash religion all the time. whats stopping you now??? You rip the Christians a new one everyday, let me see your best shots about this oppression against women and against other religions.
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Is anyone beginning to understand how the excesses of the Crusades and the Reconquista happened?
All this my friends is pure Islamophobia. I can safely say so because they are contradicting their own AMERICAN LAWS which state: Every person has the right to practice his / her own religion.
Now, the segregation of sexes is done as part of the religion itself, and that is a private matter. No one is being injured by it is there? Is it increasing fatalities amongst infants perhaps? Guess not.
And the whining about a dedicated prayer room? Well, again, the AMERICAN LAWS state that they are free to practice their religion. Which incidentally means praying 5 times a day and that unfortunately needs a place to do so.
I mean seriously, people are stuck in a room praying and all this phobia surfaces? Americans are not Americans anymore. No, they do not believe in the words of their forefathers anymore. shame that.
I keep getting emails that say some one needs blood urgently, please donate and call him on number so&so. While they are a beautiful gesture of kindness, they are also a sign of sheer stupidity and it makes me mad. Why? Consider today's flavour of the blood spam:
There is a 5 year old boy admitted in salmania ward 204.room 3.
He has cancer & need blood donation B+ .
Please forward this to all you know ..
Father name &mobile 39xxxxxx
Khalid A H..
What is wrong with this? let me tell you:
O+ blood is the most common blood type in Bahrain. If someone has B+ and needs blood, they can give him O+, do not worry. If they are in shortage, they SMS their donor data base (I am one of them) so if they need blood I would know before you do.
Second of all, You do not know when this happened! It could be last year for all you know.
And as far as the phone number, it could be a prank and now this poor fellow cannot use his mobile phone because of all the "charity" phone calls he is getting.
I know Bahraini's are kind but, come on!
There is a table on the Ministry of Health's website showing blood type compatibilities. It also has a field where donors enter in their CPR number to show thier record. This of course does not work (nor is secure should it work). I do have to commend the guys at Salmaniya hospital's Blood Bank though, they are providing an enormous benefit that no one thinks of. It is very easy to donate, nay it is beneficial too. Look here at what Wikipedia says. So moral of post is: 1- Please give a call to Salmaniya's blood bank, it takes half an hour or so to donate. (How about organizing a bloggers donation day?? Anyone interested) and 2- of course, stop forwarding junk without thinking. I hate it.
We used to say these terrorists are uneducated, simple minded pawns. Now a group of 45 Doctors did what??
A group of 45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in the United States during discussions on an extremist internet chat site. One message read: "We are 45 doctors and we are determined to undertake jihad and take the battle inside America.
Ah, isn't that just peachy? What better way to give a good name to your religion of peace and making everyone see the error of thier ways than blowing innocent people who disagree with you up?
Of course, it makes total sense! How did I not notice? I must be stupid!
I just got this in the mail, It's in Arabic, I'll transelate after:
الإخوة الكرام ارجو الانتباه لهذه المعاني
أولا: المسجد ويسمى بالإنجليزية MOSQUEوهي تعني بيت البعوض ومن الضروري تسميته Masjid.
ثانيا: كذلك مكة تسميتها ب MECCAوتعني بيت الخمر ومن الضروري تسميتها MAKKAH
ثالثا: أيضا عدم اختصار اسم سيدنا وحبيبنا محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم بMohdوهي تعني الكلب ذو الفم الكبير أكرم الله نبينا وأعزكم الله ومن الضروري كتابة الاسم كاملً مثل MUHAMMAD
OK, What this is telling Arab Muslims is that:
They shouldn't use the word "Mosque" because it means mosqueto house! And it should be called "Masjid" as it is called in Arabic.
That they shouldn't spell the holy city as "mecca" because it means "the house of liquer" and thus must be spelled "Makkah".
And lastly, that we should write the name of our beloved prophet as Muhammed and not to abbreviate it to MOHD because that latter means a wide mouthed Dog/
And the forwarded e-mail goes on that this is serious and you should tell everyone.
This is of course pure, grade A, utter BULLSHIT. I know many people just forward this out of good will but please oh please do not spread ignorance! Hell, Islam says that we should verify news and you don't! Just go do a google search, a wikipedia search and look in the dictionary. For Goodness sake, it took me 5 seconds to verify that this is bull.
Remember when a stupid rumor got out that said "Pokemon" means "I hate god"? Immediatly all "Pokemon" material got banned from several countries and the show stopped airing. Please oh please, DO NOT press forward. Press Search.
This is a reply to patcondell's question on you tube whether he is racist or not. Being a person that explains allot, you tube comments aren't enough for me, so here it is: Opposing views are fine, but the video turned weird towards the end. Looking at your other videos I can safely say: Yes. You ARE racist. The practices of some individuals is far from the teachings. When Families in Jordan kill off their girl for bringing "dishonor", that's their society. Not Islam. I dare you to prove otherwise. Saying that the Quran promotes war not peace clearly shows that you haven't read it. Don't bring up phrases out of context. A bad film review can have the phrase "unique", but that proves nothing without the rest of the text. People take things out of context all the time to achive certain goals. Bin Laden is very good at it. So is Bush.
To sum up:
Women dress in black (like, what did you say? a Giant Pepper pot was it?) out of their own accord (outside of Saudi of course). You see it as a form of oppression, they see it as a form of dignity. Tell me why should they be ashamed of them selves? Why isn't it you who should be ashamed for having a limited view on things? So their dress means something different from what you think. Why do you have to force your idea on the subject?
The thought of Islam promoting war or was spread by the sword is really old. It's been discussed so many times before. Please catch up.
I think you have the wrong idea about Islam. If you wish to verify how true my words are, please, lets discuss here. However, do not attempt to force your ideas here UNTIL you understand what it is you are criticizing. Only then your ideas, even if different, will be accepted. What do you say? What do readers think?
This is a page from "alwaqt" newspaper's classified page. For the nonArabic speaker, it says: "Are you looking for your other half? Then callr"abu-ghayeb on *mobile number*" What the hell is this? Knowing how newspapers work, I am sure that they did not bother to take the time to see if this fellow is a legitimate licenced match making business. The person, could be, for all I know, a pimp or a pervert. The mobile number isn't assuring, and the "name" isn't a name at all. Abughayeb is a nickname that is called on single people or ones who have no children yet. So, our news papers could be traffickingprostitution? or paving ways to sexual crimes? Alwaqt isn't the only one behind this, I saw a similar ad in alwaseet, not sure if this ran in other papers as well. someone should address this.
Today many people have sent me e-mails bearing the picture shown to the right (click on it for a bigger view). The email said:
NEXT WEEK WE ARE IN FOR A SEVERE FREEZING – AS PER THE MET DEPT GET READY FOR IT AS WARNING HAS BEEN SOUNDED
So my wonderful wife e-mailed me asking how true it is, as my father is a Meterological Forecaster with immense experience, this is what I got:
This is an 8 day forecast, the met office here usually issue 5 day forecasts, due to the decrease in reliability long forecasts have. My father exclaimed that while we have Northerly winds now, Friday & Saturday will see Sothern winds (aka: Koos) making it unlikely to go to freezing degrees. They also expect more rain, and temp around 19 max – 13 min. Everyone can call the met office at 17323073 to confirm Also, by going to weather.com (the Weather channel's website) we see that their predictions are the same as our met office. Picture attached and the link is below: http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/BAXX0001?from=36hr_topnav_business
There you go. You can click on the 2nd picture to see weather.com's 10 day forecast. reast easy, and ask everyone who sent this to you to verify a story before they send each piece of unproved crap to your inbox.
Our dear news paper "Akhbar Alkhaleej" shows its ignorance when posting the picture of Devil Jin Kazama of Namco's successful fighting game "Tekken", as an illustration to a story about some crime forcasting program. What on earth do the two have in common? I'm sure that the person who used this mage doesn't know what this image is, and this is my point. Ignorance! You know what? I may be picky but I'm tiered of people who cannot differentiate between a Koala bear, a Polar bear & a Panda. I'm tiered of people who will run a story on an elderly home and attache a picture of the YMCA. I'm tiered of people who refer to AAAALLLL foreign language music as "rock music موسيقى الروك". Things that are supposedly common knowledge should'nt go through this! From now on, I shall point out stupidity and ignorance. I accept your contributions with pleasure.
