RIP Julie Khamis

This text is a commentary on the recent incident that involved the Khamis family and is based on the limited information found: here.
___________________________________

The other day, for the first time, I ended up on and reading alwatan daily, an online Kuwaiti newspaper in English. Fate had it, that I'd read about a news piece on a recent incident that sadly, and I truly mean sadly, had unraveled in Kuwait.
I had the urging feeling to write about this, spread the word, because such a thing shouldn't be buried. I wasn't disappointed today, as the Kuwaiti media has taken a special interest in the topic. I hope it leads to some good.

So it goes like this, a series of events on a roundabout - renowned for it's Bermuda like nature, always troubling - lead to a man, not a policeman, but still under the general umbrella of the Ministry of Interior, taking a girl into custody after she honked at him for stopping mid-roundabout.

Looking at the situation, it involved the daughter of an English teacher and a Kuwaiti man, Dana.
Dana is not perfectly fluent with the Kuwaiti accent, as I'm sure the officer isn't fluent in anything English. I say that, seeing as this world was not made for one type of people. As Muslims we know that, and as rational beings we know that.
Given the factors and possible types of mentalities at offer in such a situation, I will tell you I am not at all surprised at what happened. I am sickened, but not surprised. I'm not slating every policeman, officer or person of authority out there, they are our brothers and sons, what I am saying is that when we get a bad one on our hands we get them rotten.

What I don't understand is why didn't the officer drop the charges, or was even strongly advised by a superior to do so? In a society like ours, we are prized for having healthy social values that have meant profuse number of cases to be settled outside police stations. Especially when it comes to non-physical charges. A honk? An alleged hand gesture? Really?

All I know is that as Kuwaiti citizens, we are all entitled to the same protection and liberties. The common citizen is responsible in knowing their rights, just as much as the authoritative figures are responsible in making it well known how citizens should be treated.

This case is still under investigation, and with the heartbreaking news that Dana's mother had passed away, the judicial process will be put on the back-burner.

My heart goes out to Sulaiman, who lost the love of his life, his wife of 27 years, and to Dana and her two sisters (T. and H.) who lost the most precious person anyone can have, their mother.

Just know that it is only after your heartache as a family, will we have a change for a more aware future against situations like this. Keep your fingers in a crescent.

RIP Julie Khamis

Physical Irregularities

So, I get a call asking me out for a coffee. I say I'll pass. Though, come to think of it, if I were asked to come out for a session of football I would probably go for it.

It's funny how because of the social dimensions associated with those two separate activities define how appealing the activity is when one is sick, particularly with a cold (congestion/runny nose) and/or a cough.

Let me explain, say I say yes to either. When going for a coffee, or any other similar outing, there are etiquette issues that you become increasingly aware of. Whereas, going for football, it's a sport. Your primal side, to a degree, comes out. You're comfortable with everything physical, at least you're suppose to be. I think only people who have done this will understand. Doing sports, in moderation, while sick, can push out your symptoms for as long as the time you're playing.

I just find this all unusual to most, and non-intuitive.

Irrelevant Politic

I'll be honest, politics is not my game. I think I find it to be some white noise in my life for the moment anyways. But, I'll contribute by sharing very general views with you.

I do believe that each person is responsible for having an opinion. If anything, that's the smallest type of appreciation for life and your freedom in it.

So here’s what I think, I’m not sure what to make of the labels “liberal” or “conservative”.
Can’t you be, say, liberal on education, and conservative on health-care reform? Or maybe be a conservative liberal or even a liberal conservative on other issues? If humans are good at anything, it is inconsistency. It’s human nature.
It’s is foolish to form an opinion before hearing the issue at hand, and liberals along with the conservatives do it all the time as if it’s their job.