Recent World Events

Dear Friends and family, Greetings from Doha, Qatar, where we are experiencing summer like weather, that is, summer in America.  We are sorry that winter’s blast has hit so much of the USA with such an icy blast—that is except for the cheaters who won the Super Bowl.  They deserve all the winter they get!!  Just kidding.

Blue Mosque, Katara

We’ve experienced some troubles receiving email from Verizon, due to the enormous amount of spam Verizon was receiving from Middle East and European countries.  Therefore, Verizon blocked the servers.  We went several days without receiving our emails through Verizon.  However, they finally gave us a way of bypassing the blockage and we finally received our email messages.  Our close friends asked us a week ago if the folks in Qatar speak at all about the Jordanian pilot who was burned alive by the ISIS creeps.  Since the question was asked, many other things have happened in world events.  So I gave a lengthy answer to the question, but wouldn’t you know, in attempting to send it, the message evaporated.  This was annoying and disturbing.  But I decided that maybe others would like to know the answer as well, since it deals with Qatar, Arabs, Muslims and the Middle East. 

The question posed was in light of the burning of the Jordanian pilot by the vicious people of ISIS, do people of Qatar talk about it.  The general answer is, not much.  Most Qatari’s and Middle East folks do not talk about what we’d call, world events or Foreign Policy with us.  A few do.  And these were graphic.  When I asked a Jordanian lady about it, she first exclaimed, “it makes me sick and I don’t want to talk about it!”  But then she went on.  She said that everything they are doing goes contrary to what the Qur’an teaches.   She then went on to ask, “Where did these folks come from?  How did they get so dominant so fast?  Who funds them?” and the like.  Of course, since then the situation in Yemen has occurred.  That is a country where some of our friends are from right next to Oman, where several recently vacationed and swear is the most beautiful.  At the same time, three Arab Muslims were murdered point blank by being shot in the head in North Carolina.  CMUQ is going to have a vigil tomorrow, at Her Highness Sheikha Mozah’s request.  Most of my American friends would not want our people in USA to be judged by this evil, lunatic’s action.  That is how the Arab, Muslims would want us to treat the crazies who do things in the name of the Islam religion.  Americans should know that not all Muslims are Arabs and not all Arabs are Muslim.  They should also know that most Muslims do not want to harm anyone at all, much less Americans, for whom they have a healthy respect. In my interviews with Arab, Muslim prospective students, generally ages 17, 18, I ask them whether they would like to spend a semester in Pittsburgh if they get accepted by CMUQ.  I wish Americans could see their faces light up as they excitedly say, “Oh, yes, that would be so great.  I would cherish the opportunity to study in and visit America”  I cringe inwardly a bit, hoping that no crazies would harm them or say offensive things at them that would make them feel uncomfortable due to their nationality, religion or dress. 

So what do the ones who express themselves say about the people causing trouble?  One close friend told Edna that the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are crazy, the Al Qaeda are terrorists and ISIS are an offshoot of Al Qaeda or Taliban.  These last folks have killed more Muslims in savage ways than they have Westerners, but our news didn’t cover it until they killed Americans, British and Japanese. 

I will say more about some of the issues in times to come.  I continue to read and study issues and don’t want to give historical answers just yet, although I know some of the historical things.

But Qatar itself is safe.  There is no crime.  I know that’s hard to believe, but basically it is true.  People are here on work visas  To commit a crime lands one in jail and then deported and for the most part, people are earning more than they ever could in their home lands, so they largely don’t commit crimes  Additionally, the police system here is the best that money can buy.  My understanding is that there are cameras everywhere, so by and large people don’t know when they are being watched.  When we were here a decade ago, a cleaning worker stole a bottle of water from CMUQ and was caught in the night shift.  He was on a plane out of the country by morning.  It was a shame, but if we left water out for them, the first one would take the waters and sell them to others, so it’s hard to know what to do.  Despite there being no crime, that doesn’t mean that everyone is honest.  If you offer to give someone money, you will find out how bad things are in their family and homeland, until you have to stop.

There is another side to the original question.  Folks who are not from America and Europe are not prone to complain.  One goes to jail for publicly criticizing the Emir or royal family.  It’s the same for these folks no matter where they come from.  When you think about it, Americans complain just to complain sometimes.  These folks act like it doesn’t do any good, so why bother.  Additionally, they believe that most things, if not all things, are God’s will.  So they bear the injustices with little complaint, particularly when they are not happening to them.

Having said that, I want to say that I don’t think generally most people have a complaint about the Emir or His Royal family.  He is pretty good and favorable.  He donated the land for the churches to build on, despite being a Muslim himself.  When injustices are brought to his attention, he acts to rectify the situation.  Two cases in point: First, The small African children who rode the camels in the camel races often to their deaths that I mentioned in the last blog.  He outlawed the practice and robots ride the camels now.  Second, “inhumane” fishing practices of dynamiting or putting lights in the seas that drew all sorts of fish to the light, including mothering and baby fish, was outlawed.  His Highness (the meaning of “HH") has brought this country far.  It still has a ways to go, but I believe that he is addressing those issues.  This country was a third world country before he took over.  It is quite beautiful and progressive now.  It’s not a finished product, but it’s come a long way.  We may be biased, because we love these folks, but it is how we see it. 

When we come home in June, ten Middle Eastern ladies who work for CMUQ are coming with us for their first visit to America.  I wish folks could see their excitement.  If Americans knew how much they are appreciated by the vast majority we might have fewer questions of “why do they hate us?” and more of “why do they love and respect us?”