Geben

I was taught to be a kind, caring, and giving person. In our religion it states that one must be caring, giving, and to aid people in need.

My country, Kuwait, provides aid to countries who need our help, whether it be in Asia, Africa, the Americas or even one of our own Arab neighbours; however, aid usually entails money and God only knows where it really goes towards.

What I don't get is how Kuwait, who knows that there has been a war going on for over 50 years, cannot see fit to help out the ones living in our country and make them legally a part of us. I am not saying that they are not doing it, but I am saying that they are not doing their best. I have relatives and friends that were not "originally" Kuwaiti. Most were of Palestinian decent, but I still see them as a part of us. The country thankfully gave them their due right, but what of the others?

It angers me when I see families who have been living in Kuwait for over 40 years, still cannot get a Kuwaiti citizenship. What more loyalty do you need? They can't buy a home, they can't get better education, they can't get better salaries (don't get me started on that), and a child (who's only recognized through the mother's passport) can't travel without the mother. EVEN if it's to a neighbouring Arab country. A woman married to a Kuwaiti for more than 5 years (with wasta) can get a citizenship, why not the ones living in Kuwait for 20+ years?

Why is it so hard to place a citizenship in a person's hands? A person who calls our country home. A person's who's grandfather used to call our country home. Is it because Kuwait doesn't want them to have all the benefits of being a Kuwaiti? All it needs is a little thinking. Give them a citizenship but not with all the rights of a "first class" Kuwaiti. Just like how Americans are differentiated between naturalized and green card. After a few years VOILA, you are a naturalized citizen. Where is the "giving" that was preached to us all our lives?

What next?

While catching up on Kuwait's news and the government's latest drama today during work, I came upon a sentence embedded in an Arab Times article about the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Nouriya Al-Subeeh's grilling.

The sentence stated the following "Meanwhile, parliamentary sources told the Arab Times the segregation law forms part of the grilling because Al-Sebih had promised the National Assembly’s Education Committee to implement the law in private universities".

Segregation in all levels of education up to high school I accepted growing up. A few years ago they started segregating Kuwait University's classes and now they're going after the private universities? What's next, private schools, the private business sector, our homes?

I accept the fact that male and female hormones are raging and we should protect our children etc. etc., but the way to protect our children is through education at home and school NOT segregation. If the government thinks they are doing the right thing well think again. The problem lies in when the students are done with class and not during. When walking to their respective classes they meet up, chat, talk, walk side by side GOD SAVE US they might even laugh and smile.

Is our society rewinding back to days when women weren't even allowed out of their home? Is that what's next on their agenda? How about private tutoring for all females? That way, the men in Kuwait won't have to see us at all and thanks to the latest technologies we can even work from home!

I say go ahead, make me even less proud to call myself a Kuwaiti.