Sunday 25 January 2009

I bet you think this song is about you...

I'm kinda embarrassed. This stream of consciousness has but a measly three followers.
Ugh, the vanity of this format of expression is truly, reprehensibly wretched.

Friday 16 January 2009

GazAHH!


I'm sand(hah!)wiched between a dune and a hard place when considering the Gaza situation from my Arabian perch.
But what I've realised is really most shocking is the INCREDIBLE, everpresent and all-important reach of American policy and the economic and political pull that the nation has on the prosperous countries of the Gulf. At every turn, Gulf leaders condemn the atrocities commited by Israel against their Arab Palestinian 'brothers', but at the same time officially do absolutely nothing militarily and turn a blind eye politically to the current 'war' for fear of upstetting their all important-but-ideoligical-enemy-when convenient western 'allies'. It's bizzare. Why aren't the Saudi Royals striking back at Israel in Palestine's defence? Politics! And money! That's why.
Living here really puts in to perspective what the West considers the 'right' of Israel to defend its contrived homeland. Countries shouldn't be based on faith, and on land supposedly given by God, of whichever religious stripe! That's an archaic recipe for strife and war.
The reality is, if Israel and people of Jewish faith didn't have so much pull, and weren't seen as closer to Christian western ideals compared to downtrodden, demonised Muslims, the Jewish state would already be blown to pulvarised bits by combined forces of the Christian west.
These are just my ramblings. But this Gaza conflict crystalises the inseperable ties of allegiances, politics and faith in war policy.
Disgusting.
Sort your shit out, Jeruselem! Of all faiths!

Tuesday 13 January 2009

The silencing power of unabashed, lucky wealth

It's writer's block... blogstyle. Weird. I tried to open this website with the intention of writing something thought-provoking and, perhaps, indulgent, but the reality, unfortunately, might be a forced, premeditated entry.
It spat today a few drips. First since mid December in Abu Dhabi, and perhaps the last until next November. What an inhospitable, barren, desolate place.
Emphatically marked by the harsh unfair and incongruous reality that is
OIL.
It's a place that no modern civilisation should ever wish their folk to desperately hunker down upon what with the withering heat and complete lack of water and natural greenery... but for a few lucky Bedouin families.... the black gold struck rich, and the rest, is history.
Royals? Well, that opens up a whole (censored!! and unuttered!!!!!!) kettle of Hamour...
But the second reality on this note is... that all it seems to have taken, 60 years ago or more, to become a Royal in this scorching Bedouin land cum British protectorate cum flourishing country was business sense. And now, the entire sheikhdom is ruled by, essentially, the descendants of what was the most business-wise Bedouin family of the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
An incredible (and I mean that in the true, IN-credible [ie not credible] sense of the word) feat.
But with an emphatic 'however', they now act as God-given rulers over this sandy land of opportunity. It would seem quite a slap in the face to democracy. And quite a challenge for a Westerner, sculpted from birth to cherish my vote and my voice as a type of God-given right of my own, to accept. Nevermind appreciate.
But then, why would any Emirati, the only ethnic brand in this land who have any true relevance (not voice... you need democracy for that, methinks), and the only type of folk who, enshrined in law, will ever be regarded as citizens of this crane-covered Moonscape, ever, EVER, complain of or to an absolute ruling and archaic Government when their every qualm has, thus far, been silenced by the slick, viscous, choking and gob-stopping effect of the all-for-naught wealth gushing forth in the nation-building form of Gulf desert crude?

It kinda makes me sick. And, quite literally, rich.
And actually, I do love it here.

Friday 9 January 2009

Personhood

Slowly becoming a real person here.
I've got my residence visa.
A car – rental, but at least I can go when and where I want.
My very own business cards!
And am in the process of getting my UAE driving and liquor licences.
The place is starting to grow on me, methinks.