"The Charm and Attraction of Kuwait"

Submitted by Prisoner Of Destiny Q8 (Kuwait), Jan 26, 2005 at 04:17

You made some very interesting points. For those who have stayed in Kuwait (Q8) for a period of time, they have like myself done their fair share of comparing life here with life in the West.

There is no comparison. Each country must be judged on its own merits. While not a perfect country, and the same holds true for "all" countries, the charm of the traditions, culture, fondness for tent outings despite its oil wealth is what gives Kuwait its charm.

As an American who has completed 20 years here, if Kuwait became a carbon copy of the West, I would very saddened.

Where else can you go and appreciate the modern malls, science museums, art museums, then attend a typical diwaniya if you're male, spend the weekend in the desert living simplistically and still see men and women dressed in traditional clothes one day, and modern the next? Most expats here for any amount of time barely blink at men wearing tradtional dishdashas, or women in veils, as they know it's their contribution to society that counts and the right to dress as they feel comfortable, or as the religion and modesty states.

The law here does not dictate the style of dress. It's a matter of choice. Let not the West pity the inhabitants here as that is simply a waste of time and energy.

My personal choice is tradition and I miss the old days, yet embrace the new simply because it's here and one must go with the expected flow of modernization.

The greatest diservice most writers of the Middle East portray is the "modern" West with the "backwards" traditions here. Many metropolitan cities in the West have become "concrete jungles" and relationships with friends, family and neighbors clinical in nature due to the fast pace of life. Family life still being priority here has maintained the warmth of human interaction.

Let's keep it this way....

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