Thu 25 Nov 2004
In today’s AlQabas, there was a report where Kuwaiti students were asked on their thoughts on the US. Very interesting! How different would it have been 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 20 yrs ago?
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17 Responses to “Kuwaiti youth thoughts on the US”
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November 25th, 2004 at 5:09 pm
It’s so very easy to say one is anti-American. But seriously, there is so much more to the USA than what we see on the news..
It is a land of great natural beauty, artistic and scientfic accomplishment. How can anyone hate the country that gave us Hollywood, NASA, Ivy League colleges, Marilyn Monroe, The Simpsons, Jon Stewart… I could go on for weeks!
Yes it can be infuriating sometimes and can get on our nerves (like whenever Dubya opens his mouth) but again so what? Even if I may not agree with ALL its policies… at least I know that there is always room for change by democratic means, every 4 years!
November 25th, 2004 at 8:17 pm
One of the things that I find hard to understand is this obsession to place oneself either in the pro-US or anti-US camps. I think this tendency to polarize our perceptions of the US, and of our political experiences in general, both reductive and simplistic.
I never felt that it is easy to say that I am anti or pro American. I always question the validity of posing such a question and the utility of answering it.
Finally, I have to agree with Zaydoun that there is more to the US than what we see on the news, and I would like to add that there is much more in politics than anti and pro, and much more in “us” as rational human beings than being placed in polarized camps.
November 25th, 2004 at 11:02 pm
I agree with u zaydoun, there is alot more than what arab media keeps telling the arab viewers! Also, if u see how often Kuwaitis changed their views on the US, there’s an interesting shift. The reason i as about 5, 10, and 15, is bcz -
- Nowadays, u see how the majority Kuwaitis dont like the US.
- 5 years ago, before Sept 11th, people were probably mostly pro US. Its ironic how ppl started hating the US more after BinLaden attacked them, we’re suckers for the concept of a ‘hero’(aka binladen, 3abdilnasir, sadam)
- 10 years, we used to LOVE them bcz they just helped free our country!
- 15 years ago, we were against them!
- 20 to 30 years, we were Russia’s only non-communist allies!
There is something deeply wrong with our views on the US! I personally think its more of a way from us to prove that we’re “arabs” and follow the arabism disease that ibtalaina feeh!
November 26th, 2004 at 5:04 pm
Q,
Hmmm..
I think I have to come back later to comment on your comment. (or maybe not)
November 26th, 2004 at 11:22 pm
Shorouq….hmmm, why the (maybe not)?
November 26th, 2004 at 11:54 pm
Q, what do you mean exactly when saying “the arabism disease that ibtalaina feeh” ?
November 27th, 2004 at 1:27 am
boghazi…by that i mean the herd mentality of us arabs! we have to all take the same positions, the ‘al7ilm al3araby’ crap! We are arabs, but that doesnt mean we cant be independent in our thoughts and ideas! Nobody was hurt more from this Arabism more than Kuwait. We have been the people who most gave politically and economically to Palestine, Iraq, among others! And look at the results! We are still one of the only countries who doesnt have ties to Israel and we are the most hated country among Arabs
November 27th, 2004 at 9:59 am
Yup Yup I hear we’re called “Jews of the Gulf” (Yahood ill Khaleej)
November 27th, 2004 at 3:55 pm
Q. all people want hero, any hero:)
2day we went 2 lenotغ everything was amazing except for 2 things: they do not have coriander for the omelet & that was frustrating! and the place was pretty quite but our little guy made a crying party annoying all peopke ,, no more gaz for him!
i am still waiting this week review!
November 27th, 2004 at 11:15 pm
Borashed, im glad u liked it!
Give me a suggestion, what do u want me to review next??
Options -
1- Villa Fairouz
2- Kamakazi
3- Something else?
November 28th, 2004 at 7:40 am
hmmm .. surprise me! its really up2u
November 28th, 2004 at 1:05 pm
And another thing… anyone who does NOT share my eternal undying love for New York City, is no friend of mine!!
November 28th, 2004 at 2:35 pm
Zaydoun, Im not a big fan of NYC
sorry! Miami was an even bigger disappointment!
November 28th, 2004 at 9:04 pm
HAAA???!!! wait let me catch my breath! excuse me! you dont like Miami?? “Doctor we have a problem here!”
Ok. its MIAMI. yes a tourist death trap but if you know where to go, you will attain Nirvana
November 29th, 2004 at 1:00 am
Miami is fun, mostly around South Beach and across the bridge in that funky artists area…. But it still ain’t NYC!!
November 29th, 2004 at 9:18 am
Z: and thank god its not!
November 29th, 2004 at 12:33 pm
Q.. read this
http://slate.msn.com/id/2110126/