I LOVE THIS!! 💚💙 thanks @qatar_museums and @alriwaqdoha ----------------------------------------------- #Repost @qatar_museums with @repostapp. ・・・ صور من تفاعل الزوار مع أعمال نوف السويدي: 'توازن' و 'حنين' و 'هرج و مرج'. بمعرض 'هنا هناك' في قاعة الرواق بجانب متحف الفن الإسلامي نتطلع لزيارتكم و نرحب بمشاركتكم لصور الأعمال الفنية المفضلة عبر الوسم #HT_Qatar Interact with Nofe Al-Suwaidi's three pieces: 'Equilibrium', 'Nostalgium' & 'Pandemonium'. We anticipate your visit! Share with us images of your favorite artworks in the show on #HT_Qatar Images via: @3bduiaziz @ftravels @lesleyanngray @fawazidrissi @geeak @asmaa.albuainain @deeehammam
Part of my artwork reposted from @sh6r6r For anyone who hasn't been to the Here There exhibit yet, you are missing out on some great artwork by @_shaha @maryamhome @geeak @alanud_b @noorabuissa @khalifa_photo and many others! #Ht_qatar (at ALRIWAQ Exhibition Space)
Writing has the power to transform, build bridges and to capture crucial moments that encapsulate who we are as a nation. Over the past two decades, Qatar has gone through transcendental changes in every possible aspect; it has managed to go from ‘mud huts to skyscrapers’ in an enviable amount of time. Yet, it seems that Qatari writers and the level of writing in Qatar in general has had a hard time catching up to the industrial and developmental advancements in the country.
Is the ‘comfortable’ and ‘privileged’ Qatari culture the culprit, or are there other hidden factors at play here? Some have argued that Qatar is simply too young a nation.
Though, it is hard to imagine that this is a legitimate issue at all since there is a wealth of successful writers in the rest of the ‘young’ Gulf States. Why is Qatar the only one suffering from this lack of fortune?
Sophia Al Maria is an artist, writer and filmmaker. Her work has been widely featured, and quite recently one of her short films was ripped-off by Pop sensation MIA. Sophia’s memoir The Girl Who Fell to Earth is slowly starting to develop a cult following here in Qatar, which is fascinating considering that her book has not yet been sold to an Arab audience. Sophia’s memoir is a personal recollection of her life. Nevertheless it is a work of literature that is at once both relatable and unique. Most significantly, it’s honest.
Qatari writers have not received the same global acclaim or recognition for their literary work as writers from Saudi or other neighboring states.
I think there is not that culture of support for writers in the Gulf region as a whole as we see in other literary hubs around the Middle East… like there are in Baghdad or Egypt.
But, there are several books and articles written about the State, it’s rulers and the culture in Qatar.
There’s this weird nostalgia for something that never existed… People are not thinking clearly or critically about our history. I think as a nation we need to break out of the clichés. Even when it comes to opinion columns, it is important to work on promoting a Qatari voice that is refined and world-class.
In recent years, the Art and Film industry received a high level of financial and social support in Qatar. How do you think this has affected the appeal of writing as a profession?
I think that there are initiatives and institutions in Qatar that are promoting writers in Qatar, as Bloomsbury Publishing are doing at the moment. I think the major problem is that the publishing industry is in trouble all over the world, it’s really grim, even in the UK, New York, etc. It’s impossible to make it as a writer, whereas 20 years ago you could very easily, even with a mediocre mystery novel.
Some have argued that the ‘comfortable’ Qatari culture has restricted and adversely affected the level and appreciation of writing.
I do think that there is a sense of complacency. But I also think that it depends on each generation in Qatar. I think there is a frustrating attitude that younger generations have when it comes to wanting to go out, learn and explore. Younger generations have all these tremendous opportunities that older generations did not have, it’s like cherry picking out here. There’s a thousand things you could do so easily and career-wise you could be functioning on an international level so much faster as a Qatari than you could in any other country in the world. Young People in Qatar don’t necessarily understand what an incredible privilege they have, sadly very few use it.
To be a ‘successful’ writer, it takes…
Lots of writing! Actually just getting down to the writing is the hardest part. Looking at a blank page, as much as it is a cliché to say that, it really is terrifying. Just getting over that hump and writing regularly helps. And I think when approaching writing, honesty and clarity in writing and language are very important. People don’t have much patience for confusing writing.
The future for Qatari writers will look like…
I think the future looks very bright. I just hope that we get to see more of new ideas and new thinking, not the same old historical memories and nostalgia. There is so much happening right now that is interesting that should be written about and recorded.
(Posted on: http://www.justhere.qa/2013/02/the-girl-who-wrote/)
[ A piece published in 2008 in the Qatar Narratives Anthology, it seems like a lifetime ago. I feel like I was a different person when I wrote this! Much has changed and altered since then, including some of my views on social globalization in Qatar. And as tempted as I am to correct and amend this piece, I won't... ]
During the last few years, Qatar has taken globalization and modernization initiatives in the search of greater economic benefits. As a result, the country has been rapidly changing in terms of dress codes, standards of living and life styles. At times the change could be beneficial to the economy and the political state of the country. In other instances, it could also strip a country of its sense of individuality and cultural heritage. Globalization and modernization in Qatar may have various negative social consequences such as the deterioration of the Arabic language, the loss of cultural identity, and the undermining of Islamic religious values. In order to combat these problems Qatar needs to make sure it preserves its cultural identity, language and religious values.
Globalization and modernization have undeniably benefited Qatar in various aspects of society. They have given Qatar access to world-class education, higher standards of living, and a greater sense of cultural awareness and social equality. Qatar has adopted the Education City project, in which it has invited a collection of prestigious American universities to open up branches here in Doha. Some of these universities include Carnegie Mellon University, the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University School for the Arts and Weill Cornell Medical Center. Qatar has invested in the Education reform project with the aim of creating an academically stronger Qatari youth.
In addition, globalization has developed the economic and social state in Qatar. It is stated that today Qatar is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with one of the highest per capita income (CIA World Fact Book, 2007). Moreover, Qatar has created greater cultural awareness and global citizenship as a result of globalization. Cultural awareness is exercised as it is exposed to more foreign interferences through education, media, and free trade. At the same time, global citizenship is exercised through the creation of various human relief efforts organizations such as Reach Out to Asia, Qatar Red Crescent, and Qatar Charity. Furthermore, increasingly groups within society are being granted greater rights. For example, women have been granted the right to vote.
Despite the various benefits, globalization and modernization may strip Qatar of its cultural identity and sense of individuality. Ramzy Baroud, author of ‘Weathering the globalization storm’ (2006) addresses this by claiming that globalization strips Third World countries of their sense of cultural identity. The author argues that Qatar has abandoned the traditional villages in favor of Western-style projects. In addition, Baroud points out that Qatar has neglected its cultural initiative for the sake of globalization and economic welfare. As a Qatari citizen, I believe that it is in fact true that Qatar has somewhat ignored the old architectural sites and allowed them to perish away.
For the purposes of this research, I interviewed Lulwah Hamad Al Thani, daughter of the Emir of the state of Qatar, about the effects of globalization on Qatar. She comments, “It disturbs me to see some individuals adopting a complete western style of life and abandoning our social heritage.” She believes that as a result of globalization some Qatari nationals abandon their cultural identity in search of a ‘western’ way of being. In effect, adopting a western way of life dilutes the Qatari identity and cultural heritage to a degree that it may be neglected and lost.
Moreover, globalization in Qatar creates the dilemma of undermining the prominent local language within the region, Arabic. The importance of the Arabic language and the practice of the language itself is decreasing, as a result of globalization and the extensive use of English as the international language of business and higher education. A survey of 20 CMU-Q students was conducted to find out what people thought of the influence of globalization and modernization on Qatar. The survey showed that 75% believe that the number of Arabic speakers will reduce in Qatar as a result of globalization. In comparison, Lulwah Al-Thani asserts that, “I think our language will always be preserved simply because it is the language of the Quran.” She states that the deterioration of the Arabic language is not a problem. She believes that there are measures that should be taken to make sure that the Arabic language does not lose its importance and dominance within the region. However, it is undeniable that Arabic has been abandoned as the primary language of education. Furthermore, we find that today’s Qatari youth value English more than they value the Arabic language, as a result of the increasing number of English medium schools and American style universities in Qatar.
Consequently, globalization and modernization could have negative influences on the Islamic core values in Qatar. Through media, free trade, and education, Islamic values may be undermined as a result of cultural integration. Through the media, teenagers are allowed access to content that is profane and vulgar. This content threatens the strict Islamic values that the state of Qatar has managed to hold on to since its founding. In addition, through free trade, products such as alcohol, which is considered a sin, are being introduced into the Qatari market. Moreover, higher education in the form of English medium schools and American universities are constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to teachings. Qatar has employed the “hands off ’” approach in terms of the teachings given in the American universities. This has developed today’s youth into intellectual individuals with high levels of expertise in multiple fields. However, this has also introduced religious-threatening courses such as “The problem of God,” which is currently given to students studying at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. The course consists of teachings about a variety of religions and belief systems. The course challenges the faiths and religious values of the Qatari and Arab nationals in the country (http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_5931.shtml).
In spite of this, introducing challenging courses provides students with the necessary intellectual and individual thinking skills—skills that are needed to create higher thinking abilities.In order to combat these potential threats to the Qatari culture and society, the state of Qatar and the nationals of Qatar need to identify that there is a problem that needs to be tackled. First of all, Qatar has to develop methods to preserve the cultural identity of Qatar, its Islamic values and its local language. All of this can be achieved through educating the public.
To begin with, parents and educators need to be identified with the Qatari identity. The Qatari identity in the past was a combination of Gulf-based traditions and Islamic values. Today, the identity has reshaped itself in a form where Qatari nationals have the same basic ideals and values at the core but with a greater sense of acceptance and awareness of other cultures. In order to preserve the primary ideals and values of the Qatari identity, schools must make sure to imbed in the students the ideals and history of the state of Qatar at the primary and secondary level. Educators must also make sure to create a sense of pride in the Qatari identity and sense of distinctness to such a degree that whether globalization or any other global force takes place in Qatar it would not be able to strip the country of its cultural identity. Lulwah Al-Thani believes that, “We should be careful and preserve our basic ideals and religion because those two things must never be compromised. We should accept globalization only to the extent that our basic identity is not at stake.” (Al-Thani, Lulwah, Personal communication, 2007) For example, Qatar could host National celebrations as an opportunity to maintain the cultural identity of the country. In addition, Qatar could also form cultural societies or organizations that operate with the sole purpose of education the public of what the Qatar identity is and its importance. With the fast growth rate of Qatar’s economy, it is inevitable that Qatar’s identity would be altered and reshaped to be more accepting and inclusive of other cultures. However, Qatar must make sure that the identity does not lose its primary ideals; it should only become more accepting of other cultural identities.
To maintain the high importance of the Arabic language Qatar has to keep an attentive eye to the education the students are receiving. Qatar has to make sure that the schools and parents are teaching Arabic as a core subject with the same importance, if not more, than any secondary languages. Lulwah Al Thani believes that parents should have a “proactive role” in the lives of their children to make sure that Arabic is exercised and learnt. In addition, the Qatari education system must also maintain the Islamic teachings at all levels of study especially during the growth stages between primary and secondary school. In addition, the education system in Qatar should be reformed to include Arabic in all subjects. English should not be the only prominent language in all but Islamic studies. Arabic should be included in the core subjects as well.
In conclusion, through this research I have identified that globalization has various social negative effects on Qatar that we as Qataris have to tackle. We first have to highlight what these negative social impacts are; loss of cultural identity, undermining of the Arabic language and Islamic values and ideals. To overcome the consequences of globalization the state of Qatar needs to educate tomorrow’s youth and the parents and teachers of tomorrow’s youth of the importance of the Qatari identity, the Arabic language and the Islamic values. Most importantly, Qatar has to embed a sense of pride and joy into all of its citizens towards everything to do with Qatar. With such feelings and passion towards one’s country, it would be hard for any force such as globalization to change or alter Qatar’s identity, religious values and local language.
References
Al-Thani, Lulwah. (2007). Personal communication.
Asquith, C. (2006). Accepted into Education. Retrieved November 21 2007,from: http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_5931.shtml
Baroud, R. (2006). Weathering the globalization storm. The Arab American News, Vol. 22, Iss. 1045, pp. 8.
CIA World Fact Book. Qatar. Retrieved November 20 2007, from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html#Econ
There’s something about waking up while on vacation, in a not-as-familiar setting that can put a person in such elated moods. No due-dates to worry about, no obligations that need to be satisfied, nothing just you and your wonderful morning. Waking up in New York City on a breezy Ramadan morning, it really couldn’t be any better.
Later that morning, I was supposed to be meeting my friend, Noor, from back home. I called to decide on the where and the when. An hour later, I walked into her hotel, only to see her suddenly popping out of nowhere catching me completely off guard, draped in a lovely outfit and a divinely colorful head-cover. Once the shock of her scaring me colorless fades, I realized, finally I’m not the only covered girl around. The weird looks won’t just be directed at me anymore, I have someone else to share the burden with.
We caught up for hours, went around the City and caught up some more. As it nearedFutoor time, we headed to the restaurant and had this oh-so satisfying meal.
As we wait for a cab to come by, Noor asks if I’ve ever had anyone harass me or say any demeaning words over wearing a head-cover. Of course being an Arab and a Muslim, she’s probably heard countless stories about Muslims being harassed over, well for just that, being a Muslim. In an attempt to enlighten my dear friend, I tell her that truthfully I can understand why anyone would think that it’s a recurring incident. In actuality, people in this country are just the sweetest and if-anything I’ve had nothing but positive encounters and discussions over my religion and my choice to don the hijab. As irony would have it, I was about to have my first incident. The effect of whatever I said was about to be completely undone.
The skies let loose and it starts to drizzle again as it had earlier that day. Yet we still stood there waiting… and waiting. A while later, a man wearing a black suit and playing around with his phone emerges from somewhere and stands a couple of feet ahead of us, clearly also trying to flag down a taxi at the same exact pavement. We walk a little to the left to the next pavement so that at least we get a chance at a cab and he does too. We catch a glimpse of a taxicab from afar that has it’s vacant light on, while attempting to flag down the cab it slows down and stands close to us. Our momentary sense of salvation vanishes as soon as it develops as the rude fool in the suit sprints to the car and gets in.
Not only does he get in the cab, he gets in, gives us the finger and shouts, “Go back to Saudi Arabia!” As he gets in the taxicab, the car stops, as it should at a red light, only inches away from where we were standing. Shocked out of my mind at the rude and racist encounter I just stood there dumb-founded. I couldn’t believe it. What had we done to this man to deserve the attitude and the behavior? Clearly, the unspoken law always is and always will be, ‘first come, first served.’ Apparently, this man, thought he was entitled to that attitude, as he rolled the window down and said vulgarly, “Where’s your burka? Go back to Saudi Arabia? Why aren’t you wearing your burka?” For some reason he was fixating on that burka that we apparently should have been wearing. God knowing, what he thought a burka was. I’m assuming he meant the face cover. Where was I going to start with this idiot? With me not being from Saudi Arabia? Or the fact that I’ve never worn a burka, or maybe even start cursing back at him for being that prejudiced?
Moment of truth, what were we going to do? What would anyone do? Some may choose to stoop to his level, and start exchanging curse words, over a silly situation. For a moment there, I kept thinking it’s Ramadan. It’s Ramadan. It’s Ramadan. I don’t want to undo the fasting of the day for this ignorant racist… Oh, to hell with fasting, he deserves to be reprimanded somehow. It’s safe to say I was at a struggle with my own thoughts. He went at it again, “Where’s your burka?” And went on about us attempting to steal his cab. Breaking my silence and snapping out of the sense of utter shock, I shouted back, “WHAT?! If anything YOU stole OUR cab, not the other way around. We were waiting at that pavement before you even got there. So tell me, how is it that we stole your cab when we were there before you?” Expecting to get into a heated debate over who deserved the cab, turns out he felt it was his turn at silence. He rolled his window back up, and soon enough what felt like the longest red light in history turned to green and the taxicab rushes off. Did he roll his window because he realized he was wrong or did he just run out of Islam-related insults to shout back?
For a second there, I felt proud. I managed to contain myself, even though every inch in my body wanted to cause this man incomprehensible levels of suffering. Soon enough, I felt ashamed, why didn’t I, at least verbally, teach this man a lesson in common courtesy so that he won’t go on spreading those hurtful racial slurs at every Muslim he encounters. Realistically, I knew I couldn’t change much, what he thought seemed to be engrained too deep for anyone whether for a few minutes or even for an hour to change. Though, I could’ve tried. For hours, actually days, I was just reliving that moment in my head. The truth of the matter is, this man reminded me how accepted it was in today’s world to be prejudiced against Muslims. For actors in Hollywood, being anti-Black, anti-Jew or anti-homosexual was career suicide, but being anti-Islamic was just a case of ‘freedom of speech’. Not that the bubble that is Hollywood represents the rest of the world in anyway, it does, in this situation, foreshadow a disturbing occurrence. The Muslims of today, because of an act of a few sick-minded individuals acting on beliefs that have no Islamic legitimacy, have been forced to endure this modern form of ‘tolerated racism’. The dilemma here is that on one side you have the freedom of speech claim where everyone is entitled to their own opinion, no matter how flawed and prejudiced it may be. On the other side, you have nations and millions of individuals being forced, sometimes on a daily basis, to endure constant abuse on making a personal choice to believe in one faith not another. So what triumphs here, freedom of speech or the freedom to choose?
Answer? I have none. I don’t know what’s the answer. I still don’t even know if I took the right course of action or not. I don’t think I’ll ever know. Cowardly, I will continue to convince myself, like many do, that one-day they’ll understand. One-day, it won’t be acceptable to use excuses such as freedom of speech to abuse nations for the mistake of individuals. One-day, I won’t have to be patted down like a fugitive when I go to the airport, just because of a piece of cloth.
When will that day come? Perhaps never, but I’ll reassure myself with the hope that it will.
When I was a kid, idea of being a superhero thrilled me. For some kids it was Batman or Spiderman; for me it was Superman. Setting aside that they’re all male figures, what struck me the most about Superman wasn’t only his sense of righteousness, bravery and strength, as much as it was his ability to fly. Without notice, without restraint, he’d take to the sky without a care in the world. For weeks, I wore my little Superman suit everywhere, feeling, living that same spirit of freedom I admired so much.
One morning, I wore my Superman suit to school. Stomping the playground with fists on my hips, I made my way to the classroom. For a few brief but wonderful moments, I was the superhero of my first grade class. My reign as a superhero was cut short by the evil Ms. Suhair. She was the Kryptonite to my Superman. With one pass of her disapproval ray, in her syrupy sweet, super villain voice, she said, “tsk, tsk, tsk…Nofe, don’t you know that a proper Qatari girl can’t be Superman?” The sense of power that came along with the suit immediately vanished.
She became one of the first of many voices who tried to define my role as a Qatari, Muslim woman. Most often, it seemed, the messages were of things I could not do rather than of things that I could; jobs I could not hold, choices I could not make and travels I could not take. Superman’s boundless power and freedom would not be available to me. I had been born into a place and time where, for me, doors seemed to be closed rather than open. Years later, I understood why my teacher had forced me to take off my Superman costume; she believed that she was preparing me to put on another costume, my abaya.
My story of putting on the abaya inverts my story of taking off the Superman costume. This time instead of people telling me who I couldn’t be, people started to tell me who I had to be.
When I made the decision to wear the hijab, my tenth grade friends reminded me that it also meant I got to wear an abaya. Like most Qatari girls, for me wearing an abaya was a lot like wearing high heels. I was declaring to the world that I had grown up. That Thursday night, I followed my mother into the women’s majlis proudly wearing my matching sheila and abaya. I claimed my seat among the women for tea and grownup conversation. In the years that followed, those grownup conversations began to paint a picture of the life I might someday lead. In the stories I heard, societal expectations restricted Qatari women.
I started to learn that being a woman meant I couldn’t have an equal voice in society. What started out as a positive symbol of womanhood unfortunately began to change. It seemed as though wearing the abaya was synonymous with disappearing under it. Let me be clear here. I’m not talking about covering my hair; that was a decision I made as an expression of my faith. I’m talking about the abaya as a representation of the limitations placed on Qatari women.
As I have grown, so has my world. People throughout the region are asserting their presence, reclaiming their rights and demanding that their voices be heard. In my lifetime, Qatar and the women who guide her have undergone long-awaited changes. Women have emerged as leaders and role models.
We don’t need to take off our abayas to make some startling proclamation of our liberation. We need to strip away the self-imposed and culturally imposed misconceptions of what it means to be a Muslim woman in Qatar. Wearing the abaya should not mean disappearing under it. We can express our cultural pride and actively participate in our society at the same time. Wearing the abaya does not have to mean we can’t wear our superhero costumes. We can and should wear them both.
As we proceed to the next stage of our lives, we shouldn’t aspire to be the grade school teachers who tell little Qatari girls stories of limit. We must be the moms and dads who tell daughters and sons that they can be any superhero they choose to be. We must be the educators who tell their students stories that empower them and set them free. From our minds and from our hearts we must tell each other stories of equality. Instead of recreating a past built on restriction, we will help to create a future built on freedom and opportunity.
Remember as a kid you'd always wish you could have one of those cool jobs like ice cream tester or something equally amazing. Well, I found someone who actually does something as amazing for a living...
I finally made it on the plane and took my window seat. I don't know why but something about sitting next to a window calms my neurotic mind, yet sometimes makes me feel nauseated (especially when the stupid pilot was doing some weird circling on the pacific ocean).
A man in his 50s wearing a white cap, with a very relaxed and friendly appearance sat next to me. He really didn't say much, just smiled and did the normal airplane stuff. Other than the occasional smile, I pretty much ignored him and watched movies the whole time. Although he became somewhat annoyed, especially after the stupid pilot announced that we're taking two more hours than scheduled because we were taking a different route (volcanic ash again). So instead of 14hrs we were going to arrive within 15 to 16hrs. I realized later on that he was annoyed since he was going to miss his connecting flight to Orlando.
Apparently, he was recently in Abu Dhabi working on some new attractions there and OH get this there's going to be a new segregated theme park in Saudi, HA! Bill talked about working on the new Harry Potter attraction. We discussed the different attractions and especially my favorite one the Space Mountain ride in Orlando. Although, I did tell him that the ride wasn't as safe as the one in EuroDisney. Apparently, it had to do with when the ride was built, well WHO CARES it's an amazing ride ANYWAY.
Oh, how I wish I could tap my ruby slippers, like Dorothy did, and wish that I had his life! Sooo beyond AMAZING!
And shortly later, I landed in phenomenal NY for a few seconds and then had to leave :'( to Pgh with dad... And this was how I met my hero!
