Author: MandarinTangerine

Poor little Yemen! The least of the Arabs, or so their Arab brothers believe.

Little water, little oil, too many children, few jobs, and now under attack by their northern neighbor.

The country has no unified government that is accountable for all the citizens. Justice is an abstract concept for Yemen, for they have no means to achieve it.

I have no idea not how their court system functions at the present time.

Aid organizations have mostly left the country because of the very real safety concerns.

News organizations issue few reports of local news.

I would love to hear from aid organizations or embedded reporters.

In July 2013 the Egyptian military under Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi took over the government from the country’s freely elected President Mohamed Morsy. The military’s promise was to restore order and safety to the country.

The overthrow put Egypt’s military back in full control of the country, a de facto arrangement which has existed for many years. The military has financial interests in most aspects of the Egyptian economy, and they profit from their control.

Freedom of speech has essentially been reduced to nothing. Human Rights Watch has condemned the actions of the Al-Sisi government. Reporters, novelists, and citizens who have spoken out have been killed or jailed. All of this has been done in the name of preserving peace.

The one minor bright spot has been the military’s protection of the Christian minority, a policy also followed under the Mubarak regime.

Western democracies have ignored the internal actions of the Al-Sisi government in the name preserving international relations.

The title above is followed by a question mark for a reason. The question mark is there because I am not sure if justice is even a consideration for the Kingdom.

The King of Saudi Arabia is the head of the government, and all decisions are taken by him after consultation with the royal family. The Quran is the constitution of the country and the basis of its system of Sharia law.

The royal family has complete control over the distribution of wealth, and only the vast oil wealth of the country assures an adequate amount of funds for the average citizen.

Saudi Arabia is currently at war with Yemen, a country without sufficient means of defense save for the contribution of Iran. Thus, the conflict is a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Many expatriate workers are present in Saudi Arabia, and they have little recourse in the system of Saudi law. Like Kuwait, they are in Saudi Arabia by the their own choice.

Some degree of political corruption is the rule among royal family members, often persisting under the term “wasta,” an Arabic word roughly meaning influence. This is accepted as the norm.

The position of women in the country is restricted. All women must have a male guardian. They are not permitted to drive.

The issue of justice for the people of Saudi Arabia is simply not on the table.

In comparison to other Middle East countries,  justice issues are relatively minor. Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a royal family and an elected, unicameral parliament. In practice the royal family has the final say-so over every issue. The emir has disbanded the parliament on numerous occasions. However, the benign proclivity of the royal family has been a protection for the citizens.

There are three issues: distribution of wealth, religious freedom, and treatment of ex-patriot workers.

The financial resources of Kuwait are immense, and the Emir generally distributes the wealth among the citizens. Complaints from citizens are relatively rare (but there are potential penalties for criticizing the royal family). There are lacunae of problems, particularly with the health service , but once again, these are few. The criticism here is that citizens have no voice in the use of Kuwait’s wealth.

The issue of religious freedom is complex. The constitution guarantees religious freedom, but there are articles of law that abridge this freedom. One who renounces Islam (apostasy) may have their marriage annulled and cannot inherit family property. The charge of blasphemy may be brought by anyone, and the penalty may be fine and imprisonment. On occasion the parliament has passed laws invoking the death penalty for conversion from Islam to Christianity, but the Emir has thrown out such penalties. The fact is that there is no true religious freedom in Kuwait for Kuwaiti citizens.

The treatment of ex-patriot workers from the developing world often reaches news reports. These workers are underpaid by local standards and often physically mistreated. Their recourse through the legal system is limited. Still, one must admit that they are in Kuwait by their own choice.

The overall fact is that the rule of law in Kuwait cannot be depended upon by the average citizen. In contrast to the common law system of justice, Kuwait legal jurisprudence is not controlled by precedent. Thus, a decision in one instance may not be replicated in the next instance.

As we move into the US holiday season, my wife, Shirley, has the following contribution. Her words are a prelude to our upcoming memoir, Faith in Crisis – How God Shows Up When You Need Him Most.

At this time of the year our thoughts turn to thankfulness. We encourage children  to think about what they are thankful for – food, a home, parents who love them, various family members, even the privilege of an education.

As adults we can take nothing for granted. I have felt challenged to see how God has been in every detail of my life from the very beginning to draw me to Himself. I would challenge each one of us to look back on our lives and identify the Lord’s guidance and protection.

Each of us has a story to tell. I worked as a social worker with the underprivileged and at one point with sexually abused girls, so I have heard many stories. I would like to share just one aspect of my story of how God prepared us for our Elizabeth.

I never knew my parents, but my grandmother brought me up in her Christian home.  She told me I had a little brother that only lived a few days after birth. This was only a reminder to me when the question came up whenever I was pregnant if there had been any disabilities at birth in my family.

Jeremiah 29:11 states: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

When we lived in Kuwait there was a little girl who had been a twin. Her parents abused her and caused her to have a head injury and therefore very limited intelligence. She was in the hospital where Jim worked. Our children went to visit her and although she was Muslim the hospital granted us special permission to take her to our home. She would stay with us days at a time. Soon we came to regard her as part of our family and developed a special love for her. When it was time for us to return to Augusta for summer break we were sadly informed that we could not take her out of the country. Since she was Muslim it was impossible for us to adopt her. After the war with Iraq our Kuwaiti friends told us that her biologic parents killed her.

We thought about adopting a special needs baby but I told the adoption agency I could not handle a child who could not walk or one that was mentally challenged.

When we heard about a baby with one arm and crossed eyes this seemed fine because these things could be fixed. However, upon her arrival we realized that the problems were much greater than this. Although we wondered how even with the Lord I could ever handle this child, we clung to Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
What a blessing the Lord has given us in this child. Her simple joy and trust in the Lord and enthusiasm for life pushes me ahead every day. The Lord had certainly brought good above anything I could ever ask or think.  She tells us her job in life is: “to tell others about Christ. ”

Although many cannot understand Elizabeth when she speaks, her love for others and concern for them is obvious. If there is an accident on the road or an emergency vehicle, she never fails to want to pray for them. I admit I am sometimes embarrassed when she wants to pray for complete strangers who have expressed a need or might just have a cast on a part of their body. When I am with a friend who might express a concern or need, she is always ready to tell them a Bible verse that would meet that concern. God has revealed His glory through all his creation. Praise the lord for His sovereignty and His great love for us.

The word “bidoon” in Arabic means “without.” The Bidoon comprise about 100,000 of Kuwait’s three million population. They are the descendants of Bedouins who failed to register for citizenship early in the history of Kuwait. Thus, they lack status as citizens. They are essentially stateless with no hope of altering their position. They do not receive welfare, healthcare, or free education. They cannot vote.

The Bidoon, in a small number, have joined other Middle Eastern refugees seeking asylum in Europe.

But most Bidoon remain where they have grown up in Kuwait. They are a class to themselves in that rich Gulf State.

I know what you’re thinking. The rich Kuwaitis should award citizenship to the Bidoon of Kuwait.

Do we in the US have our own class of Bidoon? Among those children of undocumented aliens who have grown up in this country, we see a similar group.

Should both Kuwait and the US provide a path to citizenship for these stateless ones?

While there is no singular view among the Arabs about their ancestors and their place of origin, the following is a view many would adopt. The excerpt below is from my unpublished novel Kuwaiti Seeker in the words of its protagonist, Yacoub. You will note that Yacoub combines ideas from both the Quran and the Old Testament.

“This is how our people came to be. Those who long preceded us came from our own place, where we now reside [the Arabian peninsula]. Our ancestors proceeded north and settled the fertile land between the two great rivers, dispossessing those less able than ourselves, for we are by nature invaders and not defenders. Through our own driven efforts of generation, we spawned the Jews.

“Our great father and prophet, Noah, told the people ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is oft-forgiving (The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an, Abdullah Yusef Ali, 71.10).’ For Noah knew their misdeeds. And ‘What is the matter with you, that ye place not your hope for kindness and long-suffering in Allah (71.13)?’ And more, Noah said, ‘O my Lord! They have disobeyed me, but they follow (men) whose wealth and children give them no increase but only loss. (71.21).’ Our father Noah warned the people but they did not look to Allah. ‘Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood), and were made to enter the Fire (of Punishment): and they found – in lieu of Allah – none to help them. (71.25).’

“The book of the Jews and Christians tells us Noah’s son, Shem, came next. We are all sons of Shem [hence, both Arabs and Jews are Semites]. Shem was righteous and covered his father’s nakedness preserving the honor of our tribe. His descendant Eber gave life to Peleg and Joktan. Eber means ‘divide’, and in the time of Eber the peoples of the earth were divided by language. But through Eber the thread of language that binds us to the other sons of Shem was preserved.

“Peleg and Joktan wandered (know now that we come by this trait rightly). From Pelelg came Abraham who lived first in the hilly desert not more than a day’s drive north of our diwaniya [discussion group characteristic of Kuwait] tonight. His ziggurat of Ur is still seen in the wind-blown desert. Abraham preached the worship of Allah to his father, Azar, who did not believe the truth. So Abraham left him. He proved his faith when he agreed to sacrifice Ishmael [Christians say Issac], who was saved only through the will of Allah. Ishmael’s mother Hagar took him away from the spiteful Sarah and into the waterless desert. Once again Allah preserved them when the spring of Zamzam came out of the ground. It was there that Abraham and Ishmael built our holy house, and Allah sanctified the Kaaba. And it is there we return for our pilgrimage.

“Out of the tent of Abraham and Ishmael came our progenitor Adnan and out of his tent, Mohammed. And the northern desert of our great peninsula yielded to them. We still picture Adnan as he has become in our memories: long-faced, unperturbed, difficult but strong and brave, the long curved nose marking his demeanor, such that he came to resemble the Hurr falcon which he used to hunt the houbara bustard.

“Out of Eber, also, had come Joktan. The people of Joktan traveled south around the great desert, along the western coast of the Red Sea. Like their father Yoktan, they were fleshy, round-faced and full of sloth. They settled in the Hadramawt, which is the place of death.”

Iran supplies the Houthis of Yemen, a Shite subgroup, with arms to fight the Sunni regime in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis continue to bomb Yemeni targets. In support of Saudi Arabia, the US and allies attempt to interrupt the flow of Iranian arms.

An event earlier this year was typical. According to the Navy statement, the US warships Sirocco and Gravely seized a small boat carrying 1,500 AK-47 rifles, 200 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, and 21 .50-caliber machine guns.  Small Gulf crafts called dhows transport most of the shipments,  and there is no way  to monitor all such vessels in the Gulf.

The news of the ongoing war surfaces only rarely in popular news. After all, it is only the Yemenis who are suffering, and the world has already lost interest and given up on them. They have no oil for us.

The only possible risk for us from the Yemenis is the damage they might inflict on shipping at the Bab Al-Mandeb, where vessels enter the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden. And the US Navy can handle that with little difficulty.

Never mind that the Yemenis are the only ones suffering in this proxy war. Never mind that the country we think of as just another desert is not all desert, but rather some of the most beautiful land on earth.

Never mind that the real wealth of the country, the people who want for their children the same things we want for our children, is not considered.

After all, this stuff is happening only in the Middle East. Do you think we should care?