Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
That’s what some relatives told me as well but still if they were two British/American/Canadian people, both same education and skills, same background but one of whom is of Desi descent whilst the other of Caucasian they’ll treat the latter much better than the former, passport doesn’t stop discrimination altogether.
I hear some of the younger Arabs are okay towards Desi’s because they watch Bollywood and have a more glamorous image of us but even these Arabs are a small minority, mostly just girls who are going gaga over our dark sexy actors.
I myself can’t stand Arabs anymore, nothing comes before honour and self-respect.
If you think about it we are so much better off in the West despite these people being Kuffaar they have such nice Akhlaaq, so long as we’re born here we’re treated as native as anyone else, I know there’s exceptions like the BNP but they are largely our own fault, I use to work with a girl who was an open supporter of the BNP and she said to me the reason she is racist is because she feels intimidated by Pakis, it’s a lot of Pakis are racist, drugies, killers etc. White people are intimidated by them that’s why the young ones amongst them turn to organisations like the BNP, their response is only natural, then our mindless Hizbis take adavantage of a few racist incidents and make it sound as though England is the worse place for Muslims, should look towards their own brothers first and see how well they will treat them.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
I understand what you are saying, but this concept of equal treatment and respect is something most desis learned in the West. Even in Pakistan getting mistreated by govt officials and cops is expected, unless you show the cash and people are just so used to it. So desis in the mid east just gripe about it, but go on with their lives, because it’s not the first time this has happened.
How could people still live there? Pakistanis are in just about every country in the world, and I doubt there is equal treatement for them in most countries. Most countries don’t subscribe to the same idea of equality and fair treatment that some of these Western countries follow (there are limits to everything). Ofcourse after living in the West, it is difficult to imagine such mistreament and inequality.
Uncle of mine went to Dubai a year ago. He said it was nice and everything, but he couldn’t believe the salary discrimination based on nationality and ethnicity. The same American companies which make promises about diversity and what not in the US, are actively involved in it over there and doing it legally.
Not trying to justify it, just trying to present another point of view.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
Thanks to all who addressed me.
My father worked in the middle east (two different countries) for more than 20 years but was respected by the senior Arab officials. He had very good relations. But that does not mean I have not heard other people complaining. And Im sure that happens. I've been working and living in the middle east too. The only ill treatment from Arabs I have suffered is where there is a job competition between me and them. Nothing otherwise. Arabs in the senior management respect me alot. And this is the only reason I am still here. What I was made to go through by the indians (please note that they are expatriates not nationals) is what I would call the actual maltreatment.
Never I faced discriminition cz of being a paki. Infact, I am witnessed to those times when I was given complete justice by the police/court when the other parties involved were national Arabs. Once the wife of a senior official in the ministry of interior. Ofcourse he tried to help his wife but I was given justice. So, I would never say that pakis are mistreated by law. This is why I have no complains from Arabs.
The only complain I have is that although I have been given recognition verbally, still not officially inspite of me working my @ss off. But then again it is not because I am a paki but because my immediate seniors (who are mixed nationalities) do not provide a correct appraisal of my work. They cant dare to say it is bad. But they only say, "Good." When they KNOW it is exceptional. They are scared but then this kind of situation can happen anywhere around the world in any work surroudings. It is not just cz of me being a Pakistani.
Still, what I meant to say was why do you give a damn about the region then? Qadar khoti hai. Im myself thinking of applying for Canadian immigration. I think I would like to explore more options.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
Something I never understood was, that back in 1993 satellite dish were banned in KSA. There could be no more sales of it, all those who had it could keep it. But it seemd no one cared about that law. They were not being sold openly, but it wasn't hard to find them, just ask any electronics store and they would tell you where to get it from. They were going up all over the place. I had never seen such open disregard for a law in KSA, it was like the muttawas and the cops were helpless, they weren't even stopping it. It basically meant that the Saudi govt had no control over the media anymore.
I heard they are not banned anymore. Is that true?
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
I doubt that would make any difference, as his skin would still be brown, and hair be black… thats all “they” see.
As for TNWB: Your father may have worked for 20 years and earned the respect from “senior officials”… but thats the key word “officials”, you are likely talking about his “colleagues” or people he interacted with for business purposes. When you go out on street, an arab walking on street wouldn’t know your “qualifications”/“achievements” to respect you, all he sees is “brown skin and black hair”.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
Ok dude, things were CLEARLY never this bad. I have been to many places in KSA, and the Arabs were mostly polite and well mannered towards us. Even the cops have helped us one too many times, going out of their way, for me to say negative things about them.
And just for the record, most Gulf Arabs are just as brown as any desi.
Ok people seriously, this thread was my idea of light humor, not ranting and raving about how much you hate Arabs.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
may be they were not for you, but I have lived there and seen/faced there prejudice. They 'd call Philipinos (non-Muslims) as Siddiq while Pakistanis are “Rafiq” for them, and they didn’t do it as a “joke” or “sarcasm”, I have seen hate from common people even police used to somewhat harass people for “iqama” reasons. I don’t know where you lived in Saudi, but I’ve lived in Jeddah and not in ‘ghetto’ sorta places where you are amongst desis only (which was the case when new school was constructed in 1985)… and not ALL Saudis are like that, but probably in large enough numbers to be seen very commonly.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
LOL
No, none of us suffered discriminition from common Arabs on the street. They were more friendly towards us than people back home. The only two times I went through some rough treatment was:
From a drunk Arab man who apologized later and was very embarrassed when he came into senses.
From an Arab woman in a small town. She too had to apologize in the end. And police fully supported me.
Our first neighbourhood, we did not understand a word of Arabic but this Arab family was so friendly trying to communicate through signs language.
And would you like me to tell you how many friends I have made in police who have helped me at many occasions? But I lost all their contact numbers cz I lost my mobile
I think it’s give and take everywhere. Give respect, take respect. But to indians, no matter what you give, it is just hatred, ill feelings, discriminition in return.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
TNW,
You are probably the only desi I know that speaks well of Arabs and their treatment of desis. All others think that the best thing that ever happened to Middle East is Israel.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
I can relate to what skhan is talking about, most of the Pakistanis in KSA are treated as trash. If you go to Macca or Madina, everytime they say 'Haram' to this 'Haram' to that with no reason what so ever while their sister mothers are wearing jeans and other high class clothes.
Why do Pakistanis stay there? Money that's it....why are you here in USA, Canada or UK. Problems exist over here too but, people stay for their families and future. If Pakistan was a little bit secure I would have been there.
Barbie_Girl, I love your sense of humor :D...don't let it go away.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
LI - simply cz they ARE
Captain - No, I havent. Im glad I havent. Have heard life's pretty tough there. But my question remains. Why bother? Look, no one will respect you if you cant respect yourself.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
I lived in Saudi (Jeddah) during the 80's and early 90's and I went back this year after 7 years and boy things have changed there. It was obvious there were tons of young hang out joints. Especially places like Vertigo and Java Lounge. Couples were meeting openly. Doing sheesha and smoking, drinking and eating. Things are definitely not the same as they used to be while I was growing up. I was overwhelmed actually. I mean now that I live in the U.S., I think I have it all, but going back to Jeddah was like a blast from the past but with a heck of alot of new changes. Young girls do hijab and abaya but some of them don't really care. They let the hijabs loose and walk around with hair showing. Saudi is becoming modern by the day..
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
Oh yeh and on a different note :- all the pakistanis that I know that live there. Love it. Most of them are living in beautiful compounds with kids going to british schools. Families are living more than comforatble lives. Medical care is great. No taxes. Respectable jobs. Companies give them free annual tickets to fly home. What else would they want ?
Low income pakistanis are also living okay. The only complaint I have heard is more in regards to job security. You are living there, but don't know for how long ! That sucks... It's like you will always be a misfit in that society.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East…
Never heard truer words on this issue. A lot of Pakistanis, many of them in GS, would rather be Arabs than who they are. But I do think this comes more from a desire to be as far away from their Indian hertitage as possible. Arabs don’t give a rat’s ass about any desis, Pakis or Indians.
Re: Ok lets be real here, when Goras go to the Middle East...
In the west arabs are ok, I've never had a problem with them. However every desi I've met who has been to, or lived in Saudi or UAE has only negative things to say. Arabs look down upon desis and treat them like dirt. What pisses most off is their lack of brain cells topped off with sheer arrogance to go with it.
