Racism
I've never been anywhere in the world where I have experienced racism to the extent that I have experienced it here in Qatar. It's amazing that they can get away with it in the 21st Century.
I tried to get into City Center mall on a Friday and was stopped because it was 'Family Day.' While I stood there arguing with the guy a whole bunch of Qatari guys (clearly not family) strolled in - no questions asked, as did some single 'white' Westerners. It seems I was stopped because of the colour of my skin and my ethnicity. I gave the guy enough of hard time that he eventually let me in. Anyway, this policy sucks and I felt very humiliated. Perhaps I should expose this story to the press?
[mod note: this has been discussed many, many times already on QL. Please use the Search function and comment on the existing threads rather than starting a new one]
Candid, I never said nor implied he should be grateful for not having been assualted. In fact if you check my post I said that what happened was wrong. However we have to be careful to see things for what they are. For the most part this injustice has been non violent (with some excpetions like what happened a few weeks ago down by Souq Waqf). So while there is an obvious wrong taking place, I am trying to highlight that things could be worse.
Ibrahim Fletcher
@ candidcam
If they bar asians and allow westerners , then it is Racism.
If they bar Non-Locals and allow Locals , then i say it's not racism ..it's Priority.
U r right , Racism is evil.
Hi all,
I think all single guys especially the "Asian" ones ( meaning people from "sic" countries like India, SL, Philippines,Nepal etc) should avoid the so called "elite" malls. If you need to buy something go to other shops like LuluHyper or LuluCentre to get your stuff. Anyway at least the Indians should be proud as one of the Arab writers had mentioned in an article in a local newspaper that while they(Indians)send rockets and make computer chips, guys in this part of the world are good at just making "Potato chips and Falafel".
So to hell with those sic malls and their family day. By the way I haven't yet been discriminated at those malls though I have been there single, but I do care for my countrymen especially the labour class who make this place something livable by building and cleaning.
Cheer-up buddies. Just make your stuff and wait for your time which will not be far off.
Yes, you can. Speak out, let the whole world communities know, or at least do not stop others from speaking out against racism.
cheers,
paul
PhyllyEagles2007, so are you saying that he should be thankful that he didn't get assaulted therefore being discriminated based on color of his skin is not so bad?
I can't believe seeing the responses you guys gave. Sure there are other more severe forms of racism elsewhere but denying this practice as racism is exactly the kind of attitude that allow racism in Qatar to flourish. You are actually condoning, if not promoting, racism.
Muhammed12, call it whatever you want, but to me any prefrential treatment based on race is an undeniable form of racism.
So what if this has been discussed many times? Let it continue, let's speak out against racism. Racism is evil. Remember the saying, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
If this is the worst part of it than you should consider yourself lucky. In many other parts of the world racist behavior consists of assaulting and in some cases killing people. So while I don't agree with what happened lets keep things in proportion.
Ibrahim Fletcher
that's how it is here my friend...you simply cannot do anything about it...many have suggested different ideas on how to counter this thing you call racism, but with little success.
got any ideas aside from talking to the press?
I don't think allowing Qataris can be called Racism. Its just priority..they r locals..they have high priority than Non - Locals. i.e their level of priority is high than non-locals so they r given high priority everywhere.
If they bar certain nationalities, then u can call it racism , discrimination etc.
@ dk1 ,MagicDragon is absoluetly right and this issue has been discussed several times on QL.
Very helpfull and mature answer there, in which you seem to display a hint of racism yourself.
This issue has already been in the gulf times, i seem to remember seeing one last week. You may be able to find it on their website.
Go ahead and expose this story to the press. They will tell you, that's how it is here. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.