Enough to fight without the phantoms
This entry on the community blog reminded me of something that happened years ago.
Actually, I think it was the arrogance of the comment, “Friends, how many of you think this would have happened if this man held a European or American passport?” that bugs me the most.
Let me share a story with you all. There once was an American guy called David Remple, living in Dubai. Actually, Dr. David Remple; as he was a falcon veterinarian. As you can assume, he was sponsored in the UAE by a Sheikh.
Like all of us, every four years this doctor needed to get his blood tested for visa purposes. After eight years of living in the UAE, and after taking his third blood test, this happily married man was woken in the middle of the night by his door being smashed in and CID agents screaming for him to pack his shit to leave.
He was informed that he was HIV positive; and that the UAE wouldn’t tolerate infected expatriates living here. He was told his flight out was booked and tickets ready, he had less than three hours. Dr. David was almost in the airport by the time he was able to reach his sponsor; explaining the accusation was impossible.
Re-testing (I assure you, arranged through ‘wasta’ alone; due to his professional demand mind you and not his nationality) showed that he was in fact not infected with the virus; samples had been mixed up in the hospital.
Point of the story (aside from the fact that years ago some foreign fellow with HIV slipped through the system) is; shit happens regardless of your race or passport. And I’m getting sick and tired of the excruciating calls about racism in cases where that’s simply not what’s going on.
I feel for the guy in that article. But I believe it’s got a hell of a lot more to do with the unfortunate similarity in names, rather than his race or what passport he holds. Give me a fucking break people. Stop calling racism where is doesn’t exist, there is enough of it that’s SOLID and should be fought against with all the extra efforts. Maybe we’d win the battle a lot more efficiently that way?
Actually, I think it was the arrogance of the comment, “Friends, how many of you think this would have happened if this man held a European or American passport?” that bugs me the most.
Let me share a story with you all. There once was an American guy called David Remple, living in Dubai. Actually, Dr. David Remple; as he was a falcon veterinarian. As you can assume, he was sponsored in the UAE by a Sheikh.
Like all of us, every four years this doctor needed to get his blood tested for visa purposes. After eight years of living in the UAE, and after taking his third blood test, this happily married man was woken in the middle of the night by his door being smashed in and CID agents screaming for him to pack his shit to leave.
He was informed that he was HIV positive; and that the UAE wouldn’t tolerate infected expatriates living here. He was told his flight out was booked and tickets ready, he had less than three hours. Dr. David was almost in the airport by the time he was able to reach his sponsor; explaining the accusation was impossible.
Re-testing (I assure you, arranged through ‘wasta’ alone; due to his professional demand mind you and not his nationality) showed that he was in fact not infected with the virus; samples had been mixed up in the hospital.
Point of the story (aside from the fact that years ago some foreign fellow with HIV slipped through the system) is; shit happens regardless of your race or passport. And I’m getting sick and tired of the excruciating calls about racism in cases where that’s simply not what’s going on.
I feel for the guy in that article. But I believe it’s got a hell of a lot more to do with the unfortunate similarity in names, rather than his race or what passport he holds. Give me a fucking break people. Stop calling racism where is doesn’t exist, there is enough of it that’s SOLID and should be fought against with all the extra efforts. Maybe we’d win the battle a lot more efficiently that way?
posted by Tainted Female at
4:57 PM
13 Comments:
Similarity in names, but twice? Doesn't a passport hold more details than a name? Why is it that they cannot verify details before the public 'shaming' of the indiviual?
Truth be told, there is a racial angle to everything in this country, and it's apparent everywhere.
From the Jobs section in the classifieds to the preferential treatment almost everywhere. Not to forget, the perpetrators of this problem are Asians itself.
IMHO, to compare a one-off case of the Dr with this incident is wrong. After all, the Dr wasn't jailed twice. He was still able to sort it out in under 3 hours.
Blah.
Thank you B.
Kind of feeling like some people are stuck in the RACISM is everywhere void. It's not really. If it were, they'd still have "white only" signs everywhere.
You really aren't able to digest a different opinion, are you TF?
Clearly she never has been able to, lately, her responses to ppl comments have been really discouraging. She just happens to diss a lot of ppl - for absolutely no reason atall. Theres just a fewwww petty number. I suggest you disable commenting on your blog and add team members - It'll save you time.
I dont understand why the rage? soooo much? your 'tainted' would not be an explanation, and I know you arent deemed to give any of us an explanation either. Its your blog, your thoughts, your insights. but then let others just be too. Why cant u accept the fact that there are ppl in the world who could think differently? see the world differently. if there are ppl in Dubai who project a negative image about it, its because they are seeing worse from the better and your case has been vice versa, a place has negative effects and a place has positive effects.
I was born and have been brought up in this country - I LOVED this place.. somewhere I still do but not as much, ALOT has changed, or maybe its just coming to my attention as I grow older.
Funny, coming from someone who hasn’t made a SINGLE opinionated entry in her own blog, but rather copies and pastes jokes there, while siding opinionated comments other blogs with whomever seems to be the more powerful in any given situation?! I’m afraid you’re choosing the wrong side to base your opinion on here, hun.
Firstly, I Have made a very very very tiny no. of opinionated posts on my own blog, I do post my opinions on various other blogs because there seem to be discussions taking place and if the topic interests me - I participate - because they encourage participation and besides I could copy and paste jokes or post pictures of dirt from my toe nails for all you care.
And i'm sorry I donnot think you have what it takes to judge a person from their opinions.. first I thought u were just impulsive when u posted your responses to ppl comments on your blog - but this is just the most common practise - u just cannot seem to accept the fact that there are ppl in the world who may think differently than yourself!
If I have ever sided someones opinion, its because my opinion has been similar - a lot of times when I read a post - I move on to post a comment, but I make sure I read all the comments b4 saying anything because many a times theres just no need, because there are ppl who have said things I wanted to say. and mind you there HAVE been occasions when I was among the minority to think otherwise of a strong common opinion.
you replied to someone who said 'SD represents common man' , you said ' you were common man' . Again I disagree, your experiances in life have been far from common, I wont say extraordinary - but at this age all that you have been through isnt common. You have been strong enough to withstand it and I including others respect you for that, but it doesnt give you the right to go around dissing ppl with an 'I've seen it all' attitude, let ppl learn from you, not look down upon you. Again I know advice isnt welcome here but Its just decent to listen to it, its entirely upto you to actually follow it.
ohh and again about my blog.. i started it with an intention to write, I really had a lot to say.. when you see stuff around you , you wanna share it just like a lot of others in the 'blogging world' but everyone doesnt keep a blog for similar purposes.. by the time I get to express myself on my blog, i've already spoken to so many ppl around me about what i see, feel, I lose the interest. maybe if my identity was comparitively anonymous I'd be able to express myself a lot more, not because I fear anything, only because - If I lay my heart out in a lost moment - I wouldnt want to hear about it from someone else - i wouldnt want ppl telling stuff about it, I wouldnt really enjoy comments, so i might as well keep it to myself and express myself on discussed topics in bits and pieces here and there, I think spending my time that way is a rather interesting learning experiance. (for me, truely)
No no, Archer… You’ve clearly misunderstood my ‘Blah.’ Just that I’ve pretty much said all I have to say about this already, and don’t think there’s any point in repeating myself. My way of saying… I’ve heard ya, I’ve noted what you said… but I’m still thinking/feeling the way I was before…
And I’m sorry Harsha honey… You wrote so much and for so long… I simply couldn’t be bothered to have read all of it just now. I’m a little tired you see. If I remember on Tuesday, I’ll peek back in and read the thing in whole, then give you some sort of response.
well-said. i don't think this case has anything to do with the guy being a white-passport holder. it was a case of mistaken identity, and surely, they should have verified against other form of ID number, than just the name.
however, this has nothing to do with the guy being indian or with the job market here. they are two completely different aspects.
people need to stop blaming 'racism' for everything. they see it in cases where racism is not even the issue. at least in this case, it wasn't.
it's unfair to title the case as being the result of racism or not being the result; because as per fucking usual, there is not enough fucking information available.
And as per fucking usual; we get wonderful statements made by Etisalat officials, which are basically government officials;
"Although the passport number of the man who was arrested at the airport did not match the defaulter's, due to holding an exactly similar name, the former had to go through this ordeal."
an 'Exactly Similar' name...
How about I 'exactly similar' my foot upside your head, dipshit.
I'm not sure if this has anything to with racism, but if it happened to me, i'd be beating Etisalat ass from here to bangkok until I was freed; I wouldn't pay the bill, I would make them pay for my airline ticket.
While, in my opinion, I agree with archers observation of there being a racial angle everywhere in the UAE; it's not fair to say this is the result of racism, we're dealing with Etisalat here, they can't even provide the fucking internet; or make coherent press statements.
"exactly similar"
HOW THE HELL DO THESE PEOPLE GET HIRED FFS?
I think also if you read the entire article; it isn't pointing to any racism rather the fact that immigration officials and police are now debt collecters which shouldn't happen.
Now only if these debt collectors could meet their partners in crime, The Civil Contractors.
"HOW THE HELL DO THESE PEOPLE GET HIRED "
Interesting question, Sam. I've been asking the same question day after day after day. That is one energizer bunny of a question!
@harsha
Inth ka jawab pathar. Otherwise you'll get trampled!
This whole episode isnt new, happened b4 with a friend of my dad, he was held up a night (caught at the sharjah airport) because someone else with a similar name - i repeat similar name not even the same first or last name was on their black list or something.
@archer
kya matlab?
B! Missed you much.
Archer, you're right. She done good with that. And I'm no less than a herd.
Sam & MD... Blah.
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