Mostly Cloudy Sunrise
Good morning, Kuwait, or is it afternoon? I know most of you are sleeping in a little, after the exhausting celebrations of National Day and Liberation Day.
I stayed home!
Last year, it wasn’t the foam, although I hate the foam. For me, it is parents who allow their children to hang outside the car.
You know me. You read me every day. I’m not an angry person, but seeing parents with children on their laps, children in the front seat and most of all – children hanging out of windows, or with their heads / bodies out of skyroofs – it makes me see red. I want to get out of my car and scold people. It makes me SO angry that people would endanger their children.
There must be a safer way to express all the celebratory exuberance.
It is mostly cloudy outside.
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lol i know the foam thing is crazy. we got the foam thing from Switzerland, every summer there is a carnival in Geneve they use the foam and people go crazy on the streets so Kuwaitis took it and brought it home
Thanks for the info, AMD. I lived in Germany quite a few years, and the end of Fasching – just before Lent – is a lot like that, only (ugh!) with serious drinking in addition – just imagine. I stayed home then, too!
I hate the way people hang out of the windows or perch themselves on the sides of the car. I heard one story where a young boy was knocked off by a passing car. Thankfully he came away with minor injuries and it was not tragic.
I wish people would be safer.
Me too, Jewaira. I understand how much fun they are having, the sheer exuberance of it all – and those little children are so vulnerable, and taking risks that could harm them terribly.
I wonder what the holiday clinic/hospital statistics are for this four day weekend?
Hi there, I was talking to a doctor yesterday who said he saw about 28 patients with foam-eyes…ouch. We were out with the children (who were in their seatbelts at the back, as per usual, for the entire time)-they had a blast. We allowed them to get out and stand behind the railings to spray cars that went by and then went on to see all the lights in Ahmadi. There is such a thing as having fun AND being safe at the same time. Unfortunately we did see all the children hanging out of sunroofs and windows and also chasing moving cars…not only are they risking their own lives, they are also confusing other children like mine who kept staring in bewilderment as to how/why these children were behaving in this way. I’m not sure which is worse, that some parents were with them and allowing this behaviour, or that other parents were nowhere to be seen! PS we also saw a few parents leading by (bad) example! Despite this, our family had a great time just being a part of the celebrations. It’s great to see so many people having fun and the lights around the city were very interesting indeed 🙂
Okay, I tried to look it up but found nothing, what are foam eyes?
LOL, ck, the kids and young people buy stuff that is sprays like a string, it is foam, some buy shaving cream, and some really mean kids in Fehaheel buy spray hair remover. “Foam eyes” are eyes being treated because whatever kind of “foam” is sprayed gets in the eyes – it can be terribly painful.
Hi, Um Yousef, and if it was 28 kids treated at the one clinic, I wonder how many were treated at all the clinics?
I am glad you had a great time – proving it is possible to be both safe and celebrating. I don’t envy you those bewildered looks your children cast at those half out of the cars. It is hard to hold the line when you see all that going on around you. Well done!
First, I must caveat the upcoming statement with the fact that the statement has never been made to be any one I know to be a Muslim so it may be completely without factual basis – if so, please correct me if I have been misinformed.
I have been told many Muslims believe that if one of the children were to be injured that it was Insha’Allah (God Willing usually in reference to a future event). After looking up how to correctly spell it I think those who told me may have used the incorrect tense and Ma Sa’Allah, God has willed it) may be more correct. The rationale being that to choose to use a safety device is to interfere with God/Allah’s choice or plan.
I’m not a religious scholar in any faith and have learned more about the Islamic faith in the last two years living in Kuwait than I have in the last 50. But, on that limited knowledge, I would have to argue God/Allah has given us humans, and only us in the entire animal kingdom, a brain capable of rational thought and intelligence. One would have to surmise God/Allah intended for us to use it. It was, after all, capable of seeing and understanding the danger and creating safety seats. I would further argue that for one to not use such devices that it is no longer God/Allah’s choice/will but our own (choice, not will) and that in making that choice we are declaring ourselves equal with God/Allah – something that is sacrilegious in every religion I’m familiar with.
Ken ;
This fatalistic point of view is not correct and has nothing to do with the islamic faith or any other faith for that matter ,but has alot to do with stupidity . Here is a simple litmus test: lets ask the parent usually a dad although mom maybe on this stupid act of dangling the kids whether Dad or Mom would like to sit in the back seat and let one of the kids say a 3 year old drive the car back home ??? lets see if they believe in God’s will to get them there without being harmed .
i doubt very much they will accept this offer .
Ken, I believe you are misinformed. Islam is a religion of compassion and parents or guardians are obliged to take care of their kin, provide them shelter, spiritually guide them, treat them all equally and take care of all their needs.
There are careless parents and others who don’t think thinks through – I – and the majority of parents here – for example did not allow my kids to go to Gulf street because I know the sprays are dangerous and can harm others.
There are decent parents and crappy parents everywhere. nothign to do with religion. Here are some hadith from Islam which i hope can enlighten you:
“The Prophet’s love for children was not restricted to his children and grandchildren. The scope of his mercy and affection embraced all children, and he showed the same interest and gentleness to his Companion’s children. The following hadith narrated by Usamah ibn Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) shows this humane aspect of the Prophet’s personality:
Allah’s Messenger used to put me on (one of) his thighs and put Al-Hasan ibn `Ali on his other thigh, and then embrace us and say, “O Allah! Please be merciful to them, as I am merciful to them.” (Bukhari)
The word “children” stands for sons and daughters, who are entitled to indisputable rights of rearing represented in promoting their religious orientation and ethical approach in order to be armed with both merits. Allah, the Almighty, says: “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones…” (The Holy Quran: 66:6)
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Everyone of you is a protector and guardian and responsible for your wards and things under your care and a man is a guardian of his family members, and is accountable for those placed under his charge.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Children are a trust put in the hands of parents who will be answerable before Allah on the Day of Judgment about their children as they are enjoined to satisfy their offspring’s spiritual and religious urges in order to produce righteous men and women, to be a consolation for the eyes of their parents in both the present world and Hereafter. Allah, the Almighty says: “And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned.” (The Holy Quran: 52:21)
And there are plenty more Islamic hadiths concerning children as the ones above. Hope it helps.
Ken,
I’m a Secular Kuwaiti, I grew up in an Islamic household and in Islam you can’t harm yourself or others, one of the teachings of Islam’s prophet Mohammed is that you don’t become a true believer unless you wish for others that you wish for yourself.
Even though i don’t practise any religion but I believe all religons have good side and bad side, but lately there are much attention and misunderstanding from the media. Caring for family and loved ones is universal, it overlaps cultures, languages, and religons.
LLOOLL, you all had this marvellous conversation while I was still sleeping! Ken, I am guessing AMD, Amer and Daggero answered your question WAY better than I ever could. 🙂 Thank you, AMD, Amer and Daggero!