Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Arab Student Democracy--I LIKE
I witnessed Arab student democracy at its finest over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend in NYC!
I was invited to attend the National Union of Kuwaiti Students annual elections in NYC this last weekend. At first I was apprehensive over being a Syrian/Palestinian, half American, female attending a Kuwaiti student conference, but in the end I think this was a VERY good choice. We have our misconceptions in the Arab world about each other, we stereotype and discriminate based on region, nationality, economic position. This is all WRONG!! I found the Kuwaiti students to be extremely kind, caring and generous. Their organization, based on democratic principles and student involvement, was organized and well run. Every person I met was conscientious of their own participation and knew that their vote counted, that their voice was heard...Why can't other Arab organizations I belong to have such good will toward each other?
NUKS, the National Union of Kuwaiti Students, is the umbrella organization under which there are 2 main political parties: Al Wihda and Al Mutaqbal. Al Wihda is the more "liberal" of the two, incorporating mixed events, female involvement in all aspects of operation and more liberal ideals. Al Mustaqbal runs on a platform of conservatism, they rely on Islamic fiqh and are not as lliberal or all inclusive as Al Wihda. As you can imagine, with the women working alongside the men and the cohesiveness of Al Wihda, they are the leading party and gathered almost 400 of the 600 votes. Even when they won the election they were gracious and open minded. They congratulated Al Mustaqbal for their participation and thanked them for working together with them. This was amazing to me, because I am used to seeing organizations in which opposing parties throw accusations at the others and blame them for any faults. Not with the Kuwaiti students. Even while they were campaigning for votes, both sides never forgot to send GENUINE well wishes towards their opposition. I was surely impressed by their cohesiveness.
Even more importantly than the election, the Kuwaiti students were gracious towards me and all other non Kuwaiti participants in their conference. I was immediately embraced as one of them, told that I am an honorary Kuwaiti and Al Wihda member and was constantly checked on throughout my entire stay. People were very gracious towards me and would offer words of encouragement for Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. I made amazing friends and felt very welcome.
I have attended many, many conferences in the past and have to say that the Kuwaiti students treated me the best of all the organizations. Generally, because of my looks or the fact I am half American, people at first are a bit wary and stand offish...after they get to know me, they love me, naturally ;). But with NUKS, even the "religious men" from Al Mustaqbal were kind, answered all my questions politely and never once were rude, cold or distant. I was even invited to attend a concert by the Kuwaiti singer Nawal, an event reserved for registered Kuwaiti students and honored guests. I was considered an honored guest!
Overall, this was one of the most positive experiences I have had in connection with an Arab student organization. And believe me, I have been part of MANY!
I was invited to attend the National Union of Kuwaiti Students annual elections in NYC this last weekend. At first I was apprehensive over being a Syrian/Palestinian, half American, female attending a Kuwaiti student conference, but in the end I think this was a VERY good choice. We have our misconceptions in the Arab world about each other, we stereotype and discriminate based on region, nationality, economic position. This is all WRONG!! I found the Kuwaiti students to be extremely kind, caring and generous. Their organization, based on democratic principles and student involvement, was organized and well run. Every person I met was conscientious of their own participation and knew that their vote counted, that their voice was heard...Why can't other Arab organizations I belong to have such good will toward each other?
NUKS, the National Union of Kuwaiti Students, is the umbrella organization under which there are 2 main political parties: Al Wihda and Al Mutaqbal. Al Wihda is the more "liberal" of the two, incorporating mixed events, female involvement in all aspects of operation and more liberal ideals. Al Mustaqbal runs on a platform of conservatism, they rely on Islamic fiqh and are not as lliberal or all inclusive as Al Wihda. As you can imagine, with the women working alongside the men and the cohesiveness of Al Wihda, they are the leading party and gathered almost 400 of the 600 votes. Even when they won the election they were gracious and open minded. They congratulated Al Mustaqbal for their participation and thanked them for working together with them. This was amazing to me, because I am used to seeing organizations in which opposing parties throw accusations at the others and blame them for any faults. Not with the Kuwaiti students. Even while they were campaigning for votes, both sides never forgot to send GENUINE well wishes towards their opposition. I was surely impressed by their cohesiveness.
Even more importantly than the election, the Kuwaiti students were gracious towards me and all other non Kuwaiti participants in their conference. I was immediately embraced as one of them, told that I am an honorary Kuwaiti and Al Wihda member and was constantly checked on throughout my entire stay. People were very gracious towards me and would offer words of encouragement for Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. I made amazing friends and felt very welcome.
I have attended many, many conferences in the past and have to say that the Kuwaiti students treated me the best of all the organizations. Generally, because of my looks or the fact I am half American, people at first are a bit wary and stand offish...after they get to know me, they love me, naturally ;). But with NUKS, even the "religious men" from Al Mustaqbal were kind, answered all my questions politely and never once were rude, cold or distant. I was even invited to attend a concert by the Kuwaiti singer Nawal, an event reserved for registered Kuwaiti students and honored guests. I was considered an honored guest!
Overall, this was one of the most positive experiences I have had in connection with an Arab student organization. And believe me, I have been part of MANY!