September 3, 2014

AMMENDED

For Coming Week.

Between Us Only!

More Serious Issues at Stake!

There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed! – Ray Goforth

Images – Let Us Keep Praying! Ameen! Amen!

*** Introduction              

It was a pleasant surprise – after the earlier third parties messages sent – that The Chief Editor had called me asking me ‘for a new page and in burying the hatchet – so to speak’ to ‘resume my articles’ – and his assuring comforting words to me that ‘you are an Omani Writer – this newspaper is Omani – and you are writing in your own country too!’ – So I have decided to accept the challenge in resuming it!

Surely out there – there will be quite a lot pleasantly surprised too – and even some saying ‘Oh No! Not Again?’ – But that is life for you – you simply cannot please everyone – and not everyone will like you either! Like I always say – What else is new? Frankly, I have been so much busy in The Social Media instead – and I even dare to say ‘to dangerous levels’! So the change to return to the Main Media is most opportune – and welcomed!

A         Nice To Be Back!

It feels nice now to be back here – as it has been quite a long time since I wrote anything in the esteemed newspaper in the format of any article. Frankly, I have been so much busy in The Social Media instead – and I even dare to say ‘to most dangerous levels’! So the change to return to the Main Media is most opportune – and most welcomed too!

It reminds me of a good friend of mine – a Pilot – whom I had queried a long time ago that as we landed in the Zanzibar small strip I thought I heard brakes as the plane was landing? I thought this was strange – because normally the brakes were being applied after the plane had gone to some distance – not as the plane as it was landing – and this is dangerous even to the layman! Metaphorically, when I used to write my columns I used to ‘apply the brakes’ so to speak as the plane was landing – but now in The Social Media I could write whatever I wanted – to a reasonable level of course!

One thing I have noticed lately – even at the home front that people are at ‘short fuse’ and ready to explode at any moment! My granddaughter was asking me why those ‘bad people were killing innocent children’ – and what have the children done to be killed and to be hurt by this? I cried when one of The Palestinian girls had her legs amputated – including of her mother too! – And poor she was asking her father when ‘When can I have my legs back, Daddy?’ – So heartbreaking and distressing! Sometimes those with children killed could even be classified ‘as luckier’ – than those with the injured and maimed for life children! Arab blood is not cheap as an Arab Leader had said. Another had said that we are ready to go back and ‘ride our camels’ – but is the West ready to do the same – if we ourselves burn all the oil wells to prevent them being taken over by our enemies?

Frankly, I think the World and the Religious Leaders need to sit together to make hard and difficult decisions – so as to save this world from man-made anarchies, calamities, disasters and pure evil – as like ‘letting the Genie out of the bottle’ – or ‘of opening a can of worms’ – so to speak! They have to start by correcting and rectifying all the past mistakes and errors of judgment – and to start in valuing human life equally wherever and whatever they are – devoid of race, religion, ethnicity and creed. Only then could there be hope for mankind! 

B         Still On the Job Fronts!

This week there was a good article by one popular Omani Writer about (frightening!) issues in Recruitment of The Youngsters in The Jobs – and mainly related to ‘right training for the right jobs’ – men for jobs vis-à-vis jobs for men in Human Resources slang!

There was an irate letter by one well-meaning and well intentioned European Expatriate – trust them to be more on the frontline than the others! – and possibly drawn out of exasperation – that someone should tell The Youth that not everyone can be a Manager – or get a job in The Public Sector – because there are many vocational and craftsmen jobs out there still manned by expatriates that the Omani Youth can try to absorb and take over! Absolutely right he is – but we have been tuned not to hear and accept the inevitable ‘sort of bad news’ out there!

Then we had a Public Official admitting that ‘we are flexible with Omanisation in Construction Sector – because as it was put ‘Job Seekers are not willing to work as labourers …Omanis can be hired for administration work’! Why administration work – if not Supervisor of the Labourers etc. roles – once you have gone through as they say – from the mail room to the Top Executive – but you definitely need to start from the bottom – even if for a brief period – before you can climb up the hierarchical ladder!

Reminds me of my niece – yes niece! – in Tanzania driving a Caterpillar first time I met her years ago – and now she has moved up to be the Supervisor of the whole road gang! And the men do as they are told – despite occasional snide remarks – that you are a very forceful boss than the man who was there before you! Reminds me also of my Dodge Durango being surrounded by some youths in one interior office location I was doing some HR Consultancy jobs – and after sort of being chased and asked to stop by some youth in their pickup – ‘You are The Consultant! Where are the jobs?’ Next day I returned to Muscat – and thank God had not yet signed for the Temporary Contract per se!

C         Still Misbehaving ‘Invited Guests’ In The Land!

There was a letter sent to me by one very much upset Omani lady asking me to ‘put it in my newspaper column’ – and at the time I told her I did not have the columns anymore – but I will put it in my websites. Due to space constraints – please find the full article here – http://www.majidall.com/2014/08/27/misbehaving-expatriate-arab-women/ . Whatever the case the ‘more modern (foreign) Arab ladies’ were insulting ‘the intelligence’ of the ‘still backward Omani ladies’ – even if she was ‘advanced enough’ to take her children to a private swimming pool facility – on a ladies day only! – And our invited foreign ladies of Arab origin insisting on smoking in front of the children in a public place – with secondary smoking ‘as potential venom to the young children – many below 5 years of age!

Smoking Ladies! – Image For Demonstration Purposes Only!

D         Arab Management: Reality or Myth? The Arab Manager!

From C above, and moving to Local (mainly Young) Managers and Company Owners (also mainly young sudden riches!) – and their complete disrespect and contempt of more Senior by age, experiences, education and professions Locals – with the usual expatriates’ Mafias in conjunction with The Old Guards – that has been happening to me since my last column over 14 months ago! I did write the two Arab Management books – Psychology of Arab Management Thinking! And A Cry For Help! Long before the so-called Arab Springs hit us! But who cares? And who reads my books? Anyway, D above is my ‘Final Book in Arab Management’ and as a ‘Last Attempt and Desperate Hope’ that someone – especially in The Leadership – will at least read my books – even if not in agreement!

More about my books here at www.myownmajid.com – including the now published Arabic – Behind The Wheel!

http://www.createspace.com/4875352

Good to be back! Take Care!

By

Majid Al Suleimany

*** PLEASE NOTE!

*** The article was scheduled for September 9th 2014 – Tuesday – but did not appear in The Oman Daily Observer due to ‘space constraints’!