The Changing Life’s Ways! Outlook – By Majid Al Suleimany
For Sunday June 10, 2012
Between Us Only! – Outlook!
The Singing Quatro!
The Changing Life Ways!
On Thursday this week my family and I had celebrated my 64th birthday.
A simple thing – and all at home – with my family members only! The thing that moved me the most is to see my grandchildren singing this special Arabic song for parents for me! It was followed by a Happy Birthday song in English. For a few minutes, I felt just like the VIPS that would feel in a grand parade! Coming to their generation, some did put in compliments in Facebook. Also some messages came in via Twitter – and in the professionals’ website of LinkedIn.
The point to make here is this. I had covered this topic in my second Arab Management book titled – A Cry For Help! The book was published in February 2009 – well before all the troubles and problems came to our side of the world. Some had said to me that the book was a sort of prophesy, omen and prediction of what was going to come ahead – and that more people at least in decision making and the leadership should have read the book!
It was not my mistake – but I did send the book out – and to try to make the distress call in crying for help! Would things have really have changed if more people had read my book? Personally, I do not think so! Just see the things still happening now – even after just poor Mubarak was sent to a life-term jail sentence! And even after all the other things before that. We are very good ‘and blessed’ in being just indifferent and care-the-less – and with a very short memory span too!
We still have not learnt that threats – and trying to put in trouble one – will only be short-lived – because once things like this have started – there is nothing that can stop or prevent the trend from continuing – till it goes full cycle and till completion. This is not a washing machine – which you can just switch off the machine to stop it going full cycle. Or as has been said – what goes around – does come around – even if it may take longer time to do so!
Whatever one may feel, still this Mubarak was an Arab presiding leader being sent to jail! I could not help feeling sorry for him – despite all the things that have happened – when for two hours he refused to get out from the helicopter that was sending him to jail – and crying uncontrollably and profusely that ‘you are all now sending me to jail today – and have forgotten all my contributions and so on stuff’! The crunch being how things can turn nasty and unpredictable in life’s pursuits!
Keep remembering that the incident quoted here in my book was over 4 years ago! In the Introductory Chapters, this is what I had written – Quote –
It then struck me how fast and how much things have now changed in The Work Front – especially in relationships between Omanis (Locals) and Expatriate Staff – especially Non Muslims – and how much the gap was widening between the two – though acting and pretenses continued of politeness, courtesy and welcome.
There was now growing extremism, fundamentalism and radicalisation in the workplaces that I had never seen before – especially here where I had always prided myself that we were a tolerant, moderate, give-and-take, live-and-let-live society and always kind, welcoming and accepting esteeming and respectful to our ‘invited guests’ in our country!
My simple error – if you call it that – to invite non-Muslims to the Mosque (Masjid) seemed inadvertently to expose the inevitable differences etc. – unwanted and uncalled for – and I think unneeded differences – to come out and show its ugly head!
However, two months later I summarily did quit the place after being singled out and insulted by a British Expatriate – in an Email copy to all the Staff – and the CEO fellow Expatriate siding with him – against a National – and yet in Human Resources too for that matter! – unquote.
What it all confirmed to me was this getting a bashing from my now increasingly being radicalized and fundamentalised our own people – despite facial appearances – and realizing that even in our own country – even people like me who want to live and let live – and moderate in views – are singled out – and ‘guests in our own offices’! But the dirtier and murkier picture was lines being drawn between the locals – and the external Management – and the docile weak own Top Management to allow such things to happen. Nothing that happened after this surprised me anymore!
But whoever is the CEO – whether local or expatriate – believe me – nothing has changed much – if you have been reading my recent articles in this column. That really scares me to the core now – with this indifference, care-free, arrogant, haughty, conceited and proud focuses, attitudes and approaches in the Offices particularly now!
History had repeated itself this time – by some people being very cross with me! These are not our ways for such celebrations – and we thought you would lead by example – or we had higher hopes and expectations from you – but you have let us down badly’! The scarier part is this all coming now from the younger ones – and our future leaders!
What else more can I say now? Take Care!
By: –
Majid Al Suleimany
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