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| All have flaws, all have pros. It depends on what you want to see |
In a series of three posts -this is the final part, I made an attempt to create a countering argument against the massive stream of attacks targeting Russia, and especially Qatar. The posts do not necessarily express my personal opinion but an attempt to be outside the box and figure another version of the story. Sometimes it is important to be reminded about own flaws to become more understandable of others cons. Call it an attempt to be the devils advocate if you like (Many times I received advices to become a lawyer. hm...). But be careful, this post may contain offending views for those unwilling to read anything that doesn't echo their own believes. After the logistics, the technicalities, now we reach the misconceptions.
World cup 2018 will take place in Russia while Qatar will host World cup 2022. Dooms day. And the ranting engines started to roar like never before. FIFA is corrupted! (No shit!).
Then the holier-Bigger-Better than though anthem blew its horns, as predicted. Democracy! Human Rights! Environment concerns! Corruption! Terrorism! And again Terrorism! Just 'cause it sounds more convincing when you repeat it twice.
All this ranting proves the FIFA were right to make the decisions they made. Regardless of the luxury discussions about "technicalities", this FIFAstic decision served beyond football, revealing the ugliest face of the trident engagement between Arrogance, ignorance and hypocrisy. This make people who were not that excited about FIFA's decision (count me in), stand up and bow for Blatter and co. If Football-and Sports- role is to bring people together regardless of their differences, to make them know, then this FIFAstic move proved being a master strike.
Now heading to Qatar, the country that received most of the critic. Basically because it is an Islamic country in the Middle East. And fox-news generation visualize Middle east as a compact homogeneous Ben laden-ish block of cannibals jumping over each others' back with sharp daggers dripping blood all over the place.
Let me start with this tiny -side note- information: Qatar is more a "Liquefied Natural Gas" country than "Oil". HA? Yes...that's true. It is one thing when a blogger or someone who comment on a blog or a casual chatter mix-up things, but it is another thing when some "professional" journalists on the payroll of well known journals start ranting without putting an effort to know the most attainable details about the subject they discuss. So for those who want to explain how Qatar bought and corrupted everyone, Pullleeaazzzee refer to the LNG country, not the Oil country. At least this will give some credentials for your argument, and delude your readers that you have a clue what you are talking about. Deal? Deal.
Thats just a demonstration about all the nonsense we read in the past few days. Lets go straight to the point, and I hope I dont forget anything...
- Women's hair: First, I cant avoid pointing out -sarcastically- the current "let us see it. LET US SEE IT!!!" obsession in women hair. But I wont ramble about it (we want to brief right?). So I will just say, YES women can walk in Qatar without the need to cover their hair or to wear the traditional Qatari clothes (In some European countries women have no choice to decide). Surprise surprise! And YES women can go out alone without the need to have any men with them (I am laughing while stating the obvious here). In fact women can go out and walk anywhere at anytime day or night in Qatar, something I don't think women (or even men, so to speak) dare to do in some of the biggest cities in Europe or USA.
- No history in football: Why do people consider this a flaw in Qatari bid? I don't understand. In fact, it should be considered as a plus. If we want the best team to win the world cup, then we need to create a fair competition. The basic element for fair competition is to play the game in a neutral stadium. A great team hosting the competition at home will have an unfair edge over the rest. World Cup 1998 was not a fair competition. World cup 2006 was not a fair competition, so as world cup 2014 will not be a fair competition. The country that host the world cup must not be one of the best 20 nations in world football. this way we create a fair competition. In the other hand it spread the contribution and involvement between nations so excited because their teams are title contenders, and other nations who will never win the world cup, but they can at least have a better chance to host it.
- Freedom of speech: We will keep this one short boys. It is true, freedom of speech is not guaranteed in Qatar or the Middle East (more or less). But here is a small remark:" There is no freedom of speech anywhere in the world". There are taboos in Middle East, so as there are taboos everywhere else. You doubt? Where are you from? Ask journalists in your country about it and if they brag that their country is the land of freedom, we put things in practice: I pass you ten essays and you pass me ten. Lets see how many posts of mine you can publish in national journals in Europe and USA (for example) and how many of your topics I succeed to publish in the Middle East. I lived in Lebanon (and visited many middle east countries), and now I am living in Sweden (and had my ramble across Europe). I can safely say there is more freedom of speech in Lebanon than Sweden/Europe. Just as an example. So let's cut the crap.
- A country too small to host a world cup: First of all, Qatar is a member of the expanding CCASG where other countries are in the queue to join. Citizens move smoothly from one country to another in this union and soon they will have a common currency (though I am not sure if they will reconsider after the Euro's crisis). They are also a member of The Arab League.
That will not make the country bigger but it shows that the world cup is not only about few hundreds of Qatari, but millions of people living in the middle east . Besides, it is much easier for people from around the globe to go to Qatar, than for any middle eastern to book a visa to Europe or USA (no one want a middle eastern in their plane, right?/end "sarcasm"). Thats why this world cup will be more attainable than any other world cup.
Having all the stadiums close to each other create a challenge for Qatar to manage. Can they manage? We can only judge after the event. But it also has its advantages. Anyone traveling from another country may have a chance to watch two or three world cup matches in one day. That is not the case when the stadiums are spread thousand miles away from each other.
- Alcohol and homosexuality: First, if you are planning to go to Qatar (and some other conservative countries in the middle east) anytime soon, make sure not to make out in the middle of the street. You already heard that some homosexuals were captured by the Qatari officials, but you shouldn't feel you will not face the same trouble if you are not homosexual.
The thing is, it doesn't matter if you are homosexual, heterosexual or petro-sexual, that's not the point. Qatari are conservative people -at least in public. That's their culture, religion and tradition. They like to walk their children across the city without being worried that they may witness any "Odd surprises". Whether you are married, or one night adventurer or love rat, control your gun and hold your fire till you reach your room. I am sure you can do that, it even add more pleasure and excitement if you have to wait. Qatari police do not put cameras in the rooms to check what happens when two guys rent a room together. There are homosexuals in each and every Middle east country. You can find some through facebook, and if you can then no doubt their country's intelligence can as well, but they don't go out hunting after them. So this is the deal, in your privet bubble, follow your rules. In public, respect your host rules. And for me, that's fair enough. Sexual life is a privet practice, not a public showcase.
There are laws in Qatar that may offend homosexuals and upset alcoholics. True. There is a need to have open discussions about some of the laws and try to change it (Especially if their are laws that consider homosexuality as a crime, which is wrong no matter how you see it). It is also important to discuss the whole homosexuality issue with Qatar and all other nations who may see this case from a different perspective based on their cultural background. Thats all fine. But if we consider it a crime to let Qatar host the world cup because some laws offend a group of people then we must not host the world cup in any country that offend Hinduism (more than a billion adherents) for example. Regulations that allow cows slaughtering must be changed in any country that want to host the world cup.
Now here is another thing: We like alcohol as a part of our life style, they forbid it based on religious demands. Why is it them who have to change and not us (And BTW I don't want anyone to change their life style)? Why is it always our own values that should be considered as the margin of "international" right and wrong?
We like Alcohol. it brings lot of joy and set the mood right. But if regulations are meant to protect individuals and societies, Alcohol is damaging for individuals and societies, as proved by each and every medical and social study.
So while Alcohol-friendly countries do not dare to put strict regulations because its a loss of votes where people who like Alcohol-same as drug addicts- love to get high. There are other countries where the cultural belief helped them to reach there. We don't need to follow them. But how relevant is it to say "Screw your youth and move backward to our position if you want to host a world cup"?
If you think about it, it is even so wrong that FIFA's main sponsor for a competition followed by youth, is an alcoholic drink. Is that even compatible to football or sport in general? Does Messi get drunk before the games?
In any way, this "do it our way" argument sounds like accepting an invitation to have dinner in a Jew or Muslim house but then criticizing them for not serving pork. If you don't like it, don't go there. Simply put. BTW shouldn't we change the universal laws so we forbid pork to satisfy Jews and Muslims (that's another billion of people)? Just saying...
- Environment damages: This is one of the most shallow excuses. It is not Qatar who complicate Kyoto agreement. I think it will be a good idea that FIFA refuse to offer any country that contribute mostly in CO2 Emissions the chance to host the world cup. This is a sample of a schedule that help in deciding the countries that can (or can't) host the world cup. Regardless of the fact that Qatar suggested an environment friendly alternatives to counter FIFA concerns.
- Democracy, Terrorism, corruption and all the other stuff: First thing first, democracy is the method where the majority of citizens agree on a system to rule the country. Luckily Qataris are not numerous, so it is easy to figure if the existing system is what they want. I have no idea. If the majority of Qataris are comfortable with the current ruler, then who are we to stick our nose and complain? Did anyone investigate their opinion about their regime? Good question.
Now to the big question: Can the countries that promote, support, and protect dictatorships preach against it?
Some people not even aware that the project inspired by School of the Americas expanded already, creating a franchised system of dictatorships across the globe. It is true that there are dictatorships and corrupted systems in the Middle East (now that this is the case in hand). But the truth is that such regimes are there because they count on the backing of those who like to preach about democracy.
On daily bases, people in the middle east raise the voice and spread their fleshes on the streets demanding a change while putting their own safety on the blade (including women -for those who are sooo worried about women life in the Middle East). It happens every.Single.Day. They are doing their part of the job putting pressure on the first face of dictatorships' coin and showing will to sacrifice for the good case. Are the preachers doing their role dealing with the other face of the coin? Because if Mr. Keyboard hero believes he lives in a "democratic country", he cant say "It is not my fault". The existing politicians represent you, and you carry the responsibility of their actions.
I can -kind of- understand someone who say: "I don't like politics and I don't like to talk about it". I say "Fair enough", regardless of the fact that global era makes it impossible to spread responsibilities and blame. But when someone just feel like throwing couple of shallow statements then retreat to bed laying under cover alone to touch and enjoy, someone will have to pull him out to a seat, look straight in the eyes and say it the way it is.
Besides, dictatorship can be dump and obvious, like one man ruling a country till death. Or smart and sneaky, like a lobby or two ruling a country since ever and for ever, though behind the curtains with dolls in the highest positions to serve their masters' needs. Everytime people get sick of a doll and show anger toward the whole situation, a new election (with lot of promises and excitement) change the doll and bring new hope (drug) to calm down the flock. Show must go on.
Its laughable to accuse Qatar of terrorism. Seriously. Lets check how many war crimes Qatar (Or middle Easterns in general) committed compared to other bidders who wanted to host the world cup (2018 or 2022). How many countries did Qatar invade or sent soldiers to, neglecting clear statements in the international law that forbid it? Lets take any international organization you like and review their reports. Based on that, we decide who can and who must not be allowed to host the world cup. I call that fair and right. And don't let me start talking about bloody corruption.
There is also this "Damn them!!" chauvinist argument against Oil/Gas middle east countries. Because they are rich, they are corrupted and deserve no respect. I will not argue that. But why the same people who damn the primitive middle easterns do not complain when those same "Terrorists/corrupted/primitives" offer them jobs and contribute in keeping their economy alive? So, when they keep Mr. Holly-man on the payroll and buy him a beer, its all good. But when they want to host a world cup they are suddenly lacking the human values needed to do that. I see... Now what can we call that?
But then again if Qatar is the monster of all Evils of dictatorship and corruption, USA has a huge military base in Qatar capable to change their regime and bring "justice and love". Oh...yea and "world peace". Let the knights of rights do the job. They didn't hesitate before.
What I know for sure is that Qatar will make lot of changes in the following twelve years to meet the international standards (Everyone will be able to drink till get drunk and puke under each and every tree separating the stadium from the hotel room). But if it will be up to me, I would recommend that Qatar stay loyal to it's culture and introduce it to the world. Every country, society, culture, or religion has its flaws. People who are willing to accept differences will enjoy a life experience of watching football matches and knowing more about the other human living on this planet. A chance to see things the way it is on-site, not as the propaganda want to show it per interest. Those who cant accept seeing things outside the box can follow the tournament at home resting on their favorite couches. After all, this is how middle easterns followed the world cup for decades. So, fair enough.
Again, nothing uglier than the trident engagement between Arrogance, ignorance and hypocrisy. Something you can stumble upon both in the east and the west where each party feels they own the naked truth and are the right opposing the ultimate wrong existing elsewhere. Then they start a holly war to change the other or kill him. It is not about wearing a tie or a Burqa, covered hair or dressed in a bikini. It is not what you feel like dressing, but how far you can reach people having a different criteria about clothes, life, and what goes beyond that.
