Documentation methodology about good people of Kuwait
“THE honorable people of Kuwait, thanks to God Almighty, left behind a good legacy full of good and influential attitudes, which, if they indicate anything, indicate that, thanks be to God, they have beautiful qualities and good morals, and I know that my testimony regarding them is not hurtful because they are the honorable sons of my country whom I honor and appreciate and acknowledge their thanks, but I at the same time, do not find mentioning their virtues and deeds to be anything other than an obligatory duty and a necessary testimony in light of the good attitudes and beautiful deeds they left behind, in which their beautiful qualities and good innate character were numerous, as it is narrated in the noble Prophet’s (PBUH) hadith: ‘Remember the virtues of your dead’,” columnist Dr Abdul Mohsen Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi wrote for Al-Qabas daily
“Perhaps, through these simple lines, we can summarize the first six determinants of the methodology of writing and documenting about the good people of Kuwait, and that is among the ten determinants, some of which we will discuss in this first part of the article, and we will discuss the remaining four in the next article, God Almighty willing:
“First: Message and value -- In his methodology of writing about the exploits and lessons of the good people of Kuwait, the writer was keen to choose influential situations from which we can draw lessons and sermons, because they include authentic values and good qualities that this blessed generation possessed, which we present to the current and future generations so that we can draw inspiration from them. We hope that these good models represent high ideals and good role models from which we can all learn and live in their shadow, and from the roots we derive what the stems and leaves grow from.
“Second: Loyalty and returning the favor -- In line with the creation of loyalty that the good people of Kuwait established through their good attitudes, and through the deeds and lessons contained in those good attitudes; it has been proven beyond any doubt that the character of loyalty is rooted in this good, blessed generation, and as a matter of returning the favor and attributing the credit to its people, this documentary initiative came from the writer in order to document those good deeds, in continuation of the numerous writings he presented in the field of documentation about the people of his country.
“The honorable people of Kuwait and in memory of souls who made sacrifices and gave much without expecting thanks, praise or gratitude, people who wrote pioneering humanitarian stances on the pages of history that deserved praise and appreciation.
“Third: Focus on the achievements and lessons -- An article that contains one or more positions about the good people of Kuwait does not necessarily have to be accompanied by a translation of the person holding the position. The article may include a nice introductory overview of him, very brief and casual, but in most cases there is not enough space to mention his biography or a complete translation of him. It would cover all aspects of the personality in detail.
“Therefore, we seek an excuse to mention what we see as compatible from his biography and his personal interpretation of the context of the situation, which automatically makes us mention it and highlight it because it is linked in one way or another to the message or goal of the situation, so it comes in the context to support the value and message and help convey the lesson and sermon, given the limited space available to the writer in the newspaper through the window from which he views the honorable reader, which often does not allow him to write everything he wants, and this is what we compensate for with detailed writing in our books, praise and gratitude be to God.
“Fourth: Parity and neutrality -- One of the basics of documentary writings (as is the case with many other fields) is that the writer must clarify in his methodology the basis of selection through which the characters or situations that he will address through his writings will be chosen. The basic principle is that everyone is equal in opportunities, whoever applies the methodology.
“He will definitely have a place and a share in being one of those included in the general documentation work, without discrimination of anyone over the other, or diminishing the right of anyone who is entitled to it. Rather, it is the spirit of equality and justice that applies to everyone, and gives everyone his right.
“Fifth: Objectivity and avoiding exaggeration -- The more the writer is objective and honest, the closer he is to the hearts of his readers. Staying away from exaggerations prevents the writer from falling into criticism from his readers, especially since these situations and characters are not long-standing in Kuwaiti society. Some of them have reached and sometimes have already been repeated among people through novels, and a few of them through writing down, but in the end, a significant amount of this good heritage has already arrived and has been circulated among people.
“There is what was transmitted orally and narrated in meetings, forums, and various occasions (diwaniyas), including what was written down to be part of the history of this good country, regardless of the different writers and authors and the intentions and goals of each of them in the process of blogging. Even if these positions were not repeated and transmitted to subsequent generations, credibility and realism are the only way to reach everyone’s hearts and convictions.
“Sixth: Focus on the Kuwaiti element -- It is natural to focus on documentary writings and social experiences affecting the people of the country, given that the writer has lived with them alone, without any embarrassment of fanaticism and regionalism.
“From this standpoint, we extend an invitation to the distinguished brothers of writers and authors specialized in the field of historical documentation in the various Gulf countries in particular and the Arab countries in general to generalize this valuable documentary experience in writing about their citizens, their positions and their good deeds.
“Perhaps this is a good year whose impact will extend to all countries in the Arab world, resulting in an independent literary product that represents a valuable new literary wealth in the field of historical documentation.”
“It will be continued in the next article, God willing.”
Also:
“Supporters of corruption exist across time and place, a fact lamentable yet undeniable. Conversely, advocates for integrity, truth, and justice persist as well,” columnist Dr Muhammad AlDuwaihees wrote for Al-Jarida daily. “Despite the pervasiveness of corruption and the considerable power wielded by injustice, the reign of these vices is not eternal. Those who champion truth, justice, integrity, and righteousness, resilient and resolute in their beliefs, are destined for victory, irrespective of the challenges they face.
“The steadfastness and confidence of justice’s supporters, rooted in both themselves and a higher power, contrast starkly with the wavering and doubt plaguing the proponents of falsehood, injustice, and corruption. Noble values and lofty principles endure amidst the onslaught of corruption, injustice, and ignorance.
“Such ideals remain impervious to the assaults of those who lack understanding or appreciation of honor, integrity, and justice.
“The corrupt and their cohorts, driven by personal gain and material interests, remain blind to the intrinsic value of honor and dignity. They serve as mere pawns in the hands of the powerful and the manipulative, forsaking their own humanity in pursuit of wealth and influence.
“However, their reign, bolstered by organized mechanisms and allies, is not invincible. The power of corruption falters in the face of individuals of integrity and justice, ultimately succumbing before those of upright character and unwavering values.
“To the corrupt and opportunistic, there is no cause for celebration, for their dominion is fleeting, built upon transient interests and immediate gains. As conflicts of interest arise and hidden truths come to light, the facade of corruption crumbles, along with its proponents and supporters.
“Conversely, for the honest, truthful, and honorable, the future holds promise. It belongs to those who prioritize the welfare of their nation above personal gain, standing firm in their principles of humanity and patriotism.
“In the words of Omar bin Abdulaziz, as conveyed by Al-Hassan Al-Basri, true leadership lies not in the allegiance of the worldly or the religious, but in the trust of people of honor, whose integrity precludes any betrayal.”
“It’s common practice to hire domestic workers according to our specific needs, especially for tasks like house cleaning and kitchen management, particularly when the working mother isn’t available or when the family and household are large,” Nafi’a
Al-Zwaid wrote for Al-Anba daily. “While it’s understandable for the wife to assist the worker, provide training, and supervise tasks due to cultural differences, it’s concerning that some recruitment agencies in Asian countries are instructing workers to limit their responsibilities strictly to either cooking or cleaning, but not both.
“This directive seems to be a recent development, possibly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers are being trained to misrepresent their skills, with some claiming expertise only in cooking or cleaning. The rationale behind this seems to be to increase job opportunities by dividing tasks, ultimately resulting in more workers being sent to Kuwaiti households.
“This practice burdens families financially, especially those unable to afford multiple workers or those not needing the services of two workers simultaneously.
“This specialization of tasks places strain on Kuwaiti families and contribute to the growing number of female workers in households, exacerbating demographic concerns.
“Additionally, the exorbitant costs associated with recruiting workers further compound the issue. Despite labor authorities setting prices, the black market persists. Moreover, the six-month return policy offered by labor offices adds to the burden, as sponsors are left responsible for the worker’s expenses after this period.
“This situation amounts to blackmail and conspiracy against Kuwaiti citizens and the nation as a whole, perpetuated by both labor agencies in Asian countries and recruitment offices in Kuwait. It’s imperative that competent authorities address this issue to alleviate the strain caused by the influx of workers into Kuwaiti households, preserving the integrity of Kuwaiti families and society.”