EDITOR’S LETTER
TThe concept of passive tolerance probably isn’t something you’re actively aware of but, as a resident of Dubai, you’re already living it. Put simply, passive tolerance is the idea that living in an area of high diversity rubs off on you, making you more tolerant of ethnic diversity. The guy working in the supermarket is from one place, the lady in the apartment next door from another, the people you work from somewhere else again, and so on, and all that’s just the norm for you. You’re used to it – you take that in, subconsciously, accept it, and treat it as part of everyday life.
It’s something that, in my opinion, makes Dubai an incredible place to live – the words ‘melting pot’ are usually used about now, and while they’re a little clichéd it’s true. We have people from the world over living their lives here, together, and that’s fantastic. Within 20 feet of my desk in our Motivate offices, I can see people with roots in New Zealand, Mexico, Iran, India, England, Wales, Italy, the Philippines, Burma, Malaysia, Ireland and Mauritius. Twenty feet, 12 nationalities, 12 different cultures, all happily working alongside each other, laughing, joking, living their lives.
When I first thought about writing this letter, I wanted to highlight the different cultures we have in Dubai, and link that to our cover feature, and to the world of food available on our doorstep, and how brilliant all that is, and it’s true, it is. But to be honest, events in Manchester at the time of writing – one of my favourite cities in the world, a place full of happy memories for me – mean that the true idea of cultures getting on happily together seems all the more pertinent.
I’m sure there’s lot you could say about Dubai, should you want to, and I’m not for one second claiming that it’s perfect beyond reproach, because it isn’t – where is? But what Dubai is, and what it does fantastically well, is mix vibrant cultures, faiths, societies, call it what you want – just people, from all over the world, getting on together because they can, because it’s the right thing to do.
Enjoy the issue. Stay safe. Be nice to one and other.