http://tinyurl.com/3m9y7qv

Well it's good to see the government and Met still have some sense left.  But they are not the only ones to fail to understand that censorship doesn't work nearly as effectively as proactive positive use of media.


It's the same with most repressive governments.  They really don't get that not only are their long term prospects for survival generally better but also their potential for accumulating personal wealth and ensuring personal survival massively improved by making the populace feel comfortable and apathetically compliant than by repressing them and stirring up dissent.


Dissenters - rebels - are highly committed.  But most people are not.  But if you make them feel unhappy, repressed, fearful and so on you give the dissenters something to work with.  Help 'em feel comfortable and lazy and they'll put up with all kinds of stuff that would help the dictators and governments do what they want.  Let 'em talk freeely.  Let 'em insult you if they want.  Sticks and stones...why would the dictator care about words.  He or She can use them just as effectively to win friends and influence people. 


Hugo Chavez knows that.  And it's really pissing off the Americans isn't it?


It's a really simple principle.  I'm stunned more don't use it.


That's why there's really so little chance of the Emiratis joining their bretheren in Bahrain or Yemen or even KSA in fomenting dissent.  They would have to give up too much.  And the rest of us are here as expats...to earn money or enjoy an easy life.  We're not going to be making a fuss anytime soon.


Places like Nigeria and South Africa could do well to learn that lesson.  And still the Pres. could live like an 18thC European Monarch if so desired!

Ramadan and selfish driving

It's the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and here in Dubai we are fasting and
contemplating the universe.  Even among us non-Muslims there's a sense of
something special and we try to work ourselves into the national mindset.
Giving to charity, helping the poor and needy and generally being a good
human are a big part of the mood.  And so yesterday in a country plagued by
selfish and senseless driving I was horrified to see perhaps the worst
example yet of this kind of behavior made somehow worse by its being
Ramadan.

Two large fire engines, lights flashing, sirens blaring, were working their
way through heavy traffic coming up to a set of lights at a busy
intersection.  Where possible cars were (eventually) pulling to one side and
making space for them to come through.  As they approached the lights
several cars pulled aside leaving a clear space for them both to come
through on their mission and clear the lights quickly.  Just as they reached
the lights a Landcruiser containing a respectable looking middle aged couple
pulled out of the traffic queue in front of the leading fire engine and shot
through the lights accelerating rapidly.  The lights were red at the
time... This caused the leading  fire engine to brake suddenly and the
following truck to all but rear end the first.

Even though we are all used to seeing arrogant and incompetent driving every
day here I have to say this behaviour shocked me.  I also confess to feeling
a stab of very Ramadan inappropriate thought in hoping it was their house
that was burning.