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The Dubai Debt Trap

economist.com

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Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#241

Post by mrwnmonm »

rastignack wrote: post #233
mrwnmonm wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't blame the west, I said they play a role. I realize there were a lot of issues before the US become a world leader and even before the British/French colonization. I will say it in a different way, WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY, but you are too blind not to realize that by yourself.

I do know who is my enemy and who is not. I have lots of friends coming from these countries. Been there with them. They do not speak like you. The enemies are roughly Salafia and Ikhwan. They are the ones with the hateful retoric. And they have a huge following.

> They do not speak like you.

Does this automatically make what I said incorrect?

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#242

Post by [deleted] »

codechad wrote: post #115
_hhkg wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not waxing poetic about anything. I agree that the UAE has engaged (and continues to engage) in several atrocities. Many many horrible things which as mentioned, I’m also combating during my time here. Also you mentioned little fact, mostly emotion, but i stated things like the Year of Tolerance, the religious temples being built, etc. but I’d hope others can also investigate on their own. We are so quick to pain…

> Also you mentioned little fact, mostly emotion, but i stated things like the Year of Tolerance, the religious temples being built, etc. but I’d hope others can also investigate on their own. We are so quick to paint countries as evil without understanding the full situation. You are correct. Let me help rectify my transgression by providing a very consolidated list of things I can do in America that you can not do…

[deleted]

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#243

Post by mrwnmonm »

feupan wrote: post #235
mrwnmonm wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, bulling people all over the place. > I lived 3-15 months each in more than 10 countries. Is that supposed to mean that you know those countries more than natives?

Who mentioned you? You’re completely out of context. I’m just replying to the parent suggesting I don’t engage with the cultures. All I need to tell you is that I’ve been stared at, followed, called names, harassed in a number of countries, and many of them were Arab. Go figure.

From what I said in other comments it is clear that I admit that these things do happen.

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#244

Post by zipswitch »

zaphod12 wrote: post #84
apohn wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I say this as somebody who lived in one of those Middle Eastern countries for a good period of my life. I'm not a white person and at that time I didn't have a US/European passport, so I didn't lead an extra privalaged life there. Here's what you can hear about the USA. 1)Endless suburban sprawl, resulting in massive environmental destruction. Illegal immigrants heavily involved in the construction industry, leading…

I don't know about number 7 - most of the USA is actually pretty nicely temperate. There are some exceptions like death valley (3000 sq mi) or the chihuahan dessert (about 25000 sq mi in the USA), or some parts of Alaska, but we're talking about a very small area of a 3.7 million sq mi country. If those aren't your thing, I do recommend skipping them. UAE is only 32000 sq mi and it's all very very hot. Otherwise that…

The northern tier of states, especially inland, are quite cold and snowy for months out of the year. If you're a local, you're used to it and likely enjoy aspects of it. But for someone who isn't familiar with it, months of regular temperatures below freezing, ice and snow, and frequent drops to well below zero Farenheit, are pretty miserable.

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#245

Post by mrwnmonm »

feupan wrote: post #239
mrwnmonm wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Judging from your comments, you are not in a position to talk about my behaviour. I asked that, because we always get that from most western people. Western media which is being watched all over the world shape us in a certain way, while they play a role in keeping our countries as it is. You just want to bully and cancel an Arab my friend because you hate us, that's all.

Sorry that you feel that way; detach from the media because I feel a lot of anger coming from you towards westerners. I don’t hate you. I just got triggered by your denial of our mistreatment and your whataboutism. I hope to visit more Arab countries soon and make more friends there.

I appreciate your feelings. I responded this way because the first comment I responded to which says "I will never visit an Arab country" and "it was pretty much the same everywhere" should have a better analysis before he/she cancel entire countries this way. I am sorry for what they have experienced, but we need to be honest if we want a change to this mad world.

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#246

Post by mabbo »

_hhkg wrote: post #118
mabbo wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You remind me of myself when I used to work for Amazon. I'd also spend a lot of time explaining to friends how "It's complicated" and "You know, they also do a lot of good things". But the reality I wouldn't admit to myself was much simpler: they were doing awful things, but I was willing to work for them as long as they paid me enough and made my life comfortable enough. It's very uncomfortable to admit to yourself…

I appreciate the thought, but I’d raise the same thing I mentioned in the other comment, that I’m here for humanitarian reasons rather than simply trying to “strike it rich” or something. My ethics and morals are incredibly important to me and you suggesting that just by merely being present in this country without knowing why is in someway selling myself out is presumptuous. I’ll add something else, as someone who h…

You know, I do owe you an apology. That was snarky as hell and I don't know your situation. Sorry.

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#247

Post by pklausler »

apohn wrote: post #60
retube wrote: post #5

All I ever hear is horror stories about this place: environmental destruction, structural racism, serious abuse of human rights, culturally hyper conservative, corrupt legal system, plus it's absurdly hot. I can't believe anyone would voluntarily go there, seems like hell on earth.

I say this as somebody who lived in one of those Middle Eastern countries for a good period of my life. I'm not a white person and at that time I didn't have a US/European passport, so I didn't lead an extra privalaged life there. Here's what you can hear about the USA. 1)Endless suburban sprawl, resulting in massive environmental destruction. Illegal immigrants heavily involved in the construction industry, leading…

You omitted civil asset forfeiture laws and qualified immunity for police.

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#248

Post by rayiner »

mbg721 wrote: post #183
rayiner wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re incorrect as to the US, and I suspect as to Japan as well. Lots of criminals in America plead guilty, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no “external proof” of guilt. Cops are lazy and criminals are dumb. So what you end up with in nearly all cases is that cops make arrests in easy cases with tons of evidence. Confronted with the video tape, cell phone records, etc., the accused then pleads guilty. Rarely do y…

At what point would you waive the right to a trial-by-jury? I think about that from time to time; if I'm accused of something, what crimes are less sympathetic to my peers than to a judge?

Your peers aren’t sympathetic to crime at all. A 2014 sentencing project report found that supermajorities of people (including both white and Black people, by the way) believe that the criminal justice system is “not harsh enough.”

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#249

Post by [deleted] »

pradn wrote: post #193
spiderfarmer wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After some bad experiences I will never visit an Arab country again. They'll have to do something against the sexism, constant heckling and the bad state of law before I even think about going there. Or they can do whatever they want, they don't have to change just for me. I'm 6 ft 6 and I have a blonde wife who's just a bit smaller. Even though we behaved very polite and dressed like locals it was like we had a big…

I went to Egypt a few months ago and was met with incredibly warm people, with perhaps even an excess of hospitality. Yes, you do get charged extra for being a tourist at the tourist spots. But that's only a small part of the country. That said, I am Indian and was met as an Egyptian most of the time (people would start speaking to me in Arabic 70% of the time), so I had the benefit of fitting in well. The delicious…

[deleted]

Re: The Dubai Debt Trap

#250

Post by mbg721 »

rayiner wrote: post #248
mbg721 wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At what point would you waive the right to a trial-by-jury? I think about that from time to time; if I'm accused of something, what crimes are less sympathetic to my peers than to a judge?

Your peers aren’t sympathetic to crime at all. A 2014 sentencing project report found that supermajorities of people (including both white and Black people, by the way) believe that the criminal justice system is “not harsh enough.”

Those are the people who get out of the jury population. The ones who remain are scary.
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