www.majidwrite.com – My New Website.
Dear All & After Compliments;
Created today this more simpler version will also accommodate all my twice weekly columns in The Oman Daily Observer. The Columns appear every Sunday and Wednesday!
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Best Wishes and Regards,
Majid Al Suleimany
Between Us Only!
How Rich Can One Get?
Image – Final Destination! – The Grave!
September 24, 2012
Image – The Funeral Pyre!
Breaking News!
Former Chinese Police Chief Wang Lijun sentenced to 15 years for abdication of duties…even in China!
One time decades back I got this call from my late Father to go and pick him up to take him for a funeral that was happening that evening. He got into my car and was not speaking. I thought perhaps because I came in late – or he just wanted to be silent – normally – when he gets extremely angry and annoyed. I had come to realise the hard way that it was better for me ‘not to prod’ – until he decided to speak himself. This time it was acute strange because he was not saying anything – longer than usual!
My Late Father PBUH
I was wondering if the old man wanted to cry – but he was holding his tears back – not to embarrass himself in front of his son. He comes from the fabric that frowns on showing emotions openly – and that is certainly in crying! Big men – and even young boys – simply do not cry! You can all cry and break into pieces all held dear all inside. Only ‘sissies’ cry out openly!
After the funeral, I could see that he now wanted to talk. So I broke the ice by asking what the poor man had died of? He stared at me as if he was going to take it out all on me – but decided at the last minute not to! Then he said – Poor man! We were everyday going to the Public place – to chase up on the applications of land for our children.
Poor man! Now he got his final plot – and it was for free! He did not have to pay any money for the plot – it was given to him for free! Just the size of his body – a bit more – but 6 feet down – to rest on his right side facing Mecca – until the Day of Reckoning! I tell you son – all these things we are chasing in life are all temporary and artificial – and there is nothing permanent and for surety except God – and Death only!
Then my poor father told me about one business man he also knew whose business had gone bust. Many reasons for it – he was telling me. But that is not important for now. In short, the man almost lost his house to the Banks – but luckily for him it was the only house he had – and there was the law to protect such cases – such in the past. He had two cars – one his and the other family. He sold off his family big car to settle debts – but kept the smaller car.
When he wanted to register the car – and when one day he wanted to go by road and to visit his relatives in a neighbouring country – he was not allowed to do so – because though he had cleared his case – and his name in the public files was still not cleared as such – and was still blacklisted! .
Images – Traffic Police – For Demonstration purposes only!
He did not have even the basic rights to renew the Mulkiya of his car – and he was driving the car ‘unlicensed and un re-registered’ – and he was afraid of in case of an accident of what was going to happen to him! It took more than 8 months to have ‘his name cleared’ – all because he was just a poor man – and had no Wastah. Thank Allah God who takes shorter time to clear us! – he sadly lamented!
He added – Such things do not happen to the rich, powerful and the famous – only poor people like him – and us! In the end, the man was so fed up – and decided to return for good to East Africa – safety or no safety – security or no security – but he just had enough! My poor father added – This man was stronger than this man who died today – God forgive us for such stray thoughts in comparisons!
I do not know if this is true or not – but one of the jokes on the public sector bribes and corruption in one third world country is about lands being allocated to the families of ‘those of influence’ – or as we say here ‘With W – Wastah! They say to a pregnant inner family or friends circle – If it is going to be a girl call her Badriya – and if boy Badr – names just coincidental – for examples and demonstration purposes only! I do not know if they knew these things of scanning – because like yours truly had twin girls – so one of the girls would have lost – till a bit later on!
In one of my articles long time back – I talked about when I started working in Oman in Junior positions – though I had a more Senior position from where I came in that distant land – from having a Company car to riding a Company bus to work. But it did not put me off – or want to return – because I put my future and my family ahead of me!
In one of my deep frustrating times far later in life – I even went looking for jobs outside that oil company. In one of the interviews with one owners’ son he asked me a direct personal question of what really made M tick? He asked me – What are your dreams and what are you looking for in life?
Perhaps he thought I would reply him that I wanted to be in his shoes – to be on his side of the desk – asking the same question to another job aspirant! Then he started lamenting to me all kind of things that were not interesting to me as a job applicant – and the success story of their family business! He then asked me if I knew another so-called rich rising family – and why I did not apply there?
In another place the ‘great personality’ was saying to me – Either we offer you a good package or nothing at all. It seemed to me he was thinking he was making a great speech impression to me – because those things are best not said – and left out – because it was just a plain commonsense message – and everybody knows about these things!
Remember all the above incidents were over 15 to 20 years ago! Far later in life – when I started writing I had a strong fan – a sort of high elite rich person who really liked my works as a writer. He said to me – I like the way you fight for the underdog! When I applied some years ago – after early retirement – for a Human Resources job in his place – he replied to me – Just keep to writing! That best suits you than a HR job! The Brits have this famous expression – Diplomacy is telling someone to go to hell – and he looks forward for the trip!
If even Mitt Romney of USA can discount 47% of the electoral vote – because ‘they are with him (Obama) – who are dependant upon government, who believe that they are victims , who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe to housing, you name it. They are people who pay no income tax ….. my job is not to worry about those people!
Bottom line – wherever you are in this world of ours – if you are poor and with no Wastah – you always get hit hard the most! Nothing has changed much during all these years! And then people dare to ask me why I like to quote many times – from George Orwell’s Animal Farm!
May The Good Lord Direct us all to The Right Path and Ways Always – Amin Amen
Take Care!
By Majid Al Suleimany
The problems all facing us now is all due to this hunger to control, dominate and manipulate in the Society….!!!
For Sunday September 9th 2012
My Website – www.majidall.com
Between Us Only!
A long time ago I was travelling to this Far Eastern country – and as I was getting out of the toilet – this old type of a man gave me a hand towel to wash my hands. I noticed that there were no tissues or towels in the toilet area – and I was saying to myself that this was a very good thing in customer personal services by them – when the shock was on me when he asked for a ‘bakhshish’ – a decent polite word describing ‘he wanted a bribe’ from me for using the towel!
Similarly, in one of the places I had visited in East Africa – I wanted to travel to another town to meet some of my relatives who were staying there. I went to the Airlines Travel Agency to book myself a flight. The man wanted to see what kind of passport I had – and I told him that though I speak the home lingo very well – but I was carrying a ‘foreign passport’.
In memory – Mohamed BuAzizi
This was none of his business on the outset – as I was going to pay in USA Dollars anyway – as I had told him this already in the beginning. But he insisted on seeing my passport – which was irrelevant as the place was within the country anyway – even if there was an International Airport there – but the flights were internal and domestic!
Being bull-headed and resistant – I was saying to myself that I will not bribe for this ticket at whatever costs to me! My desperate relatives there keen to see me told me that it was the ‘norm’ to give out something (a bribe?) – if I really wanted to travel. The man pretended to go inside ‘as he told me to check’ the Passengers Manifesto. Sure enough he came back to me to say the plane was ‘full’ – even First Class as another option that I had tried! So I decided to go back rather than pay the bribe. But I said to myself – I never received a bribe in my life – and for certain I will not pay one either.
Im
Image The Slapping Police Woman – Fadia Al Hamdi
Eventually I had to give him USA Dollars 20 against everything I held dear as my principles and ethics, because my Late Uncle was blaming me that I really did not want to see them – and I was just finding an excuse of not paying the bribe as not wanting to see them! Everyone is doing it – so what is the big deal. This is not Oman – my late Uncle cried out to me. Am I not your blood too? Remember this was a long time ago – not now as the tables are slowly turning even there for corruption and bribery – with even famous people being singled out in The Press – and that is how fast the world is changing now!
When I boarded the plane it was half empty – and there were only two people in the First Class cabin! The Airhostesses kept insisting for me to take in some more sandwiches and drinks – and I was not sure whether they were just doing their jobs professionally and ethically – or perhaps too looking in a more decent way for some ‘bakhshish’ too! I was not surprised when I learnt later on that the Airline went bankrupt – with such corrupt and bribery infested officials working with them!
My Uncle had given me ‘his best car’ for me to use whilst there. As we were returning home late at night, this Traffic Policeman on his motorbike started chasing me. I stopped and he then wanted to book me – because one of my car rear lights was off (even the brakes one). So he was making a big deal that vehicles behind me may think ahead was a motorcycle – and not a car – and what could follow was a very nasty road accident – and that would be attributed to me.
No joking or teasing stuff because I was really scared – and I had never before been booked for any traffic offence or violation – but my relative was cool – and said to me in Arabic to give him some local money to give the man! There was ‘another bargaining’ going on when he saw my International Driving License – as I did not know it was required to be officially locally stamped as well!
Finally he took what I had a few low denomination USA Dollars currency with me – in addition to the ‘bigger’ local currency. He waved us off cheerfully saying if anyone else stops you on the way – please tell them you already saw him (nick name)! A few days later I returned to Oman – holidays or no holidays – because I had enough!
If you are an avowed Reader of mine you may notice I had said about these cases before – and even more embarrassing ones too when I had to deal with such bribery and corruption issues – and more after I went for Early Retirement in 1998 in my Oil Company then!
Last week I was really astounded – to say the least – to see that there are many cases awaiting to be presented for persecution – and some based on corruption allegations in especially public offices. Frankly, I feel and would support that it includes also Public Sector and National Companies and Officials’ behaviours and attitudes too in their dealings – and this too to be added in the list
And for that matter even other Private Sector companies too – even the Family run ones – together with their bosses and owners. We see always the same Big Companies getting the same big contracts too – day in and day out! It maybe just coincidental – but if even the FBI and the CIA have ‘Insiders’ investigating their own – they cannot be that far wrong!
In all my writing career now over 9 years, I have yet to see much more of The Senior Columnists saying that they have been to a Public Office – and have come back ‘happy and fulfilled’. My first articles were Bureaucracy (and Red Tape) in The Public Sector – my first book – Between Us Only! – www.majidbooks.com and www.myown-ebooks.com That was one of the articles that had ‘launched’ my writing career as an ‘ambition, hobby and passion’ with this esteemed newspaper – which came to my salvation ‘when the chips were really down’!
The truth be said is this – that there are still some offices in the Public Sector that one to this day is ‘still scared stiff’ to visit – because anything can happen to you and or your application – despite all the public appearances – and websites and Call Centres!
And you would imagine that things would naturally and undoubtedly move faster and quicker with modernity– but still end with great problems, difficulties, hardships and pains to the Poor Citizen – as if we have not seen or noticed what has happened – or learnt our lessons – and still see what is happening all around us now. Even infringing personal freedom and liberty – and basic human rights for the citizens to be served – but being denied these basic essential services even!
It took one Tunisian not happy with the Public Office reception – can you imagine – to set off The Arab Spring Uprisings and Revolts the world over – even if people try best mot to be scared and to be afraid anymore! Things need to change fast – and time is of the essence – to be as quickly and painlessly as is possible – for the common good and benefits!
May The Good Lord Direct us all to The Right Path Always – and Protect and Preserve us all – Amin Amen
With sincere and genuine apologies!
Take Care!
By Majid Al Suleimany
‘Jesus is a monkey’ daubed on Jerusalem monastery wall
Menahem Kahana / AFP – Getty Images
A Trappist monk stands between graffiti reading in Hebrew, “Jesus is a monkey” (L) and “mutual guarantee, Ramat Migron and Maoz Ester” (West Bank settlements) (R), which was sprayed on the wall of the Latrun Monastery between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday after unknown people set the monastery’s door ablaze.
By NBC News’ Alastair Jamieson and wire reports
Hebrew graffiti, including the phrase “Jesus is a monkey,” was daubed on the walls of a monastery near Jerusalem early Tuesday in what police suspect was a so-called ‘Price Tag’ attack by right-wing, pro-settler extremists, according to reports.
Vandals torched the wooden door of the Latrun Monastery and spray-painted the graffiti on the holy site’s stone walls, Israeli police said.
Police have opened a special investigation into the incident,” Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Israeli security officials had expressed concern about possible acts of retribution by a suspected settler vigilante campaign known as ‘Price Tag’ for Sunday’s court-ordered eviction of 50 families from Migron, a settler site near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Police believe the incident was part of the campaign, Times of Israel and the Jerusalem Post reported.
Rosenfeld said “Migron” and the words “Jesus is a monkey” were among the phrases scrawled at the monastery, which is located inside Israel but not far from the occupied West Bank.
‘Price Tag’ incidents are so-called because the extremists believe their attacks are extracting a price from Palestinians for their action in evicting settlers.
Jerusalem Post Reporter Melanie Lidmanposted pictures of the graffiti on Twitter..
She reported that, following the evacuation of Migron on Sunday, Judea and Samaria District police commander Amos Yaakov said: “I assume that there will be an increase in ‘Price Tag’ incidents, and we have carried out preparations for this.”
The attack happened at around 3:30 a.m. local time Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET Monday) and was quickly discovered by monks, who notified police, she reported.
The report added that the monastery was a way station for pilgrims on their way from Jaffa to Jerusalem in the 19th century, and that the current building was built in 1890.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Comments
And then they want to burn the Holy Quraan which has a Special Chapter on Mother Miriam – the snctity and the holiness of The Great Lady – one of the Highest in Islam!
Mother Miriam is crying!
She (Miriam – May Allah Be Pleased With Her) said = How shall I have a son, seeing that No man has touched me, And I am not unchaste – The Holy Quran 19.20
All My Books Icons
The Books:-
1 – Between Us Only!
2 – The Sequel – Between Us Only!
3 – Short Takes – Between Us Only!
4 – Psychology of Arab Management Thinking!
5 – A Cry For Help!
6 – Behind The Wheel!
7 – Between Us Only! – Three – The Sequel!
8 – Between Us Only! – Short Takes 2 – The Sequel!
6 to 8 are new under Final Publication.
Publisher Trafford – Press Release – August 29th 2012
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Majid Al Suleimany’s exciting new book is “A Cry for Help!”
“A Cry for Help!” examines the management styles of Arabian Gulf Corporation Council countries
MUSCAT, Oman – Author Majid Al Suleimany exposes the increasing extremism, fundamentalism and radicalization in management styles and employees’ receptions and reaction in his new book “A Cry for Help!”(published by Trafford Publishing)
With over 35 years of human resource experience in Oman and with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Al Suleimany digs deep into the Arab office environment. Suleimany spins “a frank, honest and open book exposing the increasing lack of ethics, principles, professionalism and tolerance in the office environment.”
“A Cry for Help!” focuses on the particular type of management that is being used in the Arab workplace while explaining the context and perspectives in the work environment. He goes on to explain what is peculiar, special, or particular to that work in the context of, and in comparison to, management styles of other nations.
About the Author
Majid Al Suleimany resides in Oman with his wife and four children. He has published four other books: “Psychology of Arab management!,” “The Sequel – Between Us Only!,” “Short Takes – Between Us Only!” and “Between Us Only! Book One.” He has two others in production: “Between Us Only! The Sequel Three” and “Behind the Wheel!” Al Suleimany is also a columnist for The Oman Daily Observer. He has worked in management, human resources and as a consultant for over 35 years in Oman.
Trafford Publishing, an Author Solutions, Inc. author services imprint, was the first publisher in the world to offer an “on-demand publishing service,” and has led the independent publishing revolution since its establishment in 1995. Trafford was also one of the earliest publishers to utilize the Internet for selling books. More than 10,000 authors from over 120 countries have utilized Trafford’s experience for self publishing their books. For more information about Trafford Publishing, or to publish your book today, call 1-888-232-4444 or visit trafford.com.
OPINION - My Other Web Site! - Majid SN Al Suleimany - www.majidsn.com 