I don't want to get across that this country is good or bad, but that it's _complex_ (just like most countries). I do personally believe that the leadership of the country is trying to make a positive impact, though it's usually in ways that aren't reported in the media and... that's all I want put out there, just to bring some nuance to the conversation.
Having said all that, going back to the long-form article, I will say only one thing, debt is something that's really scary to have here since AFAIK, it's illegal in Islam, so the credit card system tends to be strangely designed and if I was ever in debt to this country or any of these Arab countries, I'd stay far away from here.
Why would any intelligent person ever set foot there? I'd lose over half of my current rights as it stands.
Are you sure this is a good thing? It opens the country to foreign economic exploitation. There's a reason China required it for so long.
Sure, Dubai may not reach the level Western democracies have, but they also didn’t start at the same point as well. That doesn’t excuse the shortcomings, but maybe explains them.
Western democracies in Europe and North America didn’t spring up overnight. You’re looking at 800+ years of developing a broadly accepted set of human rights.
I won't defend the UAE, but the level of freedom you have in actual daily life is surprisingly disconnected from what's written in a constitution or what the government is doing.
Honestly can't imagine anyone would be this forgiving of it's bigotry if it wasn't so rich.
I’m not infatuated by anything, I’m simply raising a nuanced opinion about a country that has many faults, but has some successes which are never acknowledged. And that’s fine.
Just thought it might be interesting to hear a viewpoint from someone who actually lives here rather than blindly reads the news and maybe has visited a few times. Labeling me and calling me names doesn’t help or bring anything useful to the conversation. If you can’t name a single positive thing the UAE has done, then to me, maybe it’s worth it to do some further investigation on the topic.
Nonsense argument. Lacks details and specifics.
> I left the west for somewhere where I have a lot fewer rights on paper, but I feel so much freer now, no longer constantly worrying about what the mob thinks of everything I say.
That's where you fucked up: Caring about what [random] people think about you. Also I would love to know what country you feel more free in. For some reason I suspect this will not be answered.
> I won't defend the UAE, but the level of freedom you have in actual daily life is surprisingly disconnected from what's written in a constitution or what the government is doing.
More blah blah blah nonsense. Examples, give them. I have numerous freedoms I exercise daily (speech, worship, association, ownership of war weapons).
I'm sure once they come to Dubai they'll be horrified how the streets aren't covered in human shit and used needles.
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.
I’ve met several intelligent people here from everywhere in the world and many here are trying to have a positive impact on the country.
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 that your ethics and morals have a price. I hope yours was high enough.
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 in the UAE:
1. Hold elections.
2. Form political parties.
3. Criticize my government and officials.
4. Have extra-martial or casual sex.
5. Consume alcohol.
6. Consume cannabis.
7. Be homosexual.
8. Kiss my partner in public.
9. Eat, drink, and smoke between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan.
10. Swear - both IRL and online.
Is that enough or do you need more concrete examples? The list is quite long.
I’ll add something else, as someone who has faced racism growing up in the Bay Area very very often, I’m sensitive to it and it’s something I push back on every time I’m faced with it here.
There was so much media coverage about human rights violations and slavery you'd have to put in a lot of effort to not see it.
As I’ve mentioned now several times, I’m not blind to it. The UAE has engaged in many poorly made decisions, however I was simply trying to engage in some conversation about something the western media doesn’t often talk about - the positive things the UAE does. If your response to that is, “the UAE is entirely negative, why engage in anything positive”, then I’d suggest seeking information on the positive things the country has done for others. Maybe it’ll broaden your horizon and bring some nuance. I’d state more positives here, but I keep getting called names, so I won’t list any more positives.
Debt is debt, that’s it, you’re supposed to pay it back.
Not a reason to criminalize a debt the way the UAE does it.
Islam has nothing to do with this.
Other things you mentioned are NOT complex:
Slavery, exploitation, lack of rule of law, lack of human rights, lack of women rights etc
Let’s not give the UAE a pass here.
People go to the UAE to make money. They re not there from some “intellectually difficult to explain” reason. Pure $$$.
Does this really not match your experience of how things have been going lately? Freedom of speech and association but that doesn't prevent you from being fired for what you say or who you associate with. Free to protest unless there's a risk your protest might have an effect, then a state of emergency will be declared and the police will explain how they can legally kidnap your dog.
> That's where you fucked up: Caring about what [random] people think about you. Also I would love to know what country you feel more free in.
Japan, FWIW. I could be deported if I took part in political activities, there are significant restrictions on my speech (strict libel laws). But I have a supportive local community and strong employment protection, both things that count for a lot.
Your argument is a logical fallacy. Yes I'm sure the UAE is improving, but that doesn't mean we should stop vilifying it for the terribly evil laws it has and things it does. It's not "complex", there's just no motivation to make actual, sweeping change, only token change to appeal to the West, whom the UAE relies on to do business with. Dubai should not exist, it's an artificial Oasis in the desert in a world where global warming is becoming a serious threat. Dubai was built on slave labour.