In Praise of Arab Dogs, a Revolting Writer, and the Worst Persian Gulf Daily
Of Dogs and Men:
“Many Egyptian and Arab reporters opposed permitting the showing of an American film that has in it a god names Anwar Sadat. The owner of the dog is asked if he named him so because he likes Mr. Sadat, and he replies ‘no, because he looks like him'....
"This anger reminds me of the ancient Arab poet who recited a verse in praise of the Abbasid ruler:
You are as a dog in your fidelity,
And as a goat when butting heads with challenges
"The wise ruler understood and did not have his head chopped off as others wanted him to do…
"It is interesting how the relationship of Arabs to dogs have changed over the ages. So that now the animal represents an insult, although ancient Arabs liked and respected their dogs as hunting partners, sheep herders, house guards, and symbols of bravery and fidelity.
"Comparing someone with a dog should not be an insult, and in the old days when an Arab admired someone he told him “By God, how handsome you are. You are a dog.”..........."
(The verse above in my own translation from Arabic, any mistake is mine, but that is unlikely)
I read this piece in two languages to Scooter, which seemed, or pretended, to understand nothing. Maybe because Scooter ambushed me with a broad-brush lick across the face, the kind of lick I hate the most.
I must admit, some Saudi newspapers occasionally have gems in them, like this one above.
On the other hand, Kuwaiti media been deteriorating every year, to the extent that it has moved from leading the (Persian) Gulf to being probably at the bottom of the region now. I especially refer to daily newspapers. At the bottom of that bottom is the daily rag alseyassah, which specializes in praising and interviewing royal potentates as well as disgruntled Iraqi (Sunni) columnists and politicians, often former Baathists. At least they write with the distinctive Iraqi Baathist jargon.
Even the names can be a challenge. For example, one of these regular writers, has a piece in today’s issue. His name? Thaier al-Nashif. Meaning in English? Revolting (Thaier) the Arid or Dry (al-Nashif). But that is okay, the whole newspaper is revolting.
Cheers
mhg
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