« Allowance a massive relief for homeless families | HomePage | How women footballers are scoring over men »
06/03/2006
Sales ban on Doulos senseless
|
It is great to see common sense prevailing at last and the Doulos being allowed to sell books!
But I still cannot bring myself to understand the rationale behind the decision to allow the world's largest floating bookshop to dock at Mina Salman, but ban it from selling its books!
It was like chopping someone's hand off and giving him a pen!
What have we got against the written word? Wasn't it the Holy Quran that ordered the believers to read? Wasn't it Prophet Mohammed who instructed his people to seek knowledge?
Why was the Doulos allowed to call on us, if we were to snub it and show the rest of the world our fangs and our "great sensitivity" towards books as if they were the plague?
Why were people who read in Bahrain herded like horses to water, but denied to drink from it? It's not like we are spoilt for choice when it comes to books in Bahrain so that the floating bookshop posed a threat to local businesses.
The sad fact is that if anything, we need more cultural activities and books to encourage people to learn, expand their horizons and fight intolerance and backwardness.
Revising the decision will not eradicate it overnight, but is a step in the right direction.
A quick search on the web exposes a sad reality, not only in Bahrain, but in the rest of the Arab world.
According to the 2002 Arab Human Development Report, Arab countries produced 6,500 books compared to 102,000 in North America and 42,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Citing Unesco figures, the report says that book production in Arab countries is only 1.1 per cent of world production, although Arabs make up 5pc of the world's population.
To add insult to injury, Arabs produced no more than 1,945 literary and artistic books, making up 0.8pc of international production.
This is less than a country such as Turkey produces - with a population about a quarter of that of Arab countries, according to the report.
What a shame!
I will never forget how, after every holiday abroad, my bags were searched at Bahrain International Airport - not because they contained contraband items, but because they were full of books that made custom officers jump up and down with excitement!
The fact that the books were in English and contained very little graphics made them ponder on them longer than they would with other items, until I intervened and told them they were for my studies.
And I wasn't lying, for it was from books that I have learned more than I have at school, university and my working experience - all put together.
*Amira Al Hussaini currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
04:27 Posted in Current Affairs , Islam , Miscellaneous , Rants , Silly Boys | Permalink | Email this
Trackbacks
San antonio city employees credit union
Jeter vs credit bureau 360 degree fitness Windows mobile 5 upgrade Cricket wireless ringtones Thyroid gland pictures Tuscany hotel las vegas The distance education and training council Honda motorcycles history Ept pregnancy test results My federal cre...
Trackback by: San antonio city employees credit union | 21/05/2006
Arrowhead general insurance
Xp maximum memory Sql server 2000 desktop edition Honda element dealer Heartland credit union springfield Coolant for honda Term life insurance quotes The theory of sea floor spreading College for physical therapy Amount of money spent on cigarettes To...
Trackback by: Arrowhead general insurance | 22/05/2006
Beach house vacation
Video games release dates New jersey tax collector State sex education Testosterone boys and harlequin girls College tuition information Xanax 0.25 mg Grant county property tax Cash hurt guitar tab Palms resort in orlando Quotes about single Checking c...
Trackback by: Beach house vacation | 22/05/2006
High interest money
How to deal with anxiety Allegany college pa Simple card tricks Stockton college pomona Jewelers in philadelphia Federal income tax deductions Oral diabetic medication Back in black release date Play station 2 memory card Armstrong associates federal c...
Trackback by: High interest money | 26/05/2006
Scholarships for african american
Phone card printing Nutritional supplement manufacturers Produced water treatment Bank usa credit card Insulated mail slot Geforce 6600 video card Pocono vacation homes Money transfer software To borrow money Toys r us store coupon Fitzgerald health ed...
Trackback by: Scholarships for african american | 26/05/2006
Pre approved credit cards
Life finance association Voodoo video card Reliance calling cards High roller buck 1991 toyota 4runner Greeting cards on the web Mutual fund buy Special education evaluations Used cars annapolis Memory card readers Verizon wireless service Campaign fin...
Trackback by: Pre approved credit cards | 27/05/2006
Vintage race car for sale
University of michigan chinese Radeon x850pro video card Synthroid to armour Education social class Pool table mover Grants for buisness Poker babes com Verizon wireless map College high school summer Drivers sound cards Ava mirage las vegas Poker chip...
Trackback by: Vintage race car for sale | 28/05/2006
Dates in austin
Child birth education Mott community college Community colleges in usa The luxor hotel las vegas Vacation from boston Baby i got your money don t you worry lyrics Beauty salon franchise Current interest rate Beauty salon franchise San diego loft rental...
Trackback by: Dates in austin | 28/05/2006
2004 honda accord coupe
Partners card dallas texas Compare windows mobile Community college bothell wa Business entity database College football 101 History of type 2 diabetes Dry cleaner business Tennessee bible college Addicted to xanax How to get a business license College...
Trackback by: 2004 honda accord coupe | 29/05/2006
Chemist job openings
College connection field hockey Grant joint union school district College car stickers Uc credit union Sql server web interface Destinys child check on it lyrics Orlando grand plaza hotel & suites Health care attorney Ipo lottery result Cingular cell p...
Trackback by: Chemist job openings | 29/05/2006
Special education autism
Trends in education Honda vfr motorcycle Eddie money lyrics Amercian education services Income tax programs Capital investment firm Plastic shipping crate Tahoe city vacation rentals British wholesale imports Homemade xmas cards Telco triad community c...
Trackback by: Special education autism | 29/05/2006
Valley communities credit
Texas tea slot machine Search part time jobs Diet for cats Cornell university registrar Tax rates in texas How to build a website Lysol floor cleaning Bingo games com Top advertising programs Nh view tax Articles on bankruptcy External capture card The...
Trackback by: Valley communities credit | 30/05/2006
Instant cash loans
Insurance company phone numbers Bank of america credit card login Loans in va Insurance social security Commercial loan underwriting Viagra for sale Hydrocodone guaifenesin syreth Health insurance in idaho Non profit credit Reception card box Bet after...
Trackback by: Instant cash loans | 30/05/2006
Comments
So now the ship can sell books AFTER paying something like 3000 BD I understand. (aprox $8000 us)
Can someone please explain this to me? A goodwill ship run by a NON PROFIT Organization being charged for selling books. Sounds like somebody didn't get the hint.....Very strange....
Posted by: CerebralWaste | 06/03/2006
titokayak
You have hit the nail on the HEAD. People in Bahrain.. Bahraini's and expats alike need to support the Doulos by prying a couble of BD out of their wallets and buying a book or two.
It shows you the true dedication the crew of the Doulos has by staying docked in Bahrain while things get sorted out. However after the way they have been treated would any have blamed them if they pulled up anchor and left never to return? I wouldn't...
Posted by: CerebralWaste | 07/03/2006
As a Bahraini I hang my head down in shame ;(
Posted by: Amira | 07/03/2006
I don't think as a Bahraini you need to hang your head in shame Amira. You are doing your part helping with the problem. EXPOSING IT.
The people of Bahrain need to get out and purchase books from the Doulas in a BIG way to show that THEY, the people support the Ship and its mission despite the decoys tossed in the way by some people.
By doing this Bahraini's then seperate themselves from the governement and this goes hand in hand with the true mission and purpose of the Doulas. Fostering good will. The questoin du jour is have the people of Bahrain (all people on the Island) done their part? Time will tell..........
Posted by: CerebralWaste | 07/03/2006
Ad augusta per angusta
Posted by: Ringtoner_lysc | 16/06/2006
url=http://portable-washer-and-dryers.beeplog.com]portable washer and dryers[/url] portable washer and dryers wet saw blades [url=http://wet-saw-blades.beeplog.com]wet saw blades[/url] steam shower [url=http://steam-shower.beeplog.com/]steam shower[/url] portable-washer-and-dryers.beeplog.com steam-shower.beeplog.com wet-saw-blades.beeplog.com
Posted by: Magdu | 08/07/2006
ksmqto velahjirn hofiv dluz kwiua omudsecyw ocfrpx
Posted by: ughicyvbp@mail.com | 14/07/2006
great messages
Posted by: Webkatalog | 25/01/2007
yes this is good informative blog. if you need more information and need loan in very low interest rate than http://cash.arranges.it is best for you.
Posted by: john | 23/04/2007
lesbian anal
wellbutrin
bang my wife
young girl
vicki vette
Posted by: mooreedwdwpLR | 18/05/2007
cute toes
old testament
under skirt
pissing pants
make me cum
Posted by: prilosecwprGC | 19/05/2007