Why is patriotism weakening?!
I personally participate in approximately 70 Kuwaiti, Gulf, Arab, and foreign groups. As a journalist, by observing the discussions within these groups, I gain insight into the realities unfolding in various countries regarding different issues. On another level, I find them to be a means of defending the causes of our homeland and the Gulf region. I swear that I have not found any animosity toward Kuwait, its system, government, or people, as I have witnessed from certain Kuwaiti political, media, and academic figures in Kuwaiti groups. This trajectory has not even changed despite the barrage of missiles and drones targeting us, reflecting a severe weakness in national loyalty in favor of transnational allegiances or vast pockets of influence that, once funded, become puppets of whoever pays them. Despite the fact that many of these individuals are not lacking in wealth, some, after insulting and cursing, shamelessly display the symptoms of treason in secret, only to be surprised when their images fill the newspapers as they sign multimillion-dollar contracts with the government of the country they insult and curse.
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It might be understandable—or even incomprehensible—if these alternative loyalties were directed toward advanced countries that serve as models in international indicators. However, the reality is that these paid alternative loyalties are directed toward oppressive regimes and countries that are severely backward, economically devastated, and whose populations suffer from poverty and famine. If their dream were realized and those regimes, which treat them like masters treating slaves and praise them despite their errors, were to rule us, while singling out our country for criticism and slander, Kuwait and our flourishing Gulf countries would be reduced to ruins. To make matters worse, some of these media mercenaries have more than enough money, yet their behavior is characterized by baseness, meanness, ingratitude, and lack of accountability.
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The final point: The reasons for the blatant weakness of national loyalty among certain political, media, and academic figures, and those who followed them, are as follows:
1. For decades, the state remained silent regarding those who openly demonstrated allegiance, loyalty, and service to causes other than Kuwait, whether their loyalty was to Marxist Moscow, Nasserite Cairo, Baathist Baghdad, Islamist Turkey, or theocratic Tehran. These loyalties were clearly visible to the state’s ears and eyes during student and parliamentary elections, as well as through articles and media interviews, where there was no shame or embarrassment in displaying such allegiances or raising flags that did not include Kuwait’s flag or even raising it at all.
2. Decades have passed, and a clear message has become evident to everyone: alternative loyalty is the path to immense wealth, high-ranking positions, business dealings, and contracts. Conversely, those who demonstrate pure loyalty to Kuwait are treated as outcasts by corrupt cliques and certain official entities, who consider them irrelevant and lacking influence. Consequently, they are the last to be selected for government positions and the first to be dismissed. In contrast, those with transnational loyalties are the first to be appointed to leadership roles and the last to be dismissed, regardless of how they abuse their power to serve their party and their cross-border allegiance. Thus, a clear and obvious message was conveyed at that time to the youth, students, and employees: loyalty to Kuwait “does not put food on the table.” On the contrary, insulting it, opposing its authority and government, and raising one’s voice against them is the path to success. The time has come to change this destructive equation, which has genuinely weakened loyalty to Kuwait, to the point where we now watch, read, and see heart-wrenching and eye-hurting treacherous and mercenary stances, from which these individuals feel no shame.
