Irony!

Irony is a contradiction in positions, when hypotheses contain something and its external opposite, yet they occur together in our reality. Among the most prominent ironies we have recently witnessed in the ongoing FIFA World Cup is the negative way Western media treats the behaviors of Muslim players, who prostrate to God after scoring a goal or achieving a positive result, while the same media ignores and forgets the religious behaviors practiced by Christian players, such as gestures and religious symbols when entering the pitch or celebrating a result, with the unspoken sentiment being: “What is permissible for us is forbidden for them.” The greatest irony is the unjust claim that the current World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is more successful than the organization of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which achieved remarkable success in terms of organization and facilities. Meanwhile, observers of the current World Cup’s organization are witnessing signs of regression, including soaring ticket prices, the difficulty and high cost of transportation, as well as human rights issues in the host countries.

Another irony affecting some members of Gulf societies, particularly in Kuwait, is the contradiction in general behavior. Some of these individuals appear more disciplined and law-abiding when they travel abroad (adhering to cleanliness, municipal regulations, traffic laws, etc.), whereas some of them engage in violations of the law within their own country. Recent positive and commendable campaigns by the Kuwait Municipality and relevant authorities have exposed numerous violations, some of which are serious, involving the construction, cultivation, and establishment of facilities within residential areas (some build complete housing units for their workers, including bathrooms, on the land adjacent to their homes!). This indicates a duality in the behavior of some individuals: compliance with the law is expected everywhere in the world, whereas in their own country, it should be the foundation of proper citizenship.

The Islamic Republic of Iran represents a major title of irony and contradiction in positions. Iran claims, according to media statements by its leaders, that it seeks to open positive relations and dialogue with the Gulf Arab countries and Arab states. Yet, at the same time, it engages in blatant violations of good neighborliness. Iranian entities and contractors in several Arab countries continue to perpetrate unjust aggression against Gulf Arab countries and some other Arab states. Iran continues to strangle the Gulf economy by militarily closing the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting the passage of ships and tankers. Thus, by what logic or basis does Iran speak of a healthy and sound relationship with the Gulf Arab countries?

Strange ironies sometimes lie in the mindset of some who evaluate the parliamentary and governmental experiences in Kuwait. Some criticize the National Assembly and its members for the decline the country has experienced, while others blame successive governments for the same cause and effect. Both viewpoints warrant scrutiny and review. There have been National Assemblies that fulfilled their required constitutional and parliamentary roles, and there are also some members of parliament who have been examples of patriotism and positive parliamentary performance. Conversely, there have been parliamentary assemblies that failed, along with their members, with some exceeding proper parliamentary conduct. The same applies to successive governments and their members: some have been successful, while others are currently facing final criminal conviction judgments. Therefore, objective criticism must encompass everyone. Both the parliamentary and governmental experiences have positive aspects and, conversely, negative aspects. The correct stance is to praise the positive aspects of the authorities and individuals, reinforce those aspects, and also strive for an objective evaluation to address the negative aspects of both the parliamentary and governmental experiences.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Dallal