The Mind’s Eye

Aside from the busy malls, the tall towers, the rapid development, and the overall excitement of it all, perhaps the greatest achievement that has taken place in our tiny coastal/desert towns is the transformation of mindsets of the Emaratis. In particular, the development of the younger generation -varying from generation X & generation Y- that has not only progressed at an amazing speed, but has also defied the odds and changed its outlook on its surroundings and the elements of its environment, given the past it comes from. The outcome of the fast growth showcases a phenomenon that is so varying, so polar that it begs to be investigated and explained.

A quick look into our past paints a picture that few would believe existed, given the current state of mentalities and the attitudes of the inhabitants residing in the region. We come from a past filled with hardship, be it the climate, or the provision of shelter and food, or any other harsh element of living in the Arabian peninsula. I always remember a story that was told to us as children of my grandfather, who during Ramadan would ask for his drinking water to be lowered down to the bottom of the well, so that by the time Maghreb (sunset) comes, his water is at a few degrees lower in temperature than it would have been if it was kept outside. The hardships, and the isolation from the rest of the world, plus the need to survive created a society that was largely collectivist, a society that protected its values and ways of life very strongly, and of course, a society that resisted change. And yet, the current working class, the people currently taking charge, seem to be acting in a manner just the opposite of what conformity would have dictated. Perhaps its the influx of cultures that has blessed us with new ideas, perhaps its the calls of the 21st century that has forced the generation to acclimate to the new environment or otherwise perish, and certainly its due to the influences of our leadership that have led the way in breaking down barriers. Whatever the reasons, the fundamental changes in our society have made sure that old ways can hardly stay the same.

There exists a small, yet notable contingent of our Emarati society that has literally put up a wall against these changes, rejecting all that is considered ‘cultural reform’, and criticizing all that is new. I recall an incident once, where I was having a discussion with an acquaintance of mine, and I went on to praise one of his employees on their notable high-performance and productivity, stating that the person in question has a bright future ahead in Dubai – the response I received was “foreigners come here to receive a salary for the responsibilities their jobs require – we don’t need to give them anything more than they already have, one day they’ll take our money and go back to their country”. After much thought, I realize that this attitude is one type of ‘wall’ that people put up, one that simply states “I am Emarati, and you a foreigner”. A stance that I believe is at the root of the social and cultural divide visibly apparent in our community. On a compassionate level, one can understand why this sort of attitude is assumed by some; it is, after all, very difficult to change the ways of our ancestors, to live in a way other than what has been taught, and a common reaction to something that threatens those teachings is to reject it. What is apparently sad though, is that the wall put up is made of emotions, rather than logic; unfortunately, more often than not, no form of logic or reasoning can break that wall down or penetrate it to find a middle ground of understanding.

The stars, the beacons of light, the hope for progress are those that have taken all these forces of change as an opportunity to flourish, to learn from the experiences of the diverse population, whatever their background, whatever their ethnicity, or social class, or religious affiliation. A group that believes in the equality of human beings rather than the borders that separate them. A group that has taken the positives from other cultures and stayed true to the positives of their own. A group that adopts dynamism over stagnation. A group that recognizes the opportunities at hand – opportunities that very few in the world have had the pleasure of seizing. There are varying degrees within this group, some that have become their own society, with newly found values and principles, and some with a mix of both the old and the new in what can be best described as a “take the good, rid of the bad” process. It is within this group of people, that the future of the Emirates depends on – those that have modeled themselves against what the entire idea of the massive development stands for: multiculturalism, ease of integration, world-class, and deep guiding principles.

It is an interesting process, from what a city (or a collection of cities, for that matter) stands for, and how that affects its people; add to that the speed of progress, and you find yourself in quite a jeopardy. They say that in every rapid urban development, the infrastructure and the society suffers, I think in our case the outcome has -more or less- followed that route. No one can argue about the infrastructure after peering down at Sheikh Zayed Road at 6pm, but I feel there is a valid argument for the social aspect. It is true that the society has changed, but I wouldn’t consider it suffering, some have been disadvantaged, and others have prospered. As for the two outcomes of the development of the Emirates, it’s plain to see that if we follow the rule of natural selection, only one outcome can persist.