What are those locals doing here?
In her editorial this morning, Qatari Writer Sehla Al Saad questions the need for a film festival in Qatar.
“Reader of this column may know or not that that we had in Qatar in the past few days, a film festival named (Doha Tribeca Film Festival)!
This huge festival & its allocated budget contributes nothing to the people of Qatar or their welfare nor does it present our culture. Strangely enough, the festival days features a family oriented several programs for children include games and puppet and arts and crafts, hand grenades and an offer of free children movie, in addition to the presence of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Bloomsbury publishing house and the Arab Museum of Modern Art. In the middle of all those strange contradictions Between the promotion of alcoholic drinks on one hand and the arrogance of westerner who a colleague writer overheard asking “What are those locals doing here” !? We hope all this be reviewed as it’s our basic rights as “locals” & Muslims “
Edifis, I do not know. I quoted what it said in the article .
Hand grenades?? Did you mean the cocktail?
There were hand grenades??
"and puppet and arts and crafts, hand grenades and an offer of free children movie, in addition to the presence of the Ministry of...."
Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2226275#ixzz1cSRXLchB
fubar has a good point. But again the government does not require people to go to these festivals. I find much that is offensive when I look around so sometimes it is easier not to look.
yet another clear cut evidence of the clueless nature of organizing some of these local events..... i realy dont get it! kudos sehla!!!
I see your point, Adey. But in your example are you talking about things that certain people find offensive, yet legal?
For instance conservative people in the US may not like a gay rights march, but there isn't much they can do about it since such activities are protected by law.
The Tribeca situation is a bit more complex, in that the government here bans certain movies from being shown for 51 weeks of the year, and then actively encourages them to be shown on the other week. Why the double standard? Either movies of this nature are allowed all the time, or never. Why bend the rules, and then boast about having done so as evidence of being openminded and modern and progressive and forward thinking, when in fact you aren't?
but it is the basis of all conservative outlooks on life from whatever part of the world they come from.
It runs something like this:
'I don't like this, I disapprove of this, I am offended by this' etc.
'Therefore no one else should see or do it also, it should be banned because, of course, I am the centre of the universe and everyone should be like me....those who are not are abnormal and don't matter'
Seem that attitude all around the world
aH....AlcOHol...Hic! No, no..I'm not drunk! It's just that the topic has a very spirited effect on me. OK bad cliché! O-:
It's very much simillar to the example prophet Muhammad (SAW) told us; if we let the people in the lower part of the ship punch it, we'll all be drawning.
Why can't we see the simple facts. Watch the countries that were draged to such lifestyle decades ago (including mine). Did it do them any good? or it's simply obeying the puppet masters.
I agree with her disliking the festival, but if she does not like it she does not have to go the festival. I don't like so I don't go. That simple.
It is strange to me that for 360 days of the year, movies in Qatar are heavily censored, and most mainstream western movies aren't shown at all, because of their 'sensitive' scenes.
Then Tribeca comes along and for less than a week, Qatar tries to tell the world how open and modern it is. And then straight after, things go back to normal.
Tribeca seems to exist ONLY to promote the idea of showing movies that go against Qatar's conservative stance.
As told by FathimaH it should be the locals who can agree or disagree with the writer. However, there are many other things and matters happening here which are not in line with the culture and I dont understand why she is only concerened about DTFF.
Alcohol and children? Now that’s so very effed up!
Only a local can agree or disagree with her views. As expats we can't imagine what she or anyone else from here expects from such events,ultimately. Do these festivals have any ill-effects on the rights of local Muslims? All I can think is our leaders may very well have wisdom behind doing what they do and perhaps its in order to better our rights, not just in our homeland but even internationally, that they organize such events and give the "outsiders" what they want.
As to people's misconceptions then sometimes these cannot be removed even when you give them what they seek. A hater may always remain a hater! And you cannot please everyone all the time.
PS: As a Muslimah I will by all means find promoting alcohol at a venue aimed at children as well as the target audience aka adults quite disturbing but perhaps I maybe a minority here!
I was there Friday, the whole afternoon.
Great weekend retreat; hope to make it often
Are the locals Injun?
Alarab newspaper featured 3 articles today revolves around the Doha Tribeca film festival after a lengthy debate took place on twitter last night over a controversial short film called “Fahad” aired as part of “made in Qatar” worshop about a local homosexual telling his story & asks for his rights ! Locals started a hashtag #DTFF11fail on twitter to protest the making of the short film & the need for a film festival in Qatar