As an American currently living in Qatar, I can attest to the fact that it is a big stretch to compare the situation of Hispanic (not simply Mexican) workers with South and Southeast Asian laborers here. The social stratification is far more complex there, whereas Qatar resembles more of a medieval caste system. There is a system for integration and naturalization, greater possibility for social mobility, and plenty more social services, and affirmative/positive discrimination.
America has its flaws. Immigrant labor is exploited. It's done on a more discreet level. America's 10-year housing boom was built on the backs of underpaid, often illegal immigrant labor. Same deal in Qatar. But America doesn't have the same proportion of incidents of refusal of pay, murder, rape, etc. of laborers. And we don't prosecute immigrants for committing adultery. I have seen Hispanic immigrants come to the U.S. without much, and end up living middle lifestyles after some years of toil. The situation is far more complex than has been presented above.
As usual, it's the whiney nerds to the north harping about how bad the U.S. is:-) Just some friendly North American verbal sparring.
Anyway, back to the original article, the abuse didn't surprise me. What surprised me was the fact that the sexual practices of non-Western immigrants are highly regulated, yet Westerners are free to frink and duck as they please. I have an idea, why don't all Westerners in Doha practice abstinence for a month in protest? It'll put all the hookers and bars out of business.
As an American currently living in Qatar, I can attest to the fact that it is a big stretch to compare the situation of Hispanic (not simply Mexican) workers with South and Southeast Asian laborers here. The social stratification is far more complex there, whereas Qatar resembles more of a medieval caste system. There is a system for integration and naturalization, greater possibility for social mobility, and plenty more social services, and affirmative/positive discrimination.
America has its flaws. Immigrant labor is exploited. It's done on a more discreet level. America's 10-year housing boom was built on the backs of underpaid, often illegal immigrant labor. Same deal in Qatar. But America doesn't have the same proportion of incidents of refusal of pay, murder, rape, etc. of laborers. And we don't prosecute immigrants for committing adultery. I have seen Hispanic immigrants come to the U.S. without much, and end up living middle lifestyles after some years of toil. The situation is far more complex than has been presented above.
As usual, it's the whiney nerds to the north harping about how bad the U.S. is:-) Just some friendly North American verbal sparring.
Anyway, back to the original article, the abuse didn't surprise me. What surprised me was the fact that the sexual practices of non-Western immigrants are highly regulated, yet Westerners are free to frink and duck as they please. I have an idea, why don't all Westerners in Doha practice abstinence for a month in protest? It'll put all the hookers and bars out of business.