KUWAIT: Don't Hesitate To Help...Rush!

COMMENT: Society KUWAIT / Kuwait Times / October 22, 2007 What would you do if you saw a woman, a child or even old people being beaten, attacked, molested, or injured in a public place?, ask Muna Al-Fuzai, Staff Columnist of Kuwait Times. Would you rush to help or would you prefer to keep your mouth shut and pretend that you either didn't hear, see or even voice your opinion because you are afraid just because you are not a Kuwaiti? How ready are you in saving a helpless person from public humiliation or embarrassment? It should be only natural that if any of us get into trouble in a public place then whoever is around at that time will definitely offer to help him/her by all means. One could help by either trying to save the victim by pulling him away or forcing the attacker to stop or at least call the police. But, when none of these acts take place, makes me wonder over the reasons behind these careless and selfish attitudes? What is happening to the people in this country? What or who are they frightened of? Are they wary of getting into trouble with the law and is this the only reason that holds them from intervening when they witness a crime? Turning a blind eye seems to be a very common attitude maintained by many people these days in Kuwait. Both Kuwaitis and expatriates stay away from stretching a helping to others in times of need. Last month a school's headmistress was attacked, beaten and her clothes were all taken out and exhibited in the school's yard by a spoiled- rotten bunch of school children in front of a group of men who happened to be around the school's premises to pick up their children. Guess what, those men who coincidently happened to be there at that time, just stood there like mute spectators and actually watched the entire crime without any reaction or remorse over what was going on. None even attempted to stop the miscreants!!! This is not an imaginary scenario of a terror movie that I am talking about, but a real scene of crime that occurred in one of Kuwait's schools against a Kuwaiti lady at the hands of a bunch of unruly teenagers. It was directed towards a citizen who is guaranteed her constitutional rights. Another lady who went shopping at a local supermarket here was harassed by a man who dared to touch her face and in return she slapped him on the face. He got enraged and started beating her and dragged her across the floor. Guess what again? People who happened to be around, again just stood there and watched the entire scenario helplessly until the maniac avenged his insult and left the place content with himself. The worse thing about it all was that the onlookers were actually laughing and nearly clapping at this sick and disgusting act. I know that some people would disagree and say these are just isolated cases of the behaviors and attitudes of some individuals and not massive acts of violence. But, does that justify violence against others? For example, is it okay for any parent to beat a school teacher who just tries to do his/her job and teach his children some manners and maybe even prevents his children from showing disrespect to other teachers or classmates? A couple of days ago I went to a photo studio in a residential area and it so happened that I had arrived there during rush hours. The small studio was nearly full with people, where there were six men and I was the only woman. An old man who happened to be the first was busy copying some papers and was oblivious to the fact that his dishdasha was stained with some black ink at the back. The men behind him kept staring at his clothes and exchanged mocking glances with each other but none of them bothered or even tried to draw his attention to the stain. I know this is a trivial matter and cannot be compared to crimes of rape or attacks - yet what would any of those men lose if they had politely drawn the man's attention to the stain? The same attitude is maintained by most of those who witness car accidents or crimes by maintaining their silence because they are scared to tell the truth and get involved. I personally see people who say they are Muslims and true believers and pray five times a day in mosques, yet they are the same persons who turn a blind eye towards many atrocities and injustices witnessed in their lives and in society because it doesn't involve them directly! I also see a lack of awareness over how and what it means to offer help to people caught in crises. I also see the widespread of selfish attitudes and it gets worse if the victim happens to be a poor Asian or a nobody. If you see someone who needs your help, then do whatever you can under the circumstances or at least keep calling the police until they show up. If you ever witness a crime no matter how small it is, you have to report the truth. Just think of how you would feel if you were attacked in public or was involved in an accident and are looking desperately for help - in a situation between life and death? And there you see yourself, surrounded by curious onlookers and mute spectators - but not a soul around to help you!!! muna@kuwaittimes.net © Kuwait Times Newspaper 2006