Writing sometimes becomes an exercise in the madness of the “spoken” word, an exercise in “regurgitated” advice, an exercise in “despised” custodianship and exclusion. Writing is not a “tough” task, and yet it can be “tough,” especially when it resembles a “blackboard” on which meaningless words are written, just to accumulate line after line. Writing is an interactive language between the writer and a reader looking for a useful information far from flattery or moral intimidation. Writing is the intimate language of human interaction. Even if the lyrics were written by a writer in the West, the tune can still be played by readers in the East. Writing is like a “cure” in times of agreement and disagreement, especially when the meanings transcend reality and when it is dotted with an astute question here and a logical answer there, not motivated by bias or so-called “national fever.” The reader does not need articles “saturated” with “must” and “perforce” or laden with defensive, “selective” words and expressions that go beyond the light while clinging to mere “shells.” Poor “why;” it has suffered from enough punishment, and it tells us: leave me to those who know only “why” out of all the question marks! Last week, I wrote an article entitled “The Emirate's Reservation…Why?” in which I asked about the reasons behind the UAE reservation. I did not defend Saudi Arabia as much as I asked questions about why the sister of Saudi Arabia, and its other sisters, expressed reservation, raising some questions that must be asked. Some people, by way of response, expressed their joy at the UAE reservation and withdrawal from the monetary union, thus ignoring the meaning of the words “union,” “cooperation,” and “single council” or “single fate.” They ignored all these meanings just to “vent steam” and respond to my “ugly words.” If only they knew how much I love the UAE; if only they knew how much I cherish the UAE leaders and people; if only I had enough space to delve into details. I was certain that some of the Gulf citizens would turn “sensitive” upon reading any criticism, even if covered with compliments and not insults. They ignore history and geography and forget that treaties cannot always remain “white” but can be repaired quickly before crises worsen, challenges build, and grey details proliferate. Therefore, let those “screamers” remember that we are the sons of a single land and a single gulf and that we have a single fate as per the agreement signed by the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Abu Dhabi in 1981. Do we need to place small or large question marks in search of a new “gulf-ism”? King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's response to the UAE's withdrawal was sufficient and clear in his interview with the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah newspaper when he gave an “exemplary” commendation for the UAE and the sons of Sheikh Zayed, and they deserve it. No one can hide the fact that the UAE is an important state that is achieving quantum leaps in several fields under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa who is leading the country along a clear path in the footsteps of everyone's father, Sheikh Zayed (May God have mercy upon him). The UAE has the right to withdraw from the single currency and from other projects as it sees fit. But as a Gulf citizen I insist on my old point of view which considers this step to be “detrimental” to the progress of the Council. The UAE has the right to insist on its “withdrawal.” But we have the right too to bemoan the withdrawal of the bride of the gulf from our new currency. We have the right to comment on the statements as we perceive them, and others can clarify if they wish to do so. When will we overcome our sensitivity to any reasonable criticism that serves the collective interest? When will we distance ourselves from factionalism when we objectively discuss a Gulf issue, most notably encouraging ideas that strengthen unity to help governments solve the crises? Someone wrote an article in a Kuwaiti newspaper in response to my column. He was better off without writing at all because he was up to his ears in the mud of begging, calling for suppressing freedom of opinion. I was surprised by those who tried to mix my “pure” questions with some of their hidden intentions to try fishing in murky waters in the belief that they are being smart while in fact they are sinking in a “silent” lake without ebb or flow. Lastly, writing is like “beating aimlessly” on white papers and the “spider” web that doesn't distinguish between the smart and the dumb who keep spouting “blind” letters then “scream” along the “Ahmadi” tunes. So beware the pens of those who write according to their own whims and ends.
