Fwd: Fw:Women in the UAE

["hope lundquist" <wwho20@hotmail.com>]

Thoughts from Gwenn another perspective


>>To: <wwho20@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Fw: [newparadigm] Fw: thoughts from Gwenn
>Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 08:30:23 -0700
>
>
>>I just wanted to share this with everyone, It is from my aunt who lives in
> > Dubai, UAE.  It is a different perspective, but still the same -
>especially
> > towards the end.
> > Christine
> >> Date: Friday, September 21, 2001 6:34 AM
> > Subject: thoughts from Gwenn
> >
> >
> > >My thoughts from the edge of the gulf....September 21, 2001
> > >
> > >I am not ready to pull out!
> > >
> > >A wind storm is brewing today....will it clear the air of hatred?
> > >
> > >Leah and I were working out at the Beach Club on September 11th.  I was
> > >watching the news live while on the treadmill. At first I thought it 
>was
> > the
> > >World Trade Center here, which had been hit.  Leah and I watched live 
>as
> > the
> > >second plane hit and as NBC correspondent "Mic" announced he felt a 
>jolt
>at
> > >the Pentagon.  We probably knew before some of you.  We raced home,
>called
> > >John and several friends, and became glued to the TV.  Friends without
> > cable
> > >TV joined us for the evening as we watched, like you, in disbelief as 
>the
> > >events unfolded.
> > >
> > >Mr. Ali, my UAE Bedouin carpet peddler, stopped to express his
>condolences.
> > >
> > >A couple approached John and I in the coffee shop and asked if we were
> > >American. When we answered yes, they identified themselves as British 
>and
> > to
> > >please accept their sincere condolences.
> > >
> > >For one week we had 24 hour news coverage on several channels: NBC, 
>ABC,
> > >CBS, CNN, and FOX.  We knew what you knew when you knew it.
> > >
> > >John and I watched President Bush's address (last night for you, this
> > >morning for us) live.
> > >
> > >The American Consul General here held a town meeting the other night.  
>It
> > >was held under extremely tight security and only American passport
>holders
> > >were allowed in. No rally in the street.only behind closed doors.
> > >
> > >Yes there are Bin Laden cells here.  But they also are in Boston and
> > Florida
> > >and who knows where else.
> > >
> > >We cannot respond here as you have back home by displaying the flag.
>(Only
> > >inside the house.) In fact we must try to hide that we are American.
>That
> > >is difficult and painful right now.
> > >
> > >School is in session with heightening security and emergency drills.  
>The
> > >security guards now carry machine guns. (They did this too when we 
>lived
>in
> > >Austria). Sport teams have games.  Musical rehearsals continue. Kids 
>play
> > on
> > >the playground.
> > >
> > >Mr. Yosef, our Pakistani copper peddler, came to show his wares.  He
>wanted
> > >to make sure that I understood that he is a member of the party that
> > >supports Mr. Bush.  He was apologetic. His customer base is mostly
> > Americans
> > >who live around the school.  The security there is so overwhelming he 
>is
> > >afraid to stop to see his customers. He knows he "looks" like our enemy
> > now.
> > >He is sorry.
> > >
> > >Somehow it took the local government here by surprise that the tourism
> > >industry might take a hit.  Why was that a surprise? Did they not
> > understand
> > >that the Europeans are afraid too?
> > >
> > >My Bangladeshi/American Moslem friend called to offer condolences.  I
>later
> > >learned that his cousin died in the WTC attached.  He didn't mention 
>that
> > in
> > >his call.  He just wanted to show his support.
> > >
> > >Here I have several Muslim friends.  They are hurting too.
> > >
> > >In Sharjah (the Emirate next to Dubai. maybe 15 minutes away) the
>Religious
> > >police are now cracking down on Western women dressed inappropriately.
>(I
> > >think this is a good thing.)
> > >
> > >I'm not ready to pull out yet!
> > >
> > >We have an evaluation plan in place. If you had to leave your home with
> > just
> > >a suitcase, what would you grab? Where would you go?  Where is safe?
> > >
> > >A few companies have pulled their employees out of Dubai already.
>Several
> > >who left were friends.  They went kicking and screaming. Some were
> > evaluated
> > >to Germany. Some back to the US. Some had high school seniors.  One had 
>a
> > >lead in our school musical.  One will lose his spot in the Model United
> > >Nations. Imagine what those kids are feeling.
> > >
> > >Every time the phone rings, and it is one of my AWA executive members, 
>I
> > >fear I will hear the words, "Our Company is making us leave."
> > >
> > >Most people are digging their heels in and saying "Hell no, we won't 
>go!"
> > >That makes you feel better but the reality is that at some point we may
> > have
> > >to leave.  So again I ask the question how do you decide what is
>important
> > >enough to throw in that suitcase as you walk away from your home? And
>where
> > >do you tell the pilot to go?
> > >
> > >John has given his employees the option to evacuate.  So far, no one 
>has
> > >left.
> > >
> > >Leah has been given the option for us to evacuate.  She has said no. We
> > have
> > >said OK, not yet.
> > >
> > >One group will have been right.  Either the group that left or the 
>group
> > >that stayed.  I pray it is the group who stayed.
> > >
> > >I sure didn't bargain for this when I agreed to stand for election as 
>the
> > >AWA president.  My first responsibility is to my family, but right 
>behind
> > >that I feel responsible for 250 American Women. Imagine the new 
>families
> > who
> > >just arrived in Dubai in time for the start of school.  Some aren't 
>even
> > >unpacked yet and there is a chance they will have to leave.
> > >
> > >The way we feel here, as Americans, afraid to wave our flag in the
>street,
> > >is no different then the way the Arabs, working and living in the US 
>are
> > >feeling.  Please be kind to Arabs and Moslems you encounter.  Just as 
>all
> > >Americans are not like Timothy McFay, not all Arabs are like Osama bin
> > >Laden.
> > >
> > >I think the only real threats we have here in the UAE are isolated and
> > >spontaneous incidences. When an allied retaliation comes, this threat
>will
> > >exist everywhere.
> > >
> > >The ruler of Dubai was in the US on September 11th.  Stranded for 
>several
> > >days when planes were grounded.  He has assured the American community
>here
> > >he will keep us safe.
> > >
> > >These are my thoughts today.....
> > >
> > >Gwenn
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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