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Re: Not again - RE: Re: [RC] UAE - John Bass

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 Steph,  Perceptions can sometimes lead to putting someone on the spot.
Thank You for your response.
 John
 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "StephTeeter" <stephteeter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 To: "John Bass" <jbass@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 7:34 AM
 Subject: RE: Not again - RE: Re: [RC] UAE


 > *This message was scanned for all current viruses and is certified
clean*
 >
 > Ok John - you've definitely put me on the spot and I'll respond to your
 > questions.
 > (Maryben - you can tell another Shultz story)
 >
 > >>
 >   Steph,
 >   The "camel jockey" issue is directly related to endurance riding and
 > should be allowed to be discussed on Ridecamp.
 > >>
 > It is only marginally related to Endurance riding, but it IS related to
 > politics and commerce between UAE and other countries (one of which is
the
 > US). It was discussed on Ridecamp, to the point where no new ideas were
 > being put forward, only repeated accusations and me-too's. Until now I
never
 > asked to stop the discussion, but after watching the Members list turn
into
 > an unwinnable argument between a half dozen people, I figured it was an
 > issue that was talked out, and didn't want to see it start up fresh
here.
 > Please go read the archives, you'll see the same posts over and over.
 >
 > >>  The same people involved in the Emirates International Endurance
 > Village,
 > platium sponsers of the Tevis Cup and sponsers of the Arabian Nights
ride
 > hosted by you, are the same people involved in camel racing in the
UAE.>>
 >
 > We don't know this. The HBO show specifically mentioned one stable in
Dubai.
 > Others (websites, individuals) have said that 'all of the Sheikhs do
it'.
 > Possible, but unlikely. You should be aware that the Emirates in UAE are
 > different and distinct, socially, politically and economically.  Abu
Dhabi
 > and Dubai are two of the most prominent, and have oil - some of the
other
 > Emirates still have fishing and agriculture as their main industries.
These
 > Emirates were allocated to different tribal factions when the country
was
 > established 30 years ago - there are deeply cultivated differences.
 >
 >  >> It is no secret that you have cultivated relationships with the
 > endurance
 > community in the UAE which understandably puts you in somewhat of a
 > precarious position. After all you are the owner of Ridecamp which
enables
 > us to discuss this issue. I believe out of deserved respect for you
there
 > isn't more discussion. I also can see why you would want it to go
away.>>
 >
 > Not fair John. I wanted to stop the discussion now becuase it has run
it's
 > course. And Howard's post and Heidi's responses were the 10th iteration
of
 > the same thing.
 > My relationship with UAE: I went to Dubai in '98 as a groom for my
Belgian
 > friend Leonard. I went to Dubai in 2000 with my horse becuase we were
 > invited to participate in the World Cup (purely based on the horse's
record
 > and performance). I 'met' the host, (Sh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum),
at
 > a party that was given. I have never spoken with him or any of his staff
 > other than to thank them for the invitation.
 > I went to Abu Dhabi in 2004 as a groom for Leonard at the President's
Cup,
 > held at the Emirates International Endurance Village (EIEV). I did not
meet
 > the host (Sh Mansour bin Rashid al Nahyan)or any of his staff.
 > This spring USET received inquiry from EIEV regarding sponsoring a few
rides
 > in the US. They did not contact any ride managers intitially, but went
to
 > USET, and USET gave them the names of the organizers of the three FEI
rides
 > that were currently sanctioned in the US. Biltmore, Fort Howes, and
Arabian
 > Nights were approached by EIEV regarding sponsorship. Because of timing
 > issues, and whatever other factors were involved in their decision, they
 > offered sponsorship to Arabian Nights. (I suspect the name was
attractive -
 > dumb luck).
 > Until this point I had NO relationship with anybody in the UAE. And now
I
 > have met two people representing EIEV face to face - one of them a Texan
 > (Ted Lewis) who is helping with marketing and PR, the other HE Mohamed
al
 > Sayed - chair of the Emirates International Endurance Committee (Abu
Dhabi).
 > Mohamed lives in Indiana, with his American wife. I liked both of these
men,
 > and Mohamed's wife Kathy very much, and the entire sponsorship
experience
 > was good - there was absolutely no pressure on us regarding the ride. It
was
 > very professional and cordial.
 >
 > >>
 >   Steph, you could be real helpful on giving us some insight. What is
your
 > opinion of all of this? Were you aware of the "camel jockey" issue
before it
 > surfaced just a few weeks ago? Was it a surprise to you as it was many
of
 > us? Do you think that UAE meeting the requirements that "camel jockeys"
be
 > 15 years old and weigh 100 pound is unreasonable?>>
 >
 > I was not aware of the camel jocky issue before this, though I do recall
 > while in UAE hearing reference to 'small children riding the camels'.
And
 > that the children were mostly from India or Pakistan. (all of the
workers in
 > UAE come from elsewhere). I also have an image (and hundreds of
pictures) of
 > smiling laughing children and men on camels as we drove past the camel
 > souks, and excersize strings. A fun 'touristy' impression.
 > Yes, the exposure of child trafficking and slavery was a surprise. Gives
a
 > different perspective to my intitial 'fun/touristy' impression.
 > I don't think the law (15 years or older) is unreasonble, of course
not!!
 > Even more reasonable is the concept of having 'robots' as jockeys. The
camel
 > race is more like a greyhound race than a horse race. I've never seen a
 > camel race myself but have heard that they run around the track until
 > forceably stopped. There is no steering or jockeying involved.
 >
 > >>You, whether you know it or not, could be instumental with your
friendship
 > with the UAE endurance community in trying to convince your friends that
the
 > situation as it stands now is unacceptable to many people in the United
 > States. >>
 >
 > Although I think you greatly over-rate my 'friendship and influence'
with
 > the UAE endurance community, I do realize that I now have a voice (very
 > small) that can be heard by some. Primarily because of Ted Lewis - who
as an
 > American understands the importance of PR and perceptions, and is
respected
 > by his Emirati employers. And yes, I have made inquiries, sent posts and
 > context, and have suggested that the bad PR should/could be corrected.
The
 > ONLY reason EIEV sponsored the rides in the US is to build positive PR
and
 > expose other nations to the EIEV - which Abu Dhabi hopes will rival the
 > Dubai Endurance Village in prestige and grandeur. You can be certain
that
 > the issue will be discussed at the top level, the HBO show was a very
 > powerful expose. And I'm predicting that they will either try to clear
their
 > name (if they are innocent), or will move more aggressively toward
stopping
 > the illegal trafficking (if they are guilty). This is a big embarassment
to
 > a modern and progressive Arab nation. And in most cases when an entire
 > Nation is embarassed or shamed, not every member is guilty of the crime,
but
 > every member feels the shame.
 >
 > Steph
 >
 >
 >
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 >


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Replies
RE: Not again - RE: Re: [RC] UAE, StephTeeter