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Hotels cancel, move New Year events inside
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 30 December 2008Posted on Monday, 5 January 2009
Hail Shk Mohd Action
Posted by Raj at 19:44 UAE time
Dear All
Its a bit late - but frankly what Shk Mohd has done is amazing. Hats Off good Sir.
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Suffering
Posted by Mo at 12:27 UAE time
Many comments have said, "how can you celebrate when children are suffering and dying?" I feel compelled to point out that every single day in this world people are dying and children are suffering and starving, for example in Africa, and of course globally. I hope that people's charity and support will not die down with time.
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Posted on Sunday, 4 January 2009
Re. rejecting American products
Posted by SR at 10:13 UAE time
I am no fan of the US. From the sentimental point it is good to reject American products, hit their pockets etc.
But in reality can we practically do it? What about Microsoft software, Apple software - can we live without it? We are using American products even to write down these comments!!
Starbucks, Coke, Pepsi anyone??
The point is these are mere slogans, not practical. But what Sh. Mohamed has done is practical, it may be small, may not have any affect at all, BUT principally he has shown the world, his solidarity with Palestinian people. Hats off, that is what really matters.
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Posted on Saturday, 3 January 2009
Lets All Make a Difference
Posted by Iftikhar at 17:58 UAE time
Re Saeed's comments, finally someone is talking sense. The Muslim Ummah has tremendous economic power. We can all play a role in supporting the Palestinians by not supporting the economies of America and its client state Israel. Stop buying American products now!
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Only affects expats
Posted by Mark Flap at 06:51 UAE time
This last-minute decision only affected expats. The UAE locals already had their new year celebration (even though the Israeli attacks were already underway) so it just seems like another excuse to inconvenience the foreigners and foreign businesses and show who's in charge. It's similar to the ban on outdoor music at the end of 2007, the villa sharing ban and the new visa rules.
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Posted on Friday, 2 January 2009
comment on wael's comment
Posted by OSAMA at 01:28 UAE time
DEAR WAEL
I THING YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG. WE AS ARABS ARENT FORCED TO CELEBRATE AND DRINK ALCOHOL , JUST TO INCREASE BUSSINES AND TOURISM , THE SHEIK'S DECISION IS ON THE SPOT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY , WHO IS ANGERED BY NOT CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR , CAN DRINK FROM JUMEIRA BEACH THE SEA WATER AND GO CELEBRATE , WHY DONT YOU GET NEARER TO GOD AND GO VISIT A CHURCH OR A MOSQUE OR A SINIGOG WHATEVER RELIGION YOU ARE OR EVEN A BUDA AND PRAY TO GOD TO SAVE THE REMAINING PEOPLE IN GAZA AND PUT FORGIVENESS ON THE SOULS WHO DIED . ....
IF YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS , LIKE A BABY KID....GO TO WHERE THERE IS SNOW OR GO TO THE USA ...AND GET LOST.....
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIM AND READING MY SHORT LINE...
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Need of the Hour
Posted by Syed at 19:46 UAE time
I truly support the cutting down on New year festivities. All who feel that it should not have been done should be grateful for the freedom that Dubai has offered to them in the first place. Needless consumption of liqour and dancing at parties to celebrate the passing of just a 'second' and step into a new year is really not worth it.
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Make a difference
Posted by saeed at 15:28 UAE time
Do you want to make a difference?
Then stop sitting in front of the TV and shake your head with disbliefe every time there is news about palestinians being murdered.
Instead of doing that, stop smoking Marlboros, stop driving American cars, stop putting Pampers on your baby's bottom, and STOP buying American products.
Without US's support israel is nothing. Hit US where it hurts them the most, in their pockets.
Remember the fiasco with the cartoons in the Danish news papers? Remember how many billions of dollars they lost in a few short weeks, becasue moslems banned their products?
If you really are upset about the situation in Gaza, then do something about it. Not partying on new years eve is not the way.
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Great decision!!
Posted by Ajaz at 15:27 UAE time
I strongly support H.H. Sheikh Mohammad's decision as it's going to create a deep impact on everyone in Dubai who wanted to celebrate new year day & not thinking of Palestinians for the sake of humanity irrespective of religion. Everyone in the world must come up to stop this cowardly massacre happening in Gaza by Israel. When it was Georgia-Russia conflict, Dalailama-China conflict, India terrorist attack, everyone in the world condemned & there was support. But surprisingly noone, specially western world is silent. If it continues like this, I hope there won't be any peace in any part of the world. Please raise your voice to stop the genocide in Gaza!!
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Very Bad for Dubai
Posted by Wael at 13:19 UAE time
I think this is very bad for Dubai image as a touristic destination. There is no respect for the individual choice. I guess the end of the Dubai mania has already started.
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Picking & choosing
Posted by motivated at 09:43 UAE time
How can it be condoned for one person to pick and choose what human beings are important enough that cancelling celebrations proves something/anything? So the Sundanese are not important enough? The Congonese are not important enough? The Ethopians are not important enough? Only the Palestinians are???? What is happening is deplorable in Gaza, I do not support it for a second. I understand the gesture being attempted by cancelling NYE celebrations but it does not make it right. More thought should have been provided - instead of cancelling the celebrations, why not have given thought to them going ahead and enforcing all businesses/hotels to provide 50% of the proceeds for Gaza. THIS the Palestinians could effectively use - but they receive nothing from the gesture that went ahead except to say oh great we have supporters - THEY NEED TANGIBLE HELP! The hotels lost so much money by the late cancellation (food already ordered, people who had already travelled to Dubai, extra staff on shifts etc) I'm sure they would have been more than happy to make the donations. Instead everyone lost, including the Palestinians!
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Cancellation of Activities - is it real?
Posted by ashraf61 at 08:00 UAE time
Whilst supporting Sheikh Mohammed's initiave, I was really suprised to learn from friends that the parties including outdoor paid parties went ahead as planned. I really dont understand how and who enforced the rule. Perhaps the Shopping Festival should be cancelled as well until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
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Posted on Thursday, 1 January 2009
respect
Posted by marijke at 18:32 UAE time
I deeply respect Sheikh Mohamad for making this decision. Life is not about money or partying, and I am suprised to see how selfish people are. We should all be so gratefull for the security we have in our life!
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Very Interesting Comments
Posted by shilu at 14:02 UAE time
At the beginning I really, from deep of my heart, thank Sheikh Mohammed for his brave decision despite the financial implications of the decision during such hard times... but life is not only about money. I really wish him the best during 2009 and for many years to come.
I am proud to see that there is a majority of comments from individuals who are not Arab and demonstrated humanity, they care about human souls, culture sensitive, and deserve respect any where, anytime, from all people of Gaza and Dubai.
For the few negative comments I would like to say the following:
1. In the local culture it is not appropriate to celebrate when a relative, friend, neighbor just passed away... so imagine what they will do when 400 were killed, slaughtered, with weapon of mass killing including at least 57 childrens!
2. UAE always supported financially the people of Gaza and Palestine.... as opposed to what many believed is the case
3. UAE/Dubai are not isolated from its surrounding so the action is a natural response inline with the city ties and roots.
4. Life is not about money only, there are other things to care about it including being human, feels about humans, and react to people pains. The push by some comments to strip the city from its human soul didn't help Dubai in the past nor it will help in the future.
5. Many cried, warned, threatened about the long term implications of such decision on Dubai status as an entertainment hub. That is completely irrelevant, not realistic, and unfair: it is a matter of 1 event in one season. Tourist who will make a decision to come to Dubai based on one past event is not welcomed, many others will understand and will come next year.
6. lets not forget that Dubai offers the best open / friendly environment for tourists. However some respect to local culture and feelings of Dubai nationals is extremely vital to ensure support continuity from local people to the industry.
7. Many people described the decision, indirectly, being a form of dictatorship. Please understand that the culture puts the interest of the group/majority on top of the interests of an individual.
8. The problem with some of the comments that they think of Dubai as a company. This mentality what damaged Dubai in the past and striped the human soul from its life style. The decision should be seen as a correction action to bring things back to reality and Sheikh Mohammed is doing the best for his own country, own people, people who came to work & live in the city, and future of his own gem.... he has all rights and he is politically correct.
9. Some comments referred that the decision won't interest Israel. Who said it was directed to Israel in the first place who don't care about killing children. In first place it is about the identity of Dubai that long lost.
10. Some suggested that the celebrations should have been kept as is and used as an opportunity to raise donations. Good idea but wouldn't work with people busy celebrating, dancing, drinking....etc
11. Some suggested that NYE celebrations shouldn't be banned as what was done with Hijiri new year. The new hijri year is celebrated in mosques after prayers by listening to a speach about lesson learned from the important trip by Prophet Mohammed from the holy city of Mecca to Holy City of Medina.... no dancing, drinking, fireworks...etc
12. Some suggested that it shouldn't have been canceled as what happened when the tsunami disaster took 20,000 souls. Well did their own countries canceled the NYE celebrations that year! NO
13. Some blamed Hamas for the war. Hamas as an elected government by the majority respected the no attack agreement for 6 months while Israel violated the agreement and ensured that Gaza siege is further tightened during the past 6 months. Israel is the one must be stopped and not a government was elected by the majority of people under the supervision of the entire world.
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I support and respect his decision
Posted by Haytham Mohamed at 07:23 UAE time
May Allah guide all the rulers to do what is right ..
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