Comments on: Another Look at KAUST http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Fri, 25 May 2012 21:12:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/comment-page-1/#comment-24431 John Burgess Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:56:21 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=8984#comment-24431 Well, let's just say there's room for improvement... Well, let’s just say there’s room for improvement…

]]> By: Jay Kactuz http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/comment-page-1/#comment-24429 Jay Kactuz Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:10:01 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=8984#comment-24429 If you think American's are racist, you should heard reports of the dekasseguis in Japan. Many years ago I was close to some nisseis / sanseis in Brasil and they had friends/family that had returned to the home country. Good money but bad news. Japanese do not like foreigners, even japanese foreigners. Once in a while you see reports on TV Globo about their problems. In some stores or clubs there are even signs in Portuguese saying "No Brasilians allowed". Now these are pure-blood japanese who just happen to speak funny and have strange customs like samba and futebol. SOmetimes these immigrants are even called kitani, not a very nice word. Sometimes the other is just a strange accent or a different opinion. The human race sucks. If you think American’s are racist, you should heard reports of the dekasseguis in Japan. Many years ago I was close to some nisseis / sanseis in Brasil and they had friends/family that had returned to the home country. Good money but bad news. Japanese do not like foreigners, even japanese foreigners. Once in a while you see reports on TV Globo about their problems. In some stores or clubs there are even signs in Portuguese saying “No Brasilians allowed”. Now these are pure-blood japanese who just happen to speak funny and have strange customs like samba and futebol. SOmetimes these immigrants are even called kitani, not a very nice word. Sometimes the other is just a strange accent or a different opinion.

The human race sucks.

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/comment-page-1/#comment-24419 John Burgess Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:09:05 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=8984#comment-24419 'Eclectic' or 'catholic'... both apply. Thanks for the link to Gypsy Scholar; it does look like an interesting place. While East Asia isn't my thing, exactly, he wanders around sufficiently to grab my attention. I think all countries with firmly entrenched monocultures (Korea and the KSA count, in my book) are facing many of the same problems. Japan can be thrown in there as well. Dealing with 'the other' is only at the head of the list. ‘Eclectic’ or ‘catholic’… both apply. Thanks for the link to Gypsy Scholar; it does look like an interesting place. While East Asia isn’t my thing, exactly, he wanders around sufficiently to grab my attention.

I think all countries with firmly entrenched monocultures (Korea and the KSA count, in my book) are facing many of the same problems. Japan can be thrown in there as well. Dealing with ‘the other’ is only at the head of the list.

]]> By: J. Kactuz http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/comment-page-1/#comment-24415 J. Kactuz Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:37:36 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=8984#comment-24415 Excuse all the typos. Old age is not fun... I don't know IF... and so on... John, by the way, are you familiar with the Gypsy scholar blog?http://gypsyscholarship.blogspot.com/ I have run across you on other blogs so I know you have a certain ecletic taste. Hodges is always interesting and he covers a wide variety of subjects, but literature is his specialty. Saudi arabia and Korea are as different as night and day, yet strangely they both face some similar problems. Both are looking to find their way in a changing complex world, with an eye on their neighbors. Kactuz Excuse all the typos. Old age is not fun… I don’t know IF… and so on…

John, by the way, are you familiar with the Gypsy scholar blog?http://gypsyscholarship.blogspot.com/

I have run across you on other blogs so I know you have a certain ecletic taste. Hodges is always interesting and he covers a wide variety of subjects, but literature is his specialty.

Saudi arabia and Korea are as different as night and day, yet strangely they both face some similar problems. Both are looking to find their way in a changing complex world, with an eye on their neighbors.

Kactuz

]]> By: J. Kactuz http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/comment-page-1/#comment-24414 J. Kactuz Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:20:42 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=8984#comment-24414 "Controlled experiment" is a very good article. I don't know is "controlled" is the right word. Controlled things can become uncontrolled very quickly and they are many in the region (inside SA itself) willing to help. I would think that it would be a very tempting target. The security director probably doesn't sleep well at night. Still it is an interesting idea. Kactuz It is an interesting experience. “Controlled experiment” is a very good article. I don’t know is “controlled” is the right word. Controlled things can become uncontrolled very quickly and they are many in the region (inside SA itself) willing to help. I would think that it would be a very tempting target. The security director probably doesn’t sleep well at night.

Still it is an interesting idea.

Kactuz

It is an interesting experience.

]]> By: M http://xrdarabia.org/2009/10/17/another-look-at-kaust/comment-page-1/#comment-24383 M Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:25:44 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=8984#comment-24383 What an excellent article. Informative and balanced. Thanks for posting it John! What an excellent article. Informative and balanced. Thanks for posting it John!

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