Breaking Laws … and Proud of it!!!
I believe that we have all been there … when you are at a red light and all of a sudden, another car flies past you from the left just when the light becomes green … justification; he is a better driver and he is entitled to do that simply because his time is more valuable and precious than yours … so what if he scares you to death in the process?? Live with it and eat your heart out because he won the race to hell … 
How many times were you standing in line and someone just squeezes in front of you? how many times were you waiting for a parking spot to become available only to be shocked by another car filling it before you even get the chance to do anything? Why wouldn’t they stop at the red light when there is no one around? why do they have to break the law just because they can? and they get away with it? and no one is watching? and even when there is someone watching, they don’t do anything? Does this mean that we are giving them the green light to break all red lights????
We go around every day and see all these violations and they have become a part of our daily life. Like yesterday; I passed by a retail outlet on my way home to buy a few things and there was a car that was going around the parking lot, and the guy parked his car in the taxis area where there is a huge sign that says “For Pick up and Drop off ONLY” … and then five people get out of the car, men and women, and they head in the exit door direction, they wait there until someone comes near the door from the inside to exit and they push their way inside with the shopping cart and everything … and just as I was about to forget about the whole incident when I was walking through the aisles inside … all of a sudden; I smell cigarettes and I was thinking that it is a “No Smoking” zone inside the shop only to come face to face with the same guy proudly sniffing his cigarette and blowing the smoke here and there …
Now as much as this sounds like a normal scene in our daily life, what strikes me is that no one stops this kind of behavior. It is really good to have laws and regulations, but what is the point if we do not enforce them? What is the benefit if people keep breaking the laws and bragging about it? What is the guarantee that this person who is breaking these simple laws will not one day break bigger and more severe and dangerous ones?
The dangerous sign here is not the fact that we have people breaking these simple laws; what is more dangerous and more alarming is that we have come to accept this fact and live with it. It does not surprise us any more and that is the real problem!!
If we are not going to implement laws properly and correctly, and enforce them on everyone in the community, then we might as well not put them to begin with … at least those who do not break the laws (and they are becoming less every day) would not feel that they are less humans and less important citizens … but hey … that’s only my humble opinion!!!
February 17th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Welcome back Khalidah.
Maybe the answer is really tough fines. Maybe it’s not. What is clear is that the society as a whole needs rehabilitation. This “Getting away with it” mentality needs to get eradicated from our culture and from our minds.
Had those folks who parked in the wrong spot came out to find that their car was towed away and they had to pay JD200 to free it from the impound. They would think a million times before doing it again. If the guy who smokes INSIDE the shops had a little courtesy or consideration. He wouldn’t have done that. Maybe the shop owners should have kicked them out. Maybe it’s time to show the “red eye” to violators. Maybe it’s time for citizen law enforcement.
Although that scares me. Since the idea of upholding the law is a concept that many people don’t get and end up confusing what they think is right vs what is really the law.
Anyway, welcome back, it’s been a while
February 17th, 2009 at 10:39 am
KHALIDAH!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome back!
Excellent rant. “The dangerous sign here is not the fact that we have people breaking these simple laws; what is more dangerous and more alarming is that we have come to accept this fact and live with it.” Well said.
Lawlessness is not the hallmark of positive community
February 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Qwaider … hey buddy … I miss you and I miss blogging
Thank you for the warm welcome and for the comment … I like the fact that you are still following up on my space … thanks again ..
regarding fines … the problem is that they are there and a part of the law .. but it is those who enforce the law are the same ones that encourage breaking it by doing simply nothing when they see someone breaking the law and do nothing about it … it is this vicious cycle that we can’t break free from … but change needs courage and time … prayers that this will be a part of our future
Kinzi …
Thanks my dear friend for the welcome and the comment …
I agree with you and it is a gray area that we live in .. let’s hope that the future has better laws and better people who do not break the law to begin with so that we don’t need to enforce the law … ideal city dreams? maybe … but one can hope, right?
February 17th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
How dull would like be?
February 17th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Long time no blogging welcome back.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Good to see you back Khalidah, to add to what you’ve said, I think that all people tend to behave very irresponsibly breaking whatever law is there unless that law is strictly and EQUALLY enforced. If that is done people will stop smoking in public places, will park in the right place and will drive by the spped limit.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:21 am
this can;t be the whole definition of arabs.these small things do happen everry where.in fact wht the learned author missed to appreciate is the historicity of arabs as one religious and culturl community over and above castes which brought many reveloutionary changes in the world even admitted by the european authors. the casual incident so exprienced by the author and club the whole demographic culture of the arabs wth little individual arrogance wld nt qualify the title the author hd given it.at the most it cld be covered under “individual incidents”thx