To progress we have to keep our principles, beliefs, and work our way through keeping them but at the same time progressing .. We shouldn't just shove them away just because they interfere with development, as many believe..
Alot of agony comes from knowing this truth about one's own country... but we are the future leaders and we shall work things out to better it ...
Citizens are entitled to a form of right, security. So by losing this, you lose the faith in the country and the ppl. This is something I don't want to happen neither other UAE nationals do.. because this is our beloved country and we know it has a lot of potential to grow and be perfect ... it just needs to slow down a bit with all the development n look at the other aspects of the economy to assure they grow at the same pace ... this only would ensure its perfect progress .. but for that it would need a lot of time for people to recognize n know that this is not the right way that we are doing it .. Below is an incident that can very much affect the country's reputation and people's faith in it ...
"So, about my little accident. I keep thinking about it over and over and I am just dumbfounded. I mean the accident did not turn out to be so serious instead of actual damage to the car, but the way it happened and what transpired later is what has me in disbelief. Actually, I do not really consider it an "accident." It was a deliberate assault. Unfortunately the way the police viewed it was just as a minor "fender-bender." I view it no differently as if someone took a gun, aimed it at me, fired, and because I was able to move just enough to get out of the way - only grazed my arm with the bullet leaving a minor flesh-wound. I imagine they would consider that serious (at least I hope they would). However, in this case the weapon was a Mercedes CL 500. This man - Sulaiman Saeed, came up behind me and kept beeping his horn. I had no where to go because I was already in the slow lane - and I was not going slow. Then he pulled up beside me driving literally 2 inches from my car. I tried to move away from him but the railing of the bridge was just to my right and I couldn't go anywhere. Then the guy yanked his steering wheel over slamming his car against mine and then sped away. I was lucky that I was able to maintain control, but since he had already been driving erratically, I was prepared. My first instinct was to chase him down. I was furious because my children were in the car and I realized that Allah was with us and we were so lucky because we could easily have been sent into a spin and had a serious crash. Anyway, as I was chasing him we called the police and they told us to pull over and wait for them. They came and took us to the police station in Bur Dubai - not far from Dhiyafa street. Because I had all the guy's car information they called him in.
This guy came in and he had alcohol on his breath and was acting so disrespectful. When the police told him what happened he kept staring like he was confused and said he didn't know anything about an accident and that he didn't feel anything. Then later he said he was at home sleeping and the police called. Then he started yelling at me and saying why I didn't use my "f ' ing" brakes and that I hit him. He told 3 or 4 different stories. The police told me that he would be charged with the accident so it was not my fault. Then they said if I want to file a case against him, I must go to a different police station. I asked them was he being charged with wreckless driving or leaving the scene of an accident? They said I could make the case if I wanted. Then I told them that I wanted him tested for alcohol because it was obvious by the way that he was driving, by the way that he was behaving, and by the smell on his breath that he had been drinking. The guy then told me it was for them (the police) to say and not me. Anyway, they told me to wait and they would bring someone to take me to the other station. After an hour they came and told me everything again and asked if I wanted to make a case? I said yes and they said ok. Then they came and took me to another office and told the guy that I wanted to make a case. The guy told me that I have to go to the other station and I said ok. Then the first guy comes back and takes me by the hand to a shelf and shows me a stack of papers. He said "these papers are from 200 accidents. There are always accidents. You are ok, your family is ok, he is ok. Just take the paper and your insurance will fix your car and it is over. Let it go." I told him that I did not care about the car or the money. My concern was that he has 200 accidents papers because no one seems to be held accountable for the way they drive. Now this guy will walk out of here because I did not press charges with the same mentality - that he did nothing wrong. Then the next person or family that he does this to may not be so lucky and he is going to kill someone. The policeman just did not seem to understand my logic. He said ok and told me to sit down. Then he took the guy out of the room and I could here them in the hall talking. Then the guy comes back and says "I don't know what I am sorry for, but sorry!" I guess the police thought if he says he is sorry then I would be ok. We are not children who accidentally hit each other on our tricycles! We are adults driving dangerous machines. Accidents happen on our roads for various reasons. Carelessness, wrecklessness, etc. However, this accident was an intentional act that went unpunished. This was assault with a deadly weapon! It really is no different. Why do people have to die before this is realized? So many accidents could be prevented if the law was properly enforced and people were held accountable for their actions.
Anyway, that is basically what happened. You may think I am over-reacting, I don't know... I am thankful that nothing more serious happened. However, I also see much deeper problems in the way people are allowed to behave that need to be addressed. It is the duty of a government to make laws and the police to enforce those laws for the safety and protection of all citizens and residents. I know this same situation could probably take place in any place in the world - including the States. I've been to small towns down south where the police enforce the law they way they want and with preferential treatment to the local townspeople. However, Dubai is aspiring to be better than that. It is trying to position itself as a world class city. Things like this will need to be addressed at some point if Dubai is to achieve its dreams. I don't want to come across like I am criticizing Dubai like so many expats do. They come here and live a good life and take advantage of many things, yet are critical and always complaining. Yes I am being critical now - but I like to see it as a constructive critique. I love Dubai and I want to see it grow, but in a positive way. This growth must not leave behind the values that are essential. People should also feel safe and trust in the authorities. I've never had a reason not to trust until now. I've heard many stories but this is the first time I have witnessed it. Actually, while I was in the station a Philipino couple came in. They were walking and these two guys drove by in a car and hit the woman in the back. She was really lucky. She had gone to the hospital and had x-rays and nothing was broken. They came into the station and you could see the back of her arm was very red and she was in alot of pain. She wanted to make a case and the police discouraged her and said a case will take many months. He said you are ok so don't worry about it. He finally talked her out of it and when she and her husband left, the guys (who hit her) just laughed and thanked the police and left. I was so disgusted..."
The only thing I can say as a national, " I and many others are sorry for such inefficiency or effectiveness in assuring security to all citizens and discriminating by giving nationals more credit than any others. That is not what we believe in, but is only the corruption within a country that is developing. Corruption is everywhere .. but that is not an excuse because our country seeks to be trusted by others and be very well developed, etc. The country is such a wonderful one with alot of potential for all.. but we just need to recongnize those problems and make those simple changes, wishing it wouldn't take so long and thus be useless... just wish"
