The Angryman Memoirs - Chapter 2

God is a DJ.
Caucasian Chaos and Cultural Cringe.

I am getting a jump on the next ‘Dubai is losing its tolerance’ meta tag landslide.

It seems that a local radio personality (and I am desperately trying to locate the sound bite of this) took it upon himself to let the nation know what he thinks god would have said if subpoenaed in the case brought against him/her by a yank loon. Revin John, the DJ in question, spoofed a phone conversation with god. Needless to say that his attempt at humour was about as well received as a kick to the groin by conservatives.

This is the second high visibility mortar that Dubai’s Western Expat community has managed to throw at itself in recent months (see my post dated 21st October for the ‘Sex on the Beach’ bombshell). This has incited the Emirati and parts of the Arab Expat population into a controlled frenzy wherein chants of ‘Learn or Leave’ have been bandied about.

I think, and this is just a personal opinion, that it is pretty unreasonable to expect people from different backgrounds to confirm to alien laws overnight and without cultural sensitivity training to guide them, this does not excuse what our two champions of cultural understanding have done, but the increasing scrutiny that everyday actions are coming up against are making things uncomfortable.

My theory is (and you will need to pay me royalties to quote this) that the combination of global economic strife, increased media sensationalism and recent misconduct have cemented the foundation of potential for a Nationalistic resurgence (I felt the beginning of this movement earlier in the year).

What strikes me as odd here is the fact that the last decade has seen the UAE nationals, particularly the youth; relax their attachment to their social constraints in a way that was truly admirable and terrifying at the same time. Adopting ‘Western’ attitudes to life facets including entertainment, relationships, language and clothing. To the extent that any given club, bar, social gathering or club would invariably feature a number of Emiratis aged between 21 and 35 and would do so in English to the beats of Paul Van Dyk.

This is changing. Regressing some would say, others see it as a necessary reclamation of the local cultural landscape in the face of the vicious expatriate tides. And each argument is open to extensive debate.

‘How can you throw the book at someone if it hasn’t been written yet?’ – Me.