Erasing the Social Class Lines

September 14, 2008

Many of the expatriates in Kuwait, are in the lower income segment of Kuwaiti society. What this means is they can not afford many of the luxuries we (Kuwaiti citizens) entertain ourselves with. We see them everyday, everywhere, and it is not easy not noticing the difference between a relaxed well-dressed Arab, and a tired foreign low income worker.

There is one place where these social classes disappear, and that is currently at the mosque. We all stand in lines, before God and pray, together. We are equals in front of God. I was sitting pondering this today and thought, “Who are we to not see others as equals, when to God we are all equal?”

To my left, was a man, from an African country. He was dressed in rags, and seemed a little dirty, probably from working out in the sun during the day. On my right, was another man, who was also from an African country. He too, was dressed in what seemed to be an old, somewhat torn, colored (signifying home casual attire) Dishdasha. I, on the other hand was wearing a clean white Dishdasha, had also applied some musk and incense oils before leaving to the Masjid.

Socially, the difference is obvious, but I didn’t think of it that way, at least I don’t anymore. It took some time to get used to. It was always an us-them sort of thinking. It was easy to think of the foreign workers as less, especially in our society. Growing up and seeing how servants are treated, how supermarket workers are sometimes scolded, you grow to think that that is the norm.

I learned to change that within myself. It took time, but it is changing still. I had always thought and considered that these men around me, were probably better people than I am. For all I know, they could be working really hard, and yet, be doing such great things, maybe not on a grand scale but still, great things nonetheless. They could be supporting a huge family, taking care of a stray pet, donating money, putting smiles on other’s faces.

Usually it is only what we see that we think about. There is a whole world out there, one which we do not really see but exists in people’s lives that means much more to the current world we live in that we take for granted. 

Posted in People, Philosophy