A few days ago, a story from the local press titled ‘those greedy expatriates’ caught my attention. Written by a Dr. Saleh Al-Hajiri, it went on to lament the drain of resources and the flight of capital from this country by expatriates. Furthermore, the writer seemed upset at the greed and bargaining methods adopted by some of the expatriates.
As a Saudi I found that article very offensive, to say the least. To direct one’s wrath with a generalized view against a certain segment of the populace smacks of discrimination. Were it not for most of the foreigners, I wonder where would we be today? Most likely dwelling in minds and norms prevalent in the 16th century. This distaste from Dr. Al-Hajri perhaps should be directed toward his own kind.
Is it not our own greed and self indulgence that manifests itself in almost all daily aspects of our lives? Such as not respecting a queue and barging ahead irrespective of the right of others, or blocking someone’s parked car so we do not have to take two extra steps? Or the greed of our developers who turn natural beauty into an atrocity of concrete and steel by what I witness from the developments on a fading Corniche. Or the greed of locals who have locked up all access to the beaches with mansions locked up and barely used?
Let us ask ourselves who the real greedy people are? Those of us who salt away billions in foreign banks without re-investing some of it in their own country, or the foreigner who sends a few hundred or thousand riyals home to his or her family every month.
While some expatriates may have taken advantage of locals through unscrupulous means, the majority for the most part has turned in an honest day’s work. And if they do send in their earnings back to their families and their home countries, then Dr. Al-Hajiri should understand that this is the very purpose of their being here.
Their presence here is certainly not due to the kindness or open arms that few of us bother with when it comes to dealing with them. Or our arrogance over the plight of the less fortunate who put in long hours and days before they can see their families again. Invisible people, so much part of the framework of our existence, and yet so rudely unrecognized. Law abiding and contributing to the growth of this country, they have taken tasks upon their shoulders that we Saudis could or would not.
While the perceived greed of the expatriate through the eyes of Dr. Al-Hajiri enables families in different parts of the world to survive, the real greed of those people who take and not give anything back in return should be the one to be addressed to and scorned. Yes, greed is indeed offensive and despicable. But let’s look at the offenders who are closer to home.
— Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]
