There's more to life than just making money

By Tariq A. Al Maeena, Special to Gulf News
The expatriate population can and does make a meaningful contribution towards social integration

I have occasionally come across the remark that expatriates in the region do not necessarily contribute to the soundness and well-being of the social and moral fiber of their host country, choosing instead to isolate themselves to the singular pursuit of making money. But such a sweeping and generalised opinion is grossly unfair to the multitude of individuals who, apart from putting in an honest day’s work, also give their time and effort towards improving the society they live in.
P. Justin Antony is one such individual. An Indian, he is currently working as a division manager in a company in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Antony has also won several awards in his lifetime for his extra-curricular activities, including Guinness Achiever, a member of the UN Awardees and the prestigious Youth Award by the Ministry of HRD from the Government of India. But he is not content to simply work and make money as a guest worker without getting involved.
One of his notable achievements since he had arrived in Saudi Arabia was to reach out to an estimated 3,000 Indian fishermen in the Eastern Province and through a series of informal awareness sessions, he focused on educating and advising them on how to prudently handle their hard-earned money. As Antony says: “At the end of the day, most of these fishermen are unable to save and impress upon their families back home the necessity and importance of saving for rainy days.”
Beyond merely focusing on this area as part of an extra-curricular activity, Antony is also concerned about the effects of terrorism. He writes: “Modern world has become a hotbed of hatred, violence and terrorism. Civilisation has not made many people different from brutal animals. Terrorism brings nothing, but ruin and disaster; it builds nothing but tombs; multiplies orphans and widows and leaves behind a long trail of misery, starvation and sickness. During the days of terrorism, affectionate brothers part, friendship receives smashing blows and love cools down.
“The assassination of great leaders and killings of the innocents confirm what is fast becoming a postulate in world politics — terrorism is a parricide that recoils on its parents. From the selective killings, terrorism has graduated to the stage of senseless massacres of innocent civilians. The old anarchist concept of propaganda by deed, it is learned, inspired the blasts around the globe.
“Terrorism takes many forms. The most common form is found in senseless killing of innocents. Anyone who has a gun in his hands and loses his sense of balance takes it into his head that he must use his gun against anyone, unmindful of whether the latter is a known enemy or a stranger. There is another class of terrorism where some are interested in looting banks, petrol bunks or other places where they can lay their hands on easy money. During the act of looting, they do not hesitate to kill people who might stand in their way.
“Political terrorism has become a widespread disease all over the world. People and nations have forgotten that solutions to political problems and disputes can never be obtained by terrorist activities, but only through negotiations.
“Terrorists do not understand or they are not aware of the fact that terrorism does not pay. It is a double-edged weapon which can affect both sides. And it is the most dangerous calamity known to society. It is an engine of tyranny and a danger to civilisation. No religion or prophet favours terrorism; it settles nothing, but unsettles everything. It breeds violence that does good to none.
“To get back to the roots of today’s terrorist upsurges, it cannot be absolved by blaming the arms traders alone. They had devalued the concept of democracy and oppressed their own people. In a democratic set up, anyone with a grievance has to have a hearing first.
“Only the spirit of love, tolerance, mutual understanding and generosity of heart can remove terrorism. People should be trained in the art of purposeful life. They must be made to understand that life is a precious gift and it cannot be ended in this inhuman manner.
‘Terrorists attract the young — mostly unemployed — with boxes of money and bottles of honey and life-long promises. The youth too, not thinking about their motherland and her welfare, join hands with the terrorists for momentary benefits. Behind this bitter reality remains unemployment, lack of hope for the future and erosion of ethical values in society.
“International terrorism has become a reality. It disturbs us to see that more and more youth take to terrorism abandoning civilised life. Terrorism has swallowed our very hope for the future. One wonders if the youth of the land believe that they can establish freedom and amity through violence. Accountability in public life has gone with the wind and the youth have lost hope of a promising future. Restoring faith in democracy is the need of the hour. A radical change in policy approach can’t wait. And who other than the youth can carry that torch of hope?’
Antony’s words constitute an honest and sincere plea for a better and safer society and that belies the notion that expatriates such as him are here only for the pot of gold.
Tariq A. Al Maeena is a Saudi socio-political commentator. He lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.