Our Alkhobar
- Pipeline
- Opinions And Editorials
Author: Faisal S. Alzamil
Released 6 June 2004
After the days of horror in the Oasis Compound, Alkhobar is sad and terrified. We have lost our city. Alkhobar was never the empty streets, beaches, restaurants and shops it is now. It was always welcome smiles, friendly faces and respect - for all and from all. Since the 1930s, Alkhobar has been hosting people of different nationalities, races, religions and backgrounds. We Saudis have always been a minority in our city.
Every newcomer met a welcome when he entered our city. They all melted into our society. I remember Americans, Pakistanis, Indians, Italians and others coming to our homes and neighborhoods to greet us on our weddings, Eids and Ramadan and to share our sorrow at losing a relative or suffering other tragedies. Since the 1950s and 1960s, all of them have been part of our society. Many of them lived in the same neighborhoods with us. We played with their children. I remember the boy scouts and girl scouts of Aramco schools coming to visit our Arabic schools and sharing our games and classes.
I remember King Khaled Street in the 1960s. You would see a Bedouin woman in a veil pulling her stubborn goat next to an American woman in a skirt leading her poodle on a leash. They would greet each other, exchange friendly smiles and keep on going their ways, leaving behind a warm sense of given and received love and respect. People came to Alkhobar from all over the Kingdom and all Gulf states attracted by one of the cleanest, friendliest and most modern cities in the region, to shop in its malls and taste the variety of international cuisine offered by its restaurants.
What went wrong? What is happening to our great city? We want our Alkhobar back the way it always was. We should not, and will not, let some despicable individuals ruin our little town for us. Expatriates have been a part of Alkhobar for years. We love the expatriates in our town and we will protect them against any evil. We want them to stay to share their knowledge, experience and love with us.
Note:
Faisal Al-Zamil owns our community arts and craft store, Al-Zamil Stores.