A poet once said: "My homeland, even if I am oppressed within it, is dear to me,
And my people, even if they are ungenerous to me, are still kind.”
This verse encapsulates the highest form of loyalty to one’s homeland. The homeland is not merely a person, a tribe, or a political faction. It is a vessel that carries all our emotions, memories, hopes, family, security, and peace. These qualities cannot be found together anywhere else but in the homeland. For this reason, the homeland is above defamation and immune to any attempts to harm it.
It is beyond me how some individuals who either because they disagree with the direction of their country, have not achieved their personal dreams, or have suffered from unfair treatment, become disillusioned with or hostile toward their homeland. I cannot understand why some, rather than working to address their grievances, choose to stab their own homeland with metaphorical knives. Worse still, some even ally with forces that seek to tear it down. This is not an act of patriotism; it is self-destructive. A true patriot does not seek to harm their nation but works to heal and protect it.
Of course, I fully support standing against oppression, as seen in Syria, where people fought for their country’s future. However, the method of resistance should never involve conspiring against the nation itself or trying to dismantle it. Such actions do not serve the country’s interests; they only contribute to its destruction. This is not the path of patriotism—it is the betrayal of the homeland.
Today, Kuwait is witnessing a troubling wave of voices, many of whom appear unclear in their intentions. These individuals, quick to criticize the country on media and social platforms, target the nation’s achievements and defame its leaders. This approach does not serve the cause of justice; rather, it deepens the suffering and risks turning one’s own country into an enemy. These voices may even be exploited by those who wish to bring the country down, used as pawns in a game that seeks to fulfill private political agendas—agendas that harm the national interest.
The verse I mentioned earlier offers the clearest guidance for those who feel wronged: they must seek justice, using every resource available, including the legal system. However, the pursuit of personal justice should never come at the expense of the nation’s stability. Restoring individual rights is crucial, but it should not mean the destruction of the homeland.
Let us never forget that Kuwait is the cradle that nurtures its children from birth. It provides warmth and shelter as they grow, guiding them from the loving arms of their mothers into the embrace of their homeland. And in the end, it is Kuwait that gives them rest, with their coffins lying peacefully beneath the soil of the land they called home. Kuwait remains a source of strength and pride for its people. May God protect Kuwait, its leaders, and its good people, and may He grant the country lasting peace and security.
local@kuwaittimes.com