Why does nationality matter?

25 Feb, 2009  Annoyances

You’d think we live in an age of tolerance, understanding, and where stereotyping shouldn’t happen (especially since we’re all stereotyped) but that’s not the case.

It really annoys me that the Gulf-Times always wants to highlight where a person was from. The nationality of an individual should be additional information and not the headline.

Here are a few bits from todays news:

  • A Doha court has sentenced a Palestinian man to a month’s imprisonment after he was found responsible for a car accident that injured a woman seriously.
  • A  local man was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for drug smuggling.
  • Two Asians who stole new dresses arrested

I personally believe it just stirs up hate and stereotyping. Sometimes it’s fine to highlight the fact of where someone was from just for the sake of highlighting, but professional news shouldn’t feel it’s necessary to ensure that everyone knows where they are from.

Rather than “Indian man kills pedestrian in road accident”. Why not “A pedestrian was killed in a tragic road accident. The driver, whom is from India, was driving a Kia” . I don’t know perhaps it’s all in the wording?

Yes sadly, I think that some nationalities are more prone to doing certain things than others (because of the norms) but perhaps it wouldn’t be necessary to highlight it?

It’s a confusing topic. What do you all think? Should nationality be mentioned in the news or not?

  • http://qatariadventures.blogspot.com Sybil

    An interesting subject. I noticed that when I moved here, the nationality always seemed to be the main “event”. But thinking back, in the U.S., if it’s not someone from the area that they are talking about, it will be reported as a “New York man” or a “Texas man” and I wouldn’t think anything of it. The actual nationality of the person is not usually brought up without reason. If the reporting of the nationalities is consistent, good and bad…maybe it’s ok? I mean, that would be factual information, but as you stated it is all in the wording and the intent. Thanks for poking my brain this morning…:)

  • http://qatar.livejournal.com Marjorie

    It would be nice if nationality didn’t matter, but since it DOES, I think the news should report it when it’s relevant. Let’s face it, when someone commits a crime here, their nationality affects what the consequences will be.

    I definitely agree with you that nationality shouldn’t be in the headline or the lede, but I don’t think it should be completely missing.

  • Kei

    thanks for sharing! Anyone else?

  • BlueGrey

    Back in my home country (the Netherlands, Europe), the only time when they mention the nationality of a person in a newspaper is when he is either arab or african etc. If a local does something, nationality is never mentioned.

    I have to agree that mentioning nationality stirs up hate, and separates people from what they actually are… people.

    I am against the labelling of people based on nationality, skin color, gender etc. but I understand that it is part of life, and newspapers need to be able to write freely, because we also don’t want them to be censored.

    This is just my 2 cents…

  • Rainbow

    I am against nationality being brought up every two seconds. Where it is relevant, of course, it should be mentioned, but in most cases where nationality is mentioned in local papers and websites, it is unecessary.

    I have noticed, Kei, that you do this yourself on this website. Glad you have brought up the topic to make us all think about it a bit more.

    Many locals are obssessed about where other locals are from. He’s a Qatari, he’s an Iranian Qatari, a Palestinian Qatari, he’s not areal Qatari etc…I could go on. Give me a break.

  • http://qatariadventures.blogspot.com Sybil

    How boring it would be if we were all of the same nation. Your nationality is something to be proud of and if you’re not, be a better person to promote your nationality. We all come from different walks of life, different cultures. I love to know where people are from. It helps me identify with their culture, why they do the things the way they do, to learn. Some cultures are friendly, some aloof, some mysterious,some ritualistic, some strange by others’ standards…the list goes on. Knowing where someone is from may put a face on some of their actions. Perhaps they are from an extremely poor country and they have to fight for first just to get a meal. Perhaps they don’t smile and say hello, because it is not their culture to do so. To mention someone’s nationality shouldn’t be used in a derogatory fashion or for mean spirited purposes. Otherwise, I see no problem with it. Maybe I’m delusional, but I don’t see why we can’t be of stated nationalities and still love one another. Sorry to take up so much space, Kei. Your doing a great job! From an American to a Qatari.

  • Rainbow

    Unfortunately it IS used in a negative manner in Qatar a lot (eg, yah, Masri = humph, Egyptian). This can breed racism.

    In journalistic terms mentioning one’s nationality in for eg the reporting of a road traffic accident is unecessary and shows poor writing ability.

    from a Qataria :)

  • Kei

    It’s like they say, we all have faults, but recognizing them is the first step.

    We’re all a bit guilty of being racist at times, but as long as we aim to keep it out the scene it’s better than nothing.

    You also touched on something very interesting, Qatari’s do try to separate each other!

Freedom of Expression

    Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the Qatari Government is a signatory of states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any medias and regardless of any frontiers.

    The Emiri Decision Number 86 of the year 2007 on the establishment of the Doha Free Information Centre marked yet another step towards establishing a State of rights and freedom of speech. The decision stipulated that the Centre be a non-profit organization, headquartered in Doha City, and have the authority to establish other affiliated centres inside and outside Qatar. It is worth mentioning that His Highness the Emir issued a decision in 1998 annulling the ministry of information, giving birth to a new era of freedom of speech where censorship was removed from local media.