R. sent me this: "Apparently, in anticipation of Feb 14 (a national holiday in bahrain - there is no mention of the movement), the Bahraini King just announced that he will be injecting the national budget with 100 million bahraini dinars with money going mostly to the poor for subsidies etc (see copy and pasted newspaper articles below). What he doesn't get is that money for the poor isn't really the issue. The Feb 14 movement is changing its tone - they have removed the silly clause about banning alcohol and changed it to decreasing prostitution, alcohol etc. (unfortunately I can't access facebook right now at work to check for the exact arabic phrase). The english facebook page doesn't contain the clause at all which is interesting. The setting up of the english facebook page is important by the way - not only for the west - but for (unfortunately) those bahrainis who are more comfortable writing in english. I am getting a much more positive vibe from this movement from the people I know and it seems like the secular opposition youth will be participating after all! The big question mark is on the "private school kids" as well call them. I talked to a friend a few days ago and she was really angry saying that she supported their demands but was against the way and if we continue using these messages us shia will be hated everywhere. She was referring to a really stupid poster that had a little paragraph on how Al Khalifa will all go to hell and their are the epitomy of what haram means. I agreed with her since I do not like religious slogans. But then she went on talking about how she doesn't want trouble, bahrain is not like egypt, it is much better than before, and that how she is graduating and she just wants to go back to bahrain and to get a job. Another friend I talked to though (who is actually in bahrain) is really excited and said that a lot of his friends are backing this. I am getting lots of forwards from friends and family members about what is going on but with no commentary (perhaps they are too scared to put things in writing). I have yet to speak to my parents and sister (been so busy with work) but I spoke to my sister online and she says so far she has no idea whats going on. But I am sure in 10 days everything will become much clearer and I am also sure that at the beginning some people will be hesitant to join, but if the slogans stay positive and the message stays non-secetarian then I think people will slowly start being braver.
Unfortunately I feel that Bahrain is a tiny country and our economy, budget and policies are tied to Saudi Arabia. But whatever change this movement will result in will be for the better - God knows maybe Bahrain will actually affect Saudi Arabia.
I don't know what is going to happen next week but all I know is that when December 2011 comes along I will hopefully be seeing a newer and better Arab world. I really wish I was in Bahrain right now but then again there is always facebook and twitter!
Also I just wanted to thank you for paying attention to Bahrain also!""
