This year’s National Day parade appeared to go smoothly, with near-flawless execution from the military and civil service sectors, and an engaging performance from cultural groups.
Once again, the highlight for the large crowds seemed to be when Qatar’s Emir and his father walked down the Corniche, greeting parade-goers.
The Father Emir allowed residents to drape him with scarves, and some women even kissed his cheeks. Sheikh Tamim greeted several children with smiles and cheers could be heard as the pair made their way down the waterfront.
Much of the parade was tweeted by media outlets and residents who were at the parade and tuning in on TV:
@Hassan_alsai pic.twitter.com/gd0xc1Dd8D
— محمد اليافعي (@mfa883) December 18, 2014
But first, some pictures from the #QND2014 parade this morning… pic.twitter.com/mYGmvaMwIR
— The Daily Q (@yourtdq) December 18, 2014
#وعاملت_انا_بالصدق_والنصح_والنقا
مشاركة ابطال الخدمة الوطنية في الميسر العسكري بمناسبة اليوم الوطني .. pic.twitter.com/AM5kNxaUDu
— Khalid Ahmed (@macqatar) December 18, 2014
Did you watch the parade? Thoughts?
For those wondering how to spend their day and the rest of the weekend, here’s a list of things going on around town over the next few days, and a guide to National Day in Qatar.
The parade was inspiring, and it never ceases to amaze me at the level of interaction between the Emir and Father Emir and the crowds. I don’t know of any other National Leadership that would allow citizens to drape scarves around their necks like that…… Both of them are amazing leaders and I am proud to live and work in this country……
Is this a paid for message?
No it is not, I voted you down for this disgusting comment.
No it is not (Thanks Ibrahim 🙂 I stand by my comment and as a resident here for over 4 years now and having just signed a new 5 year contract I look forward to seeing where Sheikh Tamim takes this country in the future…….
He could start by addressing slavery, or the road deaths, or the abuse of maids, or the prosecution of the villagio accused.
Oh the list is long and varied. The level of conservatism has risen sharply since his “crowning”. That’s what worried me.
Wow it’s disgusting and really sad that you think this way, And 8 other people do as well.
To each their own. Why would it be a paid message ? I know many people who love the Emir father and the current Emir. Just because you think otherwise … it does not make what ever you think to be true !!
To be honest….many leaders around the world interact with their citizens in such a way….just because you donot know, it doesnot mean such things are unique to Qatar. The current Emir is young and has large shoes to fit into … his father is a visionary and credit must be given when it is due. What Qatar has become today is because of the Emir’s father. No doubt … Qatar has her weaknesses but which nation does not ? Our current Emir will make mistakes but hopefully with his father there to advise him behind close doors …he too will learn to become the Emir everyone in Qatar hopes he will be. It is too early to judge the Emir….but I feel … he will surprise many of his detractors.
Some ‘A’ grade brown-nosing there Peter, but don’t you think, say, introducing a fair minimum wage and abolishing the kefala system might be more important for the Emir to be seen to be really doing something concrete, than graciously allowing the plebs to decorate him?
I’m not going to waste another second responding to insults from cowards hiding behind nick names and anonymity, man up or back off ……
It’s all very well posting with your real name if all you are going to offer up is a stream of obsequious rhetoric like yourself, but if you are prepared to challenge the accepted norm, a pseudonym in this part of the world is better. Now, about that small point of the minimum wage and kefala….care to address it?
No, not on an original thread about the country’s National Day and its parade. I work in the Army alongside many of the people that took part in the parade and it was inspiring to me to see the fruits of the many, many days of hard work and training that I personally know went into it. I also stand by my comment that the leadership of this country is inspiring, from the way that Sheikh Hamad transferred the power to his son, to the way that The Emir handled the recent problems with other members of the GCC. While I accept that there are problems here that need addressing, I feel that it is in extremely bad taste to hijack a thread about a joyful day of celebration with them. In an appropriate forum I will state my opinions AND I will use my real name.
Fair enough, I’ll accept much of that, given your personal perspective,
although to broaden the argument relative to this thread in particular,
you could argue whether a country with so much wealth should be
investing so heavily in its military resources, given the general lack
of threat it faces? Does Qatar, or KSA for that matter, really see a
threat from Iran, for example, that justifies the expenditure, or is it
more a matter of political expediency and maintaining relations with the
West in the sense of an oil/gas/weapons/training trade-off? Is it a
vanity power-projection thing? Couldn’t some of the funds invested in
the hardware on display in these parades be better spent on improving
the lot of the people who prop the country up?
To be honest, I think the flaunting of your own name in your username is at best misguided and at worst naive……this kind of forum is often more honest and enlightening when its between people who are not known to each other. What purpose does it serve identifying yourself so readily? I mean in your case, a quick google tells me you are involved with training the Qatari special forces in parachuting, good for you, but that would also explain your devotional defence of the autocratic leadership, who are essentially your paymasters.
I am truly sorry if, in my original posting, I gave any impression that I was looking to join in a discussion about Qatar’s strengths and shortcomings. My only intention was to congratulate my colleagues on the fruits of their hard work and to give kudos to the leadership of the country. The ONLY reason I responded to you in the first place was because you saw fit to insult me (as a Grade A Brown Noser) and to do so from the security of anonymity. In my 60 year journey to date I have been insulted before and I am pretty sure that it will happen again, however I am just old fashioned enough to believe it should be done person to person. Let me make it clear, your opinions of me don’t concern me at all, you can believe anything you like about me, the ONLY thing I objected to was that it was done anonymously and in a thread that originated in a country celebrating its National Day. So, if I gave you the impression that I was looking to be involved in a discussion or debate, I apologize. As you have googled me (you can also find me on Facebook and Twitter and a few other sites) you know what I look like, please feel free, if you see me out in public, to avoid me at all costs…….. I won’t be offended………
Fair enough to some extent…I apologise for calling you a brown noser, that was childish…. happy new year!
Apology accepted, and the same to you, Christmas Mubarek and Happy New Year!!!!!!