News Brief 2 - 5 Dec 2006 - Hummer: Instrument of Death

Tue Dec 05, 2006

Hello Everyone!

I've had positive responses to my first News Brief and hope that this and future ones will be well received, too.

This week I'm reporting on a tragic accident that took place recently. A young family I have seen at Church meetings in Abu Dhabi had gone to Dubai for the day. They had parked their car in an area where a lot of construction was going on and planned to cross a busy street on foot to get to their destination. Dad and at least one child had crossed the street and Mom and the other(s), including 2-year-old Henry, were waiting their chance to cross. Apparently a car passing near the little boy frightened him and he started to run to his Daddy, on the other side of the street. A speeding Hummer struck Henry, injuring him critically, including a severe head injury. It was a hit-and-run; the Hummer vanished at high speed and has not yet been found.

Henry was in the hospital for about a week with no signs of improvement. Finally, when the medical personnel could detect no brain activity, the grieving parents reluctantly made the decision to remove him from life support and he died almost immediately. The parents are holding up well in spite of their loss, sustained by their faith in God and conviction that because life continues after death, they will see Henry again.

Meanwhile, the police continue to search for the Hummer that struck Henry and of course the driver who was responsbile for the accident. Besides the consequences Americans would expect the guilty person to receive - speeding conviction, manslaughter or a similar charge, etc. - in this culture there is also the requirement to pay Blood Money to the family of the person who was killed. It is quite a huge sum of money and might even be enhanced (but I do not know this for sure, so don't quote me, please!) by the fact that little Henry was the only son in the family, so the driver killed the family's sole male heir. One thing is certain: even wasta (power, influence, clout) cannot spare someone from paying Blood Money and going to prison.

The Blood Money requirement is one interesting aspect of the culture here and one of the things that gives expats like me the opportunity to view life situations from a point of view different than that of our own culture. Such differences enrich my life and give me a perspective I would not have otherwise.

Well, both these News Briefs have included cessation of life; I'll promise something more light-hearted next time.

Until then, best wishes,

Pat

Note: I am adding this to the blog on 9 June 2007 and the Hummer has still not been identified. pf