adaptability and cultural understanding are essential to successfully navigating
are essential to successfully navigating
are essential to successfully navigating this ever-changing social or political
this ever-changing social or political
this ever-changing social or political landscape let there be no doubt it is
landscape let there be no doubt it is
landscape let there be no doubt it is definitely changing in the early months
definitely changing in the early months
definitely changing in the early months of 2014 a young Australian boy stepped
of 2014 a young Australian boy stepped
of 2014 a young Australian boy stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac
off the plane and onto the tarmac
off the plane and onto the tarmac how much International Airport in Doha
how much International Airport in Doha
how much International Airport in Doha Qatar for the very first time the result
Qatar for the very first time the result
Qatar for the very first time the result of a twin leg journey that have totaled
of a twin leg journey that have totaled
of a twin leg journey that have totaled over 24 hours of travel time I had just
over 24 hours of travel time I had just
over 24 hours of travel time I had just arrived what was to be my permanent new
arrived what was to be my permanent new
arrived what was to be my permanent new home at the young age of only 14 and
home at the young age of only 14 and
home at the young age of only 14 and having just permanently departed Alice
having just permanently departed Alice
having just permanently departed Alice Springs
Springs
Springs it was needless to say a bit of a
it was needless to say a bit of a
it was needless to say a bit of a surreal experience not really knowing
surreal experience not really knowing
surreal experience not really knowing what to expect I made my way through the
what to expect I made my way through the
what to expect I made my way through the ultra-modern luxurious Airport was
ultra-modern luxurious Airport was
ultra-modern luxurious Airport was surrounded by tall Arabic men in fashion
surrounded by tall Arabic men in fashion
surrounded by tall Arabic men in fashion crisp like those with impeccably groomed
crisp like those with impeccably groomed
crisp like those with impeccably groomed facial hair typically being men were
facial hair typically being men were
facial hair typically being men were followed submissively by their entourage
followed submissively by their entourage
followed submissively by their entourage of six to seven gorgeous Arabic women
of six to seven gorgeous Arabic women
of six to seven gorgeous Arabic women dressed literally head-to-toe in
dressed literally head-to-toe in
dressed literally head-to-toe in imported black burgers having come from
imported black burgers having come from
imported black burgers having come from Alice where typical telly attire
Alice where typical telly attire
Alice where typical telly attire consists of English shorts and thongs it
consists of English shorts and thongs it
consists of English shorts and thongs it was just the first ting of the drastic
was just the first ting of the drastic
was just the first ting of the drastic changes which were installed for me
changes which were installed for me
changes which were installed for me nevertheless we made our way through the
nevertheless we made our way through the
nevertheless we made our way through the airport and into the 5 a.m. mist of the
airport and into the 5 a.m. mist of the
airport and into the 5 a.m. mist of the desert the country of Qatar which is 130
desert the country of Qatar which is 130
desert the country of Qatar which is 130 times smaller than our homeland the
times smaller than our homeland the
times smaller than our homeland the Northern Territory alone Andrews
Northern Territory alone Andrews
Northern Territory alone Andrews negligible population is concentrated
negligible population is concentrated
negligible population is concentrated overwhelmingly in its capital Doha is at
overwhelmingly in its capital Doha is at
overwhelmingly in its capital Doha is at first glance at least just like any
first glance at least just like any
first glance at least just like any other Western metropolis
other Western metropolis
other Western metropolis you search Doha on Google Images you’ll
you search Doha on Google Images you’ll
you search Doha on Google Images you’ll see a soaring skylines riddled with
see a soaring skylines riddled with
see a soaring skylines riddled with multi-million dollar architectural
multi-million dollar architectural
multi-million dollar architectural masterpieces complete with a diverse
masterpieces complete with a diverse
masterpieces complete with a diverse range of multicultural rhythms the Qatar
range of multicultural rhythms the Qatar
range of multicultural rhythms the Qatar you’d be seeing is the Qatar I was
you’d be seeing is the Qatar I was
you’d be seeing is the Qatar I was promised when I was conducting my own
promised when I was conducting my own
promised when I was conducting my own curious months of Investigation in the
curious months of Investigation in the
curious months of Investigation in the months prior to moving there but imagine
months prior to moving there but imagine
months prior to moving there but imagine however the fractures in society soon
however the fractures in society soon
however the fractures in society soon began to show it is best described that
began to show it is best described that
began to show it is best described that Qatar is caught between this
Qatar is caught between this
Qatar is caught between this contemporary Brella
contemporary Brella
contemporary Brella Dubai and its traditional parents Saudia
Dubai and its traditional parents Saudia
Dubai and its traditional parents Saudia Arabia it aspires to be a modern
Arabia it aspires to be a modern
Arabia it aspires to be a modern international heart and it was
international heart and it was
international heart and it was demonstrated this with its scandalously
demonstrated this with its scandalously
demonstrated this with its scandalously successful bid for the 2022 World Cup
successful bid for the 2022 World Cup
successful bid for the 2022 World Cup and the billions upon billions of
and the billions upon billions of
and the billions upon billions of dollars
dollars
dollars is currently pouring into its domestic
is currently pouring into its domestic
is currently pouring into its domestic infrastructure to facilitate that but
infrastructure to facilitate that but
infrastructure to facilitate that but doesn’t want to lose touch with the
doesn’t want to lose touch with the
doesn’t want to lose touch with the essence of Islamic culture which has
essence of Islamic culture which has
essence of Islamic culture which has been at its core since its independence
been at its core since its independence
been at its core since its independence in 1971 it was this conflict that I
in 1971 it was this conflict that I
in 1971 it was this conflict that I began to see in my time in Doha Turkey
began to see in my time in Doha Turkey
began to see in my time in Doha Turkey is a conical cutout of the country which
is a conical cutout of the country which
is a conical cutout of the country which still enforces Sharia law in a system
still enforces Sharia law in a system
still enforces Sharia law in a system under which a woman’s testimony accounts
under which a woman’s testimony accounts
under which a woman’s testimony accounts for half of that of a man’s and with any
for half of that of a man’s and with any
for half of that of a man’s and with any and all of a man’s seven wives must
and all of a man’s seven wives must
and all of a man’s seven wives must cease the mission before being legally
cease the mission before being legally
cease the mission before being legally permitted to leave the country it’s not
permitted to leave the country it’s not
permitted to leave the country it’s not exactly difficult to see a few of the
exactly difficult to see a few of the
exactly difficult to see a few of the initial moral conflicts that arose in my
initial moral conflicts that arose in my
initial moral conflicts that arose in my 14 year old lion how could I live
14 year old lion how could I live
14 year old lion how could I live happily in a society in which Muslim
happily in a society in which Muslim
happily in a society in which Muslim women were expected to come up all of
women were expected to come up all of
women were expected to come up all of their skin showing only their face or
their skin showing only their face or
their skin showing only their face or eyes in a society in which more than a
eyes in a society in which more than a
eyes in a society in which more than a few disapproving glances were sent away
few disapproving glances were sent away
few disapproving glances were sent away my dark-skinned stepmother as she
my dark-skinned stepmother as she
my dark-skinned stepmother as she accompanied my wife father the country
accompanied my wife father the country
accompanied my wife father the country in which polygamy was not best accepted
in which polygamy was not best accepted
in which polygamy was not best accepted but culturally celebrated these
but culturally celebrated these
but culturally celebrated these questions pointed me is I’ve battled to
questions pointed me is I’ve battled to
questions pointed me is I’ve battled to come to terms with the completely new
come to terms with the completely new
come to terms with the completely new society into which I have been plunged
society into which I have been plunged
society into which I have been plunged now of course these are not the only
now of course these are not the only
now of course these are not the only areas to which I was forced to adapt
areas to which I was forced to adapt
areas to which I was forced to adapt Saturday morning bacon and eggs in a
Saturday morning bacon and eggs in a
Saturday morning bacon and eggs in a country with no smoked bacon is really
country with no smoked bacon is really
country with no smoked bacon is really just eggs and having to ensure that my
just eggs and having to ensure that my
just eggs and having to ensure that my shoulders and knees were covered
shoulders and knees were covered
shoulders and knees were covered whenever I go into public even on the
whenever I go into public even on the
whenever I go into public even on the 40-degree – three days was at times a
40-degree – three days was at times a
40-degree – three days was at times a little frustrating
little frustrating
little frustrating coupled with the devastating reality
coupled with the devastating reality
coupled with the devastating reality that I was going to have to wait seven
that I was going to have to wait seven
that I was going to have to wait seven years until my 21st birthday before even
years until my 21st birthday before even
years until my 21st birthday before even being eligible to learn to drive it was
being eligible to learn to drive it was
being eligible to learn to drive it was certainly not off to a convincing start
certainly not off to a convincing start
certainly not off to a convincing start but facing these culture shops I would
but facing these culture shops I would
but facing these culture shops I would inevitably left at a crossroads with
inevitably left at a crossroads with
inevitably left at a crossroads with what was fundamentally at their core the
what was fundamentally at their core the
what was fundamentally at their core the religion of Islam the religion of Islam
religion of Islam the religion of Islam
religion of Islam the religion of Islam is undoubtedly the most divisive issue
is undoubtedly the most divisive issue
is undoubtedly the most divisive issue facing the modern Western society with
facing the modern Western society with
facing the modern Western society with the proliferation by the number and
the proliferation by the number and
the proliferation by the number and severity of extremist militant terrorist
severity of extremist militant terrorist
severity of extremist militant terrorist organizations all around the globe there
organizations all around the globe there
organizations all around the globe there had been a visibly increasing
had been a visibly increasing
had been a visibly increasing international trend to implement and
international trend to implement and
international trend to implement and dispels protectionist policies elected
dispels protectionist policies elected
dispels protectionist policies elected members of Australian Parliament have
members of Australian Parliament have
members of Australian Parliament have publicly and blatantly said that a
publicly and blatantly said that a
publicly and blatantly said that a Muslim
Muslim
Muslim in Australia is entirely incompatible
in Australia is entirely incompatible
in Australia is entirely incompatible with an open and cohesive society the
with an open and cohesive society the
with an open and cohesive society the most powerful man in the free world the
most powerful man in the free world the
most powerful man in the free world the President of the United States of
President of the United States of
President of the United States of America recently issued a monumental
America recently issued a monumental
America recently issued a monumental executive order which explicitly
executive order which explicitly
executive order which explicitly unprecedented Lee and as it had recently
unprecedented Lee and as it had recently
unprecedented Lee and as it had recently been filmed illegally been all
been filmed illegally been all
been filmed illegally been all immigrants from seven middle-eastern
immigrants from seven middle-eastern
immigrants from seven middle-eastern countries all countries with an
countries all countries with an
countries all countries with an overwhelming majority of Muslim citizens
overwhelming majority of Muslim citizens
overwhelming majority of Muslim citizens the fear of the perceived malevolence of
the fear of the perceived malevolence of
the fear of the perceived malevolence of invasion of Islam had divided everyone
invasion of Islam had divided everyone
invasion of Islam had divided everyone in my time in Doha
in my time in Doha
in my time in Doha I was inevitably thanks with this
I was inevitably thanks with this
I was inevitably thanks with this culture and I was forced to adapt to it
culture and I was forced to adapt to it
culture and I was forced to adapt to it to respect it
to respect it
to respect it initially I as anyone would misguidedly
initially I as anyone would misguidedly
initially I as anyone would misguidedly saw this as an obligation to ensure a
saw this as an obligation to ensure a
saw this as an obligation to ensure a smooth social transition a proverbial
smooth social transition a proverbial
smooth social transition a proverbial prerequisite for fitting in but the
prerequisite for fitting in but the
prerequisite for fitting in but the value of this experience later became
value of this experience later became
value of this experience later became apparent to me either being gifted a
apparent to me either being gifted a
apparent to me either being gifted a front-row seat into the teachings of
front-row seat into the teachings of
front-row seat into the teachings of Islam and those who follow us let me be
Islam and those who follow us let me be
Islam and those who follow us let me be clear what I saw was not a hatred for
clear what I saw was not a hatred for
clear what I saw was not a hatred for the West it was not a mission to force
the West it was not a mission to force
the West it was not a mission to force their faith unto me and to punish those
their faith unto me and to punish those
their faith unto me and to punish those who didn’t obey the longer I spent in
who didn’t obey the longer I spent in
who didn’t obey the longer I spent in Doha and the more integrated I became of
Doha and the more integrated I became of
Doha and the more integrated I became of a Muslim society the clearer it became
a Muslim society the clearer it became
a Muslim society the clearer it became to me that I actually didn’t have to
to me that I actually didn’t have to
to me that I actually didn’t have to compromise on my values at all I did not
compromise on my values at all I did not
compromise on my values at all I did not have to abandon one school of thought
have to abandon one school of thought
have to abandon one school of thought for another I instead came to appreciate
for another I instead came to appreciate
for another I instead came to appreciate the merit of both cultural teachings
the merit of both cultural teachings
the merit of both cultural teachings allow me to elaborate the first time
allow me to elaborate the first time
allow me to elaborate the first time that my stepmother broke down into tears
that my stepmother broke down into tears
that my stepmother broke down into tears was in a bank in a bureaucratic ordeal
was in a bank in a bureaucratic ordeal
was in a bank in a bureaucratic ordeal to retrieve a credit card which had been
to retrieve a credit card which had been
to retrieve a credit card which had been swallowed by an ATM and that’s all I had
swallowed by an ATM and that’s all I had
swallowed by an ATM and that’s all I had comforted and the issue resolved
comforted and the issue resolved
comforted and the issue resolved immediately thereafter I very quickly
immediately thereafter I very quickly
immediately thereafter I very quickly came to appreciate the care and respect
came to appreciate the care and respect
came to appreciate the care and respect for women that is a spouse by the Muslim
for women that is a spouse by the Muslim
for women that is a spouse by the Muslim culture as I celebrated the Eid holiday
culture as I celebrated the Eid holiday
culture as I celebrated the Eid holiday with my Muslim friends and families at
with my Muslim friends and families at
with my Muslim friends and families at the dinner party signifying me in the
the dinner party signifying me in the
the dinner party signifying me in the Ramadan I’m very quickly came to
Ramadan I’m very quickly came to
Ramadan I’m very quickly came to appreciate their boundless hospitality
appreciate their boundless hospitality
appreciate their boundless hospitality my first residency permit application
my first residency permit application
my first residency permit application was denied and because my stepmother was
was denied and because my stepmother was
was denied and because my stepmother was not my legal mother as printed on my
not my legal mother as printed on my
not my legal mother as printed on my birth certificate I was facing
birth certificate I was facing
birth certificate I was facing deportation with
deportation with
deportation with days despite this a local country
days despite this a local country
days despite this a local country friends took the time to come with us to
friends took the time to come with us to
friends took the time to come with us to answer your thority to translate our
answer your thority to translate our
answer your thority to translate our concerns and to explain the situation
concerns and to explain the situation
concerns and to explain the situation which tall the issue resolved very
which tall the issue resolved very
which tall the issue resolved very quickly there after these would not be
quickly there after these would not be
quickly there after these would not be ideals that I still plastered on the
ideals that I still plastered on the
ideals that I still plastered on the front page of Western newspapers had I
front page of Western newspapers had I
front page of Western newspapers had I not moved to Qatar have not been forced
not moved to Qatar have not been forced
not moved to Qatar have not been forced to adapt I probably never would have
to adapt I probably never would have
to adapt I probably never would have seen ultimately my home in Qatar it
seen ultimately my home in Qatar it
seen ultimately my home in Qatar it opened my eyes to the value of travel
opened my eyes to the value of travel
opened my eyes to the value of travel but more importantly it made me realize
but more importantly it made me realize
but more importantly it made me realize simply Auerbach’s tini I had been it
simply Auerbach’s tini I had been it
simply Auerbach’s tini I had been it brought to life by the apparent
brought to life by the apparent
brought to life by the apparent differences and the fundamental
differences and the fundamental
differences and the fundamental similarity between the two cultures and
similarity between the two cultures and
similarity between the two cultures and it forced me to adapt to them when you
it forced me to adapt to them when you
it forced me to adapt to them when you are forced to adapt you are rewarded
are forced to adapt you are rewarded
are forced to adapt you are rewarded with what I believe to be a much greater
with what I believe to be a much greater
with what I believe to be a much greater understanding of the world around you
understanding of the world around you
understanding of the world around you because in this social and political
because in this social and political
because in this social and political climate in which even the most powerful
climate in which even the most powerful
climate in which even the most powerful man in the free world can advocate for
man in the free world can advocate for
man in the free world can advocate for division on a global scale and in which
division on a global scale and in which
division on a global scale and in which one of Victoria’s very own state MPs can
one of Victoria’s very own state MPs can
one of Victoria’s very own state MPs can be refused entry into the United States
be refused entry into the United States
be refused entry into the United States for no reason other than being Muslim
for no reason other than being Muslim
for no reason other than being Muslim cultural understanding adaptability and
cultural understanding adaptability and
cultural understanding adaptability and most importantly empathy are vital
most importantly empathy are vital
most importantly empathy are vital [Applause]
”
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