مجلس الشوربة

The Shura council, or the King-appointed upper chamber of the parliament, shares legislative powers with the elected chamber whether we like it or not. Ostebsibly, the Shura council is supposed to include Bahrain's best and brightest and balance the politically-driven elected chamber. Realistically, the Shura council is really being a shorba council.

As much as I respect some of its members, I'm starting to feel that they live in another country. They have to! I mean, they have been spending their time discussing the punctuation in a new draft anti-drug law. Great. But this law was proposed since Nada Hafath (Health Minister) was in Shura! I like precise laws, but enough already!! A gazillion years have passed! I didn't see that happening when they passed the anti-public gatherings or terrorism law in no time!

Then today I was thinking Monday is Shurie day so let me see what my Shuries were up to. This is what i found (I swear I'm not making this up):

هيمنت على هذه الجلسة افراح الذكرى السادسة للتصويت على ميثاق العمل الوطني وانطلاق المشروع لاصلاحي لجلالة الملك والاحتفال بتخريج جامعة البحرين لفوج من طلبتها برعاية سمو رئيس الوزراء، اضافة الى الاستنكار العام لما يشهده العالم الاسلامي من انتهاكات لحرمة المسجد الأقصى. وفي هذا الاطار رفع رئيس المجلس والاعضاء الى مقام حضرة صاحب الجلالة الملك حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة والى سمو الشيخ خليفة بن سلمان آل خليفة رئيس الوزراء والى سمو الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة ولي العهد القائد العام لقوة الدفاع والى شعب البحرين خالص التهاني والتبريكات بمناسبة الذكرى السادسة للتصويت على ميثاق العمل الوطني والذي سطر فيه شعب البحرين اصدق معاني الوفاء والولاء ....... وقد أكد رئيس وأعضاء المجلس أنهم يقفون صفا واحدا مع جلالة الملك المفدى بغية تعزيز البرنامج الاصلاحي الذي ارسى دعائمه ما جاء في الميثاق الوطني.

Yippeeeeeeeeee

Our upper legislative chamber is just so happy and taken with joy because we got a new constitution 5 years ago & assert their love and appreciation for the King. Of course by then I had to run, grab my constitution, and read it again very carefully. I thought maybe we do have a cheerleading council that I just didn't know about! But no, this WAS the shura giving its weekly soul-soothing chicken soup.

I'm not biased against the council member. There are some who are really bright, but bright professionals don't always make great legislators or political experts. Those successful businessmen are too busy running their businesses! I also get that they were appointed and must keep the government happy, but now they're taking it to a whole new level.

On principle, I don't think you "need" to be in the opposition to do something positive. Even minor changes within the system can make a difference in people's lives. Mr Ali Al-Saleh is the best example. He reformed and totally revolutionized the Ministry of Commerce in little time. So, I would like to remind Shura members that they CAN do things other than issue love letters. They can amend laws, they can ask questions, and they can come up with practical ideas. Of course, it may be inconvenient and a lot of work, but can we at least consider doing something positive for this country?