I don't have a magic wand

A friend of mine from highschool wrote me this email that i decided to share on my blog, I will answer him here because I have a feeling a lot of people share his views.

Here's what he had to say:-

Hey Bibi,

I just wanted to say I like your blog because it tackles humanitarian
issues in Kuwait. You've always been a good person ever since school
so when I found out that you became a humanitarian I was like wow
thats like a perfect fit.

My issue or question is this. There are a lot of things I don't like
in Kuwait and I complain about them every now and then on my blog. The
thing is thats all I can do. As a non-kuwaiti there is very very
little I can do about the working conditions of the Bengalis or
generally ANYTHING thats wrong here.

BUT, I always wish I was in a better position so I could actually do
things. For example every time I read something sad on your blog I
think to myself that if I was in your shoes I would do this or I would
try to do that. I find it hard to believe that you can't solve all
these problems. If you can't solve humanitarian problems issues in
Kuwait then who can?

I don't know if I am making much sense, I hope I didn't sound
aggressive or anything but I really love Kuwait and I find it very
frustrating to see things that are so obviously wrong and not being
able to do anything about it and then find out that the only person I
would expect to be able to do things about it can't do anything
either. It sounds like a helpless cause which is depressing.

Here's what I have to say:-

S.W.S, the organization that I work at does a lot of work with helping people, I don't usually write about what we've accomplished as an organization because in the end we were able to challenge and defeat all obstacles within our limits and without breaking the law or interfering in the work of the officials.

Kuwait is suppose to be "dawlat Mo'asasat" and I don't even know how to translate that, but the idea is, I up on my "high horse" as some may see me, cannot interfere, change or impose on any ministry official's work and I have to go through the process like everyone else in this country. Some might say, but your grandpa is the amir and your uncle is the deputy prime minister and all the rest are close relatives as well, why can't you pass the message to them to do something? Trust me, everytime I get a chance to speak with any of them on the issues I face, I don't hesistate to jump on the opportunity, but we all have to understand that they are very busy people dealing with many other, as important, isssues.

Also, they usually refer me to the officials at the ministries that I would have dealt with without even going to them, because that's how the system works (just a very few cases with babies in prison that the amir had to be directly involved and take action, god bless him), I can't just say i'm facing a problem here and there and then I get a scroll with the emir's signature and all is fine and dandy, No. There is a process, there are different documents and paper works and all the stuff we hate to do, but it must be done. So I end up going through the bureaucratic system just like everyone else, no magic wand here people.

In many occasions I was kicked out of offices especially in Al-Shu'oon..Yet because I want to make a difference I still hold my head up high and accept the system, hoping through complaints and shedding light on the issues, the system could improve. It could get depressing when you feel like you've hit a dead end but it's all too satisfying when you do actually make a difference.