17 hours ago
Where is history headed?
By Dr Nermin Youssef Al-Houti
In this age of technological hustle and bustle and fast-paced modern life, some fear that history is disappearing! This is indeed what we see and hear from some people when we talk to them or listen to some of their conversations, that they are distancing themselves from history and identity because they basically know nothing about it, and that is a fact! The majority are now interested in modern science and the arts without looking back at the past and without integrating how we were and where we are now.
History is not limited to tales and stories, but rather it is a mark that allows you to understand what your ancestors did in order to reach your present and shape your future. A person must be aware of their history and the history of others in order to creatively write their future. Every building has a foundation that allows it to develop, and this is what Sheikha Hala Badr Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah is doing.
Personally, it all started on June 12, 2022, when I read on a social media site about Sheikha Hala's sponsorship and attendance at the Britain in Watercolors exhibition. From that day on, I became a follower of the site, and I saw a picture of a Kuwaiti woman who is persevering to preserve and revive Kuwaiti history through Kuwait's various arts, most importantly theater, and honoring its pioneers.
Not only that, but through the activities and events organized by Sheikha Hala Bader Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, I found her to be a woman who is tireless in documenting Kuwaiti relations with other countries through exhibitions that document the history of relations between Kuwait (the Gulf bride) and countries of the world. Until my journey with Sheikha Hala's activities and events and her efforts to revive the entire history of the Gulf came to an end when I found out that she is interested in stamps!
Not only that, but what caught my attention in the news was her statement in 2024 when she visited the Arab Postage Stamp Museum in Katara, Qatar, and said: 'Postage stamps are an encyclopedic record of information that documents the history, arts, heritage and achievements of each country.' These words may be few, but they carry a lot of meaning. Yes, every stamp has a story, and every story has a history for which it was printed.
A stamp is not just a means of postal communication; it is a work of art that carries within its designs and issues many of the historical events for which it was issued. You are right in your statement, daughter of Sheikh Badr Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, may Allah have mercy on him.
In conclusion: Words cannot describe the work that Sheikha Hala Badr Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah is doing to document Kuwait's history and its connection to the world, as well as the depth of Kuwait's relations with the Arab world and the world at large. She is a Kuwaiti woman who is tireless in her efforts to preserve her country's history, so that it may stand as a mirror to its present and reflect the sun of the future.
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