Comments on: Saudi Arabia’s Carpetbaggers

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:37:01 +0000

Reuters elected to pick up this post:

http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/entertainment?bbPostId=B6kcqoGH9Pf8Bzn7nRZ5sNNoAbnJYE7ZQWpBExXrVg7M23C

By: darvesh

darvesh — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:51:06 +0000

In eastern province or for that matter in Riyadh itself – if you go around during the prayers time – you’ll find them in most modern form – they’ll be carrying their goods on a SUV (nissan mini truck) and would be selling outside mosques – specially after friday prayers – just look around any mosque near your area – you’ll find them. Here in Hayi Al Murraba/Hayi Al Wazaraat – almost daily they sell fruits & vegetables outside mosques

By: hissweetheart

hissweetheart — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:34:42 +0000

I haven’t seen them in ages!!

I don’t know if they still exist in Makkah but they are not here in the Eastern Province!!

By: San Diego Reader

San Diego Reader — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:05:52 +0000

I love your blog so I hope you don’t take this too negatively. Check Wikipedia for Carpet Bagger. What they have is what I was taught in High School. The most modern example of a successful Carpet Bagger would be Hillary Clinton. Which is kind of cool as it was a reverse Carpet Bagger – from Arkansas to New York, South to North.

I’ve never seen a door to door salesman called a carpet bagger here in the US. I would be very interested to know why a Saudi would start to use that term for peddlers. That sounds like a really interesting story.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:32:38 +0000

Oooh, maybe you are right about that Carol. I’m a yankee so I don’t know.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:55:05 +0000

I think it is fair to say that the old time carpetbaggers evolved into the door to door salesman.

And no, in the discussions I have held there have not been negative connotations to the term at all.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:25:09 +0000

I don’t think that an American would ever describe a carpetbagger as you have. You described a door to door salesman or peddler.

When the Saudis call them Carpetbaggers does it have a negative connotation as it does to Americans? As if they are opportunists that are just trying to rip them off?

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:36:54 +0000

While peddlers would also apply when speaking to Saudis about these enterprising individuals, it is the Saudis who called them carpetbaggers!

By: ummadam

ummadam — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:43:38 +0000

Lynn, peddlers was the first word that came to my mind too. I thought Carpetbaggers implied something more. In Arabic they are simply known as Tajirs or in English Merchants. Arabs will always be known for their trades. Right now their hustle is oil!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:57:44 +0000

Don’t you mean to call them peddlers?

I remember a man who walked down the street with his little cart and he sharpened scissors and knives. I also remember a flatbed truck full of vegetables and a bread truck that we called the ‘candyman’ The whole front was all candy and other goodies. Now all we have is a rare ice cream truck and maybe people offering to paint your street numbers on your curb.

This is the only way I have ever heard the term Carpet bagger used:

Carpetbaggers—also a term of derision, but applied to Northerners who went South during Reconstruction, motivated by either profit or idealism. The name referred to the cloth bags many of them used for transporting their possessions, but today is applied to any recently arrived opportunist. Despite the negative connotation of the name, many carpetbaggers were sincerely interested in aiding the freedom and education of the former slaves.