Saleh Fareed Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — As the country gears up to celebrate its National Day on Monday, many Saudis said they plan to travel abroad or stay home due to what they call the “immature and irresponsible” behavior of young compatriots. Since 2005, when the national day was publicly celebrated across the land in the form of a nationwide holiday, Saudis thought it would be their best day of the year, but it has instead become synonymous with traffic jams, noise, and disruption. Discussing his family plans for the upcoming national day holiday, father-of-four Mansour Turkistani said: “This year it is going to be a long holiday and I am very worried about how we're going to spend it. “I do not want to spend it here in Jeddah anymore because of the chaos that occurs due to the many young people around the city. “We almost had a serious accident because of fast drivers who were celebrating on the Corniche and I think we were lucky to escape that accident. “I have no idea why these young people behave in such crazy ways. “It is supposed to be a day of celebration. “No way can we spend this holiday here. “We want to enjoy our holiday and have a peaceful time. “Therefore, I believe going abroad is the only solution so we can relax and have a nice time or just stay home and do nothing.” Thirty-six-year-old Khalid Al-Jabri, a father of two, said there are not many activities where people can enjoy themselves on this day. “With no place to go or no access to any entertainment, these young kids create chaos on the streets and act irresponsibly,” Al Jabri said. He said many violations and accidents occurred on the National Day the last two years, driving many families either to go abroad or stay at home. He said: “Every citizen has the right to celebrate this joyful occasion but in a good manner and without causing harm to others. “Roads become impossible to drive on due to the heavy traffic caused by those young men who do not have places to go to and that is why they gather on the streets and near malls.” Umm Omar, a 45 year-old mother, said she and her family are taking all precautions to stay safe. “I think the National Day holiday has become a horrific day for us women because these young boys act really badly and go crazy chasing families and sometimes they attack girls.” She accused young Saudi men of terrorizing the public on a day that should be a happy occasion and claimed they abuse the opportunity to celebrate peacefully. Local journalist Khalid Al-Damak hopes to see more police officers around the city this year to prevent any cases of harassment or accidents. He said: “It is so sad that we as Saudis are not able to celebrate our national day with joy and happiness and it is really also so sad to see so many Saudis travel abroad for the occasion. “It is all because of these irresponsible kids and officials are also to be blamed for not providing them with entertainment to keep them away from the streets.” He said during last year's National Day holiday the 10-year-old son of Saudi lecturer Prof. Tariq Al-Habeeb was severely injured in a car accident. He was sitting in the back of the family's car when it was hit hard from behind by a young Saudi. He noted it was not the only accident took place during the celebrations. “I hope to see our kids and women safe this year and they celebrate with joy this most auspicious day” he said.
