True for Arabs and Jehovah's Witnesses

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=34931&d=11&m=11&y=2003

Let?s Not Suppress Other Views Abeer Mishkhas, [email protected]

From the first few episodes of the Saudi sitcom Tash Ma Tash, protests and calls that the show should be banned have been heard. Accusations include that the program presents only the negative aspects of our society, that the actors exaggerate grossly and even that the principles of Islam and the rules of our society are being violated. Heavy artillery indeed!

For those who are not familiar with what has become a Ramadan institution in Saudi Arabia, Tash Ma Tash is a Saudi TV sitcom. Like all sitcoms, it is sometimes boring and sometimes short on both artistry and objectivity ? but the plus side is that it talks about things that are problems in Saudi society, things which affect all of us. An example is the difficulties women face because they must have a mahram, a male family member who is responsible for them. Another is the outdated customs inspections during which certain books and other publications are confiscated; I say outdated since sometimes these things are available in the Kingdom?s markets and also because in the Internet era it seems ridiculous to monitor what books people are reading. Another subject which is material for satire is the never-ending problem of careless and inconsiderate drivers, traffic jams and inefficient government officials.

Some people think Tash Ma Tash is a good program and make a point of watching it every night and then discussing it with their friends. Other people think it is not so good and so don?t bother to watch it. Both approaches are healthy and reasonable.

Now, however, some local newspaper columnists have begun saying that the program mocks society and the laws which support it. These criticisms have been followed by calls for the show to be banned. The attack is gathering strength and will probably continue until the end of the month.

This clash clearly shows one thing ? that we are not used to criticism and cannot take it when it comes. If each one of us is defensive in the face of criticism, that proves not that we are right but that we are aware of our weakness and want to cover it up in any way we can. If we feel that things are OK as long as nobody notices, we are neglecting the reality: That no matter how long you ignore a problem, sooner or later you will have to face it. And by then the problem will very likely have become much worse.

The problem with us here is that we see things from only one perspective ? ours ? which is accepted as right, while everything else is wrong.

On Saturday when the bombings shook Riyadh, we all felt rage and anger at those who committed the crime. But those criminals are the product of our own society, which does not encourage, or believe in, different opinions and different ways of looking at things. The terrorists no doubt believed themselves right and everyone else wrong, so they tried to force their way on the rest of us. As sad and tragic as this situation is, it calls on us to begin thinking about how we think and how we treat others. We have to learn that people have different opinions, and in order to keep things from taking the wrong turn, it is both necessary and healthy to talk, listen to others and discuss things.

Historically this is compatible with Islam as a religion of tolerance and understanding, and it is the only way we can discover where our youth are heading. If we do not talk and present opposing viewpoints, we?ll never know what is on their minds. Tossing ideas around is not harmful ? suppressing them is.

True for Arabs and Jehovah's Witnesses

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