2. Expatriate Muslims, especially those living in the
2. Expatriate Muslims, especially those living in the USA, ought to have done something to confront this danger and reform Muslims with their own religion. It is a fact that American Muslims enjoy so much freedom, progress and technological advances that they are envied by the other Muslims of the Arab and Islamic world. But even in the US
2. Expatriate Muslims, especially those living in the USA, ought to have done something to confront this danger and reform Muslims with their own religion. It is a fact that American Muslims enjoy so much freedom, progress and technological advances that they are envied by the other Muslims of the Arab and Islamic world. But even in the US, tolerant Muslims were outraced by extremists who got first to most mosques and Islamic schools and were the first to establish organizations carrying the banners of Islam. Some of them even set up a satellite channel in New York. All this boosted a negative view of Islam in the eyes of the West and made all American Muslims suspects, even if they were tolerant and enlightened.
3. Most Arab countries monopolize the media, including local and satellite TV channels, to serve a ruling dictator, as in
3. Most Arab countries monopolize the media, including local and satellite TV channels, to serve a ruling dictator, as in Egypt, or a ruling dynasty with an extremist religious ideology, as in Saudi Arabia. When small Qatar set up al-Jazeera channel with a reasonable margin of freedom and independence, the satellite channel appeared like "a one-eyed man in the middle of a blind community," and it became famous in Arab countries and the whole world. So famous in fact that it is sometimes mentioned in US movie scripts, and has become a subject of study by US research institutes. More interestingly, its fame outdid the country which owns it, so one might say that it is Al-Jazeera which exports Qatar and not vice versa. It is to be noted, however, that the freedom of Jazeera allows it to criticize all Arab rulers, but stops short at the redlines of Qatari rulers.
The success of Jazeera motivated the USA to set up Al-Hurra (the Free) Arabic channel. Unfortunately, Al-Hurra was born dead, when it ought to have been born a giant to confront the intense hatred for the United States in the Arab region, spread a culture of democracy in the Middle East, and uproot the culture of slaves. Despite limitless resources and many million dollars, Al-Hurra was soon displaced from the competition with Jazeera. Its failure induced some Saudis to set up Al-Arabia channel with a margin of freedom larger than that of other Saudi satellite channels but still narrower than that of Jazeera. For this reason, again, Al-Arabiya lagged behind Jazeera.
4. As part of the call for reforming the Middle East and instilling a culture of democracy, human rights, and tolerance, Arab media will be liberated from government control and will represent the views of the peoples rather than the ruling despots. This has already taken place in Iraq after Saddam Hussein was removed. Despite the turmoil in the country, Iraqi skies teem with scores of private TV channels. However, a major (and growing) problem remains to be solved – how to fill all these channels, current and prospective, with material that will promote enlightenment, democracy and human rights.
5. This leads us to conclude that from an Islamic and reformation point of view, it has become imperative to establish more free and independent TV channels to address the Islamic world and urge Muslims to adopt tolerance, human rights, and democracy. The address must be well-studied and void of any direct preaching or demagogue presentation. Ideas must be presented with such ease and subtlety as to50%">The success of Jazeera motivated the
4. As part of the call for reforming the
Late in 2002 when I was Visiting Professor at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), I wrote a paper entitled "The Democracy of Islam and the Tyranny of Muslims," in which I focused on the contradiction between the democracy of Islam as a system and the tyranny of Muslim despots, and how Muslims turned this democracy into a dictatorship. To eliminate this religious culture, which I call the culture of slaves, I stressed the importance of setting up independent and free satellite channels to lay the foundations of a culture of democracy and human rights.
6. Satellite channels can play a significant role in the following:
a. Creating "rapprochement" among Muslims from different sects, countries, cultures, and societies, and also among all citizens on the basis of equal citizenship, regardless of religion, ethnic background, language, or cur than the ruling despots. This has already taken place in
5. This leads us to conclude that from an Islamic and reformation point of view, it has become imperative to establish more free and independent TV channels to address the Islamic world and urge Muslims to adopt tolerance, human rights, and democracy. The address must be well-studied and void of any direct preaching or demagogue presentation. Ideas must be presented with such ease and subtlety as to persuade viewers.
Late in 2002 when I was Visiting Professor at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), I wrote a paper entitled "The Democracy of Islam and the Tyranny of Muslims," in which I focused on the contradiction between the democracy of Islam as a system and the tyranny of Muslim despots, and how Muslims turned this democracy into a dictatorship. To eliminate this religious culture, which I call the culture of slaves, I stressed the importance of setting up independent and free satellite channels to lay the foundations of a culture of democracy and human rights.
6. Satellite channels can play a significant role in the following:
a. Creating "rapprochement" among Muslims from different sects, countries, cultures, and societies, and also among all citizens on the basis of equal citizenship, regardless of religion, ethnic background, language, or culture. This cherished harmony will be based on the principle of tolerance which is an Islamic ethical value.
b. ensuring better and continuous communication between expatriate Muslims and their families in their countries of origin.
b. ensuring better and continuous communication between expatriate Muslims and their families in their countries of origin.
c. Giving marginalized and deprived segments in Muslim countries, regardless their religion, sect, ethnicity, and culture, the chance to express themselves freely. This move goes beyond the good wishes and sympathetic feelings and translates into a practical positive tolerance consoling the deprived and easing their tensions and furies.
c. Giving marginalized and deprived segments in Muslim countries, regardless their religion, sect, ethnicity, and culture, the chance to express themselves freely. This move goes beyond the good wishes and sympathetic feelings and translates into a practical positive tolerance consoling the deprived and easing their tensions and furies.
d. Fostering continuous communication, at cultural and humane levels, between Muslims and the West, through material translated into English and transmitted to the West, encompassing a message of tolerance, which is much appreciated and advocated by the West.
e. As an independent channel, free of any deceptive political or ideological control, the proposed channel can freely address viewers and promote a humane culture, attracting ordinary viewers and many silent segments who have not bs=MsoNormal dir=ltr style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; DIRECTION: ltr; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
d. Fostering continuous communication, at cultural and humane levels, between Muslims and the West, through material translated into English and transmitted to the West, encompassing a message of tolerance, which is much appreciated and advocated by the West.
e. As an independent channel, free of any deceptive political or ideological control, the proposed channel can freely address viewers and promote a humane culture, attracting ordinary viewers and many silent segments who have not been truly represented without political goals.
e. Because it will concern itself too with Arab and Muslim immigreen truly represented without political goals.
e. Because it will concern itself too with Arab and Muslim immigrants in the West and the US, the proposed channel will promptly gain popularity in Arab and Muslim communities in the US and Canada. In addition, it will be a fresh field for many talents and energies latent in Muslim and Arab communities in
f. Since this is the age of democracy, human rights, and tolerance, the proposed channel will be in total harmony with the age. Other Arab channels will find a real difficulty in matching the culture of despotism, enslaving, and fanaticism with the culture of human rights, democracy, and tolerance. In their attempt to cope with the age by accommodating two contradictory cultures and keeping the fundamental and backward precepts of the hackneyed culture untouched, thants in the West and the US, the proposed channel will promptly gain popularity in Arab and Muslim communities in the US and Canada. In addition, it will be a fresh field for many talents and energies latent in Muslim and Arab communities in North America. Besides, it will give Arab skilled individuals a chance to reform the Arab world by spreading the culture of human rights, democracy, and tolerance.
f. Since this is the age of democracy, human rights, and tolerance, the proposed channel will be in total harmony with the age. Other Arab channels will find a real difficulty in matching the culture of despotism, enslaving, and fanaticism with the culture of human rights, democracy, and tolerance. In their attempt to cope with the age by accommodating two contradictory cultures and keeping the fundamental and backward precepts of the hackneyed culture untouched, they can only come up with some colorless, hazy content that will necessarily be unsatisfactory.
These channels will keep silent on many aspects of our culture, the culture of slaves. But if these aspects were tackled in a frank and honest discussion we would be able to reform they can only come up with some colorless, hazy content that will necessarily be unsatisfactory.
These channels will keep silent on many aspects of our culture, the culture of slaves. But if these aspects were tackled in a frank and honest discussion we would be able to reform the sanctified concepts and 'fundamentals' inherited from ancestors.
It is in the area of democracy, human rights and tolerance that the other channels will fail, either because they are owned by despot, backward, and radical regimes; or because they are willing to cover this area, like some Iraqi and Lebanese channels, but are short of a staff of Muslim thinkers well versed in Islamic history and legislation, but also firm believers in human rights, and known for their struggle and persecution in defending human rights. Though marginalized, distorted or forced to hide, they are many. It is these thinkers who can be an authority in this field and can enter this thorny and risky field.
g. In short, the proposed channel(s) must be supplied with content that serves their message by producte sanctified concepts and 'fundamentals' inherited from ancestors.
It is in the area of democracy, human rights and tolerance that the other channels will fail, either because they are owned by despot, backward, and radical regimes; or because they are willing to cover this area, like some Iraqi and Lebanese channels, but are short of a staff of Muslim thinkers well versed in Islamic history and legislation, but also firm believers in human rights, and known for their struggle and persecution in defending human rights. Though marginalized, distorted or forced to hide, they are many. It is these thinkers who can be an authority in this field and can enter this thorny and risky field.
g. In short, the proposed channel(s) must be supplied with content that serves their message by production companies able to cover hours of transmission with relevant material.
ion companies able to cover hours of transmission with relevant material.
Establishing TV and drama production companies
If the proposed channels have a unique message to convey, then they require specific drama and cultural program production companies which will be unique in their production too. Although they will promote the culture of tolerance, they cannot tolerate poor quality. Good quality means a text that is well written, acted, and displayed.
2. The ethical value of tolerance will be the central focus of the proposed production company. However, the value of tolerance has to be supplemented with a set of other supportive values, such as justice, democracy, freedom, peace, love, altruism, generosity, courage, compassion, and human rights.
Establishing TV and drama production companies If the proposed channels have a unique message to convey, then they require specific drama and cultural program production companies which will be unique in their production too. Although they will promote the culture of tolerance, they cannot tolerate poor quality. Good quality means a text that is well written, acted, and displayed. 2. The ethical value of tolerance will be the central focus of the proposed production company. However, the value of tolerance has to be supplemented with a set of other supportive values, such as justice, democracy, freedom, peace, love, altruism, generosity, courage, compassion, and human rights.
3. These human and Islamic values will be expressed in dramas and cultural and religious programs.
I. Drama
Whether contemporary or historical in content, drama has the most effective impact on viewers. All kinds of drama – social, political, and even thrillers – can easily express high values, either in the main plot, or in deliberate comments said by the characters. Historical drama teems with thousands of issues which a writer can use to highlight virtuous values and raise the awareness of viewers. Quranic stories can be sources for scripts. By this I don't mean stories of prophets but events mentioned in the Quran that have not been contemplated sufficiently as yet. In all kinds of drama, different themes can be incorporated in natural conversations that are both congruous with the context, and void of direct preaching.
3. These human and Islamic values will be expressed in dramas and cultural and religious programs.
I. Drama
Whether contemporary or historical in content, drama has the most effective impact on viewers. All kinds of drama – social, political, and even thrillers – can easily express high values, either in the main plot, or in deliberate comments said by the characters. Historical drama teems with thousands of issues which a writer can use to highlight virtuous values and raise the awareness of viewers. Quranic stories can be sources for scripts. By this I don't mean stories of prophets but events mentioned in the Quran that have not been contemplated sufficiently as yet. In all kinds of drama, different themes can be incorporated in natural conversations that are both style="mso-spacerun: yes">
Movie script writing is the art of the visual, just as play writing is the art of the verbal. Conversations in movie scripts serve the visual, and can be used by skilled script writers only when needed. TV drama scripts are different from movie scripts in that dialogs can be used more intensely along with the picture. As such they have the edge of enlightening people through naturally occurring arguments and promoting tolerance, democracy, and human rights.
II. TV programs
TV programs are generally popular and effective. But because of their iterant contents and presenters, they have become less popular. To overcome this problem, some satellite channels, such as Jazeera, raise the one issue over and over again, but concurrently with certain events. Two guests with different opinions are invited to start their cockfighting, and viewers are invited by the host invites to take part in the fight.
We don't congruous with the context, and void of direct preaching.
Movie script writing is the art of the visual, just as play writing is the art of the verbal. Conversations in movie scripts serve the visual, and can be used by skilled script writers only when needed. TV drama scripts are different from movie scripts in that dialogs can be used more intensely along with the picture. As such they have the edge of enlightening people through naturally occurring arguments and promoting tolerance, democracy, and human rights.
II. TV programs
TV programs are generally popular and effective. But because of their iterant contents and presenters, they have become less popular. To overcome this problem, some satellite channels, such as Jazeera, raise the one issue over and over again, but concurrently with certain events. Two guests with different opinions are invited to start their cockfighting, and viewers are invited by the host invites to take part in the fight.
We don't need this fight because we have our issues that have not been presented or discussed yet by other channels, because they are not bold enough to raise them. Even if they do, they are not qualified to run the talk.
So far, human rights, as a core Islamic issue, has not been frankly and objectively discussed, because it is one of the so-called fundamentals that Arab satellite channels are afraid to touch. Going through the motions, or siding hypocritically with the West, Arab channels tackle human rights, only in superficial and shaky terms, and in an oversimplified propagandist methodology which concentrate only on generalities without really delving into the core of the problem.
The core of problems they are silent on can be discussed through questions like these: if Islam is really a religion of peace, why has terrorism been cultivated among Muslims? How has terrorism come to be inextricably associated with Islam? If Islam is valid for all times and places, why have Muslims lagged behind other nations? And why is there a call for ancestral need this fight because we have our issues that have not been presented or discussed yet by other channels, because they are not bold enough to raise them. Even if they do, they are not qualified to run the talk.
So far, human rights, as a core Islamic issue, has not been frankly and objectively discussed, because it is one of the so-called fundamentals that Arab satellite channels are afraid to touch. Going through the motions, or siding hypocritically with the West, Arab channels tackle human rights, only in superficial and shaky terms, and in an oversimplified propagandist methodology which concentrate only on generalities without really delving into the core of the problem.
The core of problems they are silent on can be discussed through questions like these: if Islam is really a religion of peace, why has terrorism been cultivated among Muslims? How has terrorism come to be inextricably associated with Islam? If Islam is valid for all times and places, why have Muslims lagged behind other nations? And why is there a call for ancestral fundamentalism or Salafism? If Islam is a religion of freedom, tolerance, democracy, and compassion, why do Muslims have despotic regimes? Why do they reject democracy and advocate radicalism and fanaticism? Hundreds of questions like these need to be answered in free and objective arguments in talk shows run by real thinkers, and not by people who promote superstition, ignorance, fanaticism and backwardness.
In short, it is necessary to raise the issues that have remained undisclosed in the Islamic literature for ages, including edicts, rulings, hadith (sayings alleged to be the Prophet's), legislations, and interpretations that contradict the core of Islam and all its values and virtues. A daring and scientific discussion of these issues will ensure prompt success for such programs, especially when discussions are based on freedom of opinion, thinking, and belief, tolerance, and respecting the right of others to differ and disagree, without holding them infidels, traitors, or contemptible. In addition to the taboo issues, there are other non-controversial issues which TV satellite channels have unanimously neglected in order to avoid collision with Arab old despotism, unjust Arab fundamentals, and the culture of slaves. Among these issues are the de facto status of human rights in Arab societies, and the controversy raised by the elite about women's rights as prescribed in Islam, and the reason women get half men's share in inheritance. These are questions that can be easily and decisively answered in ways unfamiliar to the conventional jurisprudent clergy. The real issue is that in practice women do not often inherit anything, and the elder brother usually gets his share plus his brothers'. In our practices, there are many issues that need to be discussed by non-conventional clergymen whose answers are known before hand and even learnt by heart.
Other issues include human and political rights of which the majority of people are deprived; the abject poverty suffered by the majority; the issue of helpless minorities; the factfundamentalism or Salafism? If Islam is a religion of freedom, tolerance, democracy, and compassion, why do Muslims have despotic regimes? Why do they reject democracy and advocate radicalism and fanaticism? Hundreds of questions like these need to be answered in free and objective arguments in talk shows run by real thinkers, and not by people who promote superstition, ignorance, fanaticism and backwardness.
In short, it is necessary to raise the issues that have remained undisclosed in the Islamic literature for ages, including edicts, rulings, hadith (sayings alleged to be the Prophet's), legislations, and interpretations that contradict the core of Islam and all its values and virtues. A daring and scientific discussion of these issues will ensure prompt success for such programs, especially when discussions are based on freedom of opinion, thinking, and belief, tolerance, and respecting the right of others to differ and disagree, without holding them infidels, traitors, or contemptible. In addition to the taboo issues, there are other non-controversial issues which TV satellite channels have unanimously neglected in order to avoid collision with Arab old despotism, unjust Arab fundamentals, and the culture of slaves. Among these issues are the de facto status of human rights in Arab societies, and the controversy raised by the elite about women's rights as prescribed in Islam, and the reason women get half men's share in inheritance. These are questions that can be easily and decisively answered in ways unfamiliar to the conventional jurisprudent clergy. The real issue is that in practice women do not often inherit anything, and the elder brother usually gets his share plus his that hundreds of thousands of innocents are in jail without any trial because of emergency laws, or because they are suspects, or just to settle accounts with them, or simply to satisfy the sadism of officers. Some of those tortured can make their screams heard by human right organizations; others cannot.
The TV companies and channels will have the task of embracing and defending them and speaking on their behalf. Here lies the real and positive tolerance. Tolerance is not just forgiving those who offended you, but first and foremost, it is rushing to the help of the oppressed and siding with them in their ordeal. It is essential to produce programs which talk with evidence on the victims of torture, injustice, and neglect. It is high time the world heard their screams and endeavored to see justice done to them.
III. There are programs that blend drama with miscellaneous material, caricature, and interviews. In these programs, humor mixes with information, pleasure with ideas. With fresh and brave ideas such programs can have a place in these companies and satellite channels.
Other issues include human and political rights of which the majority of people are deprived; the abject poverty suffered by the majority; the issue of helpless minorities; the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocents are in jail without any trial because of emergency laws, or because they are suspects, or just to settle accounts with them, or simply to satisfy the sadism of officers. Some of those tortured can make their screams heard by human right organizations; others cannot.
The TV companies and channels will have the task of embracing and defending them and speaking on their behalf. Here lies the real and positive tolerance. Tolerance is not just forgiving those who offended you, but first and foremost, it is rushing to the help of the oppressed and siding with them in their ordeal. It is essential to produce programs which talk with evidence on the victims of torture, injustice, and neglect. It is high time the world heard their screams and endeavored to see justice done to them.
Roundup
1. Domineering religious thinking can only be confronted with ideas from the same religion. It is fortunate that God has preserved the Quran leaving no excuse for Muslims or others, and it is fortunate that this preserved and great Book accentuates the high Islamic values of free belief, absolute justice, peace, tolerance, goodness, betterment, compassion, generosity, chastity, and courage. Therefore, with these values, one can call Muslims for real Islam using wisdom and good hearted advice. Those who reject the call will be answerable to God. Most important, one must not force others to change their beliefs, or call for killing or fighting them.
2. The anti-Mubarak opposition movement Kefaya (Enough) wrote its own obituary in its last release in which it commented on the slaughter of the Egyptian ambassador to
III. There are programs that blend drama with miscellaneous material, caricature, and interviews. In these programs, humor mixes with information, pleasure with ideas. With fresh and brave ideas such programs can have a place in these companies and satellite channels.
Roundup
1. Domineering religious thinking can only be confronted with ideas from the same religion. It is fortunate that God has preserved the Quran leaving no excuse for Muslims or others, and it is fortunate that this preserved and great Book accentuates the high Islamic values of free belief, absolute justice, peace, tolerance, goodness, betterment, compassion, generosity, chastity, and courage. Therefore, with these values, one can call Muslims for real Islam using wisdom and good hearted advice. Those who reject the call will be answerable to God. Most important, one muste terrorist murderers in
If some demonstration leaders act this way and at that level, then one cannot blame the poor masses. This is happy tidings for the dying regime, which will outlive its own expectations and enjoy the culture of slaves.
3. As a way of enlightening the elite and the public, I appeal to whom it may concern to start immediately the largest peaceful struggle to enlighten Muslims and teach them the culture of tolerance, democracy, and human rights through free and independent satellite channels. This is the language of our age, and these are the means. The cost of one satellite channel plus the production company which feeds it with material is less than the cost of a warplane. Yet it would save thousands from being killed by that warplane.
2. The anti-Mubarak opposition movement Kefaya (Enough) wrote its own obituary in its last release in which it commented on the slaughter of the Egyptian ambassador to Iraq. Kefaya and similar movements show they are still captives of the culture of slaves when they describe the terrorist murderers in Iraq as 'honorable resistance' elements. I had pinned high hopes on Kefaya and similar movements in Egypt, and given them advice, but there was no response. Then I warned them in my previous article "the culture of slaves" but all hopes dissipated when they described blind terrorism as honorable resistance.
If some demonstration leaders act this way and at that level, then one cannot blame the poor masses. This is happy tidings for the dying regime, which will outlive its own expectations and enjoy the culture of slaves.
It is no easy task to confront the culture of slaves which has been deeply rooted over the years with fabricated hadith and timeserving rulings, but free thinking will triumph eventually. Most important, too, we have no alternative to peaceful struggle. This is our only way to save the victims who bomb themselves, thinking they are doing the right thing, and save the other victims who die in markets, streets, and means of transport for no crime they committed. The choice is ours: either a peaceful struggle or civil wars, as those which raged in
4. Democracy cannot be established without implanting a culture of democracy and tolerance as a substitute to the culture of slaves.
It is no easy task to confront the culture of slaves which has been deeply rooted over the years with fabricated hadith and timeserving rulings, but free thinking will triumph eventually. Most important, too, we have no alternative to peaceful struggle. This is our only way to save the victims who bomb themselves, thinking they are doing the right thing, and save the other victims who die in markets, streets, and means of transport for no crime they committed. The choice is ours: either a peaceful struggle or civil wars, as those which raged in Afghanistan, are currently raging in Iraq, and will be raging in other Arab countries unless we act in good time and stop procrastinations.
4. Democracy cannot be established without implanting a culture of democracy and tolerance as a substitute to the culture of slaves.