MUSCAT, 23 November 2003 — Where is the promised Arab channel?
Nobody ignores the role of the media in creating mass awareness and forming public opinion. This is especially true in the case of satellite television channels, which turn the whole world into a small village, entering each and every home uninvited and presenting their various programs.
Television channels influence the masses in a big way by putting various ideas in their minds and contributing to shaping likes, dislike, opinions and policies. In short, TV channels are the first line of defense when it comes to values and principles.
At the same time, TV channels can also pose a grave threat — if not properly and rationally utilized. They can sow the seeds of discontent, destruction, discord and disasters. The Arabs have been making plans, for a long time, for the launch of an Arab television channel in English that would target the West, especially the US, with a view to projecting the true image of the Arabs — Arab generosity and warmth, the forgiving nature of Arabs and their willingness to extend a hand of friendship to all civilizations. The channel would present our rich and ancient culture and civilization as well as our noble traditions and great principles that are passed down the generations. The Arab channel could confront the Zionist channels that portray us as terrorists.
The Zionist channels are misleading the people in the West, especially the Americans, with lies, and thereby turning them against the Arabs. The proposed Arab channel could confront such lies with undeniable truths and irrefutable evidence, laying stress on our flexible style that reflects Arab forgiveness. The Sept. 11 events and the changes in the world that followed have convinced us that an Arab TV channel is of paramount importance. The need for the channel assumes added significance when we realize how the Zionist lobby is exploiting every single opportunity to distort the facts, arguing that the Arabs are behind all the disasters. So this is the need of the hour — a window through which we can present the true image of the Arabs that is totally different from the one projected by the Zionist information media.
The Arab information ministers’ conference, held recently in Cairo, included the channel issue in its final communiqué. All the ministers stressed the urgent need for launching such a channel in the shortest time possible. The same views were expressed during the Beirut Arab Summit.
Many Arab businessmen too talked about projects and plans for the setting up of such a channel. However, we have not seen any practical steps toward the realization of this Arab dream. We are not short of money, brains or talent to launch the Arab channel. When will the Arabs start implementing the project? Or, are we going to confine ourselves again to the vicious circle of empty plans that never see the light of the day?
— Essa bin Mohammed Al-Zedjali is the editor in chief of The Times of Oman.
