ONE of the questions that I am most frequently asked as a columnist is “Who censors your work?” The answer is as surprising to me as it is to anyone because the fact of the matter is that my work is never censored. In fact, I am not even aware of a censorship board or committee that is in operation to oversee such matters.
When people think of journalism as a career in Saudi Arabia, the overall impression garnered is that it is somehow a state-controlled sector with little or no freedom of speech. I beg to differ. Many of us have that most discreet of sensitivities that enables us to ascertain whether or not this is the right time for a piece and how a valid argument or debate should be presented. A sort of self-censorship that prevails, although this faculty of mine is on occasion impaired. There is certainly no individual or institution effectively telling us what we can and cannot write. In contrast with other countries in the region, I believe that our press is actually quite emancipated and devoid of the shackles of constraint and ideology that many other writers and thinkers are subjected to.
The Kingdom has really evolved very far, very fast. I remember chiding myself for even thinking certain thoughts 10 years ago that I don’t hesitate bringing to the attention of the public now.
The issues covered in publications such as Arab News have really been quite reflective of a plethora of issues of a society in transition. This in itself is a great indicator of how things have changed. Just a conversation about women driving not so long ago signaled bad karma. I would invariably feel that I was party to some larger conspiracy to destabilize the country if I even leant an ear to such hopeless banter. Yet now there is real discussion pertaining to such erstwhile social taboos.
It is hard to escape such debate now. Wherever you turn, be it on the television, in the newspapers or at formal gatherings, there are lively and animated exchanges reflecting all sorts of different viewpoints from the obscure to the obscurantist.
I am admittedly as frequently shocked as I am shocking. When I read the daring contributions to Letters to the Editor, or some of the unconventional articles and disclosures I am pleasantly surprised. The important thing to note here is that the boundaries are being pushed further and farther and such avant-garde reporting is actively being encouraged. To me, this is extremely healthy and largely augurs well for a country as young as ours which treads a fine line between convention and modernity.
There are many facts that I ask my friends and acquaintances to consider before they pass their judgments on what I consider to be this great nation of ours. One of which is that Saudi Arabia has made amazing progress in the short 73 years of its history. Prior to the unification of the Kingdom, this once uninhabitable desert remained untouched by pervasive global forces that had spread their tentacles across much of the world by the turn of the last century. 1,000 years of our history has revolved around ancient tradition and tremendous attachment to the spiritual essence of Islam. We were the cradle of one of the world’s great religions, experienced a period of dynamism and erudition and yet maintained little direct contact with the outside world.
When oil was discovered, it was as if this sheltered land was suddenly parachuted bang into the middle of the 20th century. The implications of such a turning point were huge. We possessed a great deal of wealth, much of which came to us effortlessly and yet in many ways we didn’t have the experience or social maturity to deal with it. We made plenty of mistakes and paid heavily for them. What will be interesting to see is whether we have learned important lessons from the past and use them to our advantage in the future. How we respond to this latest boom that we are enjoying will be a good indicator of just how we have adapted to being included in the modern world.
In light of this very basic analysis I think that as a society we have made truly tremendous steps forward and much of this lies in exiting the state of denial we used to cling to in the face of criticism. The press has played an instrumental role in leading us out of this willful untenable and surrealistic state of self-imposed naivete. The public in turn has responded to confronting disturbing realities with introspection and the will to make a change. The leadership has subsequently made a firm commitment to delving into the root causes of such issues, understanding their larger implications and tackling them head on.
This is why I personally feel so hopeful about the whole subject of reform. I believe that change in the Kingdom like change everywhere else is inevitable. What we need to capitalize upon is the prospect of initiating the change rather than being dictated to by it. We have to be proactive, even if it means adopting drastic measures. I think that this is widely understood. We also have to ensure that it is precipitated through our people who are capable and intelligent enough to harness it and utilize it to their benefit. Change imposed upon us from the outside world will only produce resentment and superficial transition. Change effected from within will prove to be lasting and valuable.
On this National Day I would also like to highlight the inestimable contribution made by the expatriates who have lived and worked alongside us throughout the years. They have considered this country home and have built its foundations with their blood, sweat and tears. They embody a greatness of spirit, selflessness and achievement that the coming generations will forever be indebted to them for.
I pray that Allah always showers His choicest blessings upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so it may continue to be a shining light in the lives of all the Muslims until the end of time.
— Published in Arab News Saudi National Supplement (Sept. 23, 2005).
