Arabs and Muslims are viewed by the West as basket cases — a section of people on our planet who are unable to keep themselves abreast of the global development. This is the feeling an Arab or Muslim gets when he/she visits Western countries. And this is compounded by the cold-eyed behavior of Western people toward Muslims.
This, no doubt, results from a false image of the Arab-Muslim world in the minds of the Western people. The situation has worsened in recent times, particularly after the 9/11 attacks. Without doubt, the Zionist-backed Western media has a big role in spreading this image. The Zionist lobby does not operate randomly, but works through organized campaigns to tarnish the image of the Arabs and Muslims. The Jewish lobby has long been feeding the Western media with lies and half-truths, and it is now quite obvious that they are working hard to defame the Arab world in every possible way.
But ultimately, the question is: Who is to blame for this perception? Is it all the fault of the Western media? Or should the accusing finger point toward us?
If we are bold enough, we must admit our mistake in not properly communicating with other people of the world. In fact, we have failed to put ourselves before others in an acceptable and appropriate manner. In a way, it is we who have prompted them to look at us with Jewish eyes and know about us through their media that is either controlled or influenced by the Zionist lobby. We have provided them with an opportunity to look down upon us and allowed them to conjure up negative images about us.
What steps have we taken to change the attitude of the West toward us? Do we have English-language newspapers working for this purpose? Do we have people who write in Western newspapers on this issue? Do we have books and other publications to remedy the situation and provide the West with a true image of Islam and Arabs? De we have English channels that can reach the Western people and present them programs so they can get a real picture of Arabs and Islam?
To correct our image in the West, we have to rely on the media that would definitely be able to shoulder such a task. Post-Sept. 11, there was a proposal to set up an English language Arab satellite channel. The proposal was adopted by the Arab League and reviewed by the Arab Media Council in the presence of a majority of the Arab information ministers. The channel was to address the Western people and give them a true image of the Arabs and Muslims, with special emphasis on their values and morals.
At first flush, the proposal was praised by all, but gradually, it lost steam and faded out from the minds of Arabs despite the fact that we possess the financial and creative ability to set up such a channel. So the West is not to blame if we have pulled out of the scene in favor of the Zionist lobby and concentrated our efforts, instead, in setting up music-and-dance channels. Therefore, it is imperative that we set up an English language Arab satellite channel. Sooner the better.
