Tash Ma Tash, the popular Ramadan comedy series that sets the theme of its shows on the peculiarities of Saudi society, recently took on the Shoura Council in one of its episodes. Now running into its 15th season, this show has been drawing in a huge following year after year. Some swear that breaking fast in Ramadan wouldn’t be the same without Tash.
It’s no secret that the success of this show lies in the transparent and biting exposure through satire of some of this country’s ills and follies. And apparently by taking on the Shoura, the episode had irked some members of the Shoura enough so that they complained to the chairman of the Shoura Council, Saleh Bin-Humaid, for a public censure of the show.
But calmer heads prevailed, and wisely so, the speaker declined to intervene. In the episode in question, the liberals and reformists including those among the Shoura members were portrayed as highly educated but ineffective.
That this show has also targeted the liberal elements of our society has to some extent boosted its nonpartisan image. In the past, the show had often invited the ire of the conservative elements of Saudi society for its hilarious parody on some of our customs and behavior.
So for any reform-minded Shoura member to take offense, I would caution that one is never always right and it is through such public ridicule that one often improves and endeavors for the better. As Bin-Humaid, the chairman of the council stated, criticism voiced in the media of the Kingdom’s political and other institutions was important.
And while Tash may have been a bit harsh in trying to drive the point home that just proclaiming liberal policies is not enough if not followed through and put into practice, nevertheless that has been the show’s appeal over the years — holding back no punches.
But there is no denying that liberal influence has begun to manifest itself toward social change, though very slowly. In the face of an often stiff conservative opposition, liberals have begun to move into uncharted territory. The press is leading the way, and in particular over previously taboo topics such as women’s rights and issues. Debates in local media also have brought to attention the festering issues of differences.
Tash does not restrict its themes to poking fun at and tearing down fundamentalists or liberals. Over the years it has addressed other ills in our society such as corruption, nepotism in the civil sector, vanishing ethics, inadequacies of the various ministries, among other topics. And they have done it in style, often attacking the same vice over and over again. A generation has grown up in these past 15 years nurturing itself during Ramadan on this show. And herein lies my cause for alarm. Tash is the unanimous choice of viewing after iftar and attracts all strata of our society. The young, the old, the rich, the poor, men or women — all sit glued to the TV screen.
But other than exposing the country’s ills, has it done anything to correct those watching it. Forget fundamentalism and liberalism, for those may be personal convictions. How about corruption and the lack of social ethics that continue to afflict us? How about the unacceptable and declining standards of services we have come to expect over the past two decades, such as medical care, public schools or even our roads? Tash may bring such issues to the fore, but are we, the target audience, brave enough to tackle them for the good of our society?
Or would we continue to take the easier path of burying our heads deeper and deeper in the sand?
