Ramadan is the month when TV becomes the major entertainment in every home: The programs, series and films shown then attract a very large audience, more than in any other month. This of course is good news for people working in television as it means more work and more revenue for the networks. However, apart from that, the quality of the programs themselves do not get the same attention as the publicity and advertising that precedes them. As expected, the avalanche of programs means that 90 percent of the material presented is not up to standard, with some of them devoid of any good quality. Nevertheless, as it is a month of consumption, that can be easily overlooked.
The spiritual nature of the month also means more viewers are attracted to religious programs, which become more abundant; yet again the quality of the shows is not much to write home about.
But if we are willing to overlook the poor quality of the entertainment programs, I do not think we should be as casual with the quality of the religious programs. After all, the nature of those programs gives them undisputed credibility, with most viewers blindly accepting what is said. The televised lectures are accepted with a pious humility that accompanies the days of the fasting month when people strive to immerse themselves in spirituality.
Changing from one channel to the other, we find the new stars, the young religious scholars that have acquired fame and respect; their programs are magnets for young and old alike. To be fair here, I have to admit that some of the speakers and scholars have a genuine message to deliver and it is a real joy to listen to them talking and discussing modern life from a tolerant point of view — and this is something that people are eager to hear. Of course things are not perfect and if we have scholars who know their subject matter and talk based on knowledge and years of study, others jump on the bandwagon trying to reach that same status, but without having the same qualifications and this can be very dangerous.
I have always been very careful in selecting which program to watch and which scholar to lend an ear to, but for the sake of discovery, I began flipping through the channels to see what was out there. Going on friends’ recommendations, I watched a certain program that seems to be very successful, especially with the younger generation. The program is presented by a young Saudi man who has become famous over the past few years after participating with young scholars and preachers in popular programs addressed to youth. Emerging from the shadow of those scholars, he decided to have his own program, which he called “A Young Man’s Thoughts.” The program featured the young host discussing proper manners and attitudes among people, using the slot to illustrate to young people that Islamic values are those of cleanliness, modesty, honesty and love. Each program actually started with an animated cartoon highlighting a range of situations such as cheating in exams, begging and filial duties. That part was cleverly done and judging from the response of young viewers, it seemed to achieve its goal. But two episodes in particular made me start thinking about the larger issue of responsibility in the media.
One of those episodes was headlined “Do Not Become Arrogant” and it began with a slideshow featuring an odd combination of people and events. It featured actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor in two shots, one in her youth and another recent one. There was also a picture of an Egyptian actress in the same manner, a picture of Muhammad Ali in one of his matches and a much more recent video showing him shaking because of Parkinson’s disease. The worst part of this show were the scenes from New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina. In all those slides the presenter’s voice kept repeating “Son of Adam, do not become arrogant.”
Trying to keep myself from exploding in anger, I kept on watching as the program continued, telling people how those featured people were on top of the world at one point of their lives and how wrinkled and ill they had become, adding that people should not take life for granted and that beauty and power always end in the worst possible way. What shocked me more were the New Orleans pictures that suggested that whatever happened there was a punishment from God and that good times do not last.
Some might agree with this message, and I am not disputing the fact that people do lose their youth, beauty and power. However, what I found insensitive is the fact that there was a certain amount of insensitivity and gloating at what befell those people; it was humiliating to everyone featured in those pictures. Not only that but it was also very naïve, to assume that only vibrant and lively cities are hit by hurricanes or natural disasters. I wonder if the people making this program had heard of the 2004 tsunami, which caused so many people in Indonesia to lose their homes and loved ones and who were not reveling in nightlife or the love of money. And to allude to Muhammad Ali’s illness is as insensitive as you can get. Anyone of us can become sick; powerful and successful people become sick as well poor and destitute people so what was the program trying to say?
