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| The Atlantic Affairs Security. Ideologies. Multiculturalism. |
Out of ideas? Then curse the West
By Abdul Rahman Al-Habib
Posted: April 18, 2006
[On April 5th, Abdul Rahman Al-Habib of the Saudi daily Al-Watan
wrote an article that appeared in the Saudi daily Arab News critiquing
the Arab press.]
The following are excerpts from the article:
"Criticism is good when it is constructive. The problem is when
criticism decays into harping. All too often, useless criticism becomes
an impulsive habit.
"Arab writers and columnists have a tendency to affirm populist
notions, whether they're good, bad, factual or false. They write what
people want to hear. They write not to educate or challenge the
readers' notions, but rather to affirm the readers' pre-conceived
opinions and views. These types of character-driven, pandering
scribes care only about elevating themselves and winning the
sympathy of their fans.
"For a writer, is there anything easier than serving up paragraphs of
emotion-driven rhetoric? Is there anything easier than repeating
platitudes and re-hashing clichéd ideas?
"If a columnist runs out of ideas, there's always one ace in the deck,
one thing that is bound to get a cheer from the choir. It's almost too
easy. Out of ideas for the day? Simply write an article cursing the
United States of America! That's an easy way to earn a day's pay.
"Never mind entering the difficult path of hard research and analysis of
problems in our society, or in their society, or problems shared by both
societies. Forget about it. It's too easy to toss out some hackneyed
diatribe against America.
"Unfortunately, writers who do not fall into the trap of cheap shots and
one-trick ponies, writers who practice disciplined criticisms about
topics closer to home, end up being drowned out.
"The problem here is a lack of understanding about the process of
criticism. Our society is one that lacks dialogue and rejects the mere
concept of criticism. There is a severe lack of understanding behind
criticism as an application. In our society, criticism is a synonym for
defamation.
"As a result, many columnists resort to criticism as a form of attack,
against each other, against the West, against America. It is rare when
we find a thoughtful attempt at understanding others and their views
that come, just as ours do, from their cultural, political and social
backgrounds.
"Oddly enough, some of the megalomaniacs with word processors
often ask for thoughtful opinions on their work from their colleagues.
Yet they do not make any effort to come up with constructive criticism
to return the favor.
"Indeed, some writers strive to be objective. They attempt to give up
self-aggrandizement and do a little critical thinking. But all too often
even they end up blaming their subject (i.e., the West, America, other
writers) for lacking adequate understanding. They might also confess
that the problem with 'them' is that 'we' haven't adequately illustrated
our goodness.
"But then when something tragic happens, such as an act of terrorism
against the West that is committed by one of our children, our 'critics'
end up falling back into the trap of painting complex conspiracy
theories that depict us as the victims.
"When we, Arabs and Muslims, ask ourselves why we are behind in
development, the answer is always satisfactory: because of the West
and its agents, of course! And when we ask ourselves why the West is
developed and advanced, the answer is always satisfactory: because
the West stole the sciences of our ancestors and they are still
plundering us to advance themselves!
"Can you find prettier, more populist answers than this?"
### ### ###
The above piece constitutes Special Dispatch Series No. 1139,
released by Memri.org on 12 April 2006.
By Abdul Rahman Al-Habib
Posted: April 18, 2006
[On April 5th, Abdul Rahman Al-Habib of the Saudi daily Al-Watan
wrote an article that appeared in the Saudi daily Arab News critiquing
the Arab press.]
The following are excerpts from the article:
"Criticism is good when it is constructive. The problem is when
criticism decays into harping. All too often, useless criticism becomes
an impulsive habit.
"Arab writers and columnists have a tendency to affirm populist
notions, whether they're good, bad, factual or false. They write what
people want to hear. They write not to educate or challenge the
readers' notions, but rather to affirm the readers' pre-conceived
opinions and views. These types of character-driven, pandering
scribes care only about elevating themselves and winning the
sympathy of their fans.
"For a writer, is there anything easier than serving up paragraphs of
emotion-driven rhetoric? Is there anything easier than repeating
platitudes and re-hashing clichéd ideas?
"If a columnist runs out of ideas, there's always one ace in the deck,
one thing that is bound to get a cheer from the choir. It's almost too
easy. Out of ideas for the day? Simply write an article cursing the
United States of America! That's an easy way to earn a day's pay.
"Never mind entering the difficult path of hard research and analysis of
problems in our society, or in their society, or problems shared by both
societies. Forget about it. It's too easy to toss out some hackneyed
diatribe against America.
"Unfortunately, writers who do not fall into the trap of cheap shots and
one-trick ponies, writers who practice disciplined criticisms about
topics closer to home, end up being drowned out.
"The problem here is a lack of understanding about the process of
criticism. Our society is one that lacks dialogue and rejects the mere
concept of criticism. There is a severe lack of understanding behind
criticism as an application. In our society, criticism is a synonym for
defamation.
"As a result, many columnists resort to criticism as a form of attack,
against each other, against the West, against America. It is rare when
we find a thoughtful attempt at understanding others and their views
that come, just as ours do, from their cultural, political and social
backgrounds.
"Oddly enough, some of the megalomaniacs with word processors
often ask for thoughtful opinions on their work from their colleagues.
Yet they do not make any effort to come up with constructive criticism
to return the favor.
"Indeed, some writers strive to be objective. They attempt to give up
self-aggrandizement and do a little critical thinking. But all too often
even they end up blaming their subject (i.e., the West, America, other
writers) for lacking adequate understanding. They might also confess
that the problem with 'them' is that 'we' haven't adequately illustrated
our goodness.
"But then when something tragic happens, such as an act of terrorism
against the West that is committed by one of our children, our 'critics'
end up falling back into the trap of painting complex conspiracy
theories that depict us as the victims.
"When we, Arabs and Muslims, ask ourselves why we are behind in
development, the answer is always satisfactory: because of the West
and its agents, of course! And when we ask ourselves why the West is
developed and advanced, the answer is always satisfactory: because
the West stole the sciences of our ancestors and they are still
plundering us to advance themselves!
"Can you find prettier, more populist answers than this?"
### ### ###
The above piece constitutes Special Dispatch Series No. 1139,
released by Memri.org on 12 April 2006.
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