06-22-2004, 07:40 PM
The threat to independence in the late twentieth century from the new electronics media proved could be greater than was colonialism. The transnational corporations control the manufacture, distribution and above all selection of news relied on by most of the word,
has created a new mechanism and dependence. As we know the news media have the power to penetrate more deeply, so it is used to create a kind of mindset in the whole world. People watch the television with a relatively unquestioned certainty that they are seeing the reality.
It is an irony that today by most of the leading news media in the world have developed a tendency to portrayed Islam; brutal and violent thus only understands force . Islam is an intolerant, segregationist, medieval, fanatic, cruel, anti woman religion. Muslims especially those who bear their name with AHMED, MUHAMMAD, ISLAM etc are closely related with terrorists , and that the religion is fit only for profit or war.
This anachronistic aspect is largely presented before the western people through the media and the images of the them are shown as virtuous and clean warriors.
The way medias are patronizing the confrontations among classes, ethnic groups, are actually spreading hatred, agitations in the world. The notion that they are demons and we are advanced so virtuous innocent in the state of affairs is unacceptable. “They and We” this classification has divided the world so badly that it has become very hard for a universal civilization.
It is irony to note that the world had witnessed imperial powers nurtured many dictators in the world like HaileSelassie, Somoza, SyngmanRhee, the Shah of Iran, Pinochet, Marcos, Noriega and even Saddam Hussein whose rule they encouraged, whose favors they long enjoyed, while purpose is served they all were demonized in front of the world. But the prominent news medias of the world are mysteriously silent at this stage. None of the world-class media came forward to create international public opinion against those policies as they are now against Al-Queda. Why? Is free flow of information stifled? Answer is, no but they are biased or somehow managed.
The propaganda machineries sometimes misguide most of the people of the world. Any partisan and shallow role of the news media could result immense havoc for sure, erode the creditability of the noble profession. It is true, rumor, false propaganda has meet their present requirements but it will jeopardize the credibility of this sector in consequence. Equity, clarity, rationalism which long been nurtured through the passage of time has been ruined.
Astonishingly the intellectual lives of the western countries have been almost swallowed up. Their sense of self-pride has been becoming too much like Bismarck Ian Kutler, buttressing from superiority in technology alike Britain’s former sense of superiority. Their intellectuals are drawn increasingly in strategic planning, and the development of scientific warfare, Utopian sanctuary has deranged them. Cults like post-modernism, discourse analysis, new historicism, deconstruction, neo- pragmatism transport them into the country of the blue.
This cultural identification should not be ‘straitjacket’ for propaganda, which promotes ‘identity politics’ it, has an inexorable link with the idea of racism. Which can promote reactionasim and stimulate mass destructiveness. Today the world has started to experience all sorts of extremism. Who knows how long the world has to suffer by the reactivation.
The promotion of equality, equity, justice, tolerance as we learnt are the basis of modern welfare secularism is at a stake. The Iraq invasion has proved that the UNO has lost the power of its adjudication and jurisdiction and so forth. UNO’s role to secure the interest of its member states as well as their sovereignty has been badly damaged by the invasion infact by those countries whose pattern of democratic norms are followed and practiced all over the world. The nucleus essence of their democratic sprit is seriously under a big question mark. Consequently, the small state’s sovereignty will be jeopardized. Can UNO play a deterrent role in order to protect their independent power from the powerful hostile countries? Present situation reveals negative result. Those who dreamt of the emergence of a free, fair universal civilization are now dreaming of an early departure. After the Iraq war now the time has arrived to rethink in the dilemma.
It is pity to note that the Arab world is still divided into different groups They have got the most precious mineral resources in their hand but due to lack of unity they can not raise their hands all together. It is to be noticed here that the European countries had fought two world wars against each others, suffered loses more than any nation bitterly experienced in the human history. They have got linguistic and ethnical differences. Nevertheless they ignored the past, narrowed down their prejudices and ultimately got united for the sake of their own existence in the newer world order. If they can why not the Arabs, they are belonging almost the same language, same religion and same background. It is almost inevitable from the Arabs point of view that their monolithic character can stick them together.
Not only the Arabs, in a broader spectrum we the new generation should come forward to narrow down all the irritated issues among all the Muslim countries in the world. Though the Iraq war will be a psychological blow to many citizens of the world. And yet we cannot be distracted from our daily work. In fact, the Iraq war should provide more a reason for being diligent in developing Islamic brotherhood.
•