It is no secret that in the Middle East, media, in every form, is controlled. Their society is awfully conservative and will not tolerate anything that might be even remotely suggestive, let alone insurgent. Almost anything that deviates from the conservative is viewed as "unholy". The above article from The Straits Times today reports on a Saudi Cleric who has called for the deaths of a few owners of certain Television Networks deemed to have broadcasted "immoral" material during the holy month of Ramadan. Apparently, it involved Television programmes featuring scantily-dressed women. In the cleric's eyes, these images have non-verbally communicated "evil" to the masses.
The cleric has probably taken such a strong view on this issue because of his social construct that has shaped his belief system and perceptions. In the West, such mindsets would be unheard of. This can be accredited to the vast Cultural differences that affect interpretation of certain stimuli. The senior Saudi Cleric has developed a mental framework over time which encompasses certain rules that probably coincide with the social rules and norms of his society. The images of women in skimpy outfits His rather extreme proposal to kill the owners might also be explained by his vocation as a cleric. He is probably a very religious individual who has almost zero tolerance for "evil" behaviour.
I don't mean any disrespect but I cannot help but feel appalled at the cleric's comments. I've always been aware of the nature of societies in the Middle East but to suggest lawfully killing someone over this matter is just absurd, dare I even say barbaric, to me. Granted, I may have social constructs and mindsets as well because of my environment and past experiences, but what happened to the value of human life? Is it that simple to be stripped of your right to live? The television programmes did not hurt anyone physically, and at the very most have caused severe disgust among some people. From whatever angle you look at it, one must ask, does it warrant a death sentence? The culture in the Saudi Kingdom's society seems to be much like the ancient Roman or Greek civilizations where human life had no sanctity and was expendable unless maybe you were of royal heritage.
Yes, we must respect others' way of life and culture. However, I could not help but feel disconcerted when reading this article.
9 comments:
I guess that it all boils down to what they believe is right or wrong in their culture, and this is especially sensitive in the holy month of Ramadan. However, I am with you about the scant regard for human life there.
Then again, isn't their mass media regulated in such a conservative country?
I agree with you too. To go thru such extents as to killing is ridiculous. Perhaps no one would feel such a way in they were brought up there.
Wouldn't the disregard for life be a worse form of sin than lust?
I guess it's inevitable that people like us would be taken aback by such calls and actions to permit killing for such trivial stuff such as television programs , due to vast chasm between their culture and upbringing and our's .
This is not to say that the Asian (or at least Singaporean) method of culture and upbringing is liberal or flexible in any way . In fact , we have been largely criticized by the West as being uptight . However , in comparison to that of the Middle East , we are society that runs on anarchy with zero moral values (exaggeration) .
This would bring to mind the main idea of cultural differences and the dissimilar social constructs between our two societies as mentioned by Bryan . Different upbringings and culture would inevitably lead to extremely deviant mindsets and thus what we see as disagreeable or even an outright no-no would be seen as acceptable and the right thing to do by others .
Go figure .
i totally agree with what you said. i personally feel its wrong. but then again its also because of where we have grown up in. In singapore where people are nicer and do not go around killing so often.
Killing to me is personally no excepted! Ending ones life will never solve the problem!
I guess the responses we are giving here now are showing exactly how different cultures brings about different perceptions of things .
Many of us do not condone what the cleric has said , which basically points out how different in mindsets we are from them simply because we are raised in a culture where we think killing is just wrong , no matter the reason . If we are to grow in their culture , perhaps we might support what the cleric is saying ?
It's hard to define your boundaries as a human sometimes. To take a life of another in the name of God - is it justified? This is what the Iranians are doing. They are only asking for the killings to justify the great sins they have committed against their muslim religion - it's their rightful retribution, supposedly.
Although.. in my eyes it's too extreme a punishment for a misdemeanour that wouldn't have deeply scarred people... But who am I to say what they can or cannot do? I am but a human in the end. Just a human.
And so what should be done is for people to retain their humanity and sense of compassion. Forgiveness and a genuine desire to change for the better should be the foundations for people's actions. But you know, such a thing can't be done in this world. Too bad, so sad. :/ That's why you get situations bordering on insanity. It's the curse of our human limitations.
Yup, I agree with what you have said.
What gives them the right to kill? Afterall, all human beings are born equal. It seems like they have a distorted perception on the importance of a human life.
this is crazy. to kill someone JUST because immoral 'images have non-verbally communicated "evil" to the masses.'?? pardon me, but i DONT understand at all.
perhaps, as what lucas have mentioned, it all depends on what the culture believe is right or wrong.
a question for though: if the worshippers are so devoted and so morally-inclined, would these "immoral" images do any 'harm' to them? since they are so devoted to their beliefs (hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil) why would the cleric be afraid of these 'immoral' ads?
I suppose every culture and society has their belief system that determines how they view one should lead their life. However, although I know that it is not my place to say, nonetheless, I must say my peace.
I feel that the sanctity of human life must be respected no matter where you are or what you believe in, because we are all human and the root of so many problems today is the lack of respect for our shared humanity.
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