Arab Journalism

In a column for the Arab News, Abdul Rahman Al-Habib discusses the current methodology employed by Arab and Muslim editorial writers. It's titled Out of Ideas? Then Curse the West.

To Middle East Muslims, who seem to be genetically programmed with easily-offended DNA, Al-Habib's editorial is likely considered harsh criticism of Arab writers because he implies that they are lazy. By Western standards of journalistic opinion, Al-Habib is throwing marshmallows.

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.

As a regular reader of the Arab media, I've seen little else. Arab media sources constantly curse the United States. Oftentimes, the criticism has no basis or is based on imagined transgressions.

Naturally, you can always count on the Arab media to give plenty of coverage to every instance of outrageous political rhetoric voiced by the likes of Dick Durbin, John Kerry, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, and others. As such, Arab editorials are generally devoid of journalistic merit while chock-full of propaganda. They don't promote debate nor do they deal with facts, but they can incite a riotous protest. Facts cited are usually simple fiction created to curse America, the usual object of protest.

Al-Habib continues and surprisingly nudges at the truth.

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!

Like I mentioned, when Arabs see a problem, it's America and its allies that are blamed. No discussion, no debate, and no attempt to seek a resolution because it's the West's fault. Al-Habib points to laziness. I think cursing the West is the unwritten agenda.

To be fair, most journalists are lazy, Arab and Western. It's so much easier to compose a report sitting in a hotel room or an office than going to the scene of the action. It's also easier to write an editorial that curses the West than one that is clearly reasoned, well-researched and analytical. (Source)