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For the past thirty years, we have lived in what is called the Catastrophe Era (An'kba). A new generation was born and grew in this era. Their views formulated out of this darkness, fragmentation, backwardness, and defeat and total failure on many fronts. We have killed each other with dead ideologies, failed in development, and lost many parts of our homelands (Palestine, Golan Heights, South Lebanon). Despite that, we still find no way out of this dark tunnel. Meanwhile, other nations have found their ways and rose out of destruction to greatness. Spain is one of them.
I have lived in Spain over the past twenty years. During these years, I have lived the Spanish struggle to rebuild their country and overcome their setbacks. An exceptional role was played by Spanish television, which was employed as an instrument for social change in the country. Special committees were formed to supervise the television station. Experts on social, economic, cultural, and political affairs have taken the burden of carrying out the process of cultural and civilizational awakening of a people that were classified as belonging to the Third World until recently.
The media has played a central role in this process. I was an eyewitness of this role. It has constructed and promoted the values of civil society, social organization, the rule of law, respect to human rights, hard work, and protecting the constitution and freedom of Spanish people. Spain has come out as strong from the darkness after being there for forty years. While I was watching Spain change, I have also sadly seen our nations sink in darkness, disillusionment, and defeat. The question remains, what are these satellite television stations in the Arab world doing? What is their role politically, socially, and economically? Do these stations really reflect our social conditions? Do they really express our culture, our system of believes, our dreams, and our pains? I think the role of these stations revolves around several major points:
Satellite televisions should be reformulating the Arab-Muslim mind and constructing a unifying culture. It should also make the people aware of their role in the socio-political and economic development. What have these stations done to help the nation see the light and come out of this darkness? Have these stations done their share six years after they have been launched? What have they done to a nation where 70 percent of its people suffer from the problems of illiteracy and the other 30 percent suffer from other various calamities? Are we entering a real epic of technological advancement or a new age of total dependence? There are many questions, but few answers.
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