THE VIEW FROM FEZ: They are talking, are you listening?

Saturday, July 01, 2006

They are talking, are you listening?

In the previous post, Samir mentioned that it was unusual to have the print media acknowledging the blogosphere. However, it happens more than we think. Only two days ago the LA Times contacted The View From Fez wanting a contact number. And today the Cyprus Observer is running a major piece looking at the impact and implications of blogging in which The View from Fez is mentioned.. Here is and extract and the link to the full article by Brian Self.

Unadulterated free speech- the blogger
"My advice to anyone who is offended by the lawful expression of free speech is simple: don't watch, hear, or read whatever it is you find offensive. Nobody is forcing you to read or watch what you find offensive. Reach for the remote and switch the channel. If you cannot find the channel you want, start your own channel. Or newspaper. Or whatever.
But for the sake of sanity, keep your sensibilities to yourself if you find free expression offensive." This is the voice of a Pakistan blogger commenting on the cartoon controversy, one of over 50 million whose comments, ideas, and news can be read by anyone, anywhere in the world who can connect to the internet. Bloggers have no editors but themselves to filter what they say, no sales numbers to reach. From rambling, often incoherent beginnings they have become a parallel world to print media, which many renowned journalists and publications have decided to join; ignoring them is no longer an option. Their standards, of language, accuracy and truthfulness are rising; the governments of Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan and others are attempting to shut down bloggers - young and old - from talking about their country and its problems to a global audience.

Take the time to listen
Not all weblogs are political commentaries, not all are worth reading; the best are an indispensable source of news which the conventional media are sometimes afraid to print, for fear of offending important people or governments. Statistics are interesting but will not tell you what is happening on the streets of Kabul or Taskent or Cairo, but bloggers can. Not everyone can read them, but if the Great Divide is to be bridged it will be through dialogue, free and fair, constructively critical, thoughtful, timely and compassionate. From "Beirut Spring" to "Afghan Whispers," from "The Big Pharaoh" to "The View from Fez" bloggers are reporting stories missing from your favourite newspaper, challenging media censorship, sometimes going to prison, and above all talking with each other - Muslims and Westerners. And to you, if you want to listen.