Politics is funny. It really is. I mean think about it: If it wasn't funny, could Jay Leno really make a living off of political humor? Or the Daily Show guy? The evidence speaks for itself.
Somehow though, in Kuwait, politics seems to be just a little bit funnier. Take a look at yesterday's newspapers. On the one hand, you have Al-Qabas, one of Kuwait's oldest and most prominent newspapers, on the other hand you have Al-Watan, which also made quite a name for itself (and for some reason, the only Kuwaiti daily you can buy on Edgware and the Champs) and then of course all the rest that are struggling to keep up. Lets take a closer look at the messages these papers try to send across…(I mean there have to be messages right? God forbid, our daily newspaper just report the news after all.)
The headline of Al-Qabas was the equivalent of "Elections soon to come, with the 5 electoral circles". I see…so out of more than 3 different scenarios that don't involve the dissolution of the parliament, Al-Qabas decide to post that headline.
Then there is Al-Watan's editorial. A wonderfully written piece that waves its fingers at the MPs. "No no no…The executive branch chooses the Prime Minister, not you. Shame on you for even bringing us to this crisis". I see…
Contrary to what our politicians may think, Kuwaitis are NOT stupid. We know your game, and we all know who's behind each of these daily's and why they take the position they take. We know who you are…(X-Files music playin in the background).
Now normally, along with being an optimist, I'm a capitalist too. I think someone starts their own business, such as a newspaper, they have the right to talk about what they think just as we have the right not to buy their papers. Just don't think Kuwaitis are stupid, because we are not. We are smarter than any other people out there, especially when it comes to politics. Oh, and to the big newspapers: in case you haven't noticed, we are in a crisis now with no real idea of what will come out of it. Citizens need the news, not sensationalism and swaying tactics. Shame on you for sinking this low…and shame on you for thinking we're stupid.
Somehow though, in Kuwait, politics seems to be just a little bit funnier. Take a look at yesterday's newspapers. On the one hand, you have Al-Qabas, one of Kuwait's oldest and most prominent newspapers, on the other hand you have Al-Watan, which also made quite a name for itself (and for some reason, the only Kuwaiti daily you can buy on Edgware and the Champs) and then of course all the rest that are struggling to keep up. Lets take a closer look at the messages these papers try to send across…(I mean there have to be messages right? God forbid, our daily newspaper just report the news after all.)
The headline of Al-Qabas was the equivalent of "Elections soon to come, with the 5 electoral circles". I see…so out of more than 3 different scenarios that don't involve the dissolution of the parliament, Al-Qabas decide to post that headline.
Then there is Al-Watan's editorial. A wonderfully written piece that waves its fingers at the MPs. "No no no…The executive branch chooses the Prime Minister, not you. Shame on you for even bringing us to this crisis". I see…
Contrary to what our politicians may think, Kuwaitis are NOT stupid. We know your game, and we all know who's behind each of these daily's and why they take the position they take. We know who you are…(X-Files music playin in the background).
Now normally, along with being an optimist, I'm a capitalist too. I think someone starts their own business, such as a newspaper, they have the right to talk about what they think just as we have the right not to buy their papers. Just don't think Kuwaitis are stupid, because we are not. We are smarter than any other people out there, especially when it comes to politics. Oh, and to the big newspapers: in case you haven't noticed, we are in a crisis now with no real idea of what will come out of it. Citizens need the news, not sensationalism and swaying tactics. Shame on you for sinking this low…and shame on you for thinking we're stupid.
7 comments:
Hmm.. I don't know how "not stupid" we are. I mean even if the adjective stupid is inaccurate there's got to be SOMETHING wrong with us when you consider some of the people we elect for parliament.
as long as we know how the game is played, and as long as we'r contempt with wht we know.. let them sugarcoat the news as much as they want;p
7zaya: LOL...well, your chance is coming up to do something about it. Will we be smarter, and vote on principal, even for those who seem to have little chance of actually making it...or will we opt for the lessor of two evils with the hopes of preventing our vote from being null and void.
Lone Ranger'ess: One a certain level, I agree with you. After all, I we are smart enough to know the difference between someone who is "directing" the news as opposed to "reporting" it. The problem is, I really believe that a lot of the basic elements get distorted as a result. Mat 3rif il khubbar min ta7leelhoum...
I have to agree with 7zaya. I think Kuwaitis are stupid. and I don't think news are as distorted as you claim once we exclude alwatan. I didn't see your point with your example of alqabas. Maybe you could clarify :)
you would be surprised at how stupid and EASILY swayed Kuwaitis are.
The news papers feed them ideas out of no where and they so happily digest them.
Hell yesterday one of my friends was talking about khalid abduljaleel and Alwatan Tv being the best thing to happen since sliced bread.
I did try to throw her out of my balcony, but she was too heavy to lift.
i could go on forever, yesterday i gave all my friends a speech about how they all complain but never want to get involved. About how we complain about the people that are leaching off this countrys money, but THEY happily buy their news papaers, watch their news cough*alwatan*cough and buy their milk
take a stand god damn it!
strayed of a lil i know.
Hamad: Thanks for your input. My point with Al Qabas was actually time sensitive in that it doesn't make sense today. At the time they published their article, the Amir was still abroad and no decision had been made. It was less of reporting the news, and more of forecasting their hopes. Alas, what they hoped for has come true... The truth is, in the Diwaween, I've been hearin you and 7zayas point repeated quite often. Inshallah il awtha3 mat koon ib hal soora, because that would be a shame...
Eshda3wa: LOL...ma 3ndikoum winch? Laaa 7aram, maskeena rifeejtich. Bes just so you know, there is a huge amount of Kuwaitis that agree with her. I personally saw him cross a line from useful and enlightning to cheap and dramatic. He started off well, but deteriorated, like most things in Kuwait tend to do. But just answer one thing? Have you ever witnessed him spit of the camera ("Tuf 3laiakoum")...I am waiting for him to do that again ;-)
You're right. But the probability of their forecast was 99.9% according to one of the MPs (was it elmlaify?). Try reading alseyassah, they're ALWAYS forecasting, welmeshkela ena their forecasts have 10% probability..at best! :p
Good luck!
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