What I brought to the attention of those who read Tololys Box, in my previous entry, is happening. At 8.45 a.m. Amman time, Monday November 14th, I tuned in to a local radio station under the name of Fann FM. Understand that what I am about to post about is by no means an attempt to attack this radio station.
There was this radio show hosted by a man named Mohammad Al Wakeel, who happens to be a well-known media figure in Jordan, and Mr. Al Wakeel was accepting live calls from people, to be aired directly on the show.
I cannot say I know what the show was about, but I managed to bring myself to listen to what is thrown back and forth in conversation between Mr. Al Wakeel and his audience and I was alarmed, if not disgusted, by what I grasped.
I will tell you briefly the content of one of the calls which were broadcasted throughout the country. A man congratulated the security forces and the Jordanian government and people for the capturing of the fourth criminal mind, the woman who attempted to blow herself up in hotel Radisson SAS. Mr. Al Wakeel then proceeded to send out a special salute to Jordan and its people. Then he asked the man what, if he could get his hands on that woman, would he do to her.
At that point I knew that the content of the message that is being heard by a large number of people, divulged by Jordans number one radio station, as Fann FM like to call themselves, is not healthy, to say the least.
The caller then mentioned that he works at some power generating plant, and he even went so far as to saying that if only he got his hands on that woman, he would electrocute her to death.
To stick to basics, that was pretty gory for a morning show, let alone the damage such messages emit into the minds of those who hear them and are willing to actually implement them.
To go a bit deeper, what ever happened to human rights? By that I not only mean the rights of that woman as a detainee, but also the rights of those who were listening to that show and were, similarly to me, nauseated by that horrible message.
I do not think that by inventing new methods of torture to be used on that woman, one proves to be more patriotic than others. Indeed, how does one allow ones self to be in charge of other peoples lives, if one in the first place dismissed that notion practiced by them that one wants to hurt?
On a final note, I rememberd a song by Sting when I reflected upon this problem. Here are the lyrics to the song “Russians” , read them, and see if you can relate.
In Europe and America
There’s a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the SovietsMr. Krushchev said we will bury you
I don’t subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children tooHow can I save my little boy
From Oppenheimer’s deadly toy
There is no monopoly of common sense
On either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children tooThere is no historical precedent
To put words in the mouth of the President
There’s no such thing as a winnable war
It’s a lie we don’t believe anymoreMr. Reagan says we will protect you
I don’t subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children tooWe share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me and you
Is if the Russians love their children too
pathetic state of affairs. Fann FM guys need some serious lessons. Asking the right guy the wrong question at the wrong time.
Humans seem to possess the diabolic knack of erasing themselves from the face of the planet and look what nationalism, religion and idealogy can do to us. A collective identity necessarily tends to corrupt and defile humans.
pEaCe.
Talking about human rights, what about the dead people rights; their families and relatives… Two years a go America decided to execute a serial killer, the European Union, the Human Rights Watch and the people in those countries made a series of demonstration to force the USA government to cancel the execution and delete the death sentence from the American law…
Come on, there is no rights to the KILLERS, there is rights to the victims and the local society, the killer should be killed.
Hi ,
it is very nice issue, and I am with you since I hear Mr. AL Wakeel and his daily comments on all subjects , he always make bad comments in bad way not taking in consideration that there is young people may be listening to the station at that time.
Actually I like your page and I visited it in daily bases . keep on . Thanks,
Everyone has rights. By all means, give her a trial, if she is found guilty give her any punishment. But everyone should be innocent until proven guilty.
It’s a radio show, to Mr. AL Wakeel, he needs to broadcast something, people want to hear what they want to hear, now days, specially after what happened, people are driven by their anger and fear of what’s yet to come, people are lookin for someone to blame, they’re lookin for someone to point their finger at, they have found it, the media is using this for their own advantage
I’m not into marketing and all, but I’m dead sure that when you talk about stuff that attracts people ears, I’m sure you end up makin better profit… could be mistaken, but that’s what I think
Media needs to be responsible for what they broadcast to people. They are representatives, and they possess a powerful influence on people’s behavior and thinking. I think the people who are in charge of these media outlets need to take a leadership role, they need to be held accountable for what they choose to impress upon people. I am going to search for a way to contact Jordanian radio and TV stations and voice my opinion on this.
Niwsha, I was as stunned as you are, perhaps even more, when I heard what was being broadcasted for people to hear and learn from.
Black Cats, again your comment comes unusual. To speak of myself, I do not see myself in a position to end a person’s life, and I do not think this would rank me with the weak. Violence is not always trength, most of the time it is just empty bullying, or not so empty. I feel for the people who have lost loved ones in what ever incident took those away, I have personally lost people, but that need not, and does not, mean I will treat the wrong-doers the same way they dealt with me or with others. You see, this is exactly the problem. One should think before one leaps.
Mbazzm, welcome again to Tololy’s Box. I am thrilled that I have won you over as a regular, do keep your comments flowing.
Abu Sinan, I totally agree.
Noor, what you said brings back to mind my former “Is the reader always right?” entry. The topic is somewhat similar. I do not think I tolerate this sort of excuse though, providing the mob with what they want regardless of the consequences.
Lulu, the media should be responsible for what they put forth, but most are not, and that I think creates some problems, or at the very least, helps some problems grow. Keep me and my readership updated as to what steps you plan to take to contact the Jordanian radio and TV stations, if you please.
I think there is some misunderstanding here……..
I am not saying Mr. AlWakeel was right, NOOOOO. I am talking about Human Rights… I hate violence but at the same time I am with the law, and executeing the arrested woman will be fair enough… thats what I am saying…
??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????
Help Stop the Violence
It was a normal summer night
Or at least that’s how it began
When a shot broke out during a fight
And lying dead was one man
Little did the murderer know
What he had caused people to go through
Or of the places that he would go
And that there were other people he hurt too.
The mom was watching a t. v. show
When the phone rang that night
When the officer told her what she needed to know
Of that fatal fight
She started to scream and she started to cry
And asked the Lord why her son had to die
How was she to go on without her son
She could only visit his grave and that isn’t fun.
They caught the man and brought him in
He denied doing that horrible sin
He was found guilty and was sentenced to die
That’s when he gave up telling the lie
He was big and told of how he killed someone
But he wasn’t all that big when he didn’t have a gun
Sure he made some money and was on a roll
But at the same time he took a soul
That is something he can’t give back
So doesn’t he think he should get on the right track
What does violence solve when you go through each day?
Nothing at all! So why did he do it anyway?
The answer that comes to mind is ignorance
Not knowing the other’s feelings or the effect
Of his victimizing during those moments
Or of the many lives that he chose to wreck.
He was taught but it never sank in
Until when after he went to court and his “new life” began
Five years down the road the mom is still in grief
There seems to be nothing that gives her some relief
Every night she cries herself to sleep
The wound that the crime caused was real deep
She quit going to work and then lost her job
Because of the effects when one man decided to rob
Not only did he steal her son’s personal things
But he stole her son and gave her all the pain that brings
The violence needs to stop but we don’t know where to begin
The will to change and help has to come from within
Until we stop and take a look at the pain we are causing
People will continue to get hurt and it just keeps evolving
The best way to help is not to hurt a single person
So the world gets better and doesn’t worsen.
By Kyle
Sorry I didn’t post this earlier, but if anyone is indeed interested in contacting some media outlets in Jordan, as I suggested above, please check out my blog entry from November 15th, you can find it on my blog, at: Let’s Take Action.
I posted some contact info for some radio stations and Jordan TV.
Let’s work together, people! I truly believe it’s in our hands to make change.
I thank you for the effort,Lulu. I think I will feature this in a seperate entry in Tololy’s Box, this is important.
i don’t find anything wrong in what either Mr. Al Wakeel or the caller said.
It’s true that human rights must be applied, but as to that woman she doesn’t know anything called “Human”. she turned a weeding into a misery. she killed small children & innocent people and u r still saying we should arrest her!! come on
just but urself in those people’s shoes…………
I don’t really agree with u so far. i don’t find it wrong asking such questions and provoking people to give such cold hearted answers. but concering this woman, some of u said that we should apply “human rights” but i don’t see-in the first place- that this woman knows the meaning of “HUMAN”.
Arresting her isn’t definitely the solution. that woman killed small babies & innocent people…so come on just put urself in those people’s shoes….i’ll be then sure that u want her to be arrested!!!
Dear anonymous person who does not agree with me;
First of all, I respect your point of view and I own that we can agree to disagree, and that we actually do.
You, in your own words, said that you do not think this woman knows the meaning of being human. Pardon the liberty I will take to try to help you understand my point.
When you said that she does not know the meaning of being human,well, assuming she doesn’t, we all, being non-terrorists and a multitude of other personages and titles, claim to know exactly what being human means.
But the question remains, does one wrong people the way they wronged one? I personally would like to think the answer to that question is negative. If one is disgusted by what someone else does, then one should not fall in the same pit of error, and claim to be correcting the wrong. I see things getting more complicated in this sense.
I have lost people in the explosion, but not to make personal tragedy the core point of this debate, I will not cite it anymore. It only serves to show you that I need not put myself in anyone’s shoes at this stage.
This woman who, supposedly, was about to kill innocent people and what not, did not actually kill them because the explosive package she had with her failed. This I say to correct your information when you stated that “that woman killed small babies & innocent people”.
I wonder where you got the notion that I do not want the woman to be arrested from. I would like to see your evidence in support of this allegation, and I am positive there is none. I would advise a thorough reading of what I post, because if that is not available, I fear I will be misunderstood.
On a last note, welcome to Tololy’s Box, if you are a new reader, and welcome back if you are a regular. I appreciate your comment.