Don't judge others with bias

They are at it again"! "Who are they"? "The Muslims", my friend interjected, "another friend of mine recently arrived from Germany complaining about Muslims creating even more security concerns [for Germans] than ever before. Nobody tolerates them any longer. They have brought this upon themselves!"

"Really! I wonder if the media's sleight of hand was not pandering to the general sentiments and playing up Islamaphobia by overhyping any and every incident related to Muslims".

My friend earnestly continued her line of protest that I will not dwell upon any further but the discourse highlighted to me the chasm in perceptions and the confusion residing among some of our guests.

Although our conversation ended amicably, I was somewhat saddened and overcome by deja-vu. I cannot recall the amount of times Muslims, Arabs and Middle Easterners in general were castigated as demonic barbarians and senseless terrorists.

Cultural imperialism

The fear and abhorrence against Muslims are not new and continue to capture the fertile imagination of Western media agencies, producing some of the most emotionally compelling pieces of propaganda work ever seen or heard.

There is no shortage of media products that demonise Muslims from countless international newspapers, websites, games, community blogs, television shows to radio talk shows.

Notwithstanding a rash of geopolitical movies such as the Kingdom where the actors received, a welcome fit for presidents only, and yet one of cast members declined to come to Abu Dhabi citing security concerns and contended with a stuntman filling in his role.

Such mal-aligned perceptions and cultural imperialism also taint speeches of some guest speakers, at conferences, who are specially flown in, only, to heap insult on Arab audiences.

At the last Arab Media Conference, the US Council on Foreign Relations Middle East programmes, Judith Kipper, did not miss a beat when she chastised Arab journalists and media institutions and the same breath abdicated Western media from responsibility of vilifying image of Arabs.

Telling her audience it was up to the Arabs to portray a moderate image of themselves.

You may wonder what is new about such behaviour, which has dominated the Western media and in the process desensitised the rest of the world. Well, what appears to be new or it may not be the case, is such ill sentiments and an inordinate amount of criticism is targeting our culture and the people.

Hyperbole and chronic discontent are finding grass root support in local radio stations that broadcast in non-Arabic languages and few private media establishments.

This may startle some but a few months ago, I listened to a phone in radio programme, whilst on the way to work, discussing high accident rates on our roads.

I was surprised to register the number of biased opinions that spewed hatred against UAE nationals including the anchor's disposition who skewed the Dubai Police report on road accidents to suit his preconceived biases.

No time was lost in pointing fingers and building up, a water tight, case against all nationals; accusing them of bullying and causing deaths of other law abiding drivers.

Many callers not only poured vitriol on the unsuspecting UAE nationals but also extended their haranguing to Dubai police accusing them of ignorance and complacency in the face of road offenders. One caller sincerely advocated training the entire police force he deemed as unfit drivers!

Role of ideology

The rising dissonance among some of the residents who lose no opportunity in berating UAE nationals and government institutions during phone in programmes should not become the national pastime of the expatriates.

They should be wary of embracing the role of the early missionaries who ploughed the earth to spread the "word" and create a "civilising effect" on indigenous communities. Whipping up hatred by chiding the local authorities and UAE nationals will not fill in the void of emptiness besieging such souls.

It is universal need for humans to seek communities, which speak a common language, ascribe to the common beliefs and share a sense of belonging to prevent the loss and emptiness when we shed the mantle of nationality, title and social rank.

This is where ideologies turn most useful, to counter the void and create an "I fullness" that can only exist where "I am not".

Racist ideologies and confrontational attitudes should not set the boundaries of public discourses and their buds should not be nurtured in media institutions. It is imperative to understand the rules of engagement in the public sphere, which demand awareness, in depth knowledge and respect for others.

Ignorant and partisan folks only fuel the fire of sectarian and civil discontent, which are alien to our nascent society because such tendencies do not reflect the make up of our citizens or our leaders.

Sawsan Fikree is a UAE-based writer.