Should I stay or should I go?

I think we cannot generalize the assessment made by author. There are few programs on Geo like ``Main Nahi Manta`` and ``Alif`` which are quite worthy. Contrary to that there are twisted and mindless programs like Alim Online (once they discussed whether killing lizard is haram or halal ;) or Ruhani Masayel (the guy seems to enter guiness book of world record for most problems solved). It all depends on intellectual depth of producers of a program.

I agree with NHK that positive sign is that discussion is being done on issues which were hitherto not discussed. I think it is not wise to curb discussion just because it`s mediocre or free for all.

fantastic, simply fantastic mr paracha, for once i whole hearetdly appreciate and agree with every single word and opinion you have expressed in this piece.
and we thought we were deprived back in the PTv and NTm era, we were wrong..it is now that we are suffering, brainwashed at the hands of a media that is in the control of the most dangerous kind of people. stupid materialistic businessman.

fantastic, simply fantastic mr paracha, for once i whole hearetdly appreciate and agree with every single word and opinion you have expressed in this piece.
and we thought we were deprived back in the PTv and NTm era, we were wrong..it is now that we are suffering, brainwashed at the hands of a media that is in the control of the most dangerous kind of people. stupid materialistic businessman.

Yeah ..... But is St patrick Canteen still there....??

.... but unfortunately I was at the Ship Owners College....!!......

#10 aquarious
~~and trying to re-enter religion and taboo discussions in our drawing rooms... even with

a bottle of Cola... ~~

Sound`s groovy, aquarious. But I personally would have prefered it had it been done with a big fat hashish joint! Would have brought in the Sufist angle to all the Deobandi-meets-Wahabi-meets-neo-liberal wish-wash up there. More ``Age Of The Aquarious`` (you) than Scorpio Rising (me), dig? ;)

rgds,
NfP

PS: Don`t get going about that Wahabi, Deobandi thing. I am absolutely non-religious. To the extent of being anti-religion. Any religion. Nothing but trouble. Sometimes comical but mostly otherwise. Should be abolished, really.

Religion on TV is nothing new. Just look at those freaks on American television. I havnt seen much of what you talk about, NFP, but if it is as bad as American TV then god help us. Ironic isnt it.

One step forward is a One step forward....... even with Muddy Boots....

...................I agree with Mr nazarhayatkhan at least its breaking a taboo......

and trying to re-enter religion and taboo discussions in our drawing rooms... even with

a bottle of Cola...

#8
Point taken nazarhayatkhan. But do you really believe that what is happening in Pakistan regarding the issue is about ``free media.`` It`s actually Free-for-all-media with midiocrity and chaos being the most freest.

rgds,
NfP

Paracha

I agree with your theme but these channels are serving a useful purpose as well.

Let the Mulla, the Fauji or corrupt politician come on the tube, say his bit - and then be refuted by the other party. That is what different points of views are.

These channels are educating people by giving them different perspectives. The Mullas are no more addressed like in the past - Janab, aap ke mein izzat karata hoon. And the Army which was a taboo subject is now criticized day in and day out. Things like homosexuality, pedofiles, lesbians etc which could never come on TV are being discussed.

As for the religious programs, the people are not only getting more arguements against the standard orthodoxy, they are also picking up the courage to stand up to it. Even the two-nation theory gets questioned.

I think people are getting more balanced information to make up their own mind. I trust the wisdom of a common man. Free media has to be a free media.

nhk

Nadeem you have gone on and on about this for ages now. Things have only gotten worse. But c`mon its still not like the George Orwell scenario you are trying to portray. At least not yet.

Wow amazing... butl no mention of that horrible program by Aamir Liaqat Hussain... called `Alim Online`....

Kudos to Mr Paracha for exposed the `new` media barons for what they really are, but really, all this is just another symptom of the increasingly suffocating, artificial, totalitarian, doublethink dystopia Pakistan (heck, the world) is turning into. Long live the brave new world our fathers created!

Okay NFP I agree with much of your ongoing thesis and which has been going on for a long time now with you. But what are you suggesting as an alternative? A return to the days of state owned media? Give these channels some time. They are new and will learn from mistakes. But i can understand how they can really bug an ex-Marxist. Relax.

I feel so good after reading this... as if I have had my catharsis...

Yaar, nfp- this is so true. These people- who control media- it seems, dont have a clue so as to what is the role of media in shaping society`s attitude and roles. how important an instrument it is in socialization. their screwed up, apolitical approach (thanks to Zia) to the world-issues, making everything look like the American Dream. It`s not even funny. and that line about paying the sensitive viewers... hahahah.. i soooo agree with that. I think they should be paying `sensitive` viewers for watching the religious propaganda bs like zakir nayek. Psuedos. Goddammed psuedos. they DO NOT know their history, or politics, or anything else for that matter. `humm ne namazein parhna chore deen to `Muslim Civilization ka downfall aa gaya`.

fun! keep writing nfp.

-bilal

NFP, I agree with the sentiment but we are on the brink of becoming irrelevant!!!!! The hogwash of dollars and popsie pop with glitz and naked flesh will drown us all, in this sea of sweeping statements, we either drown or tag along to the nearest corporate boat. I have given up hope since george the hun has become president, I think the entire world is slowly become one big republican state and this is the beginning of the end or end of end or whatever the nearest slogan is????

NFP don`t mince his words!

Recently heard Najam Shiraz singing his new naat. The words of the naat were altered for religious purposes but the tune and title was the same as the great song from his album `roop nagar` called `na taira khuda koi aur hai`...I had to close my ears.

The touching song had metamorphosed into an overdone me-too religious gibberish. I mention this becuase it reflects the larger perverse mentality that has taken root which tries to justify everything through religion. Logic is good because religion says its good. Every action needs justification from religion. Music, art, literature...etc. cannot be good in and of themselves. They need religion to knight them after being thoroughly observed at every step. Worse, to be a good person, you have to be religious.

I mean, the discussion you hear on religious programs with religious personalities are so freakin` stale and meaningless `let`s all pat each other on the back why don`t we?` The questions Farhat Hashmi`s audience ask are retarded to say the least.

As for how all this is now marketed (`Haj ka safar, Tang kay saath!` WTF!!) by the marketing gurus, eventually all this will come to head. It`ll probably get worse before it falls upside down. Like it won`t be long before Dr. Israr Ahmed is heard saying `This Hadis from Sahih Bukhari has been brought to you by Peak Freans Biscuits and Ding Dong bubble gum!` or with Farhat Hashmi`s program, sponsored by some cooking oil, has the audience asking which cooking oil would be the best according to Islam and Farhat Hashmi naturally responding!! I can`t wait!!

And of course, the new TV channels will more than happily project all this religious nonesense as it sells!