a thorough brainwashing

I not only hate the current political scene in Lebanon, which may be compared to a sewage-system (although I’m sure sewage never smelled so foul), but I also hate the manner in which the media is reporting it. Lebanon is setting new standards in news reporting.

I’ve heard many Lebanese people accuse CNN and Fox News of being biased. I’ve heard them accuse the NY Times and other newspapers of leaning toward certain sides. But these same people never accuse the Lebanese media of the same thing.

Grab your remote control and switch to Al-Manar TV, Hezbollah’s propaganda machine, and read the news feed at the bottom of the page. You will read things that imply that the “beloved Hezbollah” has the support of everyone, including many religious, societal and academic figures. You will read about the success of the Party of God and its friends in the Holy Opposition. You will read about the utter failures of the Government the Opposition is attempting to topple. You will read about scandalous behavior (and possible contact with Israel) of Lebanese anti-Hezbollah politicians.

Now turn your channels to the Hariri-owned Future TV or the LBCI network, Lebanese Forces’ propaganda machine. Read about how the Lebanese people are upset and infuriated. Read about how the population is against Hezbollah and the Divine Opposition. Read about how “March 8 militia” (Opposition) have attacked the “March 14 population” (pro-government).

But nothing beats how small insinuations can shape the viewer’s perception of events.

For example:

Listening to the news bulleting on Hezbollah-hating Future TV, you hear things such as, “the demonstrations,” in reference to the masses of people gathering in down town in support of the Opposition. When Future TV wants to talk about the masses of people gathering around Lebanon in support of the government, it uses the word “festivities.” So you end up with nonsensical sentences such as, “The popular festivities in support of the government.” Such a sentence could easily have said, “The pro-government demonstrations.”

I might not be making sense to some, but I am just trying to point out how a specific word or phrase could ring in people’s ears and influence their thoughts. “Festivities” has more positive vibes than “demonstrations,” and it automatically negatively influences the viewer’s perception of the Opposition’s gathering while bolstering support for the pro-government “festivities.”

I don’t even want to delve into the phraseology of Al-Manar TV because, technically, it doesn’t qualify as a TV station because it constantly plays militaristic (not military) music and anthems all day.

But the supposedly professional and objective Future TV, LBCI, NEW TV and NBN are a different story. Not to mention that Hezbollah’s new friend, General Michel Aoun, is in the process of launching a new television station, O TV.

sectarian vs. sitcom

In Lebanon, every sect has its own television station; but even within the sects, political disputes lead to the making of new television stations to cater for the disputing parties.

NBN and Al-Manar were meant to cater for Amal Movement supporters and Hezbollah aficionados (both of the Shiite sect), respectively. The rival factions are now best friends, but their TV stations exist.

The same goes fro LBCI and its upcoming Maronite Christian rival, O TV.

Once upon a time, I used to make fun of people who watched The Paramount Channel, accusing them of being slowly turned into laughing-without-thinking couch potatoes. But it seems that the only Lebanese people who are not being brainwashed at the moment are those avoiding local media and focusing only on the non-consequential sitcoms.

I apologize to these people. They knew better.