The Russians love their children too

What I brought to the attention of those who read Tololy’s 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 “Jordan’s 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 one’s self to be in charge of other people’s 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 Soviets

Mr. 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 too

How can I save my little boy
From Oppenheimer’s deadly toy
There is no monopoly of common sense
On either side of the political fence

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

There 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 anymore

Mr. 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 too

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me and you
Is if the Russians love their children too