WhispersThe answer is with YOU! [Archives:2005/847/Opinion]

By Fahmia AL-Fotih
Through this first column I would like to start by whispering a short story to you. This story was told to me by Mr. Nassim Al-Rahman, UNICEF representative here in Yemen. I really like the story as it has within it a strong message, which I thought was only fair to convey it to you.

The story talks about a Chinese wise man who claimed that he knew every thing in this world and had an answer for every question. So one day he called all the media people for a press conference and demanded that they would ask him any question and that he would definitely answer it. The journalists were amazed. Then one smart journalist stood and decided to ask that wise man. The journalist was holding behind his back a pigeon. He told him that there was a pigeon behind his back and he asked the wise man if he could tell him if the pigeon was dead or alive. The journalist intended that if the wise man's answer was the pigeon was alive he would suffocate it and he would prove that the wise man knew nothing. But if he answered that the pigeon was dead he would let the pigeon fly and he would prove that he was a false wise man. The wise man knew the intention of that smart journalist and he was confused what to do then he stopped thinking and pointed to the journalist saying “The answer is with you.”

I hope, dear reader, that you get the idea of the story. We, who work in the media, have a power of change and the ability to make a difference in our society. The media people can tangibly tackle the nation's issues and discuss them fairly and transparently trying to find out the facts, condemning the negatives, praising the positives, finding the solutions for the problems and taking part in prosperity of their nation. Media people should know that they have a strong weapon and they have to appreciate and use it appropriately. They are the tool of change.

Through this column, I will attempt to shed light on some of these real stories and crucial issues that happen repeatedly in our country and in other countries as well. I will try to reflect the reality as it is. These stories will mainly focus on the vital social issues. As a media people we try to show them objectively not for excite the readers but to call the society with all its members, parents, teachers, interested people who are responsible and who will be responsible in future to ponder in the content in these stories to find out solutions for such tragedies and problems and we ourselves shouldn't repeat the same mistakes.

I wish that the whispers here would be heard and find good ears particularly among the concerned people. I wish also, that I, as one of the media people, will be able a bridge the gap between the simple and poor people, those whom cannot be heard, and the decision makers.

Again, thanks Nassiem for you inspired me to write the first story in this column.
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