|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
opinionAlso in this section: FETV and books: be cultured to be free by Raul Leís --- raulleisr@hotmail.com --- translated by Joel Inwood "To be cultured is the only way of being free", affirmed José Martí in a work published in the magazine El América from New York in May of 1884. The Cuban patriot and writer proposed an education where teachers teach across all fields, sharing knowledge, but not only knowledge of agriculture or mechanics or geography, but also tenderness, which, as he said, is such a fault and also such a virtue in people. But what does it mean to be cultured today? Culture is a collective process of creation, which has many aspects; very important among them are communication and reading. What’s happening today in Panama with those two aspects? 1) Communication: If we are not informed and, furthermore, not well and freely informed, we cannot be free. In this aspect I’m deeply worried with the declarations from members of the Board of directors of television Channel 5 FETV, that aim to cancel the opinion programs hosted by Rolando Vidal y Maribel Cuervo de Paredes and, as well as to eliminate the news section and to compact the programming of that channel into just a few hours per day. As the Citizens Action Movement mentions, this decision "about which the tens of thousands of the channel's viewers have been neither consulted nor allowed to duly participate, is by all lights a measure to silence voices that inform about, analyze and criticize national affairs in the light of public opinion. “We agree with the Social Pastoral Cáritas when they say: "For some reason the line they’re drawing to cross out values is unsettling. It is trying to silence an opportunity to leave the traditional media orbit, which doesn’t foster independent and original thought. It’s important to balance out of the dominant system, whose fruits we know. Faith TV has been contributing to the consolidation of values and ethical principles for social dynamics, and it constitutes an alternative for the people who refuse to be lulled into mental illness by the magical thinking of telenovelas, superficial programs of violence and the bombardment of conditioning to become unconditional consumers. “We, the people who do not have commercial interests to which Faith TV may pander, are called at this moment, to act like a Christian community, saving true social dialogue --- open and participatory --- an instrument which they are trying to kidnap for the interests of those who prefer us to be dumb interlocutors, receiving their message, living for consumption, rather than to be the backbone of the Christian faith with the coherence that the latter demands. We thank Faith TV for its efforts toward pruning Panama of the logic and the language that prevents citizens from perceiving new realities critically. May God accompany us and fortify us so that we be pruned to act with the same feelings of faith that the Spirit summons to us." I believe that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church cannot and must not accept this violation, much less encourage it or allow it. Indeed, not only would it mean the reduction of the potential for educating, orienting and motivating average Catholics, but it would effectively place them against the critical perspectives of Channel 5, which, following the actions of the board of directors, suggests it’s necessary to censure or to eliminate these critical perspectives, even at the cost of freedom of expression. 2) Reading: I always remember a story that I read or had read to me when I was young. One was the story of king Midas, who turned everything he touched to gold. Throughout my life I have learned something very important --- good reading, when it touches the mind, the soul and the conscience, helps us to transform ourselves into better people. And you know what? This is worth more than all gold of the world. The third International Book Fair took place from June 29 through July 3 in Panama, and it was a very important event that invited us to read and to read beneficially. The Chileans were the honoured guests at the event in ATLAPA. It was my pleasure to present two books in the fair this time: a children’s book called “¿Quieres que te lo cuente otra vez?” and “Remedio para la congoja - Cuentos de la calle.” One of lime and another one of sand: the necessity to act against the threat that jeopardizes channel 5 with restricting the quality and content of its high quality programming and, therefore, the benefits that we received from it, and the opportunity to read more and improve one’s self through the great cultural event of the year.
News | Business | Editorial | Opinion | Letters | Arts | Review | Community | Fun | Travel
|
|||||||
|
