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Listening to Robert Fisk’s lecture was a breath of fresh
air in the contemporary suffocating political environment where
Presidents and Prime Ministers and Army Generals are suppressing and
oppressing not only public opinion but also the writings of
journalists. Robert Fisk has been sharing his truth about the Arab
and Muslim worlds of the
Middle East for
the last three decades. He has been aware that there is a price
attached to sharing one’s truth, but he is ready to pay that price.
My first introduction to Robert Fisk’s writings was through
his interviews with Osama bin Laden. In spite of being a Western
journalist I was impressed by his attitude towards Osama, who did
not trust any Western official or journalist, but trusted Fisk. To
develop a rapport with Osama bin Laden must be his great
achievement. He interviewed him not only once but three times. Osama
bin Laden considers him the most sympathetic Western journalist who
can share Osama’s message to the world sincerely, honestly and
candidly. I am not aware of any other Western journalist who is as
well respected in the Muslim and Arab world as Robert Fisk is. The
only other Western scholar that comes to my mind is Noam Chomsky.
So when I found out that Robert Fisk’s new book had been
released and he would be giving a lecture at the
University of
Toronto on Wednesday November 23rd, 2005, I decided to go with my friends and listen to his
lecture. “This is not an opportunity that I would get very often in
my life,” I thought. It was also a coincidence that my new book
Prophets of Violence, Prophets of Peace was recently released in
which I had included a poem Liberating
Iraq*
dedicated to Robert Fisk. I thought if I got a chance I would ask
him to autograph his new book for me and I will present him my book
as a gift. The thought was quite exciting. However, I was not sure
whether I would be able to actualize it.
When I arrived at the
University of
Toronto it was already 7:30 pm. and the hall was full. I walked up
to the second row and not finding any empty seat, sat on a step. I
was quite willing to sit on the floor to listen to this great man
who has been challenging the two great powers of the world, the
British and American Governments, underscoring that the pen was
mightier than the sword. As I looked around, a charming young lady
offered an empty chair close to her. I thanked her and took the
seat.
As I sat down comfortably I saw Haroon Siddiqui on the
stage. Being one of the most well respected and well-known
journalists of the East living and writing in the West, he was asked
to welcome Robert Fisk. Haroon Siddiqui stated that there was a time
when journalists pretended to be impartial and neutral and hid their
biases. But with the passage of time more and more journalists
shared their opinions openly and honestly and let readers decide
which newspaper and which writer they would like to read. Siddiqui
stated that Fisk has made his position and his philosophy clear. He
is an independent journalist who does not write for any government,
he rather writes for the masses and is only answerable to his own
conscience.
When Fisk arrived on the stage people stood up and clapped
to welcome him. It was obvious that he was among his friends and
admirers. I was glad to be one of them.
Fisk had a few notes in front of him while he talked. He
was quite an energized and captivating speaker. He held the
attention of nearly five hundred people for nearly ninety minutes,
after which there was a long list of questions. He answered them
honestly and sincerely until his voice became hoarse. After saying
goodbye to the audience, he went to the hall to autograph his latest
book, The Great War For Civilization…The Conquest of the
Middle
East
for his admirers.
During his ninety minutes lecture there were parts that
were personal and there were areas that were political and
philosophical. He shared about his Dad who had fought in the First
World War and received a medal on which it was engraved The Great
War For Civilization. That engraving was the inspiration for the
title of his new book. During his lecture, he was quite open about
his emotional struggles and philosophical differences with his
father who had become conservative in his old age and had become a
believer of capital punishment. It seemed as if Robert’s writing
this book was partly to resolve his relationship with his father who
passed away in 1992. When I listened to his struggles it reminded me
of Kafka’s letter to his father in which Kafka shared that his
writings played a significant role in his relationship with his
father. Unfortunately his father never read his writings. I was not
sure whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that Robert Fisk’s
father Bill Fisk would never have a chance to read his son’s
master-piece. I wondered if his father was still alive whether
Robert Fisk would have written anything differently.
Fisk shared how British Imperialists have been trying to
conquer
Iraq
and Middle East for the last hundred years on the pretense of
liberating them from their oppressive regimes without realizing that
they were making it worse rather than better. Fisk stated
passionately that if Muslims and Arabs needed freedom it was
‘freedom from us’, he meant Westerners.
Fisk highlighted that he had travelled widely in different
parts of the Muslim and Arab world covering many tragic stories. He
believed that
America
supported many oppressive regimes including Shah of Iran by
uprooting a democratic regime of Mosaddagh by CIA efforts and then
supporting Saddam Hussain to fight Iranian Khomeni regime. Fisk and
his colleagues witnessed and wrote about the use of biological and
chemical weapons used by Saddam Hussain provided by America. He said
as far as these leaders are in favour of
America
they are heroes and considered strong leaders but when they do not
listen to the dictates of White House, they become dictators and
heroes turn into villains.
Fisk shared his disillusionment with those journalists who
follow the orders of Presidents and Prime Ministers and Army
Generals rather than following their own conscience. He believed
that journalists need to share those parts of the story, those
aspects of the narrative that are censored by the state. He gave an
example that all the American soldiers who are currently dying in
the war have names and families and records but all the Iraqis that
are losing their lives in that same war are neither recognized nor
mentioned.
He recalled that one day when he was visiting an official
in Iraq
he saw on the computer that in the month of July 2005 alone, more
than one thousand Iraqis were killed. Fisk was shocked to find out
that in one month the death toll was half of the American lives lost
in the last three years. Fisk reported that to the British media but
such information is generally censored as Western media do not care
about the Iraqi, Muslim and Arab lives. He expressed his sadness at
seeing governments controlling the media and sharing half truth. He
believed that journalists need to question authority and offer an
alternative narration than the official narration of the British and
American Governments and tell masses the whole truth.
Fisk seemed pleased to see that more and more common people
in the Middle East are challenging the oppressive regimes and
expressing their views and opinions. He stated that even after
Yasser Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize he was asked to
‘control’ his people especially those who were involved in armed
resistance. He questioned why the Western powers expect from the
democratic leaders in the
Middle East to
‘control’ their people rather than ‘represent’ their people. He
thinks that linking Islam and Muslims with violence and terrorism is
not fair as we do not link Christianity and Christians with violence
and terrorism when they kill thousands of people in different parts
of the world. He felt that until we genuinely respect Muslims and
Arabs we will not have a genuine dialogue and would not be able to
resolve conflicts peacefully.
After the lecture I met with Robert Fisk to have my copy of
the book autographed and present him with my book, stating that it
was a gift for him as it contained a poem that was dedicated to him.
He accepted it gracefully and said, “I am not deserving of a poem
but I would accept it.” I was impressed by his humility.
Listening to Robert Fisk and meeting him briefly will
remain a wonderful memory in my heart and mind for the rest of my
life. Now reading his book will become more meaningful.
Dr. Khalid Sohail
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