The negative impact of media on the mind and attitude of our youths is beyond doubt. The ostentatious style and flamboyant clothing of our younger generation, particularly the females, challenge our culture flagrantly. The amorous serials, advertising gimmicks and amoral programs have caused a colossal change in our culture and social customs. The mouth-watering attraction of the actors and actresses’ latest fashions lure our teenage to adopt the same style and attitude in their social and individual life. Hence, it seems that our cultural norms, which are supposed to root in moral values, are on the verge of erosion.
Our society is flooded with foreign films and serials which threaten the private spheres of our compatriots. As a result, the girls and women’s mini-skirt, tights and blouses are akin to the updated fashion of foreign actresses – whose main objectives are to portray the industrial products or represent as fashion models. Some may believe that their dignity lies in their beauty. But it should be noted that “Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength.”
Furthermore, the fractious attitudes and asperity of our children are the very copy of the horror movies. Last year, a number of children who watched a popular Turkish serial “The Valley of the Wolves” in a village, started to fight in their childish game as it was shown in the serial and one of them was killed as a result of the violent behaviors of his playmates. Furthermore, a teenage boy, whom I knew, wished to try hanging on, tied a scarf around his neck and failed to untie it and succumbed to death. So, when the children are exposed to watch violent films, without their parents’ care, they will be affected mentally.
Our local media, which have to play a positive role in social, cultural and political arenas with paying a due respect to our moral and religious values, spoil the morality of our youths. To write more incisively, our national TVs and radios broadcast amorous films, thrilling music and dancing without paying attention to our religious values, even in Holy Months. Moreover, musical programs are conducted by local media for the mere encouragement of our male and female youths, in western style, to participate. Do our youths take active part in the programs?
Lack of positive and educational amusements on one hand, and the charm of flamboyant world of virtuosity on the other hand tempt the teenagers greatly. Our males in general and our females in particular should note that such programs are not the impeccable creativity for them to embellish their world rather they are fraught with manifold problems:Firstly, in the critical time of their youthfulness, such programs are highly time-consuming which divert their attention from their studies or works to amoral shows. Therefore, it would be naïve of them to fall in such injurious labyrinths.
Secondly, they will succumb to foreign cultures, which are reflected via our TV programs, and they won’t be able to notice this subtle change easily. It is believed that this alteration will not affect only their styles but also their minds and attitudes. Hence, they will be spoiled morally and alienated to their own personality, identity, cultural and moral values.
Charlie Chaplin writes a piece of humane and virtuous advice to his actress daughter Zheraldin as, “Your job is very difficult. I know that. Your body is covered only with a piece of silk. Because art can and will appear naked on stage, but to come back from there in wearing and cleaner … But nothing and no one else in this world deserves to see even the nails of the feet of a girl. Nakedness is a disease of our time. I am old and my words might sound funny. But me, your naked body must belong to one who loves Face your soul.” He points out two incontrovertible facts as, “Nothing and no one else in this world deserves to see even the nails of the feet of a girl.” The girls should value their dignity and personality so as not to easily succumb to applauses of audience. In other words, they have not to feel the temerity to cross the moral restrictions with the audience’ whistles. He adds, “Nakedness is a disease of our time.” Ill-fatedly, our actresses remove their veils without feeling a tinge of moral or religious guilt. They appear on stage in pure western culture. Their nakedness is an infectious disease which is not justifiable in Islamic societies.
Hence, both national and international media have to hold the public’s beliefs and values in respect. The negative role of local media which act as catalyst to precipitate cultural change is highly hurtful to our religious people. In short, the media are urged to let the religious or traditional people also breathe a fresh air of freedom in their small cottages and do not muddy the waters for them anymore. The singular feelings permeated our people’s atmosphere which threaten their pure faith and social, cultural and moral values seem beyond the tolerance of many parents.