Cheeky Facebook in the Middle East
Saudi minister of information and culture (or maybe the other way around) 'talking' on Facebook with some average citizens (no dissidents need apply):
- Are you really the minister of culture and information?
- Yep. C’est vrai…..Wirklich…
- Minister: I can’t believe that you are here, Alhamdulillah (thanks to Allah).
- Nope. It’s true. It’s me. I mean I am me…you know what I mean.
- Strange. A minister on Facebook! (Well, there is no such thing as Arsebook now is there?)
- Nope, not strange or nuttin’. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sees that those who have positions of responsibility….citizens…developing services…improving…for citizens…modern means of communication…And, brother, I am partial to the youth…need to dialog in their own means…my interviews and statements….not strange to be on Facebook…
- Yep. You are right. You are known to be partial to electronic media (YouTube?) But what do you want with Facebook.
- Connecting with the media…press…comments about how the ministry is performing….aren’t family members required to keep in touch? We are one big family here (including or excluding the ‘family’?) - My relation with intellectuals, journalists, and media people is like a brother to a brother, a father to a son… against sectarianism, takfir, and for freedom and justice….When I hear some claim that the state is against freedom, that Islam is against freedom, it makes me sad….
At this point I was torn between crying, laughing, or a combination of both. I opted for grabbing an empty grocery bag since there was no bucket handy…
Cheers
mhg
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