Having read the recent Elham agenda, I thought once and again about the blogsphere.  There is no doubt blogs, although still underlined in red by my Microsoft Word 2003 dictionary, are now a significant part of the 21st century media. Nonetheless, we still hear “main stream media” versus “blogs” whenever the latter is used as any form of reference. Why do we still make the distinction and is it really a matter of time until blogs are considered of the same class as other forms of writing?

I personally think the gist of the problem is far away from the form of writing – be it on paper or electronically on a webpage. The condescending feelings blogs receive from some people are the result of the very nature of blogging: self and free publishing for everyone. The middle process of publishing had for years worked as a filtering procedure that reduces the amount of gibberish. If someone had taken the risk of paying to get it published then there should be at least something that is worth noticing or reading. There was also the privilege of the editor, noticing the unnoticed by the author and presenting an enhanced final piece. This is, of course, not to say that there are no massive amounts of published books that are worthless, but that this number would certainly be less than that of same value blogs one would find.

Filtering, however, is a double-edged sword. Filtering can also mean the inaccessibility of publishing to certain people who indeed have something crucial to say. Filtering can mean that in some countries the quality check can extend to censoring, and the decision of what might be considered useful can be skewed to fit particular agendas.

From here, blogging gained its fame. The freedom of writing, shedding the light on subjects and souls main stream media purposefully or neglectfully overlook, especially in our part of the world.

A blogger myself, I still notice the problem. How do we make the distinction between those who are writing the unwritten history, those whose blogs are testimonials of a place and time, those whose blogs are worth going next to published papers in the electronic and physical libraries of the world, those whose posts are to be reviewed, considered and cited by humanity researchers, how do we distinguish them from the rest of the crowd?

The same “going shopping” topic can be tackled in an aimless, venting and ranting form by one blogger, but can highlight a sociocultural phenomenon by another. Not to deny the former their right of expressing themselves, but how do we prevent readers’ disorientation amongst all of this?

Blogging makes it even harder- not every post in the one blog is equal. The daily writing nature of blogs can tempt bloggers to write more frequently, often with less time spent on each post. An analysis of the evolution of blogs belonging to columnists is indeed interesting.

That, consequently, takes us back to the selection process. Like how books & published papers distinguish themselves and their status by certain labels: a paper published in Nature or IEEE, an article in the Economist, or a book by HBSP. Like how the Internet has evolved to be a proper medium to host references with the introduction of digital libraries. I envisage (or wish for) a similar future for the blogsphere.

Away from Bahrain for several years, I came back to find it changed is so many ways. On my second week back I wrote the following article in the memory of what I longed for.

From the land of the one million palm trees, from the island of sweet sea water, coral reefs and sandy beaches, from the seas inhabited by dolphins and sea cows..I write to you..

We live in the northern part of island, well-known for its dense green foliage. Thanks to the numerous spring waters, most farms scattered across the villages grow exotic fruits and vegetables. Crops include melon, basil, watercress, papaya, okra, parsley, coriander and many others I struggle to find English names for.

It is meal time, and customarily, we are having sea food today. Are you a shell-fish fan? Crab, shrimps, crayfish or oysters? Are we craving fish today? For the list of that can be quite long! My favourites are Hamour (Grouper), Chan’ad (Mackerel), Hamam Arabee (Blackbanded Trevally), Byah (Bluespot Mullet) and Janam (Grey Grunt). A white pudding called Falooda is then served for dessert. Although very prevalent among the locals, few actually realize that the white strips used to make Falooda are actually seaweed (Agar Strips).

We planned a visit to the famed Hawar Islands, an archipelago of 16 islands 20 kilometers south east of Bahrain. A flock of Socotra Cormorants greeted us as we arrived. Not lucky enough to see the rare Sooty Falcon, we settled for the flamingos and the green turtles.

My inquisitive nature takes me to the southern part of Bahrain, where people camp during the winter months, when the temperature is more moderate and a light breeze cools the air. As I move down south I glimpse an Arabian Oryx, and a Reem Gazelle. The tranquility of the empty southern desert disrupted by the swift movement of a lizard, the food of the nomads and the cause of a phobia to myself and others. I always wanted to see the long eared desert hedgehog, but never could. Amidst the vast areas of desolate tract stands high the Tree of Life.

An incident casually mentioned by a state primary school teacher indeed caught my attention. Two third-graders wrangling over who is the bad guy, Saddam or Nasrallah. Although both residents and also citizens of the same country the two kids had poles apart background. Both found it incomprehensible that the other was claiming his only idol and hero to be an evil man.

My worries were certainly amplified when during a conversation with yet another friend, he mentioned how offensive he finds it that people have pictures of Nasrallah and other Ayatollahs on their cars as well as inside and outside their Hussainias. “There should be some tolerance and respect to other Sunni neighbours.  There should not be black flags during Ashura in areas inhabited by both Sunna and Shia. There should be one Bahraini identity” he added.

I pointed towards the noticeboard behind him, where he had two pictures of Guevara hanging, and to his T-shirt where yet another Guevara was in place. I asked how different he thought Guevera the icon was from Nasrallah or any other. “Guevara does not resemble any religious sect or background” was his answer.

I did not hide my astonishment and disappointment at his answer. Guevara is a Marxist-Leninist and if everyone on the island thought like my friend does then many should be offended by his picture as his ideology counters theirs. The very absence of religious background is contrary to the belief of many.

I came back home contemplating over both conversations and to how the concept of tolerance is causing everybody’s intolerance. Bahrain for ages witnessed the commemoration of the Ashura festival and the exhibition of its black flags on Bahraini streets. Although not necessarily performing any of the rituals, most Sunni Bahrainis recognize the importance of the time of the year and show a great deal of respect and understanding for their fellow Shia. How the black flags are causing some of the modern and liberal non-shia Bahraini to feel offended is indeed a step backward.

Which way does tolerance go? Does it mandate the absence of any social, political and religious differences and the abolishment of any iconic slogans and idols in order for everyone not to feel offended or discriminated against? Or does it mean that each and every social, political and religious sect should exhibit their slogans and icons in without fear in their own society?

Does tolerance give me a Nasrallah, Guevara, Khomeini, Saddam, Abdel Nasser free Bahrain? For if it does I really prefer it the other way around. Where does tolerance stop if it was to strip down the identities of the social spectrum?

Tolerance is when I tolerate others even if I disagree or disapprove. Tolerance is to live, and to let live. Tolerance does not mean we should all wear a physical and a mental uniform not to offend others.

Bahrain’s one identity is there- the one Bahrain has always been there. Regardless of our religion and political standing we make up for the one Bahrain, and I chose to say regardless not without. With my religious background, with my political opinions I am a Bahraini, who love all other Bahraini given any differences.

I applaud to the Just Bahraini campaign initiated by blogger Mahmood, for we need a reminder of things we have in common rather than the constant propaganda of sectarianism. However I would like to draw his attention to the fact that I feel that his message need to say “Shi’i OR Sunni, I am Bahraini”. His Arabic slogan translates into “Not Shi’i, not Sunni, just Bahraini” which made me stop to mull over it for a few seconds. So, what if I think I am either? I want the Sunni to feel Sunni and the Shi’i to feel Shi’i, but also feel Bahraini, above all. Those who are neither are also as Bahraini, for Bahrain is the homeland of us all.