They are only talking about s.e.x. Shssh… change channel!
I have been watching a lot of Arabic TV lately. You can say it is a form of entertainment that forces me to speak Arabic. As my friend Lisa tells me, “Do you even know how to speak Arabic anymore? I never hear you say a word in Arabic.” Which is true, Arabic became my second language a long time ago. At times I am forced to only speak English with my parents, because I don’t know what the words are in Arabic. However, with satellite TV, I am forced to learn new words, new ideas, and an understanding of modern Arabic culture. Strangely, it has changed completely from what it was 10 or 20 years ago. Most of the good morals are still there, but the culture as a whole became a bit too loud.
My generation of Arabs in North America are split. They are either very traditional and follow the life of their parents from before they immigrated to these lands, or they are so westernized and have no idea what the Arabic culture is. However, there are the odd few like me that are in between. We take a bit of column A and a bit of column B, and we are stunned by the two extremes.
When you have too much time on your hand, you start exploring many realms in the culture. You try to understand what is the new norm and why, and if it can be applied in a very conservative and traditional society. Fakeness is what you end up with. I have never seen a society filled with professional actors. I think they spend too much time watching western movies and talk shows.
Speaking of talk shows, which I don’t even watch on TV here, although I heard Oprah is quite a rich talking celebrity, and Jerry Springer, Ellen, Tyra, etc, are quite popular too. However, in an open society, what they say is pretty normal. The western society is so open, that nothing that is said or ever mentioned is shocking. What I think I am getting at is what is spoken in the English language is not as shocking. Like my mother says, “Some things that are said in Arabic are so disgusting. Maybe because it is in Arabic. But in English, it is normal, doesn’t sound so bad.” It is true, when such words are said in Arabic in front of an Arabic audience, it is quite unbelievable. They said what? Are they allowed to say that in front of people? Are these words allowed to be spoken outside of one’s head?
Yes, there are many things in the Arab culture that are quite taboo. However, from an almost outsider hearing such words, which I did not know what they meant or heard of until I was 19 or 20 and hung out with many Arabs in University that didn’t care what they said, but I forced them to translate some words to me. Therefore, on TV, many Arabic talk shows have splurged from underground, and some issues that are openly discussed such as sex, pre-martial relationships, drugs, alcohol, etc, are quite HILARIOUS to hear in Arabic.
I am not joking. When I hear such things spoken about in Arabic I crack up laughing. Is this the way to explain some things? What are you people doing? Copy catting some western talk shows and translating it to Arabic? Hilarious! Well, why do I think that? Who the hell goes on TV and complains that he is too horny to do any work, any studying, any social activity, except sex? I heard that and I cracked up. I am like what the hell? Are you for real? You should not be going on a talk show to complain about that, you need a psychologist and some porn to calm you down, little man. 
Then another girl, that had her faced covered, complained that her boyfriend has been cheating on her for the past 3 months, and still comes back to her like nothing happened. And she has been telling him to marry her before her parents find out the truth or she is dead meat. Boring. Typical Arabic story. My advice to the girl, leave him, and move out of the country because honour killings are only a 6 or 7 year prison sentence.
Then, I saw another more educational talk show, where the Doctor lady was talking more about sex and how it is so taboo in our society. Then she said this, which kind of cracked me up, “Arabs are not allowed to talk about sex or even mention a thought before marriage. Especially girls. However, when they get married, it is one of the main aspects of marriage that they are forced to do, especially in a male dominating society. Why is that still going on?” I cracked up obviously because I couldn’t believe these issues are still discussed in our society. I guess it is still an issue, but from what I see on TV, Arabs are way more open minded, and not all marry at 16, and are grandmas by 32. Life changed! I think these old doctors need to realize that too.
Arabs: funny, expressive, traditional, and will always be controlled by their mothers.
Oh, for a light entertainment of why I think the talk about sex in the Arab culture is so funny and hilarious, is due to such music videos that kids are watching now a days.
Blah blah.. there are more videos, but I got bored of searching for the obvious.
Blah Blah, Confused, Culture, Random Thoughts, They said what?, Whatever!
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I looove FouseyTube!! All of his videos are... 
It’s an interesting position to be in knowing there is a traditional side and a western side. This was my challenge growing up because my mom was definitely old school and I was definitely new school.
She tried her best to convert me and I took in the best of Column A and the best of Column B like you. At least I hope I took the best of both worlds.
It is funny to see the other side and even joke about it. I’m sure the tradition side has just as much fun teasing us as we do of them.
@Rolando
It happens in every culture. What can one do? Just laugh it off I guess!
Mona ..
You said: “However, there are the odd few like me that are in between. We take a bit of column A and a bit of column B, and we are stunned by the two extremes.”
In my Deaf culture, traditionalists view all things hearing as evil; on the other end, there are deaf people who advocate hearing and are actually fluent and speak in multiple languages. I grew up with the idea Deaf culture was a specific way of life, not to be challenged, and always and forever upholding the status quo.
Technology has a funny way of forcing change, as you said.
Keep up the great stuffs!
About the whole forgeting Arabic I can so relate. I am starting to forget a bit. My main problem is the female and male way of talking. Like the sun is female and the moon is male, that stuff confuses the heck out of me, lol.
My dad said it’s something you have to learn seperately, you can’t just learn Arabic and know what is male and female. Unless it ends with with ta2 marboota. So I feel kind of embarrassed to talk with those mistakes even though people say its ok cause it wasn’t my first language.
I dunno, I think in India there are still a lot of issues in women’s rights that need to be addressed but those who need to hear it aren’t those who are allowed to watch talkshows and other trashy TV during the day when they should be cooking/cleaning/praying, the stuff a proper wife’s meant to be doing while her husband works. Guess why my mum convinced my dad to move away from his parents/ her in-lawss: preferably to another country?
It also bugs the hell out of me that my mum will be the exact same with me: She quotes bible passages about how a wife should be her husband’s helpmeet and how to clean floors and actively tells me off for showing sass. Luckily I don’t mind small frequent blow-outs with her so I haven’t got double-life syndrome. It’s made life really easy for my baby sister to be the ‘good child’ as well.
The videos are hilarous, especially the excercise one in the white tracksuit! i hope these are not big stars in the arab world.
@M.N
Unfortunately, some of them are!
HAHAHA…I can totally relate to this post. I have actually watched all three of those music videos on TV. For some reason I am so utterly shocked and embarrassed by those videos even though basically the same thing is shown on MTV. The taboo just becomes even more taboo in Arabic. I always involuntarily turn away whenever a Haifa video comes on.
Uh, and speaking of the guy who can’t work because of sex, I just saw this Egyptian talk show where the guy actually said he had medical proof that he had to have sex 15 times a day! I almost fell off the couch when I heard him say that.
@Mrs. S
Maybe the doctor who gave him that proof should have cured him instead. Jeez.
I find the fight between conservative Arab culture and the more liberal western culture to be rather interesting, especially when you look back on some of the history of western society and how it changed over time. But with TV, internet and technology, it seems that much stranger because you get conflicting messages from the same culture.
In terms of the column A/B – I think you have it right because you appreciate where your heritage comes from and respect it but also accept and cherish where you are now. I find those who reject one side to be strange as well.
well i do not know if u had ever lived in arabic society
may be the generation of 16 age marraiage had ended( n some arabic countries for example and some common cultures it is still there
)
but i can tell u,that even if the society seems to b opened and open-minded, that is unfortunantly in unguided way, which means ppl tend only to do things without knowing why to do it?
and still some issues are taboos, and alot of borders still prevent women from thousands of things
it is not that easy as it seems, our soceties still running by same old ways but in new dress i guess
best wishes to u
I wonder which country these videos are being shown in.
I heard an Arab comedian say that “it’s OK to swear in English because if you speak in English then God can not hear you.”
I think you shouldnt be too taunting to the Arab culture and society.. if I were you I would proudly express my identiry to the others, not tend to repudiate it..
If you were fair you would remember that these are the targeted TV programs aiming to westernize and “liberate” our still conservative culture, just like you are. No offense.
@Mouad
So you come to my site, and blame one person, which happens to be me on making fun of Arabs. So what do you call this westernized and liberate tv shows and nasty music that has been permeating the arab world? Do I have control over it? Is it westerners that are forcing it on Arabs, or Arabs themselves wanting it and spreading it on their channels?
Don’t blame me for 1000′s of people’s actions. All I do is make fun of what is going on, because that is reality, and it needs a bit of sense of humour so it won’t seem so disgusting.
I didnt blame you for what’s shown on Arab tvs. Sadly, most tv channels have been taken over and used to corrupt Arab youth to serve a foriegn agenda. Thanx God things are changing for the good now, but we still have much to do. That is my point: few people with sick intentions who seek to destroy what remained of good morals for personal interest are controlling most of the media. Just like the way the jewish lobbys control the US and its policies , can U deny that ?
) , but I really felt pain and offended when I saw the way uou are mocking the arab culture, based solely on what you thought to be the majority, overgeneralizing and exaggerating. If you are doubtful about the “arab culture” I am referring to, please read some history and how Muslim Arabs were the first pioneers in sciences and technology.
I have nothing against you personally (I think we never met before
Oh and btw, if I would choose which is the “more civilized”, I will go for those who feel shy to talk publicly about sexual affairs, and not for those who have sex on the roadside. If we feel just cool speaking about sex in public, it wouldnt be less cool to actually make sex in public, which is just what happening in the country you are seemingly happy belonging to.
@Mouad
1. I know Arab history better than you. Don’t question my knowledge of my culture.
2. I don’t talk about sex or anything inappropriate in public. You are questioning the way I was raised.
3. This is my blog and I talked about sex for mere mockery of the new Arab culture that is occupying people’s thoughts now a days.
4. The country that I happily belong to is the ONLY country that accepted us. I am Palestinian and Arab countries DON’T WANT US! You try going from country to country to just find a home.
5. Stop commenting on this post. Your argument is not strong enough and instead of arguing with me, go argue with these TV channels and shows that spread all this crap. Not me! Or is that the only power you got? Arguing with someone you don’t know over the net. How lame are you?
6. This post’s comments are closed, and no, you cannot email me about this subject anymore. You bored me to death.