Let's start with a short story:

A guy has a dog that only barks, a lot. So he got sick of it and decided to take it to a Pet Doctor.
After the doctor checked the dog, he told the owner; listen, this dog is deaf, blind and can't sniff!
The dog owner asked; then why is it barking all the time?
The Doctor answered; because it is the only way remaining to persevere his identity!

After Hamas historical (Hysterical) win of elections in Palestine, the world is now busy because few Arab and Muslim countries/communities and organizations, decided to boycott the Danish and Norwegian products, as a result of controversy cartoons, and refusal of Denmark government to apology (although the newspaper apologized!).

A lot of essays and posts and Fatwas were raised calling to boycott these countries. But, putting aside if publishing these cartoons is write or wrong, did anyone asked himself if our Arab/Muslim world reaction is the right one? Are we doing enough to avoid such things from happening?

Why are we blaming the 'other' only and not blaming ourselves? What does the West know about us, about our religion, our heritage, our religion, about how our societies are formed and function? Do we really know that? And if we do, is what they know enough and correct? I'm sure you will say, NO. So, why do you blame them?

Today, I met few Arab journalists who come to Qatar to attend the 2nd Annual Aljazeera Forum, which I'm attending too. One of them works at Newsweek, and has been living in USA for so long. I was discussing with them blogging in the Arab world and criticizing the Arab media for lack of interest in Arab bloggers and blogging, as well their own problems in outreaching the public locally and internationally to represent what we, Arabs and Muslims all know, live and feel, beyond the local news.

While they all agreed that Arab media is in comma when it comes to technology, Internet, and blogging, I was surprised to hear from this Arab/American journalist that Americans are less interested to look at their news channel for more than 7 minutes a DAY, in average. And that Larry King Show is not watched by more than 160K world wide, including Americans.
On the other hand, an American might spend 20 minutes reading his favorites newspaper (often online). Contrary to us in the Middle East, were we watch the news channels for more than 70 minutes (exaggerating, but we watch a lot of news a day), and maybe read newspapers more or less like the American guys (but not as much online).

Now, what is the difference?

The CNN is watched world wide; however, Aljazeera is only for Arab speaking people. Even when the new Aljazeera International start, all the journalist in that chat-meeting agreed that it will have negligible effect on the West, because the Western people actually sees little of theirs, so why would they sit to watch Aljazeera?

As for the newspapers; theirs are the source of the news. Looking at the Washington Post, NY Times, etc.. These newspapers actually make the news, not us. We just quote them, or take the news from news agencies like Reuters or Associated Press. The only news that we make, is our local news, which reflects our politics, culture, religion, etc. But guess what? No body reads it but us, not the West!

So, what are we crying about? Why would you expect the West to know what religious figures means to Muslims? Why would you expect them to support Hamas, when hardly anyone in American knows that Israel is the occupier, not the Palestinians? Why would you expect Denmark government and people to apology for something practiced by law in their country, called "Freedom of Expression" (with all my reservation on the cartoons)? Just because we don't practice our right for "Freedom of Expression", does not mean that everyone should not. And, why compare yourself and the cartoons incident with imagination like if these cartoons were about the Holocaust, it would have been a disaster. You know why, because the Jews knows how to play the media game, not like us, and that is a point for them.

There is no place for comparison between Arab and Muslim world, and the West. We just bark (excuse my French), unfortunately, no body listens. We bark in anon language called Arabic, but don't expect the West to learn our language to understand what we are saying. Instead, be up to it. Be the Citizen Media. If your local/government media is deaf, blind and can't sniff, don't bark with them. Write, maybe a blog. That's the least that you can do. And guess what? People will listen to what you have to say. Slowly they well. And this is not a dream. Global Voices is one of the best examples for this. I admire the Global Voices slogan; "The world is talking, are you listening?" Not to forget Arab bloggers who write to Western media; or you didn't hear of Laila coverage of Palestine elections for the Guardian? And you didn't hear of the four Iraqi bloggers who now write for the NY Times?

Write, but don't cry. Enough of passing blames. Let�s stop barking and start biting!