OCSAB: Round #2

Remember the whole OCSAB controversy?

Well, apparently, the story doesn’t end there (as if that wasn’t expected). Reuters has published a new article (Outspoken Saudi bloggers wary of “official” group) about the new netowrk and some of the responses of other fellow Saudi bloggers.

Ahmed (Saudi Jeans) points out to a new threshold for OCSAB, since they are now “seeking financial backing from the government.” Quite interesting! Ahmed wonders: “I don't know how these guys are thinking, but to ask for money from the government? Really? That simply means you are not independent anymore. Who wants to sacrifice his independence and credibility for some riyals?”

It seems that we might be overlooking something behind OCSAB’s identity and true colors: Independence might not be OCSAB’s thing to begin with. If the blessing of the government would bring cash stacks, would autonomy be that important after all?! We all know that there is lots of cash to be dispensed here and there, why not get a hefty chunk?

See, the whole independence debate can be summed up in a straightforward equation (and you don’t have to have a PhD in math to figure that out):

First: Non-Profit + Government funding = lack of true autonomy

Why so? Well, simply put, when governments fund particular projects and organizations, they attach many strings to that money. You cannot just take the cash and go party with it as you wish. You have to celebrate in accordance to the government’s liking. If they want disco lights at the party: you have to have disco lights at the party, period! (It is a clear-cut situation). 

Additionally, this announcement by OCSAB has another, somewhat hidden, value. They are saying: Hellooo...we are here guys, we are willing to do whatever you want, we will align with you, and most importantly, we are the good guys. Can’t you see? (Now, damn it: can we have some money----- pleaaase?)

Second: Usually, nonprofits work according to a bottom-top approach (people-to-authority), rather than a top-bottom approach (authority-to-people).

Therefore, I am wondering about the level and extent (current or future) of cooperation between OCSAB and the government and how far are they willing to go? What if, lets say, one of the bloggers in their network wrote something that the government didn’t approve of, what would OCSAB’s position be? Would they hand information about this blogger to the government? Are they going to expel him/her from their group for non-compliance? Did they formulate a policy about this? You know, with power comes responsibility, so OCSAB are you ready for the task ahead? Or are you just another semi-government-affiliated entity that acts based on a top-down model?

In an update to the Reuters story, one of OCSAB’s founders says (Arabic) that the reporter misrepresented his views. How did he do that? Well, the reporter said that the group is seeking government funding but what he actually meant is that they will not refuse government funding. Humm, big difference! Ok, they are not the same, I agree.

but if they are not interested in government monies why do you mention the words “government” and “funds” in the same sentence and on top of that, mention it in an article that will published in an international news agency? What the hell does the semantic difference between accepting and not denying it matter? Is OCSAB too clever to make the difference between those words but too stupid to forget that government money will end up in their pockets either way...?

Does vigilance mean anything anymore? Especially when talking about quite a delicate, and supposedly autonomous, relationship.

At the end, OCSAB, I have one thing to say to you: “the jig is up”

Comments

[raf*]

dear aya,

i think it's o.c.s.a.b. - official community of saudi arab bloggers, no?

the whole thing stank right from the start. this group doesn't want to promote blogging. it wants to steer blogging into the "right" direction - arabic, adhering to official islamic values, and definitely not including anything about personal lives.

it's a social engineering program: creating the correct saudi blogger. i don't know if they have even thought about the implications of their project. as for taking government money - well, they seem to be subscribing to the kind of government ideology prevailing in much of the region.

it's sad, really ...

--raf*

www.aqoul.com

[Aya]

Wow: OSCAB instead of OCSAB!
This shows that I have not even made a conscious decision to memorize or acknowledge their name.
Thanks Raf*...You got my back!