"More than 200 years ago, it was observed that, the press is mistress of intelligence, and intelligence is mistress of the world."
Thus spoke Dr. Abdullah Nasher, then Ambassador for the Republic of Yemen. Ambassador Nasher's inspiring speech, below, concluded with:
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
National Press Club of Canada
Distinguished Guests,
Heartfelt thanks to the National Press Club, its President, Rennie MacKenzie, Vice President, Tim Kane, the Board of Directors, Rosaleen Dickson and Ahmed Murad, for this wonderful farewell dinner for me and our beloved Dean and dear friend, Hassan Al-Suwaidi.
Dating back some five centuries, the first newspapers were hand-written and circulated among merchants. They contained information about wars, economic conditions, social customs and even "human interest" features. The first printed versions appeared in Germany in the late 1400s and were delightfully prone to sensationalism. One of these early "tabloids" covered the exploits of Vlad Drakul who became Count Dracula of later folklore. The first successively published title was The Weekly News, of 1622 followed by the first officially-sanctioned newspaper, The London Gazette, of 1666.
Over the years Dr, Nasher published numerous scientific research papers, primarily in British medical journals. In 2000, he published a book entitled, 'Health Care in Least Developed Countries: The Experience of Yemen.'
More than 200 years ago, it was observed that, "The press is mistress of intelligence, and intelligence is mistress of the world". Like many mistresses who grow tired of living in the shadows, this one boldly emerged from the background and developed into an entity of monumental proportions. In the early 1800s, Edmund Burk was addressing the Three Estates of parliament - the church, the nobility and the commoners, when he pointed to the Reporter's Gallery and declared it to be the Fourth Estate and the most vital of all, being the great equalizer and caretaker of democracy.
In keeping with the tradition of journalism, I would like to quote the astute observations of others Ð in particular the shrewd insight of the 19th Century writer who so persuasively captured the essence of this powerful medium, Frederick K Hunt. His publication, "The Fourth Estate: Contributions Towards a History of Newspapers and The Liberty of the Press" is as pertinent now as it was 150 years ago, as you will see from the following quote on the subject: "There she is, the great engine Ð she never sleeps. She has her Ambassadors in every quarter of the world Ð her couriers upon every road. Her officers march along with armies and her envoys walk into Statesmen's Cabinets. They are ubiquitous. Yonder Journal has an agent, at this minute giving bribes at Madrid; and another inspecting the price of potatoes at Covent Garden in London.
All men, now-a-days, who read at all, read newspapers. Go where you will, you see the board sheet that tells the Passing History of the world we live in, and that reflects the real life Ð the feelings, the actions, the aspirations and the prejudices Ð the glory and the shame of the men of today. It shows us the only world we can see, and walk over, and move amongst; the only world we can test by our personal experience and our outward senses. What wonder, then, that newspapers have grown upon us until they have become a positive necessity of civilized existence Ð a portion, indeed of modern civilization.
The Newspaper is a great teacher and an all-powerful instrument of modern civilization, there is no affectation of greatness about it. The Newspaper is the familiar of all men, of all degrees, of all occupations. If it teaches, it teaches imperceptibly. It has no pompous gown, or scholastic rod, to abash or control, but prepares itself, and is admitted freely and at once to a worldwide intimacy with all kinds and conditions of people. For the idle, it is a friendly gossip; to the busy, it shows what business is on hand; for the politician, it reflects the feeling of party; for the holiday-maker, it talks about new plays, new music, and the last exhibition. Its ample page is full of the romance of real life, equally with the facts of real life.
As they stand side-by-side, those tall columns of words show us the hopes of the sanguine, and the sufferings of the unfortunate; they hang out the lure of the trader who would sell his wares, and the manager who would fill his theatre; shoulder-by-shoulder are the reports of regal and noble festivities, and lists of bankrupts and insolvents, credit crunches and exchange rates, and in as many paragraphs we find linked the three great steps of a generation - the births, the marriages and the deaths.
No wonder, then, that whilst the world grows tired of orators and weary of the mimic stage, it should be more and more faithful in its reference to the intellectual familiar that drops, as De Tocqueville says, the same thought into a hundred thousand minds at the same minute; or more attached to the friendly broadsheet that reflects truly and promptly the ever-changing, but ever-exciting scenes of the great drama of real life."
Eighty years ago, Francis Rowse of The Ottawa Journal and Guy Rhoades of the Ottawa Citizen collected a group of journalists in a City Police courtroom and formed the Ottawa Press Club. Since that time, the organization has blossomed into a national institution and is known for its tradition and pursuit of excellence, emancipated wisdom and liberal discussion. Its very existence serves as evidence of this country's commitment and devotion to freedom of the Press and its intrinsic value as an instrument of democracy. Its hallowed halls - wherever they have been housed over the years, have been host to a colourful cast of characters - the famous, the obscure, the leaders, the instigators, the rising stars and the fallen - as long as there is a message to be heard, the National Press Club has provided a podium for it to be delivered.
Soon after arriving here in Ottawa in December 2003, realizing how important the press and the media are in a democratic country, I took out a membership in the National Press Club. By attending many Newsmaker Breakfasts and Luncheons, a large window of opportunity presented itself to me and enabled me to meet and acquaint myself with a wealth of outstanding speakers, diplomats, legislators, politicians, scientists, business people and media . I was exposed to discussions that were informative, current and lively, concerning significant issues from human rights, environment, elections and freedom of the press, to the economy and Canada/US relations. I felt that I had been handed a kaleidoscope through which I could peer into the multi-faceted structure upon which this country's democracy, values and freedoms are built as well as a vehicle by which I could gain insight into the complex issues that determine how these ideals are evolving.
It has been a great honour and a privilege to have been associated with your Club and a guest here tonight, together with my dear friend and colleague, Hassan Al Suwaidi. Our parting wish to all of you is to see this remarkable establishment continue to flourish, with the support and recognition that a member of the Fourth Estate deserves and our deepest desire is that one day soon we will follow in your footsteps and proudly walk the halls of our own noble Press Clubs in Yemen and the UAE.
In closing, I would like to leave you with the enlightened words of the principal author of the American Declaration of Independence, President Thomas Jefferson who in the early 1800s said:
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
Dr. Abdullah Nasher, Ambassador for the Republic of Yemen