Syrians take a break from protracted crisis by watching Arab Idol

Over the past four months, some of the war-weary Syrians have sought a pause from the bloody headlines on TVs about the raging war in their country by watching the Arab Idol music show. A lot of Syrian families spent every Friday's night recently by watching the program, the Arabic version of the American Idol, and listening to the contestants, especially the Syrian ones who entered the final contest but didnot win the title. "I really love to watch this show because the two hours of hearing great voices and talents make me temporarily forget about the ordeal that we are living in," Nour, a 24-year-old university student, said on her social network page. "I wish Arabs were united in politics as they are in art," she said. The show closed last Friday and a Palestinian from Gaza won the title, but two of the most notable contestants that reached the finalists were Syrians. However, rumors spread at the beginning of the show that Syrian contestant, Abdul-Karim Hamdan, was among the opponents of the Syrian government. Likely, another Syrian, Farah Youssef, who was among the three finalists, was regarded as a proponent of the government, especially as she belongs to the pro-government coastal village of Sheikh Badr. Farah remained the favorite singer of the government's loyalists whose Facebook pages were overwhelmed with Farah's portraits. Some people argued that voters should differentiate between politics and arts and urged people to vote for both contestants who have very strong and competing voices that draw attention and praise from jury from the very beginning. Some, despite their love for the voice of the winner, had wished Farah to the competition to have Syria's name in a happy event, not only in the headlines of crimes, killing, shelling and war. Amal, a 24-year-old, said on her social network page that "we love the winner, but Farah is the daughter of our country and we wish her a better future." "Farah, you are a winner in our eyes." The Arab Idol's phenomenon has united Syrians behind their TV sets on each Friday to encourage good voices. Some say that the show has brought happiness to Syrians, unlike the Arab unrest that has swept the country, causing anarchy and rampant destabilization.