Two Hours Before the Box

I sat last night for two interminable hours watching PBS Frontline's "House of Saud: A special history on Saudi Arabia, its troubled relationship with the America, and the challenges confronting a nation where tradition and modernity are in violent collision". It was as tedious as only PBS can be when it is trying to be educational.

And yet I did sit it out as it was pretty informative. At least it was so for me. I don't recall any part of my formal education touching upon Arabia or any part of its history, only just enough to comprehend what the Crusaders were doing when they went out east. Considering what a large stake we have now in the Middle East it's rather embarrassing to be so ignorant of it. This programme gave an easily digestible chronology, a framework on which to hang the events of recent history. As for the nuances, well. . .given PBS's well-known leanings, not to say biases, perhaps a bit more reading is in order.

But if it's on again and you not only have a spare couple of hours but are as bolt-ignorant as I am in that area, it's worth having a look at. But make a pot of coffee first.

(PBS always puts together a website for this sort of thing and the "House of Saud" was no exception. It's here.)