كانت الصورة النمطية للصوص في ثقافة المجتمع أشخاصاً يضعون الأقنعة أو يخفون وجوههم باللثمة، فالتستر صفة اللص الأساسية، لكننا في زمن لم يعد يخفي اللصوص وجوههم ولا يخجلون من أفعالهم !
من سرقة الأموال لسرقة الأفكار لسرقة الأعمار، تعدّدت السرقات وتنوّعت، وتغيّرت أحوال السارقين، فبعضهم باتوا نجوماً في مجتمعاتهم ووجهاء في مجالسهم، بينما ضحاياهم يندبون حظوظهم ويتأسون على مفقوداتهم !
من اللافت خروج اللصوص من زوايا الظلام إلى نقاط الضوء ليعلنوا سرقاتهم، كما فعلت الإعلامية المصرية في موضوع لوحات الفنانة الدنماركية، خاصة مع سهولة انكشاف السرقات الفنية، مع وجود شبكات الإنترنت ومنصات التواصل الاجتماعي، فيا لها من جرأة و«بجاحة» !
أتذكر أنني وجدت بالصدفة عبر الإنترنت مقالاً لي، منسوباً لكاتب خليجي في صحيفة خليجية شهيرة، وبتتبع منشورات الكاتب وجدت أنه سرق عشرات المقالات مني ومن غيري، فكيف فاته أن فعلته ستنكشف وتتشوّه سمعته وتتضرر صورته ؟! اختفى الكاتب بعد أن شكوته لصحيفته، لكنه لم يُقدّم اعتذاراً كما فعلت الإعلامية، ربما لأنه اختار التدثّر بالنسيان ما دامت فعلته لم تتحوّل لقضية رأي عام، ولم أحاول أن أثيرها إعلامياً أو قانونياً !
وإذا كان لصوص الأموال والأفكار يجدون قانوناً على الأرض يعاقبهم، فإن لصوص الأعمار ينتظرهم قانون في السماء، يحاسبهم على ما يجرّعونه ضحاياهم من آلام القهر والغبن والظلم !
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
The stereotype of thieves in society's culture has been that they are people who wear masks or hide their faces with a scarf; concealment is the thief's primary trait. However, we are in an era where thieves no longer hide their faces and are not ashamed of their actions!
Theft has diversified, ranging from stealing money to stealing ideas to stealing lives. The circumstances of thieves have changed, with some becoming stars in their communities and dignitaries in their councils, while their victims lament their fortunes and mourn their losses!
It is striking to see thieves coming out of the shadows into the spotlight to announce their thefts, as the Egyptian media figure did regarding the paintings of the Danish artist, especially with the ease of exposing art thefts, thanks to the internet and social media platforms. What boldness and "audacity"!
I remember that I stumbled upon an article of mine online, attributed to a Gulf writer in a famous Gulf newspaper. By tracking the writer's posts, I found that he had stolen dozens of articles from me and others. How could he have missed that his act would be exposed, tarnishing his reputation and damaging his image?! The writer disappeared after I reported him to his newspaper, but he did not offer an apology like the media figure did, perhaps because he chose to hide behind forgetfulness as long as his act did not turn into a public issue, and I did not attempt to raise it publicly or legally!
While thieves of money and ideas find laws on earth that punish them, the thieves of lives await a law in the heavens that will hold them accountable for the pain of oppression, injustice, and suffering they inflict on their victims!
Theft has diversified, ranging from stealing money to stealing ideas to stealing lives. The circumstances of thieves have changed, with some becoming stars in their communities and dignitaries in their councils, while their victims lament their fortunes and mourn their losses!
It is striking to see thieves coming out of the shadows into the spotlight to announce their thefts, as the Egyptian media figure did regarding the paintings of the Danish artist, especially with the ease of exposing art thefts, thanks to the internet and social media platforms. What boldness and "audacity"!
I remember that I stumbled upon an article of mine online, attributed to a Gulf writer in a famous Gulf newspaper. By tracking the writer's posts, I found that he had stolen dozens of articles from me and others. How could he have missed that his act would be exposed, tarnishing his reputation and damaging his image?! The writer disappeared after I reported him to his newspaper, but he did not offer an apology like the media figure did, perhaps because he chose to hide behind forgetfulness as long as his act did not turn into a public issue, and I did not attempt to raise it publicly or legally!
While thieves of money and ideas find laws on earth that punish them, the thieves of lives await a law in the heavens that will hold them accountable for the pain of oppression, injustice, and suffering they inflict on their victims!
