Photo of the day
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Jordan’s Rima Taha poses with the gold medal she won in the women’s long jump final at the 3rd West Asian Games in Doha December 8, 2005. Photo by Jamal Saidi for Reuters Great work Rima, and as we say in Jordan: |
Business as usual
Two days ago a snowstorm made its way across the DC-Metro area. The snowfall began around noon Monday and continued all night. The next morning, we awoke to an all-white scene. The sight was refreshing, as I hadn’t seen snow in a couple of years. What I found fascinating was that in spite of the inches of snow that engulfed the area, business continued, as usual. This is quite unlike what usually happens in Jordan on snowy days, where the country shuts down.
Here, life simply went on. To my surprise, The Washington Post was delivered right in front of our doorstep and on time. In and around our neighborhood people quickly cleared the snow off their cars and headed to work, driving on already-cleared roads. At work, everyone arrived almost on time and completed their tasks as expected. At the end of the workday, I took the bus home and arrived at my usual time. The mail was there, delivered on time just like any other day.
You see, I found this unusual. In Jordan, when snows arrives, things are handled differently. The entire country shuts down with the arrival of the first snowflakes. Naturally, in my home country we stay inside during snowy days and enjoy the time off. Here things are not that fun. The idea of "closing down the shop" during snowy days is not taken for granted. Sigh!
More snow is expected to arrive at week’s end. Although its arrival will likely not equate to a day off, I still wholeheartedly welcome it. When it comes to snow, I’m still a child. I simply adore it.
Iraqis in Jordan face discrimination in wake of bombings
The UN news agency IRIN has a disturbing report about alleged discrimination against Iraqis in Jordan. Here is an excerpt:
AMMAN, 7 December (IRIN) — Reports of discrimination against Iraqis living in Jordan are on the rise following the November bomb attacks in the capital, Amman, which killed 54 and caused public outrage.
"We’ve received hundreds of complaints from Iraqis living in Amman, who say they face discrimination in the streets, in shops and in public places," said Muhammad Obaidi, spokesman for the Iraqi Association for Nationals Living in Jordan.
"They’re accused of being terrorists," he added. According to Obaidi, the tense climate has caused considerable distress among Iraqi expatriates, with many thinking about leaving the Hashemite kingdom. "When a taxi driver recognised my Iraqi accent, he forced me to get out, shouting that I was a terrorist," said Sundus Ahmed, an Iraqi resident of Amman.
This is distributing. I hope Jordanians will not fall into the trap of stereotyping a whole nation due to the evil acts of a small minority. Jordanians have always been hospitable and welcoming. I hate to think that might change.
Jordanian authorities remove posters for Iraqi polls
The Amman city council has removed campaign posters for Iraqis voting in Jordan during the election this month, saying they should be confined to the vicinity of polling stations and not plastered on walls and lampposts.
Amman Municipality official Izzedine Shammout [said] it was illegal to glue election posters to the city’s buildings and infrastructure. He said his office had removed dozens of posters around the Jordanian capital and ordered that they be hung close to ballot centers.
Source: [AP via News from Russia] Photo by Nader Daoud for AP
I know I might be day-dreaming, but part of me wants to believe that Jordanian authorities have responded to Jordanian bloggers’ concerns (here and here) by removing these posters only one day after bloggers expressed dissatisfaction with their blatant display in the heart of the Jordanian capital. Here is one excerpt from Jordanian bloggger Sha3teely:
Mr. Allawi, those walls belong to the Jordanian people not to anyone else. And if you would like to spread your campaign on the street at least rent one of those street billboards and keep those walls clean. Because I really don’t think you are going to care enough and remove those posters after the elections in Baghdad finish…
UPDATE: And here is Al-Ghad story (In Arabic)
King: Jerusalem is for Christians, Muslims, Jews
AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah II insisted on December 5 that Jerusalem must be an open city for Jews, Muslims and Christians during talks with Theophilos III, the new Greek Orthodox patriarch of the Holy City. "Jerusalem must be open to the followers of the three monotheistic religions," state-run Petra news agency quoted the king as saying. The Jordanian monarch also urged "Christian religious leaders to unite their efforts and speak in one voice to the West about the challenges that face the Christian Arab presence in Jerusalem", the agency said.
Source: [Middle East Times]
I personally have a great deal of admiration for His Majesty’s continual efforts to spread religious tolerance in the volatile Middle East. I will reiterate what I said in an previous post: In light of what many might be currently interpreting as a religious conflict, such initiatives are extremely essential to promote peace and deconstruct stereotypes.
UPDATE: On the same topic, there is a well-written commentary in the Daily Star entitled "A Palestinian Christian appeals for a shared Jerusalem." Here is one highlight:
We hold fast to our vision when someday, Christians, Muslims and Jews,
Israelis and Palestinians — all people — will be able to freely
celebrate our diverse but equally sacred feasts. We pray for a
religious awakening of justice and reconciliation that puts an end to
occupation and oppression, suicide bombings and drive-by shootings,
terrorism and counter-terrorism, targeted assassinations and incursions.Source: [The Daily Star]