Iraqi blogger Zeyad who runs the popular blog Healing Iraq, has written a post about his recent trip to Amman. Here is an excerpt:
Amman is the same as I left it last time. An ever expanding bustling city that gives the false impression of modernity and a progressive, enlightened society. Yet, every Jordanian I spoke to thinks that Zarqawi is a martyr. One taxi driver frankly told me that one should not rejoice over Zarqawi’s death, for one simple reason: Americans and Iraqis are happy about it.
Dear Zeyad, I think you are generalizing here. I suggest you broaden your survey. Just take a scan of the various Jordanian blogs out there and see how many — including yours truly — have strongly condemned the sinister acts of Zarqawi and rejoiced at the end of his era. Yes, there are those who think of him as a martyr — including some members of the Islamic Action Front — but these represent a small minority.
Basing your opinion of Jordanian attitudes as a whole on a conversation with a taxi driver — not that I have anything against taxi drivers — is not fair to Jordan or Jordanians. Please don’t fall into this trap. There is always the good and the bad in every society. Don’t embellish the negative. Thank you. Enjoy Amman!
3ogla, it’s right there in your words. Again. Don’t tell me I’m misunderstanding what you say. It’s quite obvious. You aren’t that subtle.
Folks;
Again, this post as many other posts turn into a useless dialouge with one side (American vs Arab, Arab vs Jew, Christian vs Moslem…etc)by some participants. Eventually, every one expresses his/her point of view, and his perspective on one issue or another. As for Arabs hate Americans/ or visa versa; I think only comprehensive researches / representetive polls/and other means can shed light on more clearer than a normal blog can offer. But each can express his opinion and experience away from politics. As for me, I have been living in the US for more than 10 years, after living all my life before in Jordan. I can say that from what I have seen, and experienced that both positive and negative experiences I saw that tell me much about Americans. For the things I v seen, Americans are friendly, more fair than lots of nations when they treat somebody , they thrill for your success and contribute to that, as you look up to successful people from managers/engineers/doctors..etc , you can see hugely more down to earth people than you see ( if u see)in the Arab world ( if u have PHD in Jordan- most likely u do not talk to people less than that !); on the other hand, the individualistic life they tend to prefer to live makes it harder for an Arab to interact and socialise with; lack of knowledge to other cultures ( and I dont always blame them for that ), and they do business out of everything ( you get charged even for parking your car at certain unoffical parking garages…etc.)But mainly, lots of immigrants experience the same kind of experience that I did and prefer this kind of life than that in the middle east.
3ogla, I understand what you mean and where you are coming from, but I never claimed to know a lot about Arabs. That’s where you are wrong because if you actually see what I have written in the past, then you’d realize that I am not as ignorant as you may think. Never once did I ever say that I was an expert. I know a couple of Arab Americans, and I know Americans (non-military) who have lived in Arab countries, and what VERY little I know, I have learned from them (and also from some Arab bloggers). I am aware that I don’t know a lot about Arab culture. I never said that I did, nor did I ever try to pass myself off as knowledgable about it.
“But for God’s sake you are basing your opinion on hear say of a guy that had a conversation with a Taxi driver.”
My opinion is not based on this one taxi driver alone. My opinion has been based on what I have heard from many sources. Now, I’m not saying that a majority of Jordanians feel this way, but obviously some do (along with some Iraqis, Iranians, and even some Americans), and my statement was directed at them, along with other Arabs who share these views. As for how Jordan as a whole feels about Iraq or America…again, I don’t know. I’ve never been there, and have never directly spoken with anyone who lives there.
I have read newspapers, seen reports, and read countless blogs where a couple (a small number) of Arabs have written in praising Zarqawi and slamming America. However, to counter that, I’ve actually seen MORE Arabs praise Zarqawi’s death and NOT slam on America. Like I have ALWAYS said, there’s good and bad in everything, and no matter what group one is referring to, there will be a myriad of opinions. Hell, there are Americans who praise Zarqawi! Terrorism is not restricted to just a small population of Arabs. It’s here in the U.S. too. It’s everywhere. Unfortunately, some people don’t realize that, but I am not one of them.
Again, I never claimed to be an expert, and I certainly wasn’t forming an opinion of Jordan — or any other Arab country for that matter — as a whole BECAUSE I’ve never been there. Maybe I wasn’t clear when I made my initial comment, but what I said was geared towards those who honor Zarqawi for such purposes (as they do exist), not the Middle East or specifically Jordan as a whole. I am sure they are not the majority. I don’t believe that they are the majority at all, but there are a few out there. That’s who I was talking about.
So, I hope that I made my point clear. Sorry for the confusion
“3ogla doesn’t like Americans. It’s right there in hiw words, in between all the times he dishonestly claims otherwise.”
Did you conduct a poll about this one as well lol. I’m so glad you judge me and read “between the lines” you must be psychic. Half of my family are Americans you dummy and you think I don’t like Americans? I think you have a monopoly on hate so its not possible for others to hate since you took all of it yourself.
“By the way, that poll 3ogla provided pretty much backs up all the other polls I’ve seen. Arabs like American toys and American money”
With your level of education I didn’t expect you to understandt he poll. That poll I provided was not intended to tell you oh Arabs love Americans. Some do and some don’t. But more importantly it was intended to show you how Arabs feel and why they feel that way.
And if you say Arabs love American toys and money. Wait a minute, I thought it was Americans that love the Arab’s oil and thats how they get money and make toys. This is so stupid.
“There’s that word…SOME…and I’m sorry, but it’s true. SOME do hate Americans. In my comment, when I was talking about people who do not recognize that Zarqawi murdered mostly Arabs, I was referring to the people who make comments such as that of the taxi driver. Maybe I should’ve been more clear???”
dm again what bothers me about your comments is that you’ve never been to the Middle East and obviously don’t know much at all about Arabs. No one denies that there are some Arabs that hate Americans, and just as many if not more Americans that hate Arabs. But for God’s sake you are basing your opinion on hear say of a guy that had a conversation with a Taxi driver. And to be honest what Zeyad said and the way he defended himself is totally bogus. No body has been as supportive to the Iraqi people as Jordan, weather its during the days of Saddam or during these days, Jordan has always welcomed and helped Iraqis. Zeyad why don’t you take a flight out of Syria, Saudi, Kuwait, Israel, or somewhere else if you have such a negative view about Jordan??
“And as anyone who knows me could tell you, I hate the French.”
Just another example of how much hate you have in your heart.
To me its obvious why Craig and CMAR II come to Arab blogs. Its one of 2 reasons and its the same reason for both of you. I suggest that you come to Arab blogs and learn something rather than show us how much you hate.
Zeyad, you have to look at the big picture. I lived in Jordan for 25 years not just a few months, and if someone tells you that the death of Zarqawi is a bad thing it doesn’t mean that he thinks of Zarqawi as a great man. It means that his capture -just his capture- wasn’t of a big event.
I believe that Saddam Hussein was a horrible president but I believe that his capture was trail is a disaster and it will barely ever have any positive effect on Iraqis. It had a positive effect on Bush and his popularity but his capture didn’t help the Iraqis much.
For Zarqawi I’m glad he was killed but I totally understand anyone who doesn’t feel glad for his death, the reason for which is that it won;t change much. It’s all about revenge : he killed innocent people so you would like to see him killed, nothing more or less.
Only a minority believed that Zaraqwi was a great man and those are the people that the majority of Jordanians stood against.
“You keep saying Arabs hate Americans, Arabs hate Americans…”
When have I ever made a generalized statement like that? If you’ve actually read some of my previous comments, you’d see that I said SOME, not all. Also, in previous comments, I’ve written that there’s good and bad in everything – numerous times I’ve said this. I’m perfectly aware that some Americans hate Arabs as well. I’ve never denied this. It said in the post that the taxi driver said that we shouldn’t celebrate Zarqawi’s death for one reason: Because Americans and Iraqis are happy about it. How else am I supposed to take that comment?
“…and that it’s being said that some Jordanians, etc. are mourning Zarqawi because he was anti-American…”
There’s that word…SOME…and I’m sorry, but it’s true. SOME do hate Americans. In my comment, when I was talking about people who do not recognize that Zarqawi murdered mostly Arabs, I was referring to the people who make comments such as that of the taxi driver. Maybe I should’ve been more clear???
“Arabs only hate Americans as much as Americans hate Arabs”
When have I ever denied this? In previous posts, I’ve mentioned how Americans are prejudiced as well. We’re no better. I’m the first to admit that, and it’s really sad.
“believe it or not, Arabs don’t live in a shit hole”
When did I ever say they did???
3ogla, I really don’t want to argue. It’s not worth it, but I did feel the need to reply to your comment in order to defend myself here. The ignorance does not lie in me…but what do I know? I get all my news from CNN, right?
Yeah, when people start referring to themselves in the third person, it’s about time to go.
By the way, that poll 3ogla provided pretty much backs up all the other polls I’ve seen. Arabs like American toys and American money. That’s all. They SAY they’d like America better if America did what they wanted but you know… WTF? … I’d like the French better if they did what I wanted to. And as anyone who knows me could tell you, I hate the French. The world doesn’t work that way. You take people s they are, and you base your opinions on that. Arabs don’t like Americans. 3ogla doesn’t like Americans. It’s right there in hiw words, in between all the times he dishonestly claims otherwise.
3ogla,
Palestine was a nation, is a nation and will always be a nation with a ajority of Aarbs in it.
Is that Iraq which is a state of the US now?
blah blah blah
How dare I dispute the “right wing”
go 3ogla go 3ogla go 3ogla
I understand now. You live in a psychedelic dream world. Now go, 3ogla. Shoo!
“There is no Palestinian “nation” per se (unless it is Jordan). Not yet anyway. The Iraqi government could hold a press conference tomorrow demanding all US forces leave Iraq and no politician or general in the world could keep them there one day longer than it took to pack up and leave. I’m afraid the Palestinian “authority” does not have that power.”
Palestine was a nation, is a nation and will always be a nation with a ajority of Aarbs in it. Even if you include Israel, the majority of the land is still Arabs as many many Israelis are ethnically Arabs. so 1-0 3ogla
The Iraqi government can demand the US forces to leave? Is this a joke? Is that Iraq which is a state of the US now? Are we talking about the same Iraq? 2-0 3gola
First you say : “Still, what you say is nominally true unless opposing the “occupation” means supporting people who oppose it with violence. That is the problem most Iraqis seem to have with Jordanians and other neighboring Arabs today.”
Then you tell me: “Well, if we are going to blame nation on the actions of three, then I suppose turn-about is fair play”
Come on dude, at least I’m basing my opinion on Iraq based on 3 people. your basing your opinion on Jordan on one person, one that actaully was thrown out of JOrdan, the bastard Zarqawi.
3-0 3ogla who is still counting
“No. YOU did that by inserting a comment I made to someone else on a different issue into the middle of your reponse. Yet, I stand by everything I said there. Do you dispute it?”
How dare I dispute the “right wing” 4-0 3gola
“Let’s cut to the chase. You tell me who conducting the poll would be acceptable, then we’ll pick the one you like.”
I posted a link to some polls in one of my previous posts. As always 3ogla is too quick for you, go 3ogla go 3ogla go 3ogla
5-0
If I were you after such a loss I pack my bags and depart this blog.
3ogla
3ogla,
The palestinian elections a few years back…were the first truly democratic elections…
Learn to read. I said “first fully democratically elected goverment in a majority Arab Middle Eastern nation“.
There is no Palestinian “nation” per se (unless it is Jordan). Not yet anyway. The Iraqi government could hold a press conference tomorrow demanding all US forces leave Iraq and no politician or general in the world could keep them there one day longer than it took to pack up and leave. I’m afraid the Palestinian “authority” does not have that power.
Second, you truly believe the Iraqi elections were democratic?
I believe that when the United Nations (whose administration opposed Saddam’s forceble removal) monitored Iraqi elections and declared the THREE successive Iraqi elections valid, that is good enough for me. Do the other majority M.E. Arab nations have a better standard on how to conduct elections?
[Jordan] offered [Iraqis] a safe place to live. And on a sad night Iraqis bombed 3 hotesl in Jordan. Jordan continues to take care of them and welcome them.
Well, if we are going to blame nation on the actions of three, then I suppose turn-about is fair play. Those Iraqis were acting on orders from a Jordanian who bombed vastly more Iraqis over three years while so many Jordanians considered him a hero.
Funny, you managed to shove the Palestniians into the middle of this one way or another.
No. YOU did that by inserting a comment I made to someone else on a different issue into the middle of your reponse. Yet, I stand by everything I said there. Do you dispute it?
Who exactly conducted these polls???? Come now dont’ be shy.
Let’s cut to the chase. You tell me who conducting the poll would be acceptable, then we’ll pick the one you like.