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!
CMAR II
http://www.aaiusa.org/resources/389/the-arab-world
A special site for you to see how Arab-Americans feel, how Arabs feel, and the reasons behind the results since you seem to like polls. Hope it helps
3ogla
Daniel
As they say in Arabic “yis3id rabak 3ala hal comment”. Lets say means hmmmmmmmmmm, can’t translate but basically Thank you so much for this comment.
Its because of people like that I love America, that I have hope for America to become a just broker in the world. We need America, we need a role model when it comes to democracy, let America be it. I would love to see an America that plays a leadership role that just yells otu to the world follow my footsteps.
Thank you so much fot his post.
3ogla
“I first became aware of polls regarding Jordanian favorable attitudes toward Zarqawi and the insurgency from Iraqi bloggers. Somehow, you have remained blissfully unaware of them.”
Who exactly conducted these polls???? Come now dont’ be shy. Jordan is the country that opened its doors for Iraqis and welcomed them. Jordan provided for them. It offered them 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.
This becomes problematic when “occupation” equals “the first fully democratically elected goverment in a majority Arab Middle Eastern nation”.
Correction my friend, The palestinian elections a few years back administered by your very own President Jimmy Carter were the first truly democratic elections as declared by the great President Jimmy Carter.
Second, you truly believe the Iraqi elections were democratic?
“That is the reason Palestinian neighborhoods in Iraq tend to be dangerous enemy encampments for pro-Iraqi forces.”
Funny, you managed to shove the Palestniians into the middle of this one way or another. I thought Iraqis were fighting the occupation. Hmmmmmmmm
“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.”
I don’t know about you, I’m personally against all forms of violence. However, please be rest assured the the occupiers are as violent as those resisting occupation. Do the words boming civilians ring a bell, does the word torture ring a bell???
All violence is wrong.
3ogla
This is a wonderful conversation; I’m glad to see some of the blog-stars contributing. Both the original post and the comments are by and large delightful to read. I am so thrilled and surprised by this vanguard of humanism. (No, I’m not surprised in particular by Arab humanists–put the commentary knives away–rather, I guess it’s sad to say, but I suppose I’m surprised by any sensible sounding people! Yes, expectations have fallen so low….are there others out there who are surprised when people sound reasonable?)
Now, my two cents–or two dinars: I want to tell you all that this wave of fundamentalism or neo-fascism–sorry, can’t think of a better term–is hardly exclusive to Arab countries. Here in the States we are experiencing a similar tidal wave, which here goes by the name usually of evangelicalism. It’s certainly odd at this time in history, when we have more and more engineering and scientific marvels, that simultaneously there’s a madness for undusted, creeky received beliefs, yet so it is. Where I am, at one of the most science oriented schools in the country, routinely you can hear students talking about their relationship with God and His supervision of their lives: all things still happen for a reason, to this crowd; He’s on their side; we still live in the best of all possible worlds, etc.
Bush used this wave to his advantage to ride to the White House, and whatever his political problems it’s still quite strong. Worth noting, for example: supposedly the number one book in the U.S. right now is called “Godless,” a screed against liberalism and humanism in the name of the American way, nevermind that the founders of the country were uber-humanists; for the most part, in the late 1700s they thought that we were entering the golden age of reason, and that religious fanaticism and prejudice would increasingly be a thing of the past; in their own lifetimes, however, they learned how fooled they had been.
I want to say also that this reaction to Zarqawi is also typical of people everywhere: most people just about everywhere but maybe Northwestern Europe at this point thrill to violent actions done by “their guys,” and are highly resistant to a contrary thought on the subject. Recently in the U.S. there was a mild uproar about a massacre in an Iraqi town by out-of-control soldiers–a story not so different from common ones we here all have known about in the past of police brutality, just on a larger scale and, of course, by military in Iraq. Yet some people refused to give it any credence–even though it was the military itself agreed with the accusations and was proceeding with prosecution. Many just couldn’t accept it even as a possibility. They couldn’t tolerate the cognitive dissonance.
Fortunately, buffering us in the States against the fundamentalist waves is a liberal governmental constitution, a big and diverse population, and an entrenched humanist establishment that one might say grants the masses their fanaticism in exchange for economic privileges and foot-soldiers.
Ok, I didn’t mean to ramble on for so long, and I hope that my comment wasn’t too offensive or boring.
And by the way, Natasha, you are q-t!
3ogla,
I first became aware of polls regarding Jordanian favorable attitudes toward Zarqawi and the insurgency from Iraqi bloggers. Somehow, you have remained blissfully unaware of them.
Once again just because one opposes occupation, it does not mean they support violence.
This becomes problematic when “occupation” equals “the first fully democratically elected goverment in a majority Arab Middle Eastern nation”.
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.
Craig,
Most of what you’ve said to 3ogla I only wish I had said myself. But I have one correction about this clause:
People like Raed (another Iraqi blogger)
Raed is not Iraqi. He is Palestinian. That designation was very important to him and his family during Saddam’s regime since it granted them exceptional benefits not available to ordinary Iraqis. That is the reason Palestinian neighborhoods in Iraq tend to be dangerous enemy encampments for pro-Iraqi forces.
Raed’s designation as an “Iraqi blogger” is a misnomer. He is an Arab nationalist. He sees himself as an Arab first and as an Iraqi or Palestinian when it suits him. His friendship with Salam Pax seems to have originally centered around an interest in Arab culture.
Craig,
I am not a big fan on M.Moore’s methods in trying to solve a problem, he does however have a way with pointing out what the problems are. His documentary on 9/11 was not very speculative in nature, he was pointing out to facts and footage after all. To be fair, he didnt show footage of american soldiers being bombed to smithereens, but that was not his thesis. How that makes him a traitor I do not understand. I am by no means comparing him to men of true resolve such as George Washington and Ben Franklin, but those were, at some point, considered to be traitors. Watching from the sidelines, I hope, for the sake of what I think your country is all about, you don’t land onto a similar slippery slope. Accusing an individual of treachery over a documentary is fairly rash…Lastly, since you speak of the matter so militarily, I suggest a session with a law book researching the punishment of those who falsely accuse fellow citizens of treachery…Cheers colonel.
Hamako
“Maybe not, though. 30% of Egyptians have a favorable opinion of America”
Having a favorable opinion of America could mean many things. I don’t have a favorable opinion of America when it cocmes to foregin policy, healthcare policy, crime in American cities.
I have a very favorable opinion of America when ti comes to opportunity it gives to its people to succeed. I have a very favorable opnioin of America for its development.
Ask the right question and you’ll get the right answer.
God Bless your heart brother, peace to you
3ogla
I love it how Americans that have never beent o the Middle East do their analysis, now you know where CNN gets their experts.
Are those the words of somebody who likes Americans, 3ogla?
the vast majority of Arabs like Americans and the American way of life when it comes to many things.
Maybe not, though. 30% of Egyptians have a favorable opinion of America. That was the BEST America did in the Middle East. DOn’t mind those numbers, though. It’s just some meaningless garbage I saw on CNN 😛
Last comment to you, 3ogla, this is getting really repetitious.
“Hate for America and Israel out-weigh all other concerns”
You sir, I see 2 sides to your flag, I see an American side and an Israeli side, you need to decide where your loyalti is.
After all how can you support a nation that has bombed a US warship previously, sorry they did it by “mistake”. How can you support a nation that spies on its best ally, oh its not spiying, its sharing information.
I think you need to take a look at your flag and decide what you are.
3ogla
“Hate for America and Israel out-weigh all other concerns. Even for you. Isn’t that so, 3ogla?”
I have no hate in my heart, You’ve taken all of it in yours Craig. I LOVE America, I LOVE America, however, I don’t agree with their foregin policy, is that so wrong?
I resent Israel, ofcousre I do, they stole my land, they demolished my home, and they made my people suffer so much. Is that so bad? However, becasue I don’t have hate in my heart, unlike you, I call for a JUST peaceful solution to the Question of palestine. Based on 2 EQUAL states. Wow, that is so bad isn’t it Craig.
You are outdoing yourself big boy, keep em coming.
3ogla