This is a follow-up to my reply to Iraqi blogger Zeyad, who felt that the majority of Jordanians regard the late Zarqawi a martyr.
The death of al-Qaida’s chief in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is still reverberating in Jordan, where the majority of the population sees him as a terrorist. An opinion poll conducted by the non-governmental organization Epsos Stat Center for daily al-Ghad indicated that 59 percent of Jordanians consider their countryman Zarqawi, whose real name is Ahmed Fadel al-Khalayila, a "terrorist." The poll, which surveyed 1,014 people over 18-years-old from various walks of life, also showed that 67 percent refused to see Zarqawi as a "martyr," as he was dubbed by Jordan’s Islamist movement, sparking an uproar among Jordanians.
…The poll, with a margin of error of 3.2 percent, indicated that 70 percent of the sample saw offering condolences for Zarwqawi’s death as a provocation of national sentiments, especially for the families of the Amman bombings in which 60 people died. Only 15 percent, mostly in the 18 to 39 age bracket, described Zarqawi as a "martyr" or an "ordinary citizen." Source: [UPI]
In addition, here is the article on the poll in Alghad (Arabic) and media-analyst and blogger Abu Aardvark’s take on the survey. Who knows, maybe this poll combined with the recent anti-Zarqawi demonstrations will motivate Zeyad to reconsider his position.
“Alarming numbers? who cares. Less than 50% of the population in Jordan are actual JORDANIANS.”
Who cares? uh… I do! What’s the point of admitting that the numbers are alarming if you’re gonna say “who cares?”, unless you want to tell us that you simply don’t care at all about what happens in this country?
Regarding the second part of that sentence, I think it’s inaccurate. I’m really not sure what you meant by it, but I’m guessing that you’re talking about the fact that most Jordanians come from families that settled in Jordan after the country’s establishment (mostly from Palestine).
That’s irrelevant! We’re living in the 21st century for God’s sake, 85 years after the country was established. The term “Jordanian” (and that includes “actual JORDANIAN”) no longer means people whose grandparents were born in Jordan. Today, you are Jordanian if you hold the Jordanian citizenship and fall under the Jordanian law and enjoy the services that other Jordanians enjoy, and have the same responsibilities towards your country that they have too. And I don’t see how this is relevant.
Linda,
Now, lets try to examin every other freaking Arab country out there, and I think Jordan would be the least of our worries.
Have you even read the polls of “every other arab country?”
If so, how can you claim that Jordan is the least of our problems? Jordan is the only country in the middle east where terrorists are gaining ground, in public opinion. And public support.
And as I said in my comment to Jeffrey, I don’t think the “red carpet” treatment for Americans makes things any better. The Jordanian border guard highlander mentioned in her travelogue referred to orders coming down from their “American Masters” – that’s a problem. That’s a resentment against America. Think it’s isolated?
Hi Jeff,
Bottom-lining it here: It’s foolish to consider yourself an expert on anything based upon polls and worse… blogs.
I never claimed to be an expert on Jordan, for one thing. I’ve never been to Jordan, and I’ve never met a Jordanian. I think you misunderstand my comment, though. I resented the fact that Americans recieve preferential treatment in Jordan. That’s not going to make things any better, in Jordanian public opinion.
As far as polls and blogs… well, Jeff, what do you want me to do? Get my opinions from the news? That’s what I sued to do, and all I ever heard was what a great ally of the United States Jordan was, and much “with us” Jordanians were in the war on terror. And then I read some Jordanian blogs and found out that was pretty far from the truth. So now you seem to be telling me that these bloggers (and blog commenters) are wrong, the polls are wrong, Zeyad is wrong… and the news stories I saw a few years ago were right?
Sorry, Jeff. I’m going to go with the polls and the blogs. People tend to state their true opinions, when they can do so anonymously. I’ll probably never be in Jordan, so this is the closest to the truth I’m going to be able to get. But no, I don’t think I’m an “expert” – I’m just a human being trying to make sense out of the level of hostilty towards the US that seems to be coming out of the middle east. I don’t think it’s particularly helpful to pretend it doesn’t exist, or that it didn’t (in fact) exist prior to September 11th 2001.
Jordanians Dont like Americans?
Hahahahaha. I swear when my parents when to Jordan this summer, people would treat them normal when they were speaking in Arabic. But then, when my parents would speak English and say they were visiting from America, the red carpet would be pulled out for them. Guys were even asking my dad to pack them in his suitcase so they can go to America.
I dont think that shows hate for America. Lets get one thing straight. Many people all over the world love America, but hate its politics. Even Americans hate American Politics.
All the people bashing Jordan should just check themselves out first.
Alarming numbers? who cares. Less than 50% of the population in Jordan are actual JORDANIANS. Now, lets try to examin every other freaking Arab country out there, and I think Jordan would be the least of our worries.
Dear Zeyad,
Please do not be offended by my post. I really did not mean harm. I was just continuing the discussion:) I see your point, and I understand your position. I’m just trying to provide the other side of the story.
I apologize for any offensive comments on this blog. It seems that the Jordanian Vs Iraqi issue is more controversial than that I thought. I had no idea. I will arrange a meeting with you and the Jordanian bloggers. I promise. I wish I was in Jordan to meet with you personally. Meanwhile, enjoy your stay in Amman.
grateful
wallah as long as you can get your visa from Jordan, then I think you should be greatful.
Natasha, I don’t wish to turn this into a challenge, and I would be more than glad to be proven wrong on this issue. But it seems many of the Jordanian bloggers took my comment as an offense. It was just a casual comment on my experience with the Jordanians I met during my stay. I did not mean it to be an accurate indicator of Jordanian public opinion. Just note how many of your commentors are saying ‘Zeyad should be grateful because Jordan did so and so for Iraqis,’ or crap like that. No, I don’t think I should be grateful or thankful for anything. I didn’t come here to stay, nor would I want to. I’m here on a legitimate visit and I have a visa application to finish, then I’m out of here. That’s not a favour. Countries are not tribal sheikhs.
Also note that no one has answered my request to meet and survey the opinions of Jordanians on the street. One blogger did offer to meet a few days ago but has since not responded to my emails.
A few people here have tried to discourage me from carrying out the experiment because they feel that I’m asking for a free visit to the Jordanian Mukhabarat. I don’t want to get into any trouble while I’m here either.
Jeff, I have to disagree with what you said about which English accent Jordanians lean more towrds. I believe Jordnaians (and almost everyone in this world) lean more towards an American accent than the British one even if their English textbooks are British.
That is of course not to say that most Jordanians really speak with a heavy and bad English accent to the point that it really can’t be called either American or British.
My English accent is definitely not British, as a matter of fact most Americans think I grew up here in the US and I was told that on my first day in the US.
Think hollywood movies, rock music, video games, that kind of stuff :p
Craig, first you’re dead wrong about how Jordanians treat Americans, regarding your “I know damn good and well, from polls and blogs both, that Jordanians despise Americans.” I lived in Jordan for years, from before 9/11 through the Iraq war and I can tell you from my personal experience that Americans are treated very well, as is most any expat. It does seem from some comments I’ve heard that feelings about the Iraqi presence are trending downwards. I can’t speak to that personally; during my time in country, this was not the case at all.
But the large and growing (for obvious reasons) numbers of Iraqis, particularly in the capital, are at the root of this. But this is a universal phenomena and not something localized in Jordan. If you take the social strata of any particular community and, within a short period, begin adding one particular social or ethnic group there’s going to be a backlash.
The Iraqi presence in Jordan is a longstanding one and one with little ill will in my experience, as Iraqis have contributed not just economically but also culturally to the kingdom. Any change in feeling now would simply be due to the increasing numbers of Iraqis. I know many Iraqis will suggest that Jordanians should be glad they are there, they and all the money they bring. I’m not speaking to that point at all here, as I’m certain there’s a broad range of opinion on this. I’m simply pointing out a simple reality not specific to Jordan: If you take a community of whatever particular social/ethnic mixture and begin adding large numbers of one particular group its eventually going to create some tension. You’ll find this from China to the USA.
The bottom line is that the Jordanian treatment of Americans is really above reproach. It is a real challenge to name a country that treats visitors as well as they are treated in Jordan. Iraqis may be feeling some xenophobia as of late, but I think that will change as the numbers stabilize. History has shown it to be the case.
The second thing Craig: Where on earth did you learn that “Jordanians speak with an American accent”? Jordanians learn English via a British system. Most, if not all, speak English with a British accent more than any other. Some would suggest they have an accent all their own. Grammar and spelling for most all English publications works on a British system. It’s truly rare to meet a Jordanian speaking with an “American” accent. I know many Jordanians and know of only one that meets such a standard. I’m not sure where you got that information but it too is dead wrong.
And what of it anyway? So what! You say that, were your supposition correct, it suggests a “disconnect”? Are you serious?
Lastly, you note that you are gathering knowledge based upon “polls and blogs.” I’d suggest you seek other sources as well. Polls, as evidenced here, are easily manipulated either by changing the sample group, the methodology or by spinning the results. There was great concern about the accuracy on this blog of a web poll, with some suggesting that “Aljazeera is more accurate,” etc. That’s a pant load of crap as well, I’m afraid.
Every online poll out there can be manipulated if people want to manipulate it. Is the poll based on IP? Then people will spoof IPs or use multiple computers. Base it on email and people will create new identities. If someone or some group is motivated enough, they can skew anything. But that sidelines the broader issue of “who” is being polled. If a web-based poll is put on a site that caters largely to one specific viewpoint, then you can bet the polls will skew in that direction – that is unless someone from outside that group has knowledge of the poll and enjoins his compatriots to try and skew it another direction; something we’ve witnessed here.
And then when all is said and done and the numbers are out there, people start spinning the numbers one way or the other, depending on what they want to get out of them. This speaks to Hamako’s point about how a poll really won’t change the mind of someone fixated to their position; they’ll find an angle that supports their position, much as a horoscope somehow conveys the day’s events to its believers. But in reality, polls do not create hard and fast rules about anything. They are a sampling and I think nearly always flawed; although many polling firms will surely take issue with this. They suggest trends but with a myriad of caveats.
Bottom-lining it here: It’s foolish to consider yourself an expert on anything based upon polls and worse… blogs. To step out with opinions that you consider as sacrosanct as fact about a particular race, country or people based upon things in blogs and polling of any type is to sell yourself and that particular group terribly short. Get outside; try personal face-to-face feet-on-the-ground experience. It’s a far better gauge.