Jordan: A New Government in the Making
The newly appointed Prime Minster has been announced, being Marouf Bakhit. Naseem Tarawneh thinks that this might help the path to reform. Khalaf says about the newly appointed PM, “Being self made, one wou…

Posted on
Friday 25 November 2005

Has it been talked to death? Well I am resurrecting the d [...]

This is second comment that made my day here.

While I disagree with you, I respect your point of view, which is by the way a dominating culture that we as Jordanian created and believed. Probably this is what is apparently reflected in our blogs. But, let’s be fair to ourselves. Jordan is going through a massive positive changes, beside some negatives, which no nation in the world have avoided if they were in our place.

King Abdullah is a man of development. I can still remember his speech to the Jordanian politician gathering back in July. I can still remember how shocking his harsh words was to them and Jordanians in general. But let us ask ourselves a question, beside his position, what is backing him? It is his faith and trust in new generation. New generation at all levels, and that is evident in all projects and laws that came to existence under his rule.

So, who are we? Don’t we belong to the new generation? Why “Tanish” (ignore)? Why not be part of that? It’s not proper to just set and pray for God to bring oil in our land. This will never happen.

Of course I don’t blame old generation for what we are passing through. They had situations that is different than what we are going through now. But, we have to keep in mind that what applied yesterday does not apply today.

A thousand mile start with a step, and this time it is our trip. Yes, democracy might not be the solution for now, but it will be one day. We have to walk and work for it :-)

On a more serious note, what political scene are we discussing? Jordan’s? Give me a break. There is no political ‘scene’ in Jordan, besides what is labeled (????????? ????????) which are nothing more than rumor mills.

On the issues of Economics, Unemployment, Education, et al. They all fall under the umbrella of government, and in turn, politics. Claiming to be able to discern the two is invalid and is an attempt at trying to leave the conversation unscathed “But I didn’t say politics only!”

At the risk of sounding revolutionary, I’d like to point out that I am against democracy in Jordan. In order to have a vote, you must deserve/earn it. Plus, look at the US, and what happens when the uneducated masses vote. This is not a plea for the status quo, but rather a preemption against politicians who may leverage the “Let’s bring back Arab/Nasserist/Islamic/Whatever glory.” and use it to gain power through emotional and not rational appeal (The Arab achilles heel).

Anyhow, I’m not mad, I respect your views, you’re right, we need people to blog about culture (or lack thereof), politics (at risk of imprisonment), and economics (while shutting up and paying 16% VAT in real life).

Bottoms Up! ??? ??? ?????

OK, maybe it IS time for a group hug.

but don’t count me in, I’m alergic to human contact :D

on the other hand, i follow jordan planet on daily bases to see what ppl are talking about. one the amman explosion toke place and everyone started talking about zarqawi and things happening, i had the same feel (perception) that haitham talked about. while it is natural that everyone talks about the incident now, i asked my self, where were these guys before all that happened? and where are they heading to? i thought to myself, well, it is just natural and soon everyone will return to his words; words which i can describe as entertaining only, you know, time filler for an expat living outside of jordan, hardly anything (except few) that makes me live the situation in jordan.

anyway, thank you haitham for bringing this up. and nas, i adore you. best of luck all!

You don’t have to talk politics. Guys I said it so many times now. Read what SC and Nas said about talking politics. It’s really not a big deal. All what I’m asking for is devote “part” of your blogs to what touches our life and live, society, economics, etc… and it should not be in a PhD format with references and researches etc… it can be a simple photo, single photo of something like “a class room in a public school”, or a “road in one of our villages”, etc… it can be a quote of someone from decision makers; it can be reflections of new/old laws, etc… it can be anything. Of course beside blogging your daily life, what you eat, watch, drink or anything of you interest.

Guys, we have a big duty. We reflect part of the known Jordanian Blogsphere, and that is shown to everyone around the world. It is our duty to be good representatives of our society. In all field. Art, why not. Technology, great. Politics, even better, etc… I beg you and all concerned and open one of the blog search engines like technocrati for example and go and see the top 20 news blogged every day. You will be surprised to find that they are 99% politics. And they are 99% about us in the Middle East. And they are 99% by non Middle Eastern. You will get frustrated to read what they are writing about you, and your voice is not heard. Why is that? Why can’t we be on same level if not better? Why can’t we have our voice heard? Simply I can answer you, coz we don’t have that voice in first place. Coz you will hardly find any one talking about their country and defending their values and beliefs. That’s why we are labeled by the mass media as terrorist, ignorant, sex addicted; illiterate, just name it…

Anyway, I might have been a little harsh, but believe me I mean no bad to anyone. Just felt it’s my responsibility to say what I said, and I did. Now, some taking it easy and understand, some are not, that’s not in my hand. But I trust that there are many, so many great blogger in Jordan who does already represent their country in best possible way.

Peace!

Guys, I know you both and few more have a great deal in touching on important aspects of our life. Sorry, I didn’t want to mention names at first place and say who is who, but that is not professional. But as they say:
“???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ”
and that’s what turned up. But that’s pathetic. Some people think that they have the truth, only truth and no one else does. That’s not right. If I’m wrong on what I said and upset many, then I’ll be happy. But I don’t see that coming. All what I see is self defense in some cases, ignorant attacks, and few, very few open minded honest bloggers who’s conversation in healthy manner, even that which does not agree, like Roba’s and Hareega, which I respect a big deal.

Anyway…

And I don’t understand what you mean the JP is hosting my blog? I’m an independent admin who run his OWN server and I admin and run more than half a dozen other website. Unless you mean my blog is aggregated on JP! Sorry, I guess you miss understand how JP and similar aggregators are run. For example, my blog is also aggregated on bahrainblogs, and palestineblogs, and BrownBloggerBrigade and so many other aggregators, but no one claimed that they “host” me.

On the other hand, let me assume that you mean the later, does that mean that JP aggregator censor what can be said and what not? I don’t think so.

As for the trackback to Roba’s post, my question is, SO? Is that a crime? that’s what trackbacks are made for. And I don’t need to remind you that I’m the editor of Middle East & North Africa at GV. So that post and all other posts pass by my desk, and I never censored anything.

Anyway, I guess you put yourself in trouble by insisting of “we” as the Jordanian Blogsphere. I can see some don’t agree with you.

But again, all your conversation is a waste of time. Instead of concentrating on the main issue, you responded by ignorant attack, which some might agree with and some might not. But anyway, this shows an example of both types of bloggers I talked about.