Tallouza

Tolerance...

2012-01-02T20:43:00.003+02:00

“I am not guilty of the common error of judging another by myself. I easily believe in another’s humor which is contrary to my own; and though I find myself engaged to one certain form, I do not oblige others to it, as many do; but believe and apprehend a thousand ways of living; and, contrary to most men, more easily admit of difference than uniformity amongst us. I as frankly as any one would have me, discharge a man from my humors and principles, and consider him according to his own particular model. Though I am not continent myself, I nevertheless sincerely approve the continence of the Feuillans and Capuchins, and highly commend their way of living. I insinuate myself by imagination into their places, and love and honor them the more for being other than I am. I very much desire that we may be judged every man by himself, and would not be drawn into the consequence of common examples”. (Michel Montaigne)

العصافير "توتوت" والقافله تسير

2011-08-01T11:54:00.005+02:00

ارتفع سقف حرية التعبير..
بس فعليًا ما صار في تغيير..
المشاكل هي هي وقابله للتجيير..
والجماعه فوق بيتكركرو "ههه قال بدهم تحرير"..
والجماعه تحت بيتخبطو باللي بصير وما بصير..
طعه وقايمه قلبت كل صغير كبير...
والكبير سقف أحمر لأنه من غيره بئس المصير..
صدقنا حالنا وفكرنا فيسبوك مأذنه للتكبير..
وفكرنا تويتر لحاله رح يعمل تأثير..
وتناسينا إنه الكلام الحاف ما بحل أزمة تعتير..
إفتراضي كان أو جاي من حتة تقرير..
الوضع مهزله والحراك قابل للمصادره بس مش للتصدير..
وسلامتكو وتعيشو على خطابات إجلال وتقدير..
فحواهاالعصافير توتوت والقافله تسير

Is Hitler a Christian?

2011-06-24T12:20:00.004+02:00

I was recently asked by a 12-year old adorable and very intelligent American boy “Was Bin Laden a Moslem?” I answered “Yes”.

The question suddenly popped up on my mind on that same evening. It wasn’t so much the question, but the fact that a 12-year old kid is already thinking along these lines. I had no doubt of the innocence of his question. However, I had all doubts about the media at work shaping this type of thinking.

The following day, and while having breakfast with the parents of this child, and who happen to be devout Christians, I decided to bring up this question again. It was now my turn to ask the father (who is a good friend) and said “Was Hitler a Christian?” He answered “Yes”. I then continued “Does it ever occur to you why is it that even though Hitler targeted groups based on their religion, we never think of him as a Christian but rather as a Nazi; while in the case of Bin Laden who was specifically opposed to U.S. foreign policy and intervention in the Middle East, we still insist on emphasizing his religion rather than his actions?

After what ended up being a lengthy discussion, we concluded that neither the actions of Bin Laden nor those of Hitler are representatives of their religious beliefs. More importantly, we agreed that once religion is infused in politics, they both become manipulative, toxic, and lethal. Most importantly, my 12-year old friend shared in this discussion, which thankfully succeeded in putting this matter in a different and more tolerant perspective.

As for the media fueling and mongering such thinking, well that's a whole different question altogether!

Count Me Out For Now!

2011-04-12T13:43:00.004+02:00

While some argue that elections give transitional countries experience with organizing parties and civil society in addition to improving the protection of civil liberties, others argue that well-functioning rule of law must precede elections. The importance of a vibrant middle class and a functioning state apparatus are also stressed on as prerequisites of meaningful elections.

In the absence of many of these prerequisites, the question that remains in my head: why should I vote on Tuesday (our Tuesday that is November 9, 2010)? I am fully aware that this is a “chicken and egg" question? Ooops this riddle has been recently resolved, it’s the chicken. Well, you get the gist of what I am trying to say. I hope!

If the process of campaigning is any indication, then I am definitely turned off. If the track record of the candidates is any indication, then common sense tells me that the majority of them did not get to finish their last term because they were simply fired (I have no better way to describe it). So seeing them back again would be equivalent to Yogi Berra’s “It's déjà vu all over again". A nightmare scenario if you ask me. If the firing of many of the likely lucky future MPs, ok ok term dissolution, was unfair (as some might argue), then the independence of this entire crucial branch is more of a reason not to vote. To tell you the truth, when the last session was dissolved I got the feeling that the message was “you either do it the executive way, or I will show you the way”, out that is!!!

Sounds negative. I know. Well let me look at it from a more positive angle. I will start with letting bygones be bygones. Let me now look at the campaign program of the candidates I am supposed to cast my vote of confidence for. Program? What’s that? Some have declared superficial and skeleton ones through slogans that make elections sound more like martyrdom, while others have simply and “condescendingly” declared “no messages” but we are still supposed to take them seriously and vote for them. Others have graciously reminded us that Jordan is for Jordanians...how about the “non-Jordanians” (as defined by these very Jordanians) who will be voting?

I am extremely annoyed by the fact that I won’t be voting. But frankly speaking, I would be more annoyed to vote for a candidate simply because I have to. I’d rather delay this part of being a good citizen and concentrate on the many other parts that are real and can hopefully make a meaningful difference. Sorry...

The Paradox of Change

2011-03-21T23:27:00.003+02:00

It is impossible not to feel the breeze of the winds of change sweeping through the Arab World today. Mesmerized by the news, and totally awestricken by the sheer fact that fear is gone; we the people of this region have finally reclaimed our long muted voice.

The speed with which the recent changes have taken over our lives has served as a centrifugal force of all indifference and passivity. Purgatory is no longer an option, it’s either hell or heaven; and the choice is ours! Consensus on the definition of what each means was also formed with a dizzying speed: hell is the status quo pre Tunisia, and heaven is the reality that we will proactively and collectively create together. All of a sudden, our vision has become that of an eagle in its clarity, and our mission that of a saint in its good will. Boundaries in all their forms have melted erasing with them all manifestations of apathy and numbness. Our outlook is now vibrant, energized, empathetic, and full of hope. We suddenly found ourselves falling in love with life, with action, with thinking, with history, with ourselves, and ultimately with one another. Our defeated souls no longer haunt us. We have trumped defeat with a vengeance, and we have all made a tacit pact among ourselves that never again will we be subject to the humiliation that we once helplessly and ashamedly suffered in silence.

In contemplating our future, it seems as if we all agree that the ball is in our court now, and it is up to us how we play it. There are varying views on what is the best way to go about asserting our right in determining this future. Regardless of what the means are, the end result must ensure building democratic institutions that would eventually transcend the individuals behind their creation. The foundation of these institutions is a rule of law that is just in its essence, and enforceable in its application. In this institutionalized system, universal equality might be farfetched, while equity must be its cornerstone. As for the skeptics who have long championed the condescending claim that Arabs aren’t ready yet for this neat exercise of institution building, my answer for now is anarchy!

Quoting the popular Arab adage “it doesn’t get constructed unless it gets destructed”.* The process of constructing will necessarily have to coincide with a radical phase of destruction. Bakunin, the well known theorist of collective anarchism said: “ The urge to destroy is also the urge to create”. Incidentally this urge, in its most absurd form, resembles to a large degree what the Arab world is going through today: a process of negation, without necessarily claiming to know what the best alternative is. What is certain today is that all forces of oppression- be they political, economic, cultural or moral are being confronted and attacked with unprecedented determination. More important, central to this confrontation is the proclamation of absolute confidence in the masses, as well as the absolute rejection of the stifling status quo that has for long symbolized the source of suffering and humiliation for many.

If politics were to resemble art, then drawing parallels with the Dadaist movement would be appropriate in this case. Nearly a century ago, Dadaism was formed as a direct result to the cataclysmic events of the turn of the 20th century. Today at the turn of the 21st century, we see Arab revolutions and upheavals taking place as a direct result of mind boggling oppression felt through accumulations of abuses, defeats and failures over the years. Dadaism response was “a rejection of the values of a society that had allowed such tragedies to happen”; and so is the Arab response in its rejection of anything associated with autocracy and dictatorship. Tristan Tzara summed up the Dada attitude in its manifesto of 1918: “Let everyone proclaim that we have a great work of destruction and negativity to accomplish. Sweep and clean. The cleansing of the fellow will take place after a period of total madness and aggression, the mark of a world left for too long in the hands of bandits who are tearing apart and destroying the centuries”. In effect what Tzara was describing was an anarchism that did not last, but nevertheless was catalytic in the creation of some of the greatest art that the 20th century witnessed including surrealism and avant guard styles.

Similar to Dadaism, the Arab world must go through this dialectical process of the struggle between the forces of destruction and construction in order for it to transcend into a full fledge independent and democratic society. A society that spouses the interests of its people and respects its will at large. A society that is dynamic and participatory. In this society, values of freedom reign supreme, and citizens are equal in rights and opportunities.

Finally it would be naïve to assume that the individuals carrying out the revolutions today are better intentioned than their predecessors decades ago who saw themselves just as progressive and good willed. The decisive factor of success today is the ability to build functioning and dynamic institutions that supersede and transcend the events leading to their creation. The day we see loyalties lie in protecting a system that we painstakingly create, rather than the individuals behind its creation, is the day we know that we have made it.

* تخرب لما إلا بتعمر ما

Leaderless leadership

2011-01-22T22:22:00.003+02:00

Thursday's televised debate between Ayman Safadi and Youssef Mansour was disturbing. Safadi was vehemently defending the status quo; while Mansour was persistent in blurting accusations that are at best superficial and at worst hearsay. The end result was that the debate ended without offering any insight for understanding the frustration taking over our streets and our discourse lately.

Safadi overwhelmed Mansour with indicators that were clearly carefully anticipated and selected. In most cases these indicators were also true (I would definitely argue with the Aqaba so called Billions!!!) Mansour fell easily into the trap of Safadi by consistently being on the receiving end. He was weak in laying the grounds for what the opposition really wants or stands for. However, for anyone who thinks that Mansour’s weakness made Safadi look any better, let me just remind you of what happened in Tunisia a week ago.

Safadi could have easily been a Tunisian minister sitting in a televised debate on Al Nasmah channel defending the status quo with numbers that none of us could argue with. The question is, are these the numbers that we should be considering in evaluating our situation or in formulating opposition views. I highly doubt it. Had the revolution not taken place in Tunisia a week ago, it would still be hailed today for the progress it made on various fronts: economic, infrastructure, women’s issues, population mortality and growth rates, and many others.

Today we all know too well that any progress that does not filter down to the common man or woman on the street, is far from being called so. Stiglitz was one of the very first prominent economists who alerted us all from the perils of using Gross Domestic Product as an economic barometer for growth and prosperity.

In essence, what the leadership needs to know is that we can be selective about almost everything in life except one thing: the truth. Another thing I would add to the leadership the higher you are on your horse the more painful the fall is going to be. Empathy must definitely be the order of the day. On the other hand, what the opposition needs to know is that by definition they are opposed to something that they would want to replace. If what we saw on Friday is the alternative to the existing leadership, then I am sorry they ain’t getting my vote!

Until this leadership crisis is resolved , my motto will remain the incompetent devil I know is better than the incompetent one I don’t!

Out of Sight and Out of Touch!

2010-08-23T15:47:00.002+02:00

A recent attempt at distributing Ramadan charity boxes (contains basic food like rice, sugar, wheat, etc.) proved to me that there are increasingly two groups in Jordan. The first is those who are out of touch, and the second is those who are out of sight. The relationship between the two is a direct one, as one increases the same change occurs in the other one.

The incident happened in Al-Ghor (Jordan Valley). I had called someone I know there to ask him to assist with distributing the charity boxes ( (BTW for lack of better word!!!) to poor families in the area. I indicated to him that the van with the goods will be there around 2 p.m . He then asked me to make it after Iftar instead. He said if we do it before iftar we are going to be inundated with people. In my head, I was skeptical to the extent that I secretly accused him of exaggerating because he was being lazy. I persisted and arranged for the van to be there in the afternoon. Sure enough, I got a call from the team going down there telling me that the van is swamped! People were hovering all over it wanting to get some of the food being distributed. We postponed this until after iftar as was advised earlier.

The above episode left me in shock. This is not the Jordan I know. This might happen in Africa, but not in my Jordan!

The more I thought of it the more I realized that my reaction of being shocked bothered me on two counts:

The first, am I so out of touch that I find such incidents absolutely shocking?

The second, how many of those are there who no longer can afford to be out of sight and have suddenly abandoned the dignity we have for so long attached to the poor of our country. We have always sought misguided comfort in the fact that the poor in Jordan are “mastooreen”, and I assure you the ones swamped the van are so. However when hunger strikes, no rules will ever apply.

My message is for those (me) who are out of touch, wake up! You are running out of excuses. For those who are out of sight, stand up! Your rights have had enough abuses.

The gist of my gig: hiding the sun with our finger might conceal it but it surely does not shield us from its heat!!!

Form to Transform!

2010-07-30T01:03:00.003+02:00

Constant cabinet changes is only leading to constant lack of focus.

The continuous change in cabinets has become a source of ridicule and more important a source of agitation to many. This sarcasm has been intensified by the inability of various successive cabinets to speak of any significant achievements at all. If any, there are failures. Most important of all the failure to effect any true meaningful reform aimed at making the necessary adjustments for us to move ahead. In fact, it seems the primary objective of reform today is to lessen the state of backwardness we find ourselves in. It is no longer to make us move forward…at best it is to render us at least current!!!

The way I see it, a cabinet is a group of individuals who come together to effect a comprehensive plan that is interrelated and intertwined. The cohesive power of this group is the common good. A common good based on fact and realistic vision. In order for these individuals (whom we call cabinet) to deliver, they must go though the typical stages of any successful group formation. To borrow from Tuckman’s (and others such as M.Scott Peck) organization theory, the team must go through five stages:

1. Forming: where the team members have some initial discomfort with each other but nothing comes out in the open. They are insecure about their role and position with respect to the team.

2. Storming: where the team members start arguing heatedly and differences and insecurities come out in the open.

3. Norming: where the team members lay out rules and guidelines for interaction that help define the roles and responsibilities of each person. This corresponds to emptiness, where the community members think within and empty themselves of their obsessions to be able to accept and listen to others.

4. Performing: where the team finally starts working as a cohesive whole, and effectively achieve the tasks set of themselves. In this stage individuals are aided by the group as a whole where necessary, in order to move further collectively than they could achieve as a group of separated individuals.

5. Transforming: This corresponds to the stage of true community. This represents the stage of celebration, and when individuals leave, as they must, there is a genuine feeling of grief, and a desire to meet again.

Today in Jordan, we are still grappling with the storming and norming stages. The failure to accept and to listen to others is proving to be a staunch enemy that is preventing us from performing adequately in our plight to transform ourselves and our country. It is unfortunate that our inability to progress to the performing stage has become an all too familiar precursor for a cabinet change.

Therefore, it is extremely uncanny and unwise to dismiss the cynicism surrounding the revolving door of cabinets as simply “silly”. All we see are silos in action and no concerted cohesive efforts coordinated in a way to enable us to honestly speak of a properly functioning team of ministers.

I hope that next time we hear of a new cabinet, we remind ourselves that its formation is closely tied to performances that would eventually lead us to the transformation necessary to keep us not ahead of the game but at least in it.

Jordan Festival, AGAIN!

2010-07-01T21:52:00.005+02:00

Jerash Festival is cancelled. No one knows with certainty why this arbitrary decision was taken few years ago. Many claim they know the sinister motives behind this cancellation, but none have had the guts to express their “classified information” in public. With all said and done, the issue of discontinuing Jerash Festival has become the pretext to attack any new attempt to fill the void left with its termination.

Jordan Festival opened last night with Amal Maher’s tribute to Um Kulthoum. The feedback from the event was telling on many levels. Apart from the praise of the brilliant performance that was befitting of a Diva, the kind of talk was indicative of an insecurity that we have harbored for too long and that we were only too happy to dispel. The feedback bordered on national pride, an elated feeling coupled with an implicit sigh of a relief of “Yes we can”. We can produce shows of such high standards. We can accommodate thousands without creating havoc. We can showcase a first class taste that we thought only others were capable of.

Not surprisingly, the view of certain expected and selected cynical few was different. It was not negative. It was poisonous. The organizers as well as the event were publicly attacked with malicious and mean spirited insinuations bordering on treason. Descriptions of the foundation backing this Festival as mysterious and alien is tantamount to slander. Those who have taken up the habit of attacking anything and everything must be stopped. They must be stopped not because it is unfair to the organizers, but because it is unfair to all Jordanians who are truly desperate for reasons to make them proud again.

Jerash Festival and Jordan Festival complement one another. They are not mutually exclusive. Support of a Jordan Festival does not mean quitting the calls for the return of Jersah Festival. I personally was very saddened to see it end, and I would at any moment call for its return.

Enough carping! We are tired! We want to be happy. And if this is a sin…then I am a sinner. We want to feel proud. We want to see honesty in the way things are handled. Unleashing attack dogs for no reason other than bitterness and egotistical motives does us all harm.

Finally, for all those who claim that the title is an infringement on the name “Jordan”, I say think again! Anything and anyone who succeeds in showing the beautiful face of Jordan deserves unequivocally to carry this name. Entitlement alone suffocates objectivity. Earning the right is by far a better judge!

We Finally Agree!

2010-06-25T17:47:00.001+02:00

Growing up I remember the famous saying that we used to hear about the political stances of Arabs: “Arabs are only in accord to be in disaccord”. When it comes to social issues and problems, it seems that Jordanians have broken this rule. Today they all seem to be in accord that the social fabric as well as structures of our society are deteriorating. The good news is that we finally have a consensus; the bad news is that the news is really bad.

The issues I am referring to are dangerous: the disrespect and disregard to rule of law, rage in society, the collapse of social values, the bankruptcy of our educational system and the list goes on.

In times like these it is easy to point fingers, harp on dysfunctions, theorize, philosophize, criticize, and most dangerous of all pretend that we all have nothing to do with it. It is the doing of all those others. God only knows who these “others” are.

Failed attempts at reform on many levels have only fueled the sense of cynicism and skepticism that we find so prevalent these days. People seem demoralized, de-motivated, and at times totally disinterested. Positive outlooks are becoming synonymous with being gullible. Talk of gloom and doom is the order of the day.

It makes me really sad to see that this has become the environment we live in. However, this also makes my resolve even stronger to want to be part of the solution. If this sounds naive, then I am very naïve. I refuse to believe that the light is not at the end of the tunnel even if I do not see it. I might need to wear special glasses or change my perspective. The light is there, we just have to make an honest and sincere effort to see it.

Failed attempts at solving problems should never be a pretext to quit. If all attempts work from the first try, then we should all be standing in line for noble prizes. Failed attempts are lessons for us to learn from to try to get it right the next time round. Henry David Thoreau, the 19th century philosopher and author said: "For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root." Where there is a will there is a root waiting to be struck. We just have to have faith in each other and in the role that each and every one of us plays in making our world a better and sweeter one.

The Dead Sea Alive With Flies

2010-03-27T21:03:00.001+02:00

We in Jordan have successfully managed to attract and develop multimillion dinar investments in what is turning out to be spectacular set of five-star hotels on the shores of the Dead Sea. These investments are finding themselves fighting a most unspectacular enemy, namely flies.

To many, this might seem as a trivial matter, but it is turning out to be the most challenging issue for many hoteliers and business owners down at the Dead Sea and even at the Jordan Valley (Or Ghor). Residents literally suffer from these flies, and business owners are constantly bombarded by the inability to do anything about them. According to one Dead Sea hotelier: “how can we explain to our guests that they cannot sit outdoors when they specifically came to the Dead Sea to do so?”

Funnily enough, when the World Economic Forum (WEF) is held at the Dead Sea, these unwelcome visitors mysteriously disappear! The good news here is that there is a proven remedy for these flies; the bad news is that the WEF is only held for few days every year or two.

If we think that these flies don’t negatively impact the image of one of our touristic jewels, we need to think again.

Eating healthy and dreading it!

2010-03-27T20:28:00.003+02:00

I don’t know about you, but for a while now, eating a fresh salad is turning out to be an unsettling affair for me. Every time I attempt to prepare a salad**, I find myself wondering about the safety of what I am about to eat. The salad I prepare mainly consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. The toxicity found in these three items has been the subject of a wide informal speculation . How many times have we heard of cucumbers that continue to grow even after picking? How many of us wonder about the tomatoes that we eat, whether in terms of the water used for irrigation or the pesticides and fertilizers used to grow these tomatoes. In effect, I feel that the safety of our agricultural produce is in question.

There are serious fears out there that need to be allayed. I wish those in charge would come out and address this issue in an open and transparent manner. Maybe if we learn about the mechanisms applied and enforced (enforced being the operative word here) to safeguard the integrity of our agricultural produce, we would then feel reassured that we are eating healthy rather than filthy.

Until then, I will keep on eating healthy and I will continue dreading it.

**I won’t use the term “toss a salad” since it apparently has a sexual connotation! Go figure :-)

Shshshshsh...Beware!

2010-02-23T22:01:00.003+02:00

The Friday before appointing Saleh Gallab head of the country's number 1 media corporation, namely Jordan Radio and Television Corp., he was busy attacking a group of individuals for simply asserting their right for free speech. This was during an interview on JTV's "60 minutes" news show. Gallab's logic was twisted, language uncivilized, and motives totally exposed. He was simply spouting venom.

Are we to blame if we do not believe what we hear in the official media about free speech (freedom including freedom from being demonized and from the systematic unleashing of paid attack dogs) , or should we continue to be skeptics and to continue reading between the lines? Well come to think of it, in this case the lines are no longer in between but rather "headlines".

Sadly, the message of this appointment is loud and clear.

Twitter

2009-08-05T23:03:00.003+02:00

I did it....Tallouza is now on Twitter. Twittering is fun, but it does not seem to have picked up much as far as Jordanians are concerned. It is a pity because I am finding it an excellent, quick and easy way to share thoughts and news with fellow twitterers....If you are on Twitter, please let me know so that I can follow....Happy Twittering!

P.S. The photo is my chosen look on Twitter:-)

Rum Music and Tareq Alnasser

2009-07-15T22:37:00.009+02:00

Tareq Alnasser and Rum Music are the joy and pride of Jordan.
I just came back from their concert and they were AWESOME!

As I was watching them, I thought to myself what they are doing is not easy....they must have had a lot of difficulties that could have made them give up before they even started. What I saw this evening was obviously a beautiful result of how great persistence and resilience can be.

I am so proud that we can boast such an impressive, fun, and extremely talented musical group.
This group really reflect the great country that Jordan is.

I've learned...

2009-05-02T22:40:00.001+02:00

Today I received a very sweet e-mail from my uncle. He is someone I adore and look up to in more ways than one. What he sent me is a mass e-mail. However, its impact on me was so refreshing especially that it came from someone who believes in and acts like everything said in it. It is so nice to have family that you love and feel proud of.

I remember being once in a pharmacy in Amman late at night. I needed to buy medicine and I had no money on me. The pharmacist politely apologized since the pharmacy's policy is not to accept checks. I suggested leaving my ID card with him along with the check and to send him the money the following morning (I had forgotten my ATM pin number). The pharmacist held my ID, and when he saw my name he asked "how are you related to this man?". I said "he is my uncle". The very uncle who sent me this e-mail. He then said "your uncle is probably one of the very few honorable men left around". He went on to say "please take whatever you want and you can pay me later". He refused to take the check and he refused my pleas to leave any form of proof behind. That to me is worth all the money in the world. So from this incident I’ve learned that maintaining one’s family’s good name and reputation is for sure very hard work, but one that only gets more rewarding and enjoyable with time.

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned...... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way..

I've learned...... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class..

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned..... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds..

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned ..... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom and Dad that I loved them one more time before they passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned...... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Yazan...I am really sorry

2009-04-29T19:31:00.006+02:00

The crime I am about to write about is also one I am guilty of.

The crime I want to write about is not the brutal killing of the little boy named Yazan. The more shocking crime is the lack of public outrage concerning Yazan’s story. It is the complacency towards a suffering that many of us could have turned into a lesson of compassion and empathy.

Yazan is a Jordanian 5-year-old child whose mother and father were imprisoned at the same time. This left Yazan in the custody of his aunt, whose husband abused, tortured and viciously inflicted pain on this little child’s body. Yazan gave up at the end and fell into a coma. He died few weeks ago.

Yazan was laid to rest today.

For days I read about Yazan’s dead body laying at the hospital waiting for someone to claim this innocent angel. As if the lack of justice in his life was a foreshadowing of the misery he would endure in his death. The thought did cross my mind of claiming him and preparing a funeral for him. Every time I thought of doing something, I was worried of being judged as pretentious and butting into business that is not mine.

As I read news of Yazan, I had a strange feeling of detached sympathy. I somehow believed that my reaction and contribution wouldn’t count. There will be others who will take up the cause of Yazan and deliver justice to this little boy. The faith I did not have in myself was sadly misplaced in others.

As I learnt that Yazan’s misery is finally put to rest, I also saw images of his funeral. A funeral I thought would be a crowded show of love and apology to this child who fell victim to a system that failed to detect his suffering. A funeral that turned out to be a gathering of no more than few kids who were pictured seated in front of lecterns on the ground of a mosque reading Koran while this little boy’s body laid wrapped in white cloth waiting and desperately “wanting” to be interred.

The gist of what I am writing is that whenever one detects injustice, and whenever one is blessed enough to do something about it, one should rush to do it. I hope I won’t be faced with a similar choice again. But if I do, I will go by what my gut feeling tells me to do and I really won’t care what cynics might make out of it.

Gross National Happiness and Jordan

2009-04-04T00:53:00.007+02:00

In 2001 I moved back to Amman after having lived for over 15 years overseas. My move came with the absolute conviction that I was doing the right thing. I never regretted my decision. In fact I always felt fortunate for having the choice to do so.

Coming back with me home was a feeling of romanticism of how things are done here in Jordan. What many perceived as retarded customs or invasive traditions, I was so willing to consider as simply part of the culture. I guess this was due to the fact that I had lived in many different so called developed societies that were far from being perfect or developed in the human sense. My attitude when I moved back was one of empathy and an unconditional acceptance of the way our society is run.

It is only lately that I am starting to feel suffocated by the pathetic state I find our society in. I suddenly realize that in our quest for development we have lost sight of what really matters while consistently failing to preserve anything of meaning. Instead, we have opted to hold on to false claims of entitlement only to legitimize a debilitating general state of laziness and demoralization that the majority seems to be suffering from. It has been extremely hard for me to come face to face with the ugly truth that our situation today is at best pathetic and at worst mediocre.

The disconnect that I am seeing among the various strata of our society is a further evidence of how a whole nation can live in denial and turn a blind eye waiting for some magic wand to come and do the job for it. In general, I feel that the majority of people are unhappy and feel alienated for many reasons. The end result is that we happen to be a bunch of disconnected class groups who have nothing in common except for one thing: We all seem miserable and unhappy.

What is behind this unhappiness? I am no expert on this. However, I recently learnt about a measure that was started in Bhutan and that has gained some merit lately: Gross National Happiness (GNH). GNH is an attempt to define quality of life in more holistic and psychological terms than Gross National Product. “While conventional development models stress economic growth as the ultimate objective, the concept of GNH claims to be based on the premise that true development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other. The four pillars of GNH are:

1. The promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic development
2. Preservation and promotion of cultural values
3. Conservation of the natural environment
4. Establishment of good governance”

One question I will leave you with: How does Jordan score on the above four pillars?

On that note, I rest my case.

What is a "manly" man?

2009-03-23T20:10:00.005+02:00

During a conversation with a friend today, he made a disparaging remark about a mutual acquaintance claiming that he is not a “man”. I happen to like this "man”. So my immediate response was "well, what is your definition of a “man”?" Are you talking of a manly "man"? As I was asking these questions I realized that if I were to answer them, I would not have an immediate answer.

What is a man (as opposed to a weasel, a "girly" man, a "I don't know what" man)?

Living in a society where values are so relative, I have gotten so mixed up to the extent that I no longer know what answer I could propose for such a question without sounding naive, unrealistic, too demanding, or maybe coming from la la land.

In a culture where lying is OK as long as you are not caught; deception is fine as long as you get what you want at the end; cheating is excusable as long as it makes you pass an exam; hypocrisy is expected even if your nose becomes the very definition of brown; I no longer know where to draw the line.

I guess the more I think about this, the more I realize that the question is really what is a good hu”man”? Be it a manly "man" or a girly "girl". Equality is not relative and what is good for the goose is good for the gander. While pacing through my thoughts, I suddenly realized that the whole imbalance and "schizophrenic" state of bliss we find ourselves in today is the very fact that we have accepted segregation in principle and we have freely extended it to sets of absolute values that should not be subject to anything except the truth.

The answer I would propose is that a good hu-wo-man is someone who is empathetic, honest, courageous, modest, generous, merciful, grounded, and most important of all just.

Any suggestions?

How Blind Are We?

2008-09-06T00:05:00.003+02:00

Need tech support

2008-09-05T21:14:00.001+02:00

Can someone please tell me how I can post video clips (YouTube) on my blog?

Merci Kteer.

Naughty Abbas!

2008-09-01T21:54:00.007+02:00

Ehud Olmert once again spared no effort in publicly humiliating Mahmoud Abbas while cameras were rolling for what was supposed to be a photo-op during their recent meeting. Mahmoud Abbas in turn spared no effort in once again confirming to the whole world what a measly weakling he is.

This took place when the despicable crooked and absolutely disgusting Olmert rebuked Abbas for meeting with Samir Qantar. As if it were any of his business. Abbas seemed apologetic and if I heard correctly he claimed that he was taken by surprise by this meeting.

Olmert lectured Abbas on how "he is a man of peace and how he should meet people of peace".

If this is the case then Abbas had no business sitting with a crooked, Nazi, and outright racist named Olmert. If Abbas was not insulted by the belittling and the complete disregard for the office he holds by being publicly scolded by a scoundrel, well let me break some news to you Abbas...every Palestinian with an iota of dignity was.

For God's sake Abbas, have some backbone and let us for once feel that the Palestinians are sort of in good hands. Your response was such a disgrace, I am absolutely appalled.

President Abbas, on this first day of Ramadan, how about I suggest that you skip fasting from food and start practicing fasting from salivating over and kissing the ass of those who have publicly exposed yours. God will probably forgive you for not fasting, but I doubt you will ever be forgiven for selling your soul and making a pact with the devil!

Shame on Jordan Television

2008-08-10T09:50:00.006+02:00

And on Lana Mamkegh.

On the morning that the whole literary and Arab worlds are mourning Mahmoud Darwish, the Jordan Television has nothing better to present on its morning show except an interview on laser surgery.

What makes this a bigger shame is that the presenter is non-other than Lana Mamkegh, a writer herself who out of all people knows the hefty loss that we endure with Darwish's passing.

Instructions from "up above" might now come to do something. But whatever they do, they would be doing too little, too late.

Darwish is a great figure, and maybe it is a blessing in disguise that he was not mourned by JTV. Tribute by such mediocre institutions might not be a tribute at all!

محمود درويش

2008-08-09T21:05:00.006+02:00

إلى أمي

أحنُّ إلى خبز أُمي

وقهوة أمي

ولمسة أُمي ..

وتكبُر في الطفولةُ

يوماً على صدر يومِ

وأعشَقُ عمرِي لأني

إذا مُتُّ,

أخجل من دمع أُمي !

خذينيِ إذا عدتُ يوماً

وشاحاً لهُدْبِكْ

وغطّي عظامي بعشب

تعمّد من طهر كعبك

وشُدي وثاقي ..

بخصلة شَعر..

بخيطٍ يلوِّح في ذيل ثوبك ..

عساني أصير ُإلهاً

إلهاً أصير..

إذا ما لمستُ قرارة قلبك !

ضعيني , إذا ما رجعتُ

وقوداً بتنور ناركْ ..

وحبل غسيل على سطح دارك

لأني فقدتُ الوقوفَ

بدون صلاة نهارك

هَرِمْتُ فردّي نجوم الطفولة

حتى أُشارك صغار العصافير

درب الرجوع .. لعُش انتظارِك!!

Mamamouchis

2008-08-03T21:54:00.005+02:00

I just read an article about a show taking place at the Tate in London entitled "the Lure of the East" and subtitled "British Orientalist Painting".

In this article the author shows the fascaination as well as the desdain that the West held towards the East (mostly Turkey and Iran). This is done through the portrayal of selected artworks produced during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

It is amazing to read about the way in which this apparent fascination of the East was expressed, and which was through obsessing over its fashion. Several Orientalists (Europeans) actually adorned the garments of the East in a desperate attempt to fit in.

The article then moves on to describe one Robert Shirley. "Between 1608-1613 and 1617-1624, Shirley wheedled his way into the Iranian court and was dispatched on European missions on behalf of Shah Abbas of Iran.....The Briton, who took himself very seriously, was portrayed several times wearing Iranian court attire, or so he thought,"

The article goes on to say that "The result (the depiction of Shirley) irresistibly calls to mind the famous scene in Molière's satirical comedy "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme," where a man from the newly rich bourgeoisie aspiring to aristocratic status has himself decked out in a pseudo-Turkish outfit before being hailed with a bogus title, "Le grand Mamamouchi."

Mamamouchis and bogus titles....sounds familiar!

A new siren in town

2008-08-03T21:04:00.005+02:00

The frequency of police sirens these days has increased for some reason. The sound of sirens has also changed. Amman is coming of age, and with it comes a new fleet of police cars. Strangely enough, the sound of the sirens does not bother me. In fact I like it. The sound of the new sirens is exactly the same as the ones heard in Paris or London. So everytime I hear a police siren goes off, I just close my eyes and pretend that I am on vacation somewhere in an exotic city in Europe...until I am rudely awakened by: "Honda zarga, wasse3 tareeg"

If you love Google

2008-08-01T20:43:00.002+02:00

You will probably like cuil (pronounced cool).

A new search engine developed by an ex-Google designer.

A non-ending Diana day!

2008-08-01T19:50:00.003+02:00

I am sitting outside in my garden at the first circle. All of a sudden the voice of Diana Korazon is echoing all over. It just hit me that there is a concert at the Citadel (Jabal Al-Qal3a) for Diana Korazon and Assi Hellani. I never realized that I could attend concerts at the Citadel for free. Diana, "merci kteer" for this revelation.

Merci Kteer

2008-08-01T13:18:00.003+02:00

There was an interview with Diana Korazon today on JTV's morning show. Everytime she wanted to say "thank you", she would say "thank you kteer" or "merci kteer" (not to mention the sudden switch to the lebanese accent).

I can live with the "thank you kteer" (Maybe). But the "merci kteer" was too much for my gentle ears.

I suggest from now on, anyone who wants to qualify for the "merci kteer" should be required to carry on a non-stop conversation in french for at least five minutes, otherwise they should stick "shoukran kteer"! Come to think of it, it would probably be much better if they just keep quiet.

Noblesse oblige

2008-07-28T21:23:00.008+02:00

King Abullah's II visit to Balqa' is telling of the begging custom that has become the modus operandi of the day.

I happened to see the King's visits on TV to several Governates all over the Kingdom. The audience of each visit was more or less indicative of the level of needs of the various governates where these royal visits took place. During these encounters several notables of the communities in question gave speeches of welcome fused with list of grievances for which they were seeking relief.

There is nothing wrong with having poor communities voice hardship and seek the support of the government. In fact it is great that such calls fall directly on the lion’s ears. After all, empowering and providing safety nets in areas where government intervention is necessary, is but one of the most important mandates entrusted to the public sector.

My surprise came specifically at watching the latest town meeting that took place in Balqa Governate. To me, a brief survey of the notables of Balqa and the big families that are hailed from its great capital Al-Salt, tell me that there is a lot of wealth residing there. I have no statistics on which I base my observation. It is merely an observation.

Nevertheless, assuming that my observation is valid, I am sure that we could agree that a goverante that houses such wealth should not wait for the king to visit so that a petition for a hospital or a school or a program or I don’t' know what, gets acted upon. These very needs should be the trigger point to be proactive in addressing the civic needs of any given community.

As I was watching all the extremely well dressed and obviously well off notables hold the microphone and talk (petition is more like it), I could not help but think to myself “To whom much is given much is obliged”.

Finally, there is no disrespect intended by this post to the great people of Balqa’. In fact this is probably one of the greatest goverantes of Jordan. However, what I noticed in the Balqa’ town meeting could apply countrywide on all those who are given but do not see the need to be obliged.

Amman

2008-07-23T02:26:00.002+02:00

“Out of all of you, I may be among the earliest residents of Amman, and have recollections of it when it was but a village at a time when it would have been an exaggeration to refer to it as a city…. At that time each one of us knew everyone else, their phone numbers, and every car in town.”
Late King Hussein bin Talal, during a visit to Greater Amman Municipality shortly before his passing.

A recent post by Mohammad Omar reminded me of how much I really love Amman. My childhood memories are all nestled within the charming corners of Amman, its streets, its stairs, the small shops with shopkeepers holding tight to their grid-lined debt notepads, and the wee hours of the morning when the hara kids would all gather to wait for the school bus to pick us up in loads.

Amman has changed and with it so has its spirit. To say that I wish it remained the same would be unrealistic at best, and selfish at worst. All I can say is that no matter how it changes, Amman remains the darling of many of us who grew up knowing it as a village. We might feel protective over it and in the process resist much needed change. No matter what happens, Amman to me is like a kid, I might have a burning desire to discipline it out of concern, but at the end of the day I can never turn my back on it. It is deeply and so dearly engraved in me.

Few years ago, I asked a dear friend of mine, Nora Boustany (Columnist at the Washington Post) to write something about her working years in Amman. What she wrote sums up why many passers by consider Amman addictive, and why it is beloved by anyone who gets a taste of its charm. Nora wrote:

“The clear, sun-bathed days waiting for me always made coming back to Amman a special homecoming. But even the pale blue moonlight over its pink stone houses has its own magic for me. The city with its open spaces and hills, whispering fortunetellers and sprawling palace became my second home. After the turmoil of Beirut in wartime, the uncertainties of Washington as a chosen exile and my travels across the obscure medinas and bazaars of the Middle East, Amman is where I felt most comfortable. It is where my spirit was able to roam freely and wander to feed itself. Its modernity, romance and truth will always draw me back.”

Bloogy boring!

2008-07-21T21:12:00.007+02:00

I recently noticed that an increasing number of bloggers in Jordan (and some Arab countries) are expressing boredom of blogging and lack of enthusiasm for writing. Some are even contemplating end of blogging all together. It seems that the novelty of the blogsphere as well as of blogging has worn off. I strongly believe that the censorship imposed (implicitly) has a lot to do with turning the blogsphere into an increasingly boring venue for sharing ideas and expressing one's self.

I started blogging in 2007. I had a lazy start, but then my frequency of writing picked up as the months went by. Today I find myself bored as well. I also find that the past 18 months have been a great learning experience as far the local online community is concerned.

My most stark observations about the blogsphere in Jordan is how overwhelmingly negative it tends to be. Sometimes, I honestly feel mentally tired from the constant bickering that takes place without really presenting the issue in question within a reasonable and well structured context. I also noticed that there is a sense of elitism among certain bloggers, that reminds me of the obnoxious or nerd-ish cliques one finds in high school. More disappointing is the tendency of some bloggers to become a reflection of the mainstream media packaged in somewhat semi-critical tones that serves at nothing but to insult the reader's intelligence. The most annoying blogs are those whose authors wreak of narcissism.

Having said all of that, I must not forget my immediate impression and surprise when I started surfing the Jordanian blogsphere: how eloquent certain Jordanians are and how widespread they are.

One thing that our blogsphere lacks is humor (with the exception of Hajjaj maybe). I guess we, Jordanians, are not known for it. Or as any drama teacher might tell me, making people laugh through writings is probably one of the hardest things to do.

Finally, I must admit that I was pleased to read various bloggers express disappointment and boredom from blogging as well as from the blogs out there. I have been feeling it too. To see that I am not alone, means that there is definitely something that is driving the blogsphere into the annals of the "quite" boring.

By the way, I did a little exercise on a blog aggregator. I listed the number of postings per month and per year over 31 months. Sure enough, the general feeling out there can be backed by actual figures. The number of postings has been falling over the past few years. The rate of the fall is not alarming. However, one would expect that as time goes by the number of bloggers to grow, and with it the number of blogposts. Not so.

(see graph - blue: 2006 - red: 2007 -- yellow: 2008)

Mind twister

2008-07-21T19:43:00.003+02:00

This exercise must be done in your head only . Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it!
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000 . Now add 30 . Add another 1000 . Now add 20 . Now add another 1000 Now add 10.

What is the total?

Did you get 5000 ?

Wrong!

Correct answer is 4100!!!

Moral Hazard

2008-07-16T23:45:00.002+02:00

Moral hazard is a term that is predominantly associated with finance and financial transactions. For example, in insurance, it “means that people may take greater risks than they would do without it because they know they are protected, so the insurer may get more claims than it bargained for.”

Lately I have been thinking of moral hazard and its applicability in politics. If we assume that political action is insurable against risk, then who would be the insurers as well as the regulators? More important who determines what the threshold of risk is and at what level to pull the plug?

As long as our branches of government remain weak in exercising their main mandate of providing checks and balances, the risk of moral hazard will most likely be there. The dangerous part is that, unlike business, the price we might pay for the risk associated with poor political action might be too painful.

Moral hazard in politics may lead politicians to take serious and poorly calculated risks given that they seem to be under the false impression of being bailed out (as long as they are in bed with the regulators). Little do they know that there is no free lunches, and the bail outs will one day accumulate to levels of claims for which the final bill is too expensive and the outcome is extremely hazardous!

“Brown Envelope” Culture

2008-07-16T22:49:00.005+02:00

I just read this term in an article about the poor state of corporate governance in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “Brown envelope” refers to cash kick-backs (bribes) that are usually handed out in brown envelopes. Corruption is reported to be across the board, especially in the construction industry given the large-scale projects that are taking place there. Moreover, the article points out that the Middle East is especially prone to this culture given that it is a predominantly cash-based economy. According to a recent report poor corporate governance in the GCC is estimated to cost the region close to $300 billion a year.

Speaking of corruption, economist Paulo Mauro of the IMF wrote an interesting and informative paper on the causes and consequences of corruption. A lot of what Mauro argues could be applied to our economy. Other work on corruption points out to an interesting fact that shows that sometimes corruption has a favorable effect of increasing the levels of efficiency in an economy!

P.S. Brown envelope....some "people" love you!

Bunnies and Play Boys

2008-07-15T00:43:00.006+02:00

I spent last weekend at the Dead Sea. On Saturday morning I got a call from my 28-year old friend, who is the son of a friend of mine. He is someone I see as a young brother and I genuinely like him. He told me that he was staying at the same hotel where I was. So I invited him over for a drink.

He arrived to my room with a beautiful young girl who is obviously his girlfriend. She was wearing a bikini and a matching dress on top. The dress was short and quite open from the chest side. Her outfit was extremely uninhibited, and she had the good looks to make it all the sexier. From carrying out small talk here and there, I realized that she was a decent girl. She definitely came from a very good family. She would not in any shape or form qualify for a cheap girl. She is liberal, but that's about it. From our small talk it was evident that it was not their first time at the Dead Sea. I also sensed that they had at times spent the whole weekend there, meaning that they stayed overnight. All of which would have been absolutely irrelevant had I not known the culture he comes from.

Suddenly I was faced with the hypocrisy that I have abhorred about our society all along. Leading on girls with the promise of love and maybe even marriage, when I know for a fact that when it comes to the “I do’s”, this poor girl will be automatically eliminated form the list. A list that is in the making by the mother who is continuously surveying the family for any “good” girl worthy of her son. Most probably the mother has already in store a “cousin in waiting”. It is for sure that the cousin is also veiled since this happens to be part of the selection criteria. The lucky cousin would now be waiting for prince charming to be done with screwing around so that he can claim his virgin trophy.

I am normally enchanted when I see couples, especially young couples who seem in love. It gives me hope for the beautiful things in life, for nothing beats the beauty of love. Seeing this couple, however, aroused in me exactly the opposite feelings. I was extremely uncomfortable. I felt protective over the girl; while at the same time my affection to the guy made me feel extremely sorry for him. I know he probably wishes he was free of the shackles of his family, mother, and his whole upbringing. Sadly, no matter how much he pretends, what this poor girl did by being normal and open with him, was making sure that the relationship between them would be stripped of any normalcy. By being touchable she has automatically moved herself into the league of the "plagued untouchables".

I wish I could take this girl aside and explain to her what she got herself into. I wish I could explain to her the signs of what to look for. Maybe I should come up with a generic list to be given to all, and not exclusively to this girl in particular. The list would apply because what I saw with this couple this weekend seems to be the norm and not the exception. Young men choosing to lead a double life in their bachelorhood, which they eventually revert to in their married life. Deception and dishonesty are traits once engraved, no marriage certificate could alter.

I like the idea of the list. I will call it the “young women salvation” list. How about “make sure he introduces you to his mother” as a first rule on the list. I am sure my new list has a lot in common with the energizer bunny in that it can go on and on and on. Energizer bunny…hmmm….. maybe rule number two should be “make sure he does not mistake you for an energizer bunny!!! “

Funding a Festival

2008-07-11T21:38:00.003+02:00

Now that the dust surrounding Jordan Festival has “sort” of settled, a key question remains to be answered: the return on what seems to be a relatively huge investment.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear a government official directly involved with this “Festival” justify the return as being simply non-monetary. The official explained that the crowd that this “Festival” has so far drawn shows that it managed to attract visitors from various countries, implying an increase in the number of visitors to Jordan (yet to be proven, but let us assume that it is correct). This line of reasoning is at the heart of the multiplier effect argument that many in the tourism private sector have been calling for when reaching out to the government. Needless to say that these calls have always fallen on deaf ears. Therefore, to see a government official reason along these lines is refreshing to say the least.

The problem with believing that the government is suddenly strategically thinking along multiplier effect lines is that it contradicts facts on the ground. If Jordan Festival has been the muse that inspired the government to start thinking along these lines, then how about the far more important muses within the tourism industry that need to be treated with such enlightened thinking.

Unfortunately, the way I see it is that arguing that Jordan Festival will manage to attract more visitors to the Kingdom is only a selective choice of an argument that happens to serve the government side in this particular instance. My feeling comes from watching the government on numerous occasions employ a selective choice of “buzz” arguments that are built on weak (or non existent) premises simply to justify losing propositions. If the government has all of a sudden realized the importance of tourism as well as the multiplier effect that it creates, it should then take a serious look at the industry and the “milking” approach it applies towards it. The tourism sector is one of the most promising sectors for the economy of Jordan. It is, to use a cliché, the “oil of Jordan”. More important the tourism industry is built on pillars made mostly of private investors, who unlike the organizers of the Jordan Festival, look for real return on their investments. If buying and selling land becomes more lucrative than sustaining a whole industry through building the necessary superstructures (hotels, restaurants, etc), then what the government is doing by not paying enough attention to the laws regulating and “truly” encouraging investing in this industry is simply driving a very serious group of investors into non-productive sectors of the economy. The government needs to stop looking at the tourism industry as a cash cow to milk, and instead start looking at it as one of the most serious strategic sectors of the economy. It should stop looking at it with dollar sign lenses that promise to finance the treasury because of failures elsewhere in the economy. This shortsighted approach is robbing the country of much needed real opportunities embedded in sound strategic plans that could truly unleash the true potential of this lucrative sector.

Finally, and to go back to the “Festival”, if the government is serious about looking at its return in non-monetary terms, it needs to back its argument up with transparent and clear disclosures. Dodging fair and reasonable questions by throwing fancy arguments does not cut it. After all, the Festival is a relatively huge investment that is funded by taxpayers’ money. Failure to come out with satisfactory answers will only add to the cynicism that is already attached to it.

In hindsight, it seems that the best thing that ever happened to this Festival was probably the whole boycott fiasco. It produced an unintended consequence that resulted in adding it to the list of taboo subjects that no one is allowed to question or even talk about…unless it is to praise it of course!

The Rumor Mill.....Then what ?! (Part 2)

2008-07-05T22:39:00.007+02:00

The recent talk of rumors and innuendoes reminds of Yogi Berra's: "Deja vu all over again!" "Deja vu" three years ago, August 17, 2005 to be exact, when we woke up to major news headlines reporting severe lash out on rumor mongers:

اما الحكي في الصالونات ..وهي غير موجوده والحمد لله الا في بعض مناطق العاصمة والتي يمارس بعض روادها او اصحابها تسريب
الاشاعات والاخبار الكاذبة الى الصحافة الاجنبية لخدمة اجنداتهم الخاصة او الاستقواء على هذا الوطن من خلال علاقاتهم ببعض الجهات الخارجية.

واريد ان يعرف هؤلاء الاشخاص ان لا احد يستطيع ان يستقوي على الوطن ولا علينا لاننا على حق وانتماؤنا لهذا الوطن اقوى بكثير من كل من يحاول الاستقواء بأي جهة أخرى ..وانا اعرف هؤلاء الاشخاص واعرف اهدافهم وحركاتهم حتى انا ما سلمت من «الطخ والحكي الفارغ».

كل الظواهر السلبية في حياتنا العامّة كان لها حصّة في الخطاب..الصالونات السياسية, والصحافة الاسبوعية الصفراء, والتسريبات والإشاعات وإلقاء اللوم على الآخرين، وكذلك الظواهر الاجتماعية-الثقافية المنهكة كالواسطة والمحسوبية, والتعطّل بانتظار الوظيفة المكتبية.

وأعطى الخطاب أمثلة دقيقة وحيّة من أداء الطبقة السياسية "عندما يكون الواحد في المنصب كل شيء صحيح وعندما لا يكون في المنصب كل شيء غلط " وطال النقد اولئك الذين يستقوون بـ"التوجيهات من فوق" لتمرير ما يريدون. فأيام الحسين رحمه الله كان يقال انها تعليمات "من فوق" والآن يتمادى هؤلاء بالقول انها من "رأس الهرم"!.

To quote the famous Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr: Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same).

Hindsight is Red...Foresight is Blue

2008-06-29T21:39:00.006+02:00

What do Cirque du Soleil, Home Depot, e-Bay, Federal Express, Southwest Airlines, and CNN have in common? They all share Blue Ocean strategy as a main reason behind their success.

Blue Ocean strategy is most likely to be triggered when "competing in overcrowded industries is unlikely to sustain high performance. The real opportunity is then to create blue oceans of uncontested market space." The contrast of Blue Ocean strategy is what is recognized as the Red Ocean strategy (red as in bloody). Red oceans "represent all the industries in existence today—the known market space. In red oceans, industry boundaries are defined and accepted, and the competitive rules of the game are well understood. Here, companies try to outperform their rivals in order to grab a greater share of existing demand. As the space gets more and more crowded, prospects for profits and growth are reduced. Products turn into commodities, and increasing competition turns the water bloody."

In turn "Blue oceans denote all the industries not in existence today—the unknown market space, untainted by competition. In blue oceans, demand is created rather than fought over. There is ample opportunity for growth that is both profitable and rapid. There are two ways to create blue oceans. In a few cases, companies can give rise to completely new industries, as e-Bay did with the online auction industry. But in most cases, a blue ocean is created from within a red ocean when a company alters the boundaries of an existing industry".

A comparison between these two strategies is well described in the following diagram:

Blue Ocean strategist had little concern with hindsight, and all of them acted with the conviction of a 20/20 foresight. If I had a single wish at all in the world of business, it would be to appreciate and apply the "zeitgeist" (spirit of the time) the way these luminaries did, and which eventually led them to the clean blue oceans where they pioneered truly uncharted territories.

All excerpts and diagram are quoted from:
W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. "Blue Ocean Strategy." Harvard Business Review October 2004

If it ain't broken...break it!

2008-06-27T22:31:00.022+02:00

Jerash Festival is permanently canceled. The incoherent reasons reported behind discontinuing a festival that we have all grown accustomed to for over 20 years leave plenty to be desired. This cancellation highlights an arrogance in the decision making process that disregards any ramifications of such an ad hoc move. More important the scrapping of such an important cultural event calls for the need to have meaningful transparency and straightforwardness in breaking to the public news of what many might perceive as an "arbitrary" and an "irrational" decision.

The announcement of this news should be a case study in "what NOT to do" in handling the media when it comes to matters of great importance to the public. The first lesson, never underestimate the intelligence of the audience receiving the news. The second lesson, you better have a good reason in explaining the need for such a drastic move. The third lesson, the people responsible for such a decision should have their finger on the pulse of the general mood out on the street instead of seeming to give it the finger. The fourth lesson, have alternatives ready and easy to understand; claims that "Jordan Festival" is the substitute should shed light on what this Festival is and why it is assumed to be a better option than the one canceled. Finally, those responsible should have made sure that there is one spokesperson for this very serious decision. Instead, we have seen several officials talk with more versions than we can count of what this "Jordan Festival" is supposed to be. In essence, by beating around the bush, they have not only managed to confuse the public, but they have also managed to rob any goodwill that might have been attached to it.

This is as far as the decision making process is concerned. What bothers me even more is that the funding for the alleged substitute huge event is still unclear. Had it been a private sector initiative, it would not have been an issue at all. However, the event is supposedly funded by the government through the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB). This Board receives its funding from the public sector as well as through levies collected from the private sector. The overall budget of the Board does not exceed JD 7 million. The mandate of the Board is to market Jordan worldwide. Any simple calculation reveals that the programs of JTB by far exceed the budget set for it. The question then remains, where is the money coming from for at least this "Jordan Festival", and at what marketing activity's expense? Moreover, have the stakeholders funding this Board been consulted on these drastic measures, at least the private arm of them? Afterall it is their money that is partly funding all of this mess. My gut feeling (a bit more than a gut feeling) tells me they have not.

Jerash Festival was a great event that needed fine tuning through ensuring responsible and effective management. The lack of good oversight should have never been a reason for discontinuing such an important public and national outlet. The JTB (if they in fact had anything to do with the cancellation!) should have been savvier in building on a know-how that has been in the making for the past couple of decades. They had the perfect venue and material to make their job easier in marketing Jordan. Instead they or "someones" have managed to expose JTB's overall incompetence in the most public, humiliating and controversial ways.

Throwing the baby with the bathtub is what we are eventually witnessing with this whole Jerash Festival fiasco. The sad part in all of this is that the people who should be holding those responsible accountable are the very people we do not want to hear from. I personally have become sick and tired of hearing the representatives of the people pushing their personal agendas in the name of the public good. In the final analysis we are once again reminded of how the ineptness of the legislative branch has left the arena wide open for the executive branch to play without any hope for a much needed accountability.

How do you console a devastated heart?

2008-06-25T00:38:00.001+02:00

Out of the many traditions and cultural practices that we have, having the three-day condolence open houses period is probably one of the wisest rituals that we observe. Although the event itself might seem overwhelming, and although the preparation for it is always troublesome given the sudden nature of it, it is still nonetheless a much welcomed distraction for the loved ones of the deceased.

I visited a bereaved distant friend today whose mother (a very close friend of my mother) passed away suddenly few days ago. Her sister has just passed away less than three months ago after battling a terminal illness. She only had this sister. She has no brothers. Her father is late since long time ago. While visiting I could not help but stare at her today at the condolence house and think to myself "how do you console someone who has lost so much in less than three months"? How does one empathize with such a life transforming loss? I kept on wondering on what is going through her mind and how is she coping with such tremendous pain. Shortly after, I found myself moving closer to her and telling her that "we are all here for you". I really meant it. We as in my mother and my sisters. This is one sister we would so wholeheartedly welcome and would love to be part of easing her pain.

Life can be cruel sometimes. Or maybe that is life, and we better get used to it. Whatever the case may be, losing a loved one must be one of the hardest tests that any human being goes through. Losing two loved ones in a row must be so painful, all I can do is hope that she will take me up on my offer.

Abouna Fouad

2008-06-24T00:29:00.005+02:00

Abouna Fouad Twal is a Roman Catholic Archbishop. In June 2008, he was named by Pope Benedict as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Apart from the very long titles, to me Abouna Fouad symbolizes kindness and interfaith respect and tolerance.

Abouna Fouad is a family friend. I met him for the first time in Rome, Italy. He was then a Monsignor. I was then sixteen years old. I was living with the Orsoline sisters while going to school. Abouna Fouad looked after me as if I were one of his own family. He often invited me to the Vatican to have early dinners at the residents' dining room (The Vatican's equivalent of staff cafeteria). I remember my fascination with the Swiss Guard stationed everywhere at the Vatican and how they always used to remind me of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (no idea why). I was also fortunate enough to gain access to the breathtaking private back gardens of the Vatican. I still remember how privileged I used to feel everytime I gained access to the very quarters reserved for those usually closely connected to the Vatican. Those scenes are so vivid in my head, it all seems like it was yesterday.

Abouna Fouad often used to check on me at the convent where I used to live, which gave me a super boost with the sisters, a nee nee nee nee boo boo sort of boost. I was the friend of the MONSIGNORE....WHOPPEEE!!! I knew they were jealous and I loved it. If I ever needed anything, I knew I could call on him, and he would be there. I remember taking walks with Abouna Fouad in the streets of Rome and discussing everything from politics to life to anything that I felt like talking about. Abouna Fouad was truly a father figure for me in a town where everything seemed alien then.

The beauty of Abouna Fouad is that he befriended me regardless of my age and religion. He never made me feel that I was too young to express an opinion. On the contrary, to me he always seemed genuinely interested in what this young girl had to say. My Moslem religion was never an issue. Of all the many topics that we talked about, religion was never one of them. He respected my faith and I did his. He cared for me as human being, for at the end of the day what unites us is our humanity: the most important religion of all.

Congratulations Abouna Fouad!

You make me proud!

Signs you are getting old(er)

2008-06-15T21:40:00.007+02:00

When calls for any type of recruits specify candidates born after the year you finished college
When MTV comes on and you hardly know any of the groups playing
When the combined age of several colleagues at the office starts equaling yours
When you start switching to anti-ageing facial creams
When you start looking ridiculous calling someone 3ammo (even though he had always been 3ammo)
When men start asking for your baby niece’s hand
When most of the actors you grew up watching pass away
When the cool songs you grew up listening to become "classics"
When certain clubs become off limit and certain restaurants become inappropriate “FOR PEOPLE YOUR AGE”
When some of your childhood friends end up as some hot shot in some hot post (mostly government)
When your friends start having cholesterol problems
When your married friends start getting divorced
AND....When your single friends stop considering marriage

Sounds of the First Circle

2008-06-14T22:36:00.007+02:00

I live in a charming area of Amman called the first circle. With the onset of the spring and summer seasons, I now spend a lot of my free time at home sitting outside. I am amazed with the variety of sounds I hear concurrently.

This morning I decided to pay a special attention to the sounds I grew accustomed to hearing and yet never took notice of. As annoying as some of them might be, I strangely find them all combined adding to the charm of my neighborhood.

Some of the sounds I was able to capture are the following:

* Birds Churning
* Tree leaves moving in the breeze
* Car engines
* Music coming from cars driving by
* Music announcing the presence of propane gas cylinders sellers' trucks
* Call for prayers, which are preceded by loud noise coming from turning the mosque's speaker on. Prior to the actual call, the neighborhood is also subjected to listening to the ending of a religious program broadcast from the same station from where the recorded call is coming
* Television programming coming from my neighbors’ house
* Distant private conversations coming form my other neighbors’ house
* Cats meowing
* Conversations of passers by
* Kids playing in the street
* Phones ringing coming from neighbors' homes

My favorite though is a new comer to the neighborhood. It is a truck that has been showing up lately carrying a loudspeaker. The call is for any scrap for sale. I just love it:

“illee 3ando khorda llalbai3…thlajjat…ghassallaaat…haddeed mawasseerr….tankaat lallbai3....ayy shee khordah lallbai3....illee 3andoh khordah lallbai3…”

Mohammad Al-Assad wrote an interesting piece on this called "Soundscapes of Amman". After my little experiment this morning, the article is amazingly accurate.

Honor Thy Sister!

2008-06-12T22:23:00.010+02:00

Hymenoplasty is the restoration of a woman’s hymen. A hymen is the thin vaginal membrane that normally breaks during the first act of intercourse. Hymenoplasty and hymen are the subjects of a newsarticle that appeared in the International Herald Tribune headlined with non other than “For Muslim women in Europe, a medical road back to virginity”.

As I was reading this article I kept on getting increasingly uncomfortable with the subject matter and the way in which it is exposed. Why label Moslem women? Why not expose the matter as a tradition inflicting conservative societies regardless of religion and nationality? Moreover, it bothered me because it touched on a topic that has occupied us under the pretext of attaching notions of honor to it. An honor I am still grappling with the true definition of it. A form of honor that has produced nothing but a monopoly to a retarded pattern of thinking. A pattern that has served at nothing but to reinforce a stifling culture that is more concerned with women’s tissues than with issues that really make a difference.

After reading the article, my immediate reaction was to resent the fact that this topic is now exposed for the whole world to read. I hated how this topic is targeting and stigmatizing Moslem women. I abhorred what is obviously yet another form of Moslem bashing. I was disgusted by the fact that our double standards in dealing with everything has now been drilled down to this minute level. The resentment that started with anger at the reporting of this story was soon redirected towards the reasons why we even have this dirty laundry exposed in the first place.

Why is the hymen so important? And how does a hymen break? Doesn’t it always take two to Tango? If one Tangoer has a hymen and can be punished for breaking it, then how about the other Tangoer, the breaker? How come he gets to have the choice to “dishonor” his partner and then in the same breath turn against her and call foul.

A closer look at the "breaker" would also suggest that he probably has sisters who are losing their virginity to the same type of hypocrite who might also have sisters who are as well being treated by yet another coward with the same disdain, hypocrisy and denial. And the circle of deceit keeps on getting bigger and more incestuous.

The whole hymen issue is only reinforcing the web of lies that we find our young people entangled in. Whether we like it or not, young people are humans who have feelings and who would and could act on these feelings in ways that are romantic and sometimes physically intimate. Denying this fact of life will only perpetuate an implicit endorsement of dishonesty and deception. Virginity be it for men or for women is a matter of choice. Denying this right to choose is as futile as our attempt to believe that our honor hangs on whether a hymen is in tact or not. If it were that simple, we should then always remember that hymnoplasty is there to restore what we so dearly cling to as our cherished honor.

People I admire and why

2008-06-09T22:08:00.004+02:00

Nasser the office boy. Exemplary work ethic.
Nelson Mandela. The light at the end of the tunnel.
The street cleaners. Thanks to them we can freely brag about how clean our city is.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum. His guts leading his country to glory.
The guy whose advertising is seen all over Jordan about his farm fencing services “LeTashyeek mazare3kom”. Persistence, persistence, persistence!
Robert Fisk. The synthesis of courage and integrity.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal. A true gentleman.
Sellers at Friday’s Souk Jara. Entrepreneurship at its best.
My sister. Her zest for life.
Mohammad Al-Asad. For always reminding me how much I love Amman.
My mother. Her beautiful heart.

Big Brother Is Not Watching You

2008-06-07T14:25:00.005+02:00

He is breathing down your neck!

We grew up accustomed to toning down whatever politically critical thought we had while talking in public or over the phone, landline that is. Some might even have gone to the extent of making up code names just in case. And this “some” might not have been any public figure or someone remotely suspected of being eves-dropped on. It seems that this was embedded in our subconscious as we were growing up in less than democratic cultures. We were and still are conditioned to hold back, simply because unbeknownst to us, big brother might be watching.

Exit analog Big Brother, enter digital Big Brother. Research shows that we have voluntarily aided and facilitated the intrusion into our lives and privacy by simply using our cell phones, e-mail, internet, etc. Satellite technologies have been perfected to the extent of having some digital dude sharing live the most intimate moments of our lives, sight and sound! E-mails have provided a platform of readily available material into our most private communications. Internet has us classified by tracking our patterns of navigation and behavior that we are nothing more than a mere variable into a sophisticated algorithm being run by some wacky scientist.

As is the case with technology, some might argue that it is a double-edged sword. The insights provided by this new form of digital benign big brother could be useful for marketing, medical or whatever purposes by narrowing down the behavior patterns of a targeted segment. The benefits could also be argued as highly useful in figuring out patterns of movement of big crowds that could prove vital in catastrophe scenarios or in urban planning issues. Whatever the case might be, the prospects of getting this too close for comfort are scary. A case in point is a recent research on cell phones that concludes that we are creatures of habit. The research is hailed as a breakthrough. “The cell phone researchers pointed out that their paper moved the field forward significantly because people hold on to their phones, and so the movement of individuals is more closely tracked than it can be with paper currency that is passed from person to person". (It turns out that there is a site where movement of paper money can be tracked www.wheresgeorge.com).

Finally, I wonder how the above media combined with the highly secret technology being developed and researched in full force in the USA could result in. The technology I am referring to is nano-technology. The little that I know of it is enough to give me the creeps.

Intelligence in the sense of prying is moving forward in ways that we are totally unaware of. If this all results in us creating a monster bigger than what we can eventually control remains to be seen. In the meantime, we should not be blamed if we end up acting like a bunch of paranoid freaks!

Why?

2008-06-04T21:35:00.017+02:00

Why would anyone spend $200 billion on a project connecting the Gulf Arab region with Muslim Africa. A 28.5-kilometre bridge is the project's centerpiece and it will carry vehicles, trains, natural gas and water. Other components of the project are two cities in Djibouti and Yemen. The bridge aims to provide a safe route between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa region, as the waterway between them is highly dangerous due to Somali pirates. "I am sure there are much cheaper ways of controlling these pirates!!!" More important, I don't understand why this is the best use of $200 billion in two of the poorest of the world’s low-income countries where more than 45 percent and 42 percent of the Yemeni and Djiboutian populations respectively live in poverty. why?

Why would anyone want to be on one of the zillion diffferent lists that come out every five minutes? Lately we have seen the power 100, Arabian Business Women, the world's most influential people, The world's billionaires, the world's richest Arabs, the world's this and the world's that. I really do not get it why would anyone be interested in such idiotic lists...why?

Why would any Arab care who wins the American presidential elections? I really do not understand why we always keep on fooling ourselves by protrarying one candidate as Arab friendly while the other is Israel friendly. Isn't it time we learn that there is only Israel friendly when it comes to the Amercian Presdient. Didn't we learn our lesson with G.W. Bush? The truth of the matter is both candidates are always two faces for the same coin. Did we forget Harry Truman's words in 1948 during an election year when he claimed that "the Arabs need us more than we need them.” Implicit was the underlying message that Jews were more important to Truman’s election than Arabs. As Truman himself once said: “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I have to answer to hundreds of thousands who are anxious for the success of Zionism. I do not have hundreds of thousands of Arabs among my constituents.” Why would things be any different now...why?

Nostalgic songs

2008-06-01T23:09:00.008+02:00

Madonna's Isola Bonita was playing on the radio this evening while I was driving back home from work. Suddenly I had so many memories rushing in reminding me of my high school and college years. So I decided to recall back all the songs that I could remember and that were part of a very special time of my life.

I'll be watching you (Police): High school in Massachussets. Parties full of kegs and wild kids going absolutely mad.

I just called to say I love you: Italy days. Window shopping during the fall in Via Nazionale in Rome. Wishing that someone would call me to tell me so.

I can’t fight this feeling (REO Speedwagon): The first concert I went to during my freshman year in college. I remember crying because I was home sick.

I want my MTV (Dire Straits): College years. Gingris student union and our hang outs there.

Cheri Cheri Lady (Modern Talking): Undergraduate years in Connecticut. For some reason this group reminds me of a ski trip that I did with a bunch of friends. One of which I had a serious crush on.

Girl From Ipanema (Ella Fitzgerald): Super fun summers in Perugia.

Embrace me (Tania Maria): More fun summers in Perugia.

Ahmad Jamal: The greatest Jazz painest of all time. Umbria Jazz, how I fell in love with Jazz.

Material Girl : The beginning of my fascination with Madonna. I still can remember how mesmerized I was with this video clip.

Relax (Frankie goes to Hollywood): Well all I remember is that I had no clue what this song was all about. Naive does not even begin to describe it :-)

I wear my sunglasses at night: The drives my friend Ahmad and I used to take in the countryside of Connecticut on our way to our horseback riding classes. Ahmad was fascinated with the notion of wearing sunglasses at night. He actually used to do it. Amazing how I always think of him and those famous rides everytime I hear this song.

You came (Kim Wilde): Washington DC, Arlington Virginia, and the beginning of a dangerous liaison.

Papa don’t preach: No comment. No not me. Irene and some wild Kuwaiti dude :-)

True Faith (New Order): Irene without the Kuwaiti dude

Happy man (Chicago): The best dedication I ever got. No dedication will ever be the same.

I can see clearly now: The day I was informed that I got a job of a lifetime. I remember driving in Washignton DC with the volume blasting while listening to this song. Mind you part of the reason for the overwhelming joy then was the fact that I was broke.

Life Imitating Art

2008-05-31T00:49:00.005+02:00

The recent unfolding of various political events locally and regionally has come in such an organized orchestrated manner that one cannot help but wonder who is the maestro behind this brilliant orchestration.

Amid all the chaos, there is a method that has become predictable even to the most politically unsavvy. It reminds me of the use of foreshadowing in literature, where careful use of hints and clues suggest what is to become reality later.

Locally we have seen this with staged scandals that miraculously become a matter of fact once people get slowly but surely primed to accept them. Be it the idea of a casino or the sale of prime strategic assets, to name a few. Whatever the issue is, there is a crafty propaganda machine working the media in ways that are extremely conniving. Being at the receiving end, one cannot help but be suspicious and critical.

On a more serious level is the unfolding of events on a regional level. The past decade has been notorious for that. We have seen talks of a Shiite crescent, the circulation of a new map for the Middle East, Condoleezza Rice’s carefully timed declaration of the birth of a new Middle East, the division of Iraq into three provinces, and recently the reconciliation between opposing factions in Lebanon leading to the end of the recent stalemate there. Following the Doha accord, speculations about the weakening of the Arab moderates and the rise of extremists (in this case Syria, Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas) have been on the rise.

My view on all of this is paradoxical. I do not happen to subscribe to nor disagree with either argument (Moderates versus extremists). There is one thing for sure, what we are seeing today is an opening act to a finale that we will end up with tomorrow. And the end seems grim. At this point it is a matter of reading the signs and following the clues and hints we are systematically receiving on daily basis. I have a strong feeling that this is the same situation we found ourselves in over a decade ago with the hammering of Iraq which eventually culminated with 9/11, the grand opening of “Al-Qaeda” on the international scene which eventually lead to seizing full control over Afghanistan and more important to the occupation of Iraq. The polarization of the region in the era of a monopolar world is puzzling to say the least. Unless having both polars work against each other serves a higher interest invisible to the ordinary observer. History of the region is repeating itself. The demise of our region in the past came at a time when the modus operandi of the “higher interests” was “divide and conquer”.

Going back to my foreshadowing theory, the question remains what are the signs that we should be looking at carefully today in order to decipher the notes of the symphony at play?

The best answer that I can think of for now comes from a scene in “Shakespeare in Love”:

Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery

Hodgepodge

2008-05-30T09:42:00.009+02:00

Fighting terrorism. Fulbright grants have been withdrawn from Palestinian students in Gaza because Israel is stopping them from leaving. When asked about it at an Israeli parliamentary hearing Wednesday, an Israeli Defense Ministry official recalled that the cabinet had declared Gaza "hostile territory" and decided that the safety of Israeli soldiers and civilians should be risked only for humanitarian concerns. Higher education, he said, was not a humanitarian concern.

Size matters. A federal appeals court in Washington has ruled, properly, that American currency discriminates against the blind because the bills are too hard to tell apart. This was a ruling of a lawsuit filed by the American Council of the Blind. This is all instigated by the fact that all US paper currency different denominations come in the same size making it hard to differentiate.

Gays in Jebal Amman. An interesting post I recently read at www.black-iris.com. The stark contrast in everything in Jordan is just amazing.

Origins. It is believed that the first mention of the word nerd is found in Dr. Seuss’s “If I ran the Zoo”.

Speaking of nerds. Google is expected to generate $ 20 billion in advertising revenue alone. Google is also developing Android, mobile software system, which is expected to directly compete with Apple's iphone. Apple should brace itself for a serious run for its money.

Speaking of nerds 2. Windows 7 is the successor of Windows Vista. By the way I lost track of all Microsoft Windows OS launches. I remember there was one launch years back that included a lot of dinosaurs and it looked like a movie trailer for Jurassic Park.

Flattery. Someone recently complimented me by noting that I think like a man. Given that I think that I am a woman, I am not sure I like that.

Nepal is a republic. The 239-year-old Hindu monarchy is abolished.

You Learn...

2008-05-21T22:10:00.003+02:00

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning,
and company doesn’t always mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses are not contracts,
and present's aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead...

With the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.

And you learn
To build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much…

So, you plant your own garden,
and decorate your own soul...
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure…
you really are strong,
you really do have worth.

And you learn, and you learn…
with every goodbye,

You Learn…

(Poem by unknown)

A lie told often enough becomes the truth

2008-05-09T22:02:00.004+02:00

Except for the lie named Israel.

The latest chapter in the crafting of this lie is the argument that Israel’s creation sixty years ago was tantamount to bringing to life a nation that was destroyed.

Imagine if all destroyed nations go back to reclaim their lost nations after thousands of years.

Shortly before the creation of Israel, Winston Churchill expressed his views regarding the violations of the Zionists in Palestine in an obvious attempt to justify the illegal transfer of Jews to Palestine:

"I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place."

This of course all depend on who the dog is and where the manger exists.

Farewell Lucy!

2008-05-09T20:38:00.004+02:00

On May 7 I lost Lucy.

Lucy was poisoned by the Shouneh municipality in the Jordan Valley. She was 6 years old.

I will not get into the cruelty of putting down stray animals in this way. Let alone being indiscriminate in doing so and killing animals that have homes and are held dear by their owners.

Lucy was a super friendly and a well-trained dog. She befriended all the neighbors and everybody knew her around here. She probably was on her way to visiting one of the many neighbors who all considered her as theirs. I used to love hearing the kids call her name whenever we would go for walks. She especially loved my next-door neighbors. Their Friday BBQs were vital in building this relationship.

I will miss Lucy a lot. She was my buddy. There was a special bond between us. She always gave me the impression that she could guess my mood. And she always managed to lift it up whenever it was down.

I loved how protective she was. I also loved how tolerant she was towards things she deemed acceptable by me. Despite her hatred of cats, she learnt to be protective of my mother’s cat “Fulla” simply because she knew that this cat was part of her family.

The loss of Lucy breaks my heart. It really does. This is the first weekend that I am here without having her come greet me at the door. I miss listening to her bark and footsteps outside. The Ghor without Lucy is not the same.

3antar is now all what is left of Lucy. He is her one-year old son.

America’s Falafel

2008-04-21T18:13:00.002+02:00

McDonald’s is America’s Falafel.

Our McDonald's is Falafel.

How I wish that things remained this way!

Instead we have opted to replace our highly nutritious fast food with pure garbage. Junk food with fancy names offering processed to death meat, chicken that looks like it had just gone through cosmetic surgery, and food that is high in calorie and low in everything else.

I am always happy to see the kings of Shawerma and Falafel doing so well. Even if this means traffic jams at the first or the third circles in Jebel Amman. What I see in this jam is a tradition that is still alive in this part of town….a tradition that is dying in many parts of Amman….a tradition that has offered us human food for humane prices.

We grew up accustomed to falafel and humus during some evenings and for breakfast on many Fridays….I hope we do not lose this very dear part of our lives for the sake of some fancy clown parachuting on us in the name of globalization and free trade.

A check list

2008-03-31T06:09:00.003+02:00

I need to check on the following:

Mohammad Al-Durra:
Mohammad would have been twenty this year. He was killed in year 2000 by the Israeli army in cold blood. Even though the whole world knows that Al-Durra was killed by the Israeli army, no one nation with the so-called moral authority has ever attempted to bring Al-Durra's killers to justice. His killers are still at large.

Sami Al-Hajj:
Still in prison and on hunger strike for over a year now.

Gaza:
Still under siege. No idea on whether Fatah and Hamas are friends again. The last thing I heard is that the Palestinian negotiator Azzam Al-Ahmad was unable to reach President Abbas to get his OK for the deal proposed by the Yemenis for peace between Fatah and Hamas. Abbas was unreachable because he was meeting with US vice president Cheney. Azzam went ahead and signed only to find out later that he had no authority to act. And they expect us to believe this! Give me break!

Iraq:
Still under US occupation. Lost count of everything else.

Beirut:
latest pretext to hold the country hostage still holds: no president. I am now looking forward for the sequel showcasing the talent of the Lebanese in ruining their country. Ya haram!

Syria:
The level of presentation of all the countries at the recent summit was intended to either humiliate or support Syria. I personally was glad the summit took place. It was a crash course in showing the divisions created in the Middle East by the latest version of the cold war. It clearly showed the shift from bipolar world to a multi polar one. With one polar having the lion's share in the Arab world...in particular in countries whose leaders did not attend!

Egypt bread:
Managed to do what Israel failed to. It mobilized the army.

Fouad Al-Farhan:
112 days in prison and counting.

The latest wave of Israeli settlements in Palestine:
Still premature to check on them. Need to come back when they become a de facto matter.

EMOS

2008-03-28T01:01:00.002+02:00

My 16-year old niece was describing a bunch of boys she saw somewhere in Amman who seemed to her as a bunch of “emos". I had to stop her and ask her to explain what the hell is an “emo”?

She said you know “emotional” with a total American accent. I told her, please enough with this American bullshit accent and I asked to her to pronounce normally…she answered back “shoo…what do you want me to say “emoshanaillle”…So I said you don’t have to make fun of Arabic accent to be speaking properly. Besides I told her why are you guys (her generation) imitating everything American…? why can’t you try to be authentic? More Arab? The answer was a snicker and another “shoo….what do you mean?”

Shoo…? Shawee….to all this Americanized generation who has nothing authentic about it, and which seems to be all about imitation and pretension. Allah yirham ayyam el harra wa mughamarat elbaskalaitat wa lulu wa tabboush! We were not fluent in English then, but we sure did know how to speak life!

To dear or not to dear?

2008-03-28T00:55:00.009+02:00

Do you ever judge formal e-mail senders by the way they start their messages?

There are those who start with “Tallouza, blah blah blah” and there are others who start with “Dear Tallouza, blah blah blah” and then there are those who go direct into the subject without even bothering to address the recipient.

I find the first kind of e-mailers to border on the arrogant in the name of professionalism. In fact I can even picture the emerging breed of Jordanian yuppies (all genders) , metrosexuals and all too well-known digital gurus (mostly men) who belong to this category. As for the second kind, I find them to be courteous and humble senders. Finally there is very little doubt in my mind that the third type is likely to be obnoxious and rude.

One small confession: I used to belong to the first kind when I used to work in the US. I never thought anything of the lack of salutation. When I started working in Amman I had difficulty adopting to the dear thing. I have now come to terms with the fact that not to dear is normal in the US while in Jordan I am finding it pretentious. Did I confuse you?

The Joys of Tolerance

2008-03-25T23:52:00.005+02:00

Imagine if everyone looked like you, thought like you, dressed like you, ate like you, smelt like you, and spoke like you…imagine how boring that would be.

Now imagine if you did not accept, hated, made fun of people because they did not look like you, did not dress like you, did not eat like you, did not smell like you, and did not speak like you...imagine how intolerant you would be.

Tolerance is a gift that only the enlightened is blessed with. Appreciating difference is the closest way to acknowledging that we are the same deep down inside. It is the only way to be in touch with our humane and empathetic sides. Learning to appreciate difference is the first step in learning to enjoy life and to love one’s self.

Today we are surrounded with countless divisions (poisons) disguised as Muslim, Christian, Sunni, Shii, Catholic, protestant, black, white, Jordanian, Palestinian, Saltee, Karakee, Nabulsee, Khaleelee, and so on and so forth. With all these choices.....what choice do we make?

One of my favorite philosophers, Michel Montaigne, wrote in one of his essays what must be the most beautiful description of what any civilized person should aspire to be:

“I am not guilty of the common error of judging another by myself. I easily believe that in another’s humor which is contrary to my own; and though I find myself engaged to one certain form, I do not oblige others to it, as many do; but believe and apprehend a thousand ways of living; and, contrary to most men, more easily admit of difference than uniformity amongst us. I as frankly as any one would have me, discharge a man from my humors and principles, and consider him according to his own particular model. Though I am not continent myself, I nevertheless sincerely approve the continence of the Feuillans and Capuchins, and highly commend their way of living. I insinuate myself by imagination into their places, and love and honor them the more for being other than I am. I very much desire that we may be judged every man by himself, and would not be drawn into the consequence of common examples”.

Whose little finger?

2008-03-19T04:39:00.002+02:00

What if the following comment made by Rod Parsley, the spiritual guide of the American presidential candidate John McCain, were drawn in a cartoon?

“Islam: The Deception of Allah……..The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion [Islam] destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore."

To rephrase my question, what is so different between what the Danish cartoon portrayed and what this ignorant teleevangelist is saying? Which incident is more serious? Insulting the religion of Islam or insulting the prophet Mohammad? One is an offensive visual image and the other is an offensive mental one. If you ask me, they both attack the same thing. They both insult Islam. They both spew venom against Moslems.

McCain is now visiting the Middle East. I do not recall any talk of boycotting him, or at least boycotting American products. I do not even recall any mention of these remarks in the Arabic media.

Are we so gullible that we have become wrapped around the little finger of “some power” that is working us as it sees fit?

Thank You But No “Thank Yous”!

2008-03-17T23:02:00.004+02:00

The wave of thank you ads that flooded the newspapers lately is somewhat sickening. These thank yous are mostly addressed to heads of companies for the annual salary increases and in some cases for bonuses as well. The ads are presented in the usual flowery designs with even more flowery language. Everytime I read such ads I quiver. If there is such a thing as a collective Freudian slip, this trend is one. It clearly shows the centralization of the decision making process when it comes to the development and wellbeing of the staff. It is also indicative of the lack of proper job evaluation and adjustment processes in the companies concerned. In addition, the fact that acknowledgments were made this year shows that salary adjustments are an exception rather than a norm indicating a serious disregard was made in the previous years. Some might say that this year the adjustment was exceptional. Well extraordinary circumstances call for exceptional measures. Regardless of how unusual this year has been, appropriate measures taken by good management practices should never be thanked. It is the duty of any self-respecting entity. It is simply fulfilling one’s end of a contract. In the same way the employees should satisfy their end of the contract by offering the best that they have to offer. I strongly believe that good managers find the best thank you in a job well done. Anything else is nothing but a mumbo jumbo of hot air.

The repeated episodes of this pretentious and at best insincere gestures show the weakness of the management processes leading employees to resort to such hypocritical tactics in an effort to please a man or woman who is running the company as his or her own show. Besides, in such an environment, who usually makes such decisions? I would not be surprised if those thanked are in one way or the other in on the fact that they are being non-discreetly thanked and shown appreciation in such public display of nonsense.

Once a thank you is meant to massage the ego of an egomaniac and once it is done in such a public manner as advertising it in an ad in the newspaper, it ceases to be genuine. It loses its essence. It then becomes a subliminal message to all readers of how retarded the thankers and the thankees are.

The wave of this breed of thank yous has permeated into other establishments within our society. We are now hearing of thank yous for the delays in hiking prices of some energy prices for few weeks. Thank yous for taking measures to temporarily overcome and remedy incompetence in government planning and execution of foreseen measures. Thank yous for delaying the inevitable. Thank yous for providing decent housing, Thank yous for properly utilizing tax payers’ money. The way I see it, as long as there are endless disasters in store, there will be endless thank yous.

Finally I must stress that I love the whole notion of gratitude and of thanking people for any good deed or any generous gesture. In fact I find it as a necessary and minimum courtesy. I love calling friends after a lunch or dinner to let them know how special it feels to be invited. If someone does something nice to me, I always like to say thank you. I especially love doing it when it is least expected. I really love doing it because I genuinely feel it.

Thank you for reading this post.

مواطن سعودي غير صالح.....فؤاد أحمد الفرحان

2008-03-15T13:15:00.008+02:00

اليوم تجاوزت الثلاثين من العمر بسنتين.
كم بقي من الوقت؟..متى؟.. سألت نفسي..
ألقيت نظرة سريعة على حياتي الماضية، فوجدت أن كل المؤشرات تقول بأنني متجه لكي أكون “مواطن سعودي صالح”..
..
..
“مواطن صالح” في الطريق لتحقيق طموحه..
منزل جميل، سيارة فارهة، عائلة مستقرة، أصدقاء للترفيه عنه، وحساب بنكي يقيه عواقب الدنيا..
“مواطن صالح” ليس همه إلا نفسه..
لا يهمه مصير المسجونين بلا محاكمات..
ولا بكاء الجياع من الأيتام..
ولا ظلم النساء..
ولا قلق الشباب..
ولا عبرة الفقراء..
ولا خوف الناصحين..
ولا صرخة المظلومين..
ولا قهر المنهوبين..
ولا خنقة المكلومين..
ولا رعب الآمنين..
..
..
“مواطن صالح”..
لا يهمه جاره…
ولا جار جاره..
لا يهمه كذب الوزراء..
ولا نفاق المسؤولين..
ولا تزوير الإعلام..
ولا سحت البنوك..
..
..
“مواطن سعودي صالح” لا يهمونه كل أولئك ..
أو..
يهمونه.. ولكنه يخاف..
يخاف أن يعبر عن رأيه.. لأنه يرى بأم عينيه بأن من يعبر عن رأيه يزج به خلف القضبان..
أو ربما يخاف أن يعبر عن رأيه لأنه يرى بأن رأيه لا يقدم ولا يؤخر..
أو ربما يخاف أن يعبر عن رأيه لأن الكلام في الشأن العام ليس من الإسلام كما يقول علماء السلطان..
..
..
اليوم وقد قضيت من السنين 32 عاماً قررت أن لا أكون “مواطن صالح”..
..
..
قررت أن أعبر عن رأيي بكامل إرادتي وذلك لعدة أسباب..
أولها.. لأن خالقي خلقني حراً ووهبني حرية التعبير عن رأيي..
و ثانيها.. لأن الحرية والعدل والمساواة والكرامة والشورى هي من صميم رسالة ديني..
وثالثها.. لأن هذا وطني وموطني..
ورابعها.. لأنني أهتم بكل أولئك..
وخامسها.. لأن التعبير عن رأيي يريحني نوعاً ما عندما أضع رأسي على الوسادة وأتذكر كل أولئك..
وسادسها.. لأجل مستقبل رغد وخطاب وكل أطفالنا..
..
..
قررت أن لا أكون “مواطن صالح” وأن أقف مع المسجون واليتيم والفقير والشاب والمرأة والشيخ والناصح والمظلوم والمكلوم والمرعوب..
..
..
لن أنتظر حتى أبني منزلي..
ولا حتى أن يتضخم رصيدي البنكي..
..
..
“عودة عباس” لا تخيفني..
..
..
لأجل رغد وخطاب ومستقبلهما سأعبر عن رأيي ولن أكون “مواطن سعودي صالح”..
..
..
كل عام وأنا بخير.

Attitudes Leading to Our Demise

2008-03-12T02:38:00.006+02:00

The world is becoming absurd. I am constantly reminded by Barbara Tuchman's famous saying, which dangerously applies to where we stand today:

“Three outstanding attitudes – obliviousness to the growing disaffection of constituents, primacy of self-aggrandizement, [and the] illusion of invulnerable status – are persistent aspects of folly”

Does this remind you of the world we live in and the arrogance of power we witness today?

Turkey: A Pious Act

2008-03-04T23:59:00.014+02:00

Turkey has embarked on a controversial project to carry out revisions of the Hadiths, the collection of sayings attributed to Prophet Mohammad.

I would highly recommend reading the entire article in order to have the full idea put into perspective. In the meantime, I would like to share with you few excerpts from the article that particularly drew my attention:

“The argument [for the revisions] is that Islamic tradition has been gradually hijacked by various – often conservative – cultures, seeking to use the religion for various forms of social control”

“Turkey is intent on sweeping away that “cultural baggage” and returning to a form of Islam it claims accords with its original values and those of the prophet”

It is interesting to see that the only secular Moslem state is the one taking such bold initiative. Would Saudi Arabia ever consider joining in with this crucial exercise that touches on the essence of Islam? Or would there be too much conflict of interest in having the support of the most religiously conservative Moslem country in the world? As Moslems, we always learnt that Islam was special because of its flexibility, agility, and ability to be the religion of all times. I hope we not only learn about it but also see this applied in action.

Assuming good will and best of intentions, this project should be backed by every Islam loving person because it has the potential to free it from the kidnappers that have sabotaged it for so long.

Holocaust in Gaza: No “Breaking News” for CNN

2008-03-03T22:13:00.004+02:00

This morning while downloading my e-mails, I received a “CNN Breaking News” e-mail message. Given that there is a Holocaust being committed by Israel against the Palestinians, I was sure that the news was going to be about Gaza. I was wrong; it was about the President of Ecuador ordering troops to the borders with Colombia.

This got me curious so I went back to check what CNN breaking news messages I had received in the past few days. Sure enough there were few CNN breaking news alerts and sure enough none was about Gaza.

Had the situation been reversed, and had Israel been the subject of holocaust threats by a Palestinian official, and had tens of Israeli women, children and innocent civilians been slaughtered by Palestinian attacks, would this have been treated any differently by CNN?

Foresight is 20/20

2008-03-03T00:27:00.006+02:00

I am a psychic with the sharp vision of a falcon when it comes to Palestine. What’s happening in Gaza is dumbfounding. What is more shocking is the universal silence towards what is clearly a premeditated attempt for collective punishment and massacres of innocent civilians. This is Tal el-Za3tar all over again! This is Sabra and Shatila all over again! This is Jenin all over again! This is the oppressed becoming the oppressor! This is the Nazis once again!

I can tell you with great certainty what the repercussions are going to be for Israel, the neo-Nazi predator nation of today, NOTHING. My next prediction is that the Arabs will issue a strongly worded lukewarm condemnation. There will be an attempt aimed for media consumption to investigate the latest "disturbances" in Gaza. Some group of ministers might be lucky enough to get an unexpected vacation at Sharm E-Sheikh. The good news is that for those who are annoyed by this trouble maker called Gaza, not to worry, the whole issue will be forgotten in a matter of few days.

My bumper sticker analysis of the situation is that Hamas has not been nice to America, so now America is bringing its sanctioned version of democracy to Palestine. Luckily enough, America has plenty of agents to assist it in doing so.

While we are at it, remember Mohammed Al-Durra? Well there are serious claims now in court by Zionists contending that "al-Durra could not have been killed by Israeli fire"!!!!! This is but another example of Israel's audacity in dealing with its crimes and more important another version of state terrorism that Israel is getting away with. Unfortunately, this is also the sort of vigilance that Arabs have kept over cases of terrorism aimed against them.

And.......this is the sorry state that we Arabs find ourselves in today.

Fan SMS

2008-02-29T17:53:00.005+02:00

I recently created a (harassment) message template on my mobile phone that I send to my friends that reads (begs) "For those of you who have nothing better to do, pleeeeaaasssee check my blog". Today and since I have not added anything new recently, I received an sms that says "Since you have nothing else to do I suggest you update your blog". And like a good girl, I just did.

Adventure Tourism in Afghanistan!

2008-02-29T16:52:00.012+02:00

Six weeks is how long Prince Harry was able to be "all that he can be" in Afghanistan. His adventure holiday was cut short from the original ten weeks that he was scheduled to spend due to a media leak. My gut feeling tells me that the leak was an intentional one orchestrated to bail out the prince from what seems to have turned out less fun than anticipated. The staging of the news was done brilliantly where adventure, urgency, Rambo, cool, 007, secrecy, heroism, royalty, glitter, sex appeal, and patriotism were all packaged in one headline. If a picture could tell a thousand words, the picture of Prince Harry told a million to a carefully targeted audience. The message was simply that “War is Sexy and we have Prince Harry to prove it".

It must be a very hard sell for the USA and the UK to recruit for the wars they have staged in the Middle East when they have a very hard time sticking to one version of why they did start these wars to begin with. Prince Harry should make their task a bit easier now.

Although Prince Harry will be leaving Afghanistan sooner than expected, he and his battle group did perform heroic feats in preventing terrorism and in keeping the world safe. International Herald Tribune reports that "since Harry's arrival, his battle group has been responsible for around 30 enemy deaths".

The prince should join all the legends who throughout the past have served at romanticizing the invasion, colonization and violation of our lands. Great Britain seems to get the lion’s share of these great warriors with Lawrence of Arabia and now Harry of Afghanistan!

Royal Republics!

2008-02-26T03:23:00.017+02:00

Yesterday I heard that Fidel Castro resigned. I was so impressed. I thought to myself that Castro has really done the right thing by clearing the way for a successor. Today I learnt that Fidel Castro’s younger brother, Raul (76 year-young), is now the president of Cuba. Fidel Castro fell faster than a hot potato from the pedestal I had placed him on less than twenty four hours earlier.

I find it ironic that we are witnessing in Cuba what is typical of many political models around us in the Arab world. In other words, republics that pass on leadership based on hereditary rights. The countries that come to mind are Egypt, Syria and Libya.

Egypt and Syria claim a republic for their government model. A republic is defined as “a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president”. A monarch, on the other hand, is defined as “one who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right”. While Libya’s government model is a Jamahiriya (a state of the masses), which is in theory, governed by the populace through local councils. All three countries claim some sort of participatory process whereby people have a say in the selection and election of their political leaders.

A brief examination of the most recent presidential elections in those countries shows discrepancies and inconsistencies between what the system is in theory and what it is in reality. For example consider the following:

Cuba:

A republic in theory. Last election was held on 6 March 2003. The next election was to be held in March 2008. Could the timing of the resignation of Fidel Castro have anything to do with this? I wonder.
The results of the last election: Fidel Castro was reelected president with 100% of legislative vote.
Raul Castro was elected vice president with 100% of legislative vote.
Now that Fidel is dying, his brother has inherited the presidency.

Egypt:

Last election under terms of constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote was held on 7 September 2005.
The election results: Hosni Mubarak was reelected president with 88.6% of votes, Ayman Nour 7.6%, Noman Gomaa 2.9%.
Ayman Nour is in prison today!

Mubarak is now preparing his son Gamal Mubarak to inherit the presidency from him. I am now accepting bets for those who want to speculate on who is going to be the next Egyptian President.

Syria:
The election of the president is done by popular referendum for a seven-year term (no term limits). Last referendum was held on 27 May 2007, and the results were: Bashar al-Asad won as president with 97.6% of votes. I would love to know who is the braveheart who ran against the incumbent pseudo monarch and won the 2.4% of votes.
Bashar Al-Asad inherited the presidency from his father Hafez Al-Asad. This was made possible thanks to a controversial constitutional amendment to the age of the president that allowed Bashar to assume the presidency.

Libya – You are going to love this one
National elections are held indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government is elected by the General People's Congress;
Last election was held in March 2006
election results: NA

Saif El-Eslam Ghadafi is widely believed to be the successor of his father Muammar to head the government. I am also accepting bets for those who would like to speculate on who is going to be the next Libyan head of government.

In view of the above, I am at a loss. What shall I call these regimes. They are neither republics nor monarchies. How about I create a new model for this new breed of imposters that I call “RoPublics”; where "Ro" stands for rogue and royal. A Ropublic would then be defined as a royal republic marked by a schizophrenic system of government where everyone pretends that the ruler is a president while in reality everyone knows that he is an imposter acting as a monarch. Presidential elections are held to enforce this state of denial and to reinforce that the people are crazy and that their fears of having their republic turn into a de facto monarchy are nothing but hallucinations.

That dreaded word

2008-02-25T02:16:00.003+02:00

I wish I could document the first time someone called me auntie. Little did I know what a historic moment that was. The more people called me auntie, the more I started looking for old buggers so that I can call them 3ammo. All of a sudden the baqqal became 3ammo, the zabbal became 3ammo, the pharmacist became 3ammo, the baker became 3ammo, anyone who looked slightly older was a 3ammo…all in the pursuit of that little girl who still wants to think of herself riding her bicycle and running free in the streets of old Amman…. How time flies and how quickly life passes us by. I can live with auntie for now, but I am not sure how I would handle the inevitable hajjeh!!!!

Monopoly & Israel: How Appropriate

2008-02-23T15:10:00.007+02:00

There is an Arabic proverb that says “Iza lam tastahee faf3al ma she’t” (If you are not deterred by shame then do as you please). This proverb accurately describes Israel’s actions in Palestine today. In the case of Israel, the deterrent is not so much shame as much as it is the blind and biased consent and approval of a world that is robbed of its will to do what is right, legal and just when it comes to the Palestinians.

In its violation of Palestinian land and the lives of all Palestinians, Israel has mastered the game of Monopoly. It has continuously attempted to monopolize everything Palestinian, be it cultural, culinary, heritage, you name it. How Humus and falalfel became Israeli national dishes beats me!!! The traditional Palestinian embroidery suddenly found itself adorning hostesses in the cabins of El-Al airlines. Even the dog known as Canaan dog, or as it is commonly known as “baladi”, is now documented as “Israeli desert dog”!!!! The list goes on and on. The encroachment over the cultural heritage of the people it occupies is somewhat understandable. What else could the borrowed people of Israel show for themselves in terms of history and tradition without revealing how Spanish, Russian, French, Iraqi, Hungarian, Polish, Moroccan, or German they are?

This brings me to the topic of this post: Monopoly, the game some of us grew up playing. The game that got us acquainted with all the landmarks of the city of London without even stepping foot there. The game that introduced us very early on to our entrepreneurial side without even knowing the meaning of the word entrepreneurship. Now Israel has encroached itself onto this game as well.

You see Monopoly is planning to introduce an international version of the game. In an attempt to have people vote on their favorite city choices, they listed cities with corresponding countries. The city of Jerusalem was listed by ignorance and lack of knowing better as Jerusalem, Israel. When the error in referring Jerusalem to Israel was brought up by Pro-Palestinian groups, Hasbro, the mother company of Monopoly, rightfully removed the reference to Israel. This was enough to mobilize all the powers of denial in Israel in motion. These same powers are the people who fully know and understand that Jerusalem is and has always been legally deemed by the United Nations and the whole world as illegally occupied by Israel. Still they are in denial and they want the whole world to join them in this denial too.

The latest in this saga is that Hasbro has issued an apology to Israel. How ironic! The reference to Israel was correctly removed by an employee whose motivation is the accurate portrayal of facts. Little did this employee know that the higher up he or she gets in the echelon of his or her company, the little need there is for truth and the more need there is for playing dirty politics.

Hasbro and Jerusalem: How inappropriate!!!

What's up with "what's up in Jordan?"?

2008-02-21T23:34:00.005+02:00

Is anyone out there wondering where Khalaf is? Well I am.
I must confess, Khalaf's blog is what inspired me to start my own.
He has not written in over a month and his posts are missed.

Jordan Television’s Latest Mandate: Headhunter for the Kuwaiti Government!

2008-02-19T20:59:00.008+02:00

On Jordan Television’s (Jtv) 8 o’clock main news bulletin today, the newscaster announced that the Kuwaiti government is seeking teachers in various disciplines; and like a good headhunter he went on to give instructions for those qualified and are interested in applying on how to submit their applications.

1. Is this really news that should be broadcast on the main TV news bulletin?
2. Has the world run out of news that we now have to resort to broadcasting such ass-kissing gestures?
3. Does anyone believe that the Kuwaiti Television (or any other Television for that matter) would ever announce on their main news bulletin Jordan’s recruitment requirements for employees in let’s say the hospitality and banking sectors?
4. Does the recent visit of the Kuwaiti Prime Minister to Jordan have anything to do with modifying the mandate of Jtv?
5. Until when will we keep on witnessing substandard work produced by Jtv and financed by our tax money?

Finally, the 8 o’clock news editor seems to be living in La-La Land. A brief survey of all the major sectors in Jordan, and one finds that brain drain and the severe shortage of skilled and qualified labor seem to be the biggest challenge to the proper development of Jordan. Advocating flight of skilled workers on the national TV network is really embarrassing.

If we are so desperate for the remittances and money transfers made by Jordanians working overseas, it does not hurt to be a bit tactful about it. "iza bulleetom fastatiroo"

La Daisy!

2008-02-18T01:55:00.005+02:00

He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me...He loves me not!

La Daisy ma habnee!

Suppose the Iranian government arrested and beat Katie Couric

2008-02-17T23:26:00.004+02:00

"held her virtually incommunicado for six years and promised to release her only if she would spy for Iran. In such circumstances, Iranian investments in public diplomacy toward the United States wouldn't get very far, either."

These are not my words, but those of Pulitzer prize winner journalist and New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, writing about Al-Jazeera's cameraman Sami al-Hajj held and forgotten in Guantánamo Bay since 2002.

In this powerful column Kristof outlines the damage that Guantánamo Bay has done not only to the tortured innocents such as Sami al-Hajj but also to the civility of the whole world who is just standing by watching without having the courage to stand for what is just and right.

Shame on the free world for holding the truth hostage of their blind bigotry and indifference. Shame on a world that claims itself free while its soul is chained and its will is corrupted.

Free Sami al-Hajj. Free him NOW!

Sweets For My Sweets!

2008-02-15T16:12:00.009+02:00

Have you ever had a dessert that tasted so good it made you gradually slow down in eating it so it takes longer to finish?

This thought crossed my mind this morning as I was having a most wonderful conversation with my mother. My mother and I start our days with a usual good morning and short debriefing call every weekday. On weekends this morning telephone visit is prolonged in order to cover the week in review in addition to some recipe talk, Fulla (her cat) talk, occasional gardening issues where both of us are never happy with the gardeners nor with the state of our modest produce, and of course the crucial gossip we might have missed out about one of my sisters. I am sure she holds the same gossip sessions about me with my other sisters. I am also sure that I will never find out from my sisters what my mother thinks or disapproves of as far as my life is concerned. My only consolation is that they will also never find out from me either.

This morning I realized that my mother is the sweets in my life; she has always been the dessert that only got tastier and tastier with time. I also realized that I had to savor this dessert as slowly and as carefully as possible since it is, like anything else in life, bound to finish after sometime (long time I hope).

The only reason for this doom and gloom thinking is the age of my mother. She is getting old. For some reason I am starting to feel the pressure of time. I am starting to feel the need to gradually slow down and seize every possible moment with her. It is extremely comforting to know that she is in excellent health physically, mentally, and morally. In fact I am always amazed at the level of energy she has to be there for every one of her kids, grandkids, and friends. She never misses out on any occasion to be present where she can share the joy or the sadness with someone close. She is always there…always. Never make the mistake to say that you feel like having something in front of her, because you can be sure that she will make it for you. She is so full of love; no chocolate bar in the world could fill you with so much warmth.

I have always felt extremely grounded. I have always stood on solid grounds. I have always felt extremely fortunate. I have always been a happy person...a contented person. All of these blessings have been because I have had the most amazing anchor of all….all of these blessings have been because I have had the most amazing angels of all...all of these blessings have been because I have had the unconditional love and approval of a most wonderful person I call "mama".

Olive Oyl: A Question of Love

2008-02-14T22:04:00.007+02:00

When I think of all the love affairs I grew up watching, one still sticks out as a real mystery: that of Popeye's and Olive Oyl.

I was always lead to believe that Popeye and olive Oyl were madly in love with one another. Well I know for sure that Popeye was head over heals with her. The amount of Spinach he guzzled to reclaim her from Bluto was enough to make sprouts come out of his ears. Yet Olive Oyl never struck me as someone ready to reciprocate the affections of Popeye.

In the rivalry between Popeye and Bluto for Oilve Oyl's affection, she always struck me as a bitch. She was always cranky and unhappy about one thing or the other. She often seemed fickle and only ready to be with the highest bidder. She was never appreciative of Popeye's great feats of courage to rescue her from the evil Bluto. At the same time she often struck me as not minding the company of Bluto. As a child, I used to find this as mind boggling: who is she really in love with? As an adult, I still find it mind boggling: How does she do it?

I wonder was anyone else ever weary of this thin-built flapper? Or is it only me?

I told you so!

2008-02-14T09:34:00.003+02:00

No end to driving ban in sight....Why am I not surprised?

Life's Backward Cycle

2008-02-13T13:54:00.006+02:00

Friend's George Costanza's view on life.

"The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A death. What's that, a bonus?!? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you go live in an old age home. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, then, when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You drink alcohol, you party, and you get ready for High Scool. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back, you spend your last 9 months floating with luxuries like central heating, spa, room service on tap, then you finish off as an orgasm!! Amen"

Love Jeopardy Game

2008-02-12T01:51:00.001+02:00

You have to guess the word described.

1. The lightheadedness and state of bliss one feels after that first kiss with that very special someone.
What is rapture?
After his first kiss Omar walked around in rapture for days.

2. To kiss and caress.
What is spoon?
Under the moon in June sweethearts spoon and swoon.

3. To stare at something wolfishly.
What is Ogle?
Some men can’t help but ogle women walking by.

4. Spiritual love.
What is agape?
I gape at the selfless purity of agape.

5. Heat of passion.
What is ardor?
If two colleagues fell in love, there would be ardor in the workplace.

If you are impressed, don’t be! I got these from February’s edition of Reader’s Digest.

I wish you lots of ardor mixed with spooning that would put your head in serious rapture…As for agape we will leave it to the birds for now…..and no ogling please!

An Open Letter to Royal Jordanian Airlines

2008-02-09T14:50:00.000+02:00

Recently and while on a Royal Jordanian (RJ) flight to Amman, I witnessed a series of appalling behaviors and observations that grabbed my attention in an unusual way. In fact, and in order to catch every detail possible, I started jotting down notes on a news article that I had printed out to read while on board.

It started with boarding the plane; every crew member was busy doing something except greeting the passengers. I headed to my seat and it happened to be on the first row. This allowed me full view of the interaction between the cabin and the ground crews, in addition to the usual interaction with the cockpit.

Shortly before the flight was ready for take off, a ground crew member whisked in a “package” (big box) with the cabin chief’s consent. This was all done so swiftly, which prompted one of the stewardesses to tease the cabin chief about the story behind this "package". He whispered something in her ear to which she answered “is it for the husband or the wife?” (She did actually say the names and they are some big timers in Jordan). Once the “package” was secured on board, the cabin chief then informed the captain of the package as a matter of fact. The captain seemed puzzled, annoyed and just in plain disdain. His authority as captain was challenged, undermined, and surely paralyzed given that the recipient is “so and so”. Nevertheless, and maybe in a desperate attempt to reclaim his authority the captain did inquire on whether the package went through the proper security checks. He was assured by the cabin chief that it did.

Once the flight took off, a large noise was heard, and both crew members looked at each other “ah, this is the garbage bin in the toilet”. The aircraft we were on is one of the newer ones in the fleet of Royal Jordanian. It was sad to see that it already felt old, worn out, badly kept, and worst of all dirty.

The flight I was on was luckily a short one. Throughout the flight the same stewardess and the cabin chief were seated right in front of me in seats designated for crew members. I had to endure listening to counseling by the cabin chief to the young stewardess on a love affair that she is having with a married man. The details were kind of gruesome (nothing graphic though), and they were bordering on the vulgar. In fact the cabin chief used foul language twice, which was at least heard by this passenger.

My overall observations were:

* Both male and female crew members did not look well groomed. Their hair seemed messy and oily. Their shoes were not polished. Their uniform was in bad need of laundry. The overall image of the crew was tired and worn out. In addition, some of the crew members had their uniform so tight, it was about to burst. I am not suggesting drastic measures similar to those of Singapore Airlines, but a minimum clean-cut presentable look could set a healthy image for RJ.
* The crew was busy socializing among each other instead of catering to the needs of the passengers.
* The aircraft was not properly cleaned. In fact, before going into the toilet, the cabin chief asked me to wait in order for him to fix the fallen garbage bin. He did fix it while leaving a bunch of toilet paper on the floor!!!!
* RJ still allows certain individuals, regardless of how prominent they are, to act as if they own the company and to falsely assume a sense of entitlement towards it. Believe me as long as RJ falls hostage to this sort of conduct, RJ will go no where. It is a matter of ethics and I leave it at that.

My message to Royal Jordanian:

You got us all extremely excited when the airline joined the One World Alliance. We even willingly accepted on many occasions to pay a premium on flying the airline believing that you guys are seriously working on pulling your act together. What I saw recently was typical of an airline that lacks the minimum standards of hospitality and professionalism. What I saw recently was reminiscent of the bad old days.

Upgrading the hardware (the fleet) without focusing on the software (the people) is tantamount to building a nice hotel with lousy service…it does not work!!!! The two go hand in hand.

The hot shot that had a package transported and delivered via your esteemed company could have easily employed and benefited ARAMEX (a national courier company) to make the delivery. This is but a small example of blatant abuse of power and authority, and of squandering of taxpayers' money under the pretext of falsely assumed privilage. I would not be surprised if the the people who are abusing tax payers' money are the very people who are not paying taxes at all.

Finally, and in the bigger and more important picture, RJ is the first encounter visitors have when they embark on their journey to visit Jordan. The flight experience is key in setting the tone on what is to be expected. It is RJ's duty and our best chance to reflect a civilized, clean, hospitable, and professional face to our great country Jordan.

If you like Scrabble you will love this

2008-02-05T15:07:00.000+02:00

I recently discovered Scrabulous.
It is an electronic version of Scrabble online. Try it and you will get hooked.

I love it.

They Will Make The Announcement Soon!

2008-01-30T01:57:00.000+02:00

Another earth shattering decision a propos women in Saudi Arabia: it is to lift driving ban on women!! A ban that has been in place since 1932! I wonder was anyone even driving then?

"There has been a decision to move on this by the Royal Court because it is recognized that if girls have been in schools since the 1960s, they have a capability to function behind the wheel when they grow up," a government official said. "We will make the announcement soon."

Mr. government official: Could you please elaborate if Bush, by any chance and given that he was there just five days before, has anything to do with this sudden insight? Oh and by the way, does this mean that illeterate men in Saudi Arabia are banned from driving? I highly doubt it.

If you ask me, this whole thing sounds like a cheap PR stunt!

Saudi women traveling solo can now stay in hotels!

2008-01-23T01:19:00.000+02:00

Whooppeee....At long last! Saudi women can finally have a dream......in a hotel...alone!!!! This is definitely a small step for woman, but a giant leap for who????

The earth shattering news was reported in the media as "Saudi Women's Rights...At Long Last!" I was never aware that staying sola in a hotel constituted a "right" as such!!!!!!! Give me break! Until when will Saudi women be subject to the paranoid patriarchs in Saudi Arabia and their arbitrary pathetic rules?

The world has changed and so have women...including Saudi women.

Today women rule the world, and Saudi women should be no exception!

Gaza...Keep Quiet for Honor’s Sake!

2008-01-20T20:26:00.000+02:00

At a time when Gaza is under siege and sits in total isolation and with a looming humanitarian catastrophe, it is worth putting all of this into some perspective.

This is a time when, in the words of qadi Abu Sa’ad al-Harawi to the Caliph al-Mustazhir Biilah in 1099, some Arabs “lead lives as frivolous as garden flowers, while their brothers in “Gaza” have no dwelling place save the saddles of camels and the bellies of vultures”.

This is a time when Rolls Royce reports that the only six terrorism-proof armoured Rolls-Royce Phantoms made and sold in the world are on their way to the Arab World.

This is a time when George Bush storms the area bearing a $30 billion package of military aid for Israel and a $20 billion package of Humvees and guided bombs for the Arabs.

This is a time when the US military aid to Israel gets rewarded by the Emirates' ruler decadent gift to Bush of a “gigantic necklace made of gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, so gaudy and cumbersome that even the Secret Service agent carrying it seemed nonplussed”. While the Saudi Arabian king drapes Bush with an emerald-and-ruby necklace that could have come from Ali Baba's cave. Floor-length, fur-lined robes were also the costume of choice in this farce where the Arabs were the jesters in Bush’s court.

This is a time when there is no account to date of $12 billion in Iraqi money that was converted to dollars, held in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York and shipped in pallets to Baghdad that totaled 363 tons. When asked about this largest cash withdrawal in the history of man, Paul Bremer III, with support from Republicans, fired back by insisting he did the best he could in the middle of a war and repeating over and over that he was spending Iraqi _ not U.S. _ money.

This is a time when we should all repeat the plea of qadi Abu Sa’ad al-Harawi to all the co-opted Arab leaders: "How dare you slumber in the shades of complacent safety when your brothers are freezing cold, out of medicine, out of food, at the brink of starvation, absolutely helpless, and with your tacit “explicit” approval?"

"In 1099, and in response to qadi Abu Sa’ad al-Harawi, Caliph al Mustazhir Billah began by expressing his profound sympathy (istinkar and condemnation), and compassion (meaningless gestures for media consumption). Then he ordered seven exalted dignitaries to conduct an inquiry into these troublesome events (equivalent of Arab league and seven Amro Moussas). It is perhaps superfluous to add that nothing was ever heard from that committee of wise men (surprise! surprise!)".

As for those who are still waiting for a more meaningful answer to the qadi’s plea, I doubt we will ever get such an answer. For now maybe armoured Rolls Royce phantoms is the only answer!

As I watch what is happening in Gaza today, I can’t help but recall Muzaffar al-Nawwab’s poetry (Here he addresses Arab leaders):

“Jerusalem is the bride of your Arabness!! So why did you usher all the fornicators of the night into her room, And stand eavesdropping from behind the door to the screams of her torn virginity? You drew your daggers, and swelled with pride and you yelled at her to keep quiet, for honor's sake How honorable of you!! Sons of bitches, can a woman being raped keep quiet? You sons of bitches! I'm not ashamed to tell you what you really are! A pigsty is cleaner than the cleanest of you. Even a tombstone would be moved, But you? Not a single fiber in you flinches!”

Les Miserables

2008-01-18T01:12:00.000+02:00

This is what buying bread looks like for some in Egypt...imagine what the rest of the day looks like...welcome to the hidden face of misery!

Freedom for Marwan..I Mean Farhan!!!

2008-01-07T11:56:00.000+02:00

Prior to December 2007, I had never heard of Fouad al-Farhan.

Farhan was arrested in Saudi Arabia in early December 2007. His arrest was due to something he wrote on his blog. It was an eyewitness account. Some people with censorship abilities did not like what he had to recount.

Chances are that I might have never ever heard of Fouad, and more important I might have never been exposed to the danger he poses, had it not been to the great forces of good that arrested him.

Thanks to the geniuses who still believe that censorship works and that nothing has changed since Al-Gore invented the Internet, the story of Farhan is now reported in The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, BBC, and so on. Daddy Bush is now being urged to bring up the release of Farhan during his scheduled trip to the region this week.

If this issue ever comes up between the Saudis and the their American Warlords, I would love to be a fly on the wall listening in.

For those of you with censorship abilities, I am only kidding about the fly thing!

Moderation According to Extremists

2008-01-07T02:23:00.000+02:00

Abdul Rahman al-Rashed, director of Al-Arabiya TV network, was recently portrayed as the voice of moderation in an article in the International Herlald Tribune (IHT).

Al-Rashed is the same person who in 2004 wrote in one of his columns that:

"not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that most terrorists are Muslims."

With moderates like al-Rashed, who needs extremists?

It Must Be A Duck

2008-01-07T00:51:00.000+02:00

In view of the skyrocketing prices in Jordan and the fact that there is no end in sight for the upward spiral of the cost of living, the morning show on Jordan Television today was calling on the Jordanian citizens to look at things objectively and with a positive attitude. Unfortunately, the TV presenter forgot to include the type of drug she was on as part of her brilliant recommendation.

Incidentally for those of you who are wondering why I was watching the morning show, while Mickey Mouse was on at the same time, I must admit I usually follow the morning show for the same reason I follow the Friday televised mosque speech: they both spin. I also feel the need to be in touch with the mainstream. Whatever these two forums "spin" me to do, I try to sympathize and do the opposite.

Spinning is an art. But when it borders on the absurd it becomes dangerous.

How positive should we be in welcoming the eminent chaos promising to surround our lives? How objective should we be in judging the mess that we are in? The Government today is bankrupt of all goodwill and credibility. The very vote of confidence that it recently got form the people's house, was the very confirmation of what have feared all along: We are far from democracy in Jordan. What is worse is that we are far from bridging the gap between the governed and the governors.

The situation is bad. There is very little to be optimistic about. Our scarce resources have been mismanaged, and they are getting scarcer and scarcer. Our ability to make ends meet (by hook or by crook) is quickly meeting its end. There is very little for us to be positive about. And if we are to be objective, we need to be honest in calling things by their right name.

In other words, for those who claim that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a goose with the golden egg, I say “blah blah blah!!!!”.

Evil Eye

2008-01-04T01:50:00.001+02:00

Based on a recent survey conducted by moi, 78% of the Jordanian population has been hit by evil eye.

Acute cases of evil eye in Jordan include:

- Accidents that incidentally happen to involve speeding as well.
- Flunking exams even though the flunker rarely practiced what is known as studying.
- Illness where the patient consumed everything that precedes the word free on a food box.
- Divorce where the couple had all the elements of a perfect relationship if it were not for those evil eyers.

Why is evil eye so prominent here, while it could find a much better and more fertile soil in say "Hollywood"? Imagine how much fun evil eye would have with Britney Spears or Angelina Jollie. Then again, maybe all the mess that Britney Spears is in is due to evil eye!!!! You never know....

Knock on wood I was never big on this evil eye thing!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T00:39:00.000+02:00

I decided that this year I would have no resolutions. I realize that resolutions do nothing except add stress to my stressful life. As I was thinking this I realized that this is New Year’s Eve….Hmmmmm...I also realized that there was a teeny weeny resolution that seem to have slipped the no resolution rule. This exceptional resolution was to get more sociable and to go out more often. As I was thinking this, I realized that I am spending New Year’s Eve on my own and in violation of the very resolution I was planning to greet the New Year with. The stress is starting to build up and I am finding myself #1 telling myself #2.... you see that is why I want no new year’s resolutions! And this is when it hit me that I was not alone.....

You May Call Me V

2007-12-29T21:41:00.000+02:00

"This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."

Movie scene from "V for Vendetta"

Hint: Try reading it out loud

Bhibbak ya Lebnan!

2007-12-27T13:43:00.000+02:00

I just read this article in The New York Times. It made me soooooo happy to see that Beirut is finally getting a break, even if it is for a very short and limited time. I love Lebanon and I pray that the people of this beautiful country as well as all the people of this great region, Palestinians, Iraqis, Jordanians, Egyptians, Yemenis, everybody find peace and happiness.

We all want a place to call home. And we all want this place to be home.

The Arab divide started with the Palestinian Diaspora and today we have a plethora of diasporas....wal habbel 3al jarrar. Funny how the brain drain is accelerating in the Arab world, while in Israel they are working on incentives for brain gain.

One's drain is another's gain!

Home on Holiday, the Lebanese Say, What Turmoil?

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanon may seem an unlikely holiday spot: the government has collapsed, car bombs go off periodically and foreign envoys warn of an impending civil war.
And yet, so many people have been streaming into this tiny, embattled country in recent days that the flights are all overbooked, and some well-heeled travelers are driving 18 hours from the Persian Gulf. Beirut’s restaurants, bars and malls are all packed with revelers.

Why? The answer is that the Lebanese diaspora reverses itself on holidays, as the migrants who sustain the war-shattered Lebanese economy all year return from jobs across the globe to spend time with their families. Nothing will deter them — not bad weather, not interminable flights and certainly not the Grinch-like mood of Lebanon’s endlessly feuding politicians.
“My plane was full of Lebanese flying home, and when it landed we all shouted ‘Beirut’ and clapped,” said George Elias, 23, who works for an investment firm in Japan.
He and a dozen friends — mostly Lebanese who work abroad — were in the midst of a pub crawl in Gemayze, a fashionably bohemian district. All of them wore identical white T-shirts with “Free Hug” printed across the front, and they were hugging everyone they saw, in a puckish campaign of mass affection.

“Politics is causing problems in Lebanon, so we want people to think about something else,” Mr. Elias said.

When a Lebanese Army soldier appeared on the street, the group besieged him with free hugs. He obliged with a smile, his machine gun jostling at his waist with each hug.

Across town in western Beirut, the malls were packed with glamorously dressed shoppers, and even outdoor cafes were full, despite the 50-degree chill.

“Look at all these people — there’s a political crisis, but do they care?” said Ali Hasbini, a burly 30-year-old sitting at a cafe table with three other young Lebanese overseas workers in the Verdun district. “Of course not.”

Recommneded Light Reading by: Rooney, Dowd, Rand, Jobs, Plato, and Voltaire

2007-12-26T00:07:00.000+02:00

The recent holiday break allowed me to get lots of rest and to do some end of year winter cleaning, especially of all the papers lying around.

As I was doing the usual toss in the garbage routine, I noticed that some articles never ever make it to the bin. I also noticed that these were articles that I always like to read whenever I bump into them. I am sure that there are other articles lying around, but these are the ones that I happened to find this time. These articles can be classified into various compartments:

Compartment 1: Denial -- Older is sexier…and I have Andy Rooney to prove it
Compartment 2: Beauty -- Feminism is at the root of all evil .
Compartment 3: Love -- You’ve been dumped after one season and for no reason and you’ll be scarred for a lifetime
Compartment 4: Big Talk -- How to impress an architect even if you know nothing about architecture. (You could try this with non-architects – at your own risk).
Compartment 5: Ambition – odds versus luck

My favorites are:

Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" - I am told that this is where the term "thinking outside of the box" originated from.

And

Voltaire's "Histoire d'un bon Bramin" (In French) - Voltaire's attempt to resolve the debate on what is better being knowledgeable and unhappy or being ignorant and happy.

Goodnight for now from me and Fulla.

Aliyah and the Brain Gain in Israel

2007-12-22T19:06:00.001+02:00

The appointment of Stanley Fischer in 2005 as Governor of the Bank of Israel (Israel’s Central Bank) was both mind boggling and fascinating at the same time.

Who is Stanley Fischer? He is an economist who prior to holding the Governor post was the Vice Chairman of Citigroup and prior to that he was the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and prior to that he was the Head of the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and prior to that he was the Chief Economist at the World Bank, and the list goes on. Mr. Fischer is also a Zionist. His appointment as governor was a last minute deal between two of Israel’s staunchest Zionists Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon.

Fischer’s immigration to Israel should not be taken lightly. There are questions to be asked and lessons to be learnt from someone we might feel apprehensive about but still find impressive.

Fischer is an Oleh (Hebrew for immigrant) making the Aliyah (Hebrew for ascent - Jewish Immigration to the Land of Israel). His move to Israel cannot be seen in any other light except ideological. Why would such an accomplished economist take such a demotion and accept this position after having made it big in all the major leagues (academic, multilateral/public, private)? His resume speaks volumes; I actually had difficulty keeping track of his record.

What sort of culture breeds the Stanley Fischers of the world? More important, what sort of ideology and beliefs pull the Fischers of the world from the circles of the rich and powerful into the smalltimeville of the Bank of Israel? How could someone so accomplished like Fischer be a Zionist? Fischer’s work is all based on inquiry and deduction, how did he fail to deduce the injustice based on which his Zionist belief is built? I know I sound naïve; I sometimes have a tendency to simplify matters that are supposed to be “complex”. I would love to know what is so complex about understanding the Zionist movement that had no place in particular to settle the Jews in: it started with Argentina, then Uganda (offered by the British and accepted by Herzl and then later rejected by the World Zionist Organization Congress), then Cyprus, then Mozambique, then Congo, then Egyptian Al-Arish, until it landed in Palestine (Thanks to a fortunate coincidence of interest with the British who colonized Palestine starting in 1917 following the secret Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916) . Therefore, the mumbo jumbo that we hear about the religious and historical claims are nothing but justifications for an illegal and inhumane usurpation of Palestinian land and uprooting of innocent Palestinian civilians.

My question remains, how does all of this go passed someone like Fischer? In this regard, he is truly a paradox. On the one hand one cannot but have the utmost respect for him and and for what he has accomplished. On the other hand, a discerning observer can’t but question the intellectual integrity of any follower of a dogmatic and belligerent movement such as Zionism. This is especially true given the impact that Zionism has had on the life of Fischer.

3eedo ya 3eed!

2007-12-17T23:32:00.000+02:00

There is something unusual about this eid. Amman seems awfully quiet. I was driving down to the Jordan valley this evening. I was rushing like mad thinking that I am going to be stuck in traffic. The roads were extremely quiet. There was little traffic on the road, and there was somehow a hint of sadness. I thought I would be glad to be cruising through the roads without the hassle of getting stuck in what is becoming Amman's usual suffocating jams. Funnily I found myself disappointed that this eid was nowhere to be found on the streets.

Why this calm? Is it my imagination? Has eid become the latest casualty (Dahiyyeh) of a life where there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel? Have the the skyrocketing costs of living in Jordan claimed the joy that comes with festive occasions? Have the people become the very sacrificial lambs of this eid?

Whatever the mood is out there....and for whatever it is worth...Happy Eid Al-Adha everybody!

Wiser and Bolder

2007-05-14T23:34:00.000+02:00

What is wisdom? What makes us wise? Is it age? Is it experience? Or is it both? Or is it none of the above?

I recently read in an article that certain qualities associated with wisdom that recur in academic literature are:

1. Clear-eyed view of human nature and the human predicament.
2. Emotional resiliency and the ability to cope in the face of adversity.
3. Openness to other possibilities.
4. Forgiveness.
5. Humility.
6. Knack for learning from lifetime experiences.

The article also mentions that for the wise action is important, and so is judicious inaction. Emotion is central to wisdom, yet detachment is essential

This got me thinking about our culture and the distorted notions of dignity, honor, respect, etc. Are these stifling artificial blocks that we have imposed on ourselves that are keeping us miles away from even getting close to becoming wise?

Simon Clayton, a researcher on wisdom identified in her dissertation three general aspects of human activity that were central to wisdom:

1. Cognitive: The acquisition of knowledge.
2. Reflective: The analysis of that knowledge (information).
3. Affective: The filtering of information through emotions.

I find this a powerful insight in my attempt to understand beliefs and practices that I might find dysfunctional, counterproductive, and even uncivilized. A brief application of the above three aspects of wisdom into our current state of affairs and we soon find that we are far far away from being wise. The sad news is that it seems we have even missed the first stop, which happens to be the very acquisition of knowledge and the very caliber of the knowledge we are busy acquiring.

The more I think of wisdom, the more I am convinced that it is closely related to civility. It is what brings us closer to our humanity. It is what gives us the balance and the compassion to really start making a meaningful difference in life.

As long as we cling to centuries old notions of false values that we all know are intended to protect an outdated status quo for fear of change, I am afraid we will only be harboring a culture that nurtures spineless cowards whose souls are outdated and outmaneuvered.

Fulla Girl in a Mulla World!

2007-03-06T10:44:00.000+02:00

Until yesterday afternoon Fulla was a fluffy beautiful white cat that I get to host every time my mother leaves town. Exit Fulla the cat and enter Fulla the veiled Barbie!!!! I heard of this Barbie in passing by a friend of mine. It was mentioned as an ingenious idea in the proper formation of young Moslem girls.

After doing little research, I discovered how out of touch I have been. Fulla the sexy, oops I mean the wholesome chic, had been introduced in Moslem markets for few years now. I was not aware of it, maybe because I stopped playing with Barbie long time ago and now I am busy competing with her in the battle of the sizes.

Why was I so annoyed by this piece of insignificant news? Why? Why? Why? Is it because it reeks of manipulation of a questionable trend that is on the rise? Or is it because it is reinforcing a sexist image of women while being targeted at a group that might deny the whole notion of women’s sexuality? Or is it because it confirms the ignorance of a large important segment of our society today called “young parents”? Or is it because this Fulla will never dream of having her Ken (or Saeed)?

What in the name of sanity is the message that the makers of Fulla are trying to convey? This concoction of sexism mixed with religious righteousness is a sick attempt to boost sales of a symbol that has invaded western culture and is now polluting our young kids’ minds. Aren’t parents aware that teaching their kids to follow Islam should come through the proper teachings of this great religion? Don’t they realize that using weak vehicles such superficial lessons, fear tactics, myths, Barbie dolls are nothing but a testimony of their failure to properly understand and instill the values of Islam?

I have nothing against the veil. In fact one of my favorite articles happens to be about a woman’s defense of it. What I abhor is the cheap shot aimed at the minds of young Arab girls by introducing such a stupid and manipulative idea. Besides, does this mean now that Barbie is yet another mode of pitting at a very young age one group against the other? Growing up we never thought of ourselves as Moslems and Christians. We never cared. Christians did their thing and we did ours. The tolerance we were brought up with is the very tolerance that is at stake with such dangerous notions as this Fulla doll.

I am just as appalled by "Fulla" the pseudo-Barbie as much as I was when I watched an Arabized version of an Oreo Cookie commercial (in Arabic Gulf accent). I appreciated and found cute the debate on what is the best way to eat an Oreo cookie when it was directed at the proper audience at the place where it originated: USA. However, when we start seeing the Barbiazation and the Oreozation of our day-to-day culture, I think it is time we stop and think for a second, where the hell have we gone wrong?

More important though is where the hell are we going?

The Rules

2007-02-17T23:35:00.000+02:00

I am not talking here about the rules mentioned in the famous book "the rules" on time-tested secrets for capturing the heart of Mr. Right; I am actually referring to an article on time-detested Americo-centric remarks for capturing the hearts of Mr. Wrongs as far as the Arab World is concerned.

Thomas Friedman, the journalist with the dubious agenda has finally figured out “Mideast Rules to Live by”. In an op-ed piece in the New York Times Friedman, whose early professional training included an internship at the CIA, is finally uncovering to us, Arabs, these rules.

For anyone who has ever doubted the objectivity of Mr. Friedman, this piece should be enough to shed light on the deep seeded contempt that he holds for the Arabs. Constructive criticism is always welcome. However, when ridiculing a whole nation that is suffering on daily basis thanks to the meddling of outsiders (Friedman's fellow citizens, be it Americans or Israelis) in its own affairs with the objective of stripping it of its wealth is summarized into non-sensical rules, the issue becomes worthy of rebutting.

Some of the rules as mentioned (comments in Italic):

Rule 1: What people tell you in private in the Middle East is irrelevant. All that matters is what they will defend in public in their own language. Anything said to you in English, in private, doesn’t count. Maybe Mr. Friedman should not have been addressed nor entertained in private to start with.

Rule 2: Any reporter or U.S. Army officer wanting to serve in Iraq should have to take a test, consisting of one question: “Do you think the shortest distance between two points is a straight line?” If you answer yes, you can’t go to Iraq. I love the doublespeak in the use of word “serve”. Well let’s make a long story short, whether it is serving or spying or stealing or hostile taking-over, or holding a whole nation hostage based on bogus pretexts, or a straight versus crooked line is irrelevant. The relevant issue here is that these “services” rendered by the Americans are no longer required nor welcomed.

Rule 3: If you can’t explain something to Middle Easterners with a conspiracy theory, then don’t try to explain it at all — they won’t believe it. I wonder what Mr. Friedman means by “you”. Sensing the narcissism and arrogance reeking from his piece, he is probably referring to himself. As for the reference to conspiracy, maybe Mr. Friedman should check with April Gillespie on why these simplistic people are thinking along a “conspiracy” line.

Rule 4: In the Middle East, never take a concession, except out of the mouth of the person doing the conceding. If I had a dollar for every time someone agreed to recognize Israel on behalf of Yasir Arafat, I could paper my walls. A much appreciated Freudian slip. Now Mr. Friedman is talking like the true advocate of Israel that he is. I suggest he starts collecting a dollar for every innocent Palestinian killed, injured, tortured, or robbed of his basic rights by the Israelis. This would not only provide him with enough dollars to cover his wall, but would instead make him a very rich man.

Rule 5: Never lead your story out of Lebanon, Gaza or Iraq with a cease-fire; it will always be over before the next morning’s paper. An objective journalist seeking the truth would not worry about the cease-fire as much as the reasons behind why this fire erupted in the first place. The rest is elementary my dear Watson.

Rule 6: In the Middle East, the extremists go all the way, and the moderates tend to just go away. Maybe Mr. Friedman should remember this next time he is wined and dined visiting the “Middle East”.

Rule 8: Civil wars in the Arab world are rarely about ideas — like liberalism vs. communism. They are about which tribe gets to rule. So, yes, Iraq is having a civil war as we once did. But there is no Abe Lincoln in this war. It’s the South vs. the South. Mr. Friedman, why not look at North Vs. South and consider the ideas fought there. It is probably about the "deep intellectual ideas" of oil versus no oil.

Rule 14: The Lebanese historian Kamal Salibi had it right: “Great powers should never get involved in the politics of small tribes.” This is an out of context quote coming from a conniving journalist. How about we add except if these small tribes happen to be sitting on fields of oil.

Thomas Friedman would do us, Arabs, all a favor if he would shove his rules where the sun doesn't shine. And those so-called "inner-circlites" spread all over the Arab world would do us all a favor by seeing Mr. Friedman for what he really is and by stopping to kiss ass of such bigots.

While I am at it, one last favor that Mr. Friedman could do us is to stop enriching us with his views on the Arab World. In this case, I can sincerely assure you that it would be good riddens of bad rubbish!

Tribute To A Dear Teacher: Hanna Batatu

2007-02-06T21:31:00.000+02:00

Hanna Batatu (1926 - 2000) exemplified the essence of what it is to be a good teacher and a fine human being. He was an excellent "murabbi". In Batatu's case the Arabic word is absolutely correct in showing teaching as a rearing mission. He was a role model in every sense of the word. Batatu was decent, diligent, smart, dignified, passionate, a perfectionist, and a true academician. During college years when all sorts of rushes were at their peak, Batatu always urged us, his students, to systematically and consistently be calm while seriously considering the root causes of any problem rather than focus on the symptoms. Acquiring the skill of critical thinking in looking at things in terms of causes, effects, and symptoms was such a great discovery. A discovery that must come in handy today when we are bombarded with solutions that superficially treat the symptoms without serious consideration of the real causes. As far as I am personally concerned, Batatu was a great mentor, even though I never thought of him as such at the time. I won't talk of his academic work because he is greater than having one of his pupils praise him for it. His academic work speaks loudly for itself. Today the whole world swears by the great research he left us.

Hanna Batatu was a brave man, a man of rock-solid principles. He spoke the truth even when it ran contrary to his own interest and livelihood. At the time of the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait, Batatu expressed his views that were based on history and on an objective reading of it. This cost him the Kuwaiti chair at Georgetown University. The very chair that was behind his bread and butter at the time. I do not know much about the details of this incident. It was shrouded with secrecy. Nobody ever talked about it. However, we all knew of and respected him for it.

For those who would like to catch a glimpse of the man I am talking about, may I suggest looking up the greatest work that has ever been written on Modern Iraq: “The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq”.

Professor Batatu, may your soul rest in peace!