من أيام المدرسة، تحديدا من صف تاسع و طالع، بديت احس انه عندي رسالة، عندي رأي و انوه بتأثر بالناس حوالي وبدي اوصل صوتهم. كنت اتخيل انو رح اصير كاتبة قبل ما اصير اميل للصحافة كتير اكتر، بس كنت اتخيل انه الي مستقبل بهاد المجال و انو رح اوصل على مسرح، رح آخد جائزة و رح يكونوا اهلي قاعدين بالصف الاول، رح اطلع احكي كلمة زغيرة، رح اهدي الجائزة لأهلي و لكل الناس اللي امنوا فيّ ولبلدي الأردن.
بعدين رح يحطولي اغنية لعمر العبداللات؛ زمان كانت الاغنية “غزا البيارق”، إما مقطع “عمان بعيدك عيّدي” أو مقطع “والاردن يا ام الرجال”، بعدين صرت أتخيل المشهد بأغنية “ارفع ايدك قد التحية” وآخر اشي اغنية “اهل الهمة” ومقطع “بنت بلادي شد الهمة خلي ولادنا يضلوا بنعمة ايدي بايدك الأردن بيعمر حنا نشامى فعل و كلمة.”
لحد ما وصلت الجامعة، كنت بسمي الأردن بلدي بطريقة كتير عفوية، طبعا ما نسيت اصلي وما في بني ادم بشوف الاخبار وبشوف شو عم بيصير بفلسطين ما بتأثر لو كان من بلاد الواق واق بس انه الأردن بلدي.
فجأة بتطلع المواقع الالكترونية و بكتشف انه الأردن مش بلدي. و صرت أقرا تعليقات تخليني ما انام و انا عم بفكر كيف اجاوب الناس مشان يعرفوا انو انا ما نسيت اصلي بس الأردن بلدي.
فجأة صرت أقرا بالجريدة انه أنا لينا الأردنية من أصل فلسطيني عم بعطل الإصلاح ببلدي اللي طول حياتي بفكّر انه بدي اصير واكبر مشان اعطيه زي ما أعطاني.
فجأة صار اذا بسمع اغنية لعمر العبداللات بسمع من ورا صوت معارض أردني بارز يعارض وجودي في الأردن و يعارض اعطائي أي حقوق، صرت اشوف صورته عم بتذكرني بأصلي واشوفه عم بيحاضر عن الوطن البديل و أصحاب الاجندات الخاصة و الحقوق المنقوصة، الخ.
فجأة صرت انرفز لمّا حد يسألني انت من وين.. بالتاكسي، بالمصعد، عالدور بأي محل، انه بس بدي افهم، ما بصير نحترم بعض بدون ما نعرف كل واحد من وين؟
فجأة بقرأ لهاد الكاتب و غيره، بشوف السيناريوهات والتحليلات اللي بيحطوها الكتاب كل ما تتشكل حكومة، خلص هون ببلش اقتنع شوي شوي انه الاردن بلدي بس هيك خلص ما الي فيه كل حقوقي.
تاني يوم بسمع انو تغيرت تشكيلات و حطوا اردنيين من اصول فلسطينية على قمة الهرم و بسمع عن اردنيين من اصول فلسطينية في قمة عطاءهم للأردن بدون ما حد يشكك بانتماءهم لوطنهم الاصلي في فلسطين او وطنهم الأردن، فبحكي انو هي كاسة نصها مليان و نصها فاضي و حسب انت من وين بتشوف.
فجأة الناس بتسألني ليش بتحبي عمر العبداللات، و بستغربوا انه ليش كل هالانتماء للأردن!
و فجأة بقرأ بالجرايد عناوين زي “الشعب الاردني..” و بسأل هل أنا مشمولة بهاد التعريف ولا الأمر ما بيعنيني؟
التخمتوا من سير القصة؟ كل هاد جزء لا يشكل واحد بالمليون من الانفصلام و الصراع الشخصي اللي بيعاني منه الاردني من أصول فلسطينية، و يا ريت في حد بيقدر يوقف بجرأة بدون ما يخاف من التخوين الفوري و يحكي انو كلنا غلطانين حتى ما نربي اجيال رايحة كل طاقتها في الاجابة عن سؤال ” انت من وين”!
Yeah, I hear you. Luckily my last name could pass for everything, the -AT at the end of the name is a real bonus, spares you much trouble.
As for the dream of being on a podium with Omar Al-Abdullat song in the background, with the new laws governing the internet you can always have the alternative dream of being behind bars with Yazan Al-Roussan's (i7na in7abasna w hashasna) playing in the background
Well said! I believe we have to forget for once where we are from as long as we are all on the same track, the track that will lead us to a prosperous and better Jordan! And i agree with the fact that the problem roots from our universities, the change must start there.
Thank you Lina for sharing your experience with us.
مش هلي القصة اثارة الفرقة بين المواطنين ؟ يجب أحترام القوانين ومعرفة انوا الاردن موحد.
شي هال الحكي الفاضي.
Excellent read, Lina! I hope you realize that those who “oppose” Palestinians citizenship are only a vocal minority, and while most ask “where are you from”, they are only committing a genuine but dumbfounded mistake of assuming that when they ask you where you're from, they're learning a bit more about your upbringing/culture. I understand why it might make one sensitive, but I really believe that 90% are only asking to “learn more about you”, not necessarily positive or negative.
Another point I wanted to mention, is that this “tension” or opposition that exists is twofold. One which you have mentioned, in which “Jordanian Jordanians” assume they have more right to Jordan than you do; but another tension exists in a vocal minority of those from Palestinian origins as well. I'm not sure which one is the action and which is the reaction, but for us living in the 2000s it doesn't matter. And both these tensions or “extremisms” fuel each other. So when we go about to address this unfortunate cultural issue, both sides should be addressed.
I don't know what you had in mind when you referred to your rights, but as a citizen there is absolutely no reason why any of your rights should not be provided or catered for. Some Jordanians of Palestinian origins think negatively of the fact that they don't have a national number (even though they're citizens), and think that it reflects on the government's view towards palestinians, but in reality, such issues only exist to reaffirm Jordan's support of the right of return; if a settlement is ever reached, a Palestinian living in Jordan can choose to be Jordanian or Palestinian — its a great loophole that gives Palestinians in Jordan full rights as Jordanians yet allows them not to forfeit their right of return if their home is freed. Such problem however means more paperwork in things like ta2jeel 5idmet il 3alam, etc.
… why is it that when I say “things can be fixed” and “it can get better” and “its not as bad as it appears”; it is immediately misinterpreted as “things are fine” and “its in your heads”? If that's the vibe you get from the comment, re-read it.
I'm saying: the issue needs to be addressed by approaching both sides, because both have their cultural extremisms (this was clear in the 2nd paragraph, clearly the opposite of “its in your heads”).
I'm also saying: if you read a bit about the Arab-Israeli conflict and the pan-Arab and Palestinian view towards the right of return, you'd understand that we will be hurting the palestinian cause more than supporting it by giving full national id numbers as well (it'd be the same as forfeiting the right of return of 2-3 million palestinians in this country).
And I'm also saying: there is social injustice, and at many times there is a social inequality. I don't think its translates to rights as indicated by law, since, as Lina said, for instance, many Jordanians of Palestinian origins exist at the top of the pyramid. So in “technical” senses, law dictates that there should be nothing wrong.
That said, yes, when you go to a mu3amaleh with the army and ta3bi2a stuff, you'll need to go on a 15 minute drive to get a stupid signature, and that's unfortunate, but it's barely a violated right.
Well done Lallu!
Great piece Lina. It is most definitely a prelude to, hopefully, other pieces that will address this serious issue and identity crisis that shouldn't exist.
The following is something that I wrote a while ago. It fell within my past efforts to determine my own identity, which is without a doubt, and more than ever, Jordanian.
But it is not a matter of being Palestinian or Armenian or any other nationality for Jordan like the United States of America over the years has turned into a melting pot. This is the central point from which we should as creative Jordanian emphasize in our writings, drawings, paintings, musical pieces and discussions: We are all Jordan…whether you like it or not.
Jordan has always been the country of many. In truth the only thing that I place before my being a Jordanian is my being a human.
Sadly even if I acknowledge my Jordanianhood some bigoted buffoons will always claim otherwise, which is something that no longer affects or offends me as I am Jordanian, whether they liked it or not.
To be honest though I don't listen to Omar Al Abadalat but I am madly in love with Abu Mahjoob. I have The Beastie Boys' Sabotage as my mobile ring-tune instead of Jordanian national music. Does that make me less Jordanian than those who do? Absolutely and most emphatically no…
Again (أنا و بكل فخر من الأردن)
Jordan is my Voyald…
A year ago, I stumbled upon a book entitled Voyald by Armenian-American writer William Saroyan. I bought it for one JD, after arduously digging through piles and piles of dusty books, from a cardboard box lying around the corner of a used book Kiosk, in Down Town Amman.
I recently found out what he meant by Voyald. No, it wasn’t an ancient Armenian word.
Voyald is how world is spelled with a Brooklyn accent. Saroyan used Voyald to describe his world; the world that he found on the land of opportunities or opportunists, the latter compliments of the Bush Administration, after his family was forced out of Armenia.
Years ago my grandparents met in Palestine, fell in love and got married. In 1948 they moved to Jordan, where my father was born. My father in turn a few years later, in 1977, met an Armenian woman from Syria, fell in love and got married. I was born in 1979 in Al Khalidi hospital. Their firstborn was me—needles to say I was their first Nakba.
Growing up I always thought of myself as a proud Jordanian of Armenian roots. Yet every now and then I meet Jordanians, who cannot comprehend the fact that I am Jordanian.
It must be the IAN at the end of my nine syllable surname. These three letters have such an amazing effect on paranoid nationalists that I used to meet in my previous line of work, journalism, and whenever I used to flash my Journalism ID in their suspecting faces.
My favorite type of skeptics, however, is the over analyzing taxi driver, who like many I encountered during my trips around Amman seem to start to gape in wonder at my hand as I reach out to the passenger seat belt.
No sooner the poor driver recovers from shock I am bombarded with questions. “You are not from around here are you? Where are you from?” a snoopy taxi driver would ask me after noticing my un-Jordanian Arabic accent, which is a blend of urban working class Ammanite Jordanian and metropolitan Syrian. Don’t ask!
Another question is asked after I pull the seatbelt over my not-so-slender-waist. “How did you do that?” the baffled driver inquires. “Years of grueling practice and discipline, a strict diet and adhering to traffic laws you licensed dummy!” I smugly answer in my mind.
To cut to the chase and satisfy the fierce and annoying Spanish inquisitor in him regarding my nationality I simply say, “Ok, I am made of Armenian parts proudly assembled in H.K.J. Made in Jordan not Singapore. You want to look at the manufacturers’ tag on my behind or do you want to see my national number just to make sure. Now I wouldn’t want to ruin your day by proving you wrong.”
I am born in Jordan hence I am Jordanian, period.
After reading Voyald and Other Stories I’ve realized that in order for a writer to succeed in establishing an ounce of credibility among readers, whether local or international, he either has to write about his own surrounding, or his surrounding in relation to his roots; one way or the other both will eventually collide with fascinating results.
One day I will write about my own Armenia, which is forever embedded deep in my Jordanian heart. Jordan is my country and I grew up loving it, even though at times, I am saddened and angered by the behavior of stupid drivers, idiotic traffic laws, blatant nepotism, taxes, low salaries, false bearers of creativity, idiotic nationalist bigots, the in-your-face-tribal-pride that is shamelessly displayed by some individuals, the university support JD that the ministry of finance swindled from my credit without my approval, and of course the corrupt and bigoted human specimens that I am to ashamed to acknowledge as Homo sapiens like me, who are simply trying to get a hold of a banana in a world governed by apes.
All I know is that I am a second generation Jordanian of Armenian roots and Jordan over the years has become my Voyald. No one can ever deny me of my Voyald, and no one I boldly proclaim has the right to do so. Jordan is my country evermore…
Yeah, it happens a lot, once i was in a taxi, and the driver asked me “from where you are?”, i said “from Amman”, He said, “Are you kidding me? no one is from Amman!!, are you from Italy, France…?!”, i was shocked!! then i said from the “West bank”, then he was silent the rest of the ride, like i was weird or something! so it was some bad situation, i hope no one will have to deal with this kind of stuff in the future!
I find you comment rather insulting to not only everyones' intelligence, but also to our perceptions, which by the way are our reality. The “inconveniences” you chose to talk about and the ones you chose to ignore are not “for their good”. From a historical and political perspective the west bank used to be as Jordanian as Salt,Karak,Madaba, and Amman.As a matter of fact it was more important than the whole east bank because it was the center of economic,political, and civil society. For the late king Hussein, the west bank was more than a territory, it was part of his “destiny”.
So yeah, imagine that Madaba was occupied by Israel, and your “motherland” abandoned you, how would you feel? And by motherland I am referring to the political regime that was created 20 or 30 years ago at that time. Imagine that your political rights are marginalized because it is for “your own good”. The fact that Jordanians are not equally treated at the election booth is telling.The fact that a Karaki Vote is worth more than ten “Ammani” votes is also telling. It reinforces the state's policy that Jordanians of Palastenians origins are guilty unless proven otherwise…And the otherwise isn't really something they can do, it is some decision they have to make in the future where they “get” to “choose” where to belong!Can you see how absurd that is! Postpone having your rights to be equal until some solution is reached.
Oh, and lest not forget the educational system and the affirmative action like policies for “True” Jordanians..Makormet this and makromet that. The university system which is a breeding ground for racism. Where diversity is defined as being from Salt,Karak, and any other part from the “true” Jordan..While others are simply “others”.Others that are looked at as being guilty of something..Something we don't know, but yet, they are somehow guilty.
Fairness, Mr Eyas, is one of the most influential feelings a human being can experience. It affects how we see the world and how we interpret it. If we experience unfairness we become primed to look for injustices, and injustice becomes the only thing we see. We feel that we are being unfairly treated we don't belong anymore. So yeah I think that you have no right to “reinterpret” the Jordanians of palasetnian origin experience. It is THEIR experience and they are the only ones that can tell it accurately. You have no right to “rationalize” how they feel. If I were you I would listen and listen carefully. What Lina wrote is not something to be rebutted or “put in context”. It is a human experince that you have to respect and listen to. And if the majority of Jordanians from Palastenian origin feel the same, then it MUST be true. At the end you didn't live their lives and you didn't have the same experiences they had.
Now with that of my chest. Thank you Lina.
And eyas, here is a link to Mohammad Omar blog. His experiences and the stories he tells are a must read. His writings had great impact on me.
http://www.mohomar.com/mohomar/66180-__
صباحك سكر يعني العنوان شدني كتير وبالنهاية ما في لا كوهيسف ولا كوهيجن عن شي ما امتلكتي انك تحكي عنو بجرأة الرسم الحجاجي……مع احتلرامي الك الصحافة ليست نكوصا في تاريخنا الشخصي ولا nostalgiaبنمارسها عالملئ……….زانا لما يسالوني انت من وين بيكون غالبا قبل الكفوف في مبنى مخابراتي ما………..انت من وين انا من بلد الشبابيك المبنية عالحب المفتوحة عالالفة
Yes, the West Bank was part of Jordan, as important, if not more important, than the sum of the whole east bank, agreed. I don't see how that goes against my point though? The first thing people from outside Jordan respond with when I say that Palestinians get a Jordanian citizenship is that they're forfeiting the right of return, my understanding of the current limitations is that it is done as a “workaround” for that. As for other inconveniences, such as paperwork, I cannot express how much I am disappointed and furious that someone whose mother was born in Jerusalem has to go through more paperwork and processes — I just happen not to call that a “violated right”; it was merely a matter of semantics.
As for the election law, I also highly against the system we have now, which is why I welcome efforts to renew it, hoping that something would be different. Remember though that while Palestinians are concentrated in Amman, since the last 15-20 years, Amman is becoming an intellectual center for all citizens. A Karaki moving to Amman is also getting less representation, and it is very unfortunate. Was the election law drafted to limit Palestinian representation? I wouldn't surprised if the parliamentary election laws valid in the late 80s were purposely flawed as you mentioned. However, I know that having the parts outside of Amman over-represented is hurtful even to the government itself. The election law is marginalizing 2 million Jordanians in Amman, mostly intellectuals.
About that last paragraph of yours, I am not reinterpreting experiences of anyone. Someone is saying “I feel unwanted” or “I feel rejected”; and I am merely being mannered enough to reiterate, with all honesty, from personal experience and experience of others, that I truly believe that the vast majority of this society, a silent majority, welcomes, loves, and wants Jordanians of Palestinian origin.
And please do not mistake my intentions or my experiences. I am not exactly the typical “true” jordanian whose experience has been wonderful. I did see social injustice. I'm not saying that all is well and I am in no position to re-interpret. I have no benefit in re-interpreting either. I see other types of discrimatnion in this country, many that are sometimes as hurtful, religious being an important one I experience first hand. Speaking of university and makruma this and makruma that, “my people” whatever that means have probably been underplayed as well (and I don't compare, neither do I think its healthy or significant to compare). I just think that commenting, and telling others that we are all, in fact, welcome — that the whole dream of “we are all Jordan” shouldn't be forgotten, is beneficial, and perhaps, welcome.
The only thing I'm trying to say is that, when Lina says sometimes she feels unwanted from some people — I'd like to enforce that I, most of the Jordanian blogosphere, and a huge portion of this country feel otherwise. I do not think its offensive to anyone.
And I'll check out that link.
“The first thing people from outside Jordan respond with when I say that Palestinians get a Jordanian citizenship is that they're forfeiting the right of return, my understanding of the current limitations is that it is done as a “workaround” for that.”
“Get”? They already have. Return? How?When?Who is negotiating on their behalf? The unelected Jordanian government? A solution? A palastenian state sometime in the future? So we make their lives less “convenient” so that they don't “forfeit” the right of return? And we should give this power to an entity which is unelected, known for its abuse of power, and for being powerless when it comes to foreign policy?
“Limitations”? This is just adding insult to injury! What are they? Less human? Less Jordanian? Less Rational?
“Workaround”! Whom are we kidding? If what you described isn't codified and legalized discrimination I don't know what is! And to rationalize injustice is just as disturbing and insulting as the discriminating laws and policies.
I don't want to hijack the thread. I will leave it to others to jump on and add their take on the issue.
Ethnic based discrimination is a global issue and not a Jordanian only issue, the only solution for it is for each one that he/she feels that they have been discriminated against is to deal with the issue in their own way & for the State to try to contain & manage the level of existing discrimination in its various state apparatus. Who cares if you are Jordanian of pure Jordanian origins or if you are Jordanian of Palestinian origins.There are people in Southern Jordan that feel that the people in the Northern Jordan are enjoying more entitlements and government perks than they are and thus being discriminated against, there are people in Balqa governerate that feel that they are being discriminated against in favor of the people in Amman, and so on and so forth. For me as a Jordanian of Palestinian origins the only thing that I see as discriminatory is the election law, it must be modified to reflect better representation for the Jordanian living in the capital. I understand that currently there are serious efforts to amend the election law and if that ever happens the feeling of being left out will be a lot better than what it is right now. As far as jobs, admittance in public Universities, enrollment in the armed forces and secret services, these unlike election law affect specific individuals and not millions of people like the election law. Case in point and since we cant neither address all of the discriminatory practices nor resolve them all at once, let us this then take one issue at the time and in this case the first and foremost important issue to be taken out of the way would have to be the modification of the elections law.
Apologies for using the wrong tense.
“Return? How?When?Who is negotiating on their behalf? The unelected Jordanian government?”
Huh? The right of return is one of the ultimate Palestinian cause dreams, regardless of its realisticness. Many of palestinian origins are proud of being Jordanians and living in Jordan, but for others uprooted from their homes, a key to their house in Palestine still hangs in the most prominent place of the home, and many families dream of return to their beloved land. The right of return is one of the main principles that Hamas, the PLO, and all Arabs share in common, regardless of their political views. It is something that the Jordanian government has absolutely no right to annul. It is a principle that, even though it might never happen, the Jordanian government would be a villain if it robbed Palestinians of that choice. And Israel is very well capable of saying “oh, you have a Jordanian citizenship; you forfeited your palestinian identity”, and what I'm talking about is a way that this “palestinian identity” is maintained, and it is important.
“And we should give this power to an entity which is unelected, known for its abuse of power, and for being powerless when it comes to foreign policy? “
What power are you speaking of? This “unelected government” has power over so-called “true” Jordanians, and Jordanians of Palestinian origins alike, they can abuse both or neither if they wilt it, its not a Palestinian-Jordanian issue. Second, this national number thing doesn't affect one's life in any way, it doesn't make lives less convinient.
Jordanians of Palestinian origins DO face “inconviniences”, but so does anyone (even “true” Jordanians as you call them) born (or has a parent whose born -_-) in any place of Jordan, be it Qatar, Kuwait, Jerusalem. That's shit policy, but its not a government abusing palestinians.
And I'm disappointed you didn't respond to the rest of the comment, which I felt, was where the most important points I made were. In any case, if you'd like to continue this conversation without hijacking the thread, eyas.sharaiha at gmail is my address.
Your ability to be this upfront and honest about how you feel is touching.
My one comment is that being a palestenian living in jordan has many aspects to consider.
When you wondered whether or not you are considered as a Jordanian citizen of this country, you struck a point.
However i would like you to consider one thing, when you watch the news on TV and hear the word Palestinian, do you ever wonder whether or not you are included?
I mean sure you are, theoritically, but does your blood rush through your veins like someone has called your name?
I am palestinian, most of my family still lives there, i have a palestinian ID, and still, every single time i'm around my family and they talk about our home country, i feel something missing, maybe it's the passion in their voices that i dont have, maybe it's just the way their voices go higher and their eyes brighten up, maybe it's just that i dont have the same memories they have, the same recollection of every street and every gate and every neighbor in jerusalem… maybe it's alot of things.
my point is that being a jordanian from palestinian origins makes you wonder, where do you really belong?
and then comes the eternal question… Can't i belong to both?
I don't think belonging is just related to the people around you and how they make you feel. i think it's a choice, a way of living, but most of all it's a belief. your very own. past all the voices around you and all the doubt that you come across, it's that rush you feel in you veins every time you come across those two words, PALESTINE – JORDAN.
A good computer programmer can solve the problem. Those Jordanians without a national number should be given a temporary one. When Palestine becomes free, they will receive a message on their mobile saying their national number has been retracted since they can now go back to their original homes. If some ignore the message, which is bound to happen, the computer database, which will be located at the Ministry of Interior, will send a message to the authorities to fetch the miscreant temporary national number holders and forcibly return them to Palestine. Meanwhile, as Palestine is getting freed, temporary national number holders can live as equal citizens. I actually suggested this solution to both Syria and Lebanon, which have more enthusiastic safeguards against the loss of Palestinian identity than Jordan, and I am tired of waiting for their reply. But I expect Jordan to be more welcoming to my idea because it has been the best country for Palestinians in the Levant.
i have never faced like this situation but from this story and other stories i say i am proud of being jordanian and i never forgot Palestine and i will never do but as long as Jordan gave me alot i must give and be productive in my country this is my duty
But that offers no perceived advantages over the system currently in place. A national number doens't do much in terms of rights, so you're making up an entire system just so that a temporary number would be there, instead of the number's field saying the world “temporary” as it does now. That is, unless, the lack of a permanent national number does affect civil rights, which is something I have not came across.
-_-'
well take the US for example people from different origins immigrat to the states then they have kids & up-bring them in a state and then they are simply americans ! they might be called african-american , hispanic , asian-american … but at the end of the day they are americans … so basically why wont we go with Jordanian or phalastanian-Jordanian as an alterntive ?!? I think its not right after being born in a country & being raised , educated in a country & yet say i only hold the jordanian citizenship … if you were born in a different country & then immigrat its a different story ! i believe we should stop thinking about origins , last names , etc … and teach the upcoming generations that its not an important issue , as long as you are a loyal citizen who loves this country ,care about the common intrest & consider it home !
I want to share with you some of the thoughts I had while writing this piece.
*I really understand that the issue isn’t as simple as it may seem, it has many other dimensions, many political implications and a lot more, but I couldn’t depict the whole image in this piece, so I chose to write about it from a personal perspective just because I wanted to speak out and let people who haven’t experienced this internal conflict have a glimpse of what it means to start questioning what you have always taken for granted, what it means to have doubts about something this important.
*I didn’t blame anyone because I believe that we’re all guilty, both sides have a hand in any discriminative act.
*I was hesitant and I didn’t want to tackle this topic as it is a very sensitive one, I may also be misunderstood, I don’t want to discord the national unity, I don’t intend to arouse the tensions, on the contrary, I would love to witness a genuine national unity and I wanted to share this story to say that these tensions shouldn’t exist and I thought that turning a blind eye wouldn’t solve any of these problems.
*I always felt irritated and offended by the comments that follow some pieces on the electronic websites, so I didn’t want to write something that would urge any reader to leave similar comments, but I am proud and glad to say that I found the debate a civilized one and I really hope that any reader who has something to say will consider these points, I hope that readers will understand my intentions and I hope they will support this little effort in any way they find convenient.
great job Lina 🙂 i loved ths article since u wrote it !! Btjnann,,:D
congrats
i want to comment on the educational system to clear a point mr.mohanned
mukrumeh was established to cover the injustice in services provided by the goverment for instance my cousine who was a tawjehee student in the south had no chemistry teacher for 3 months and the other class didn't have an english teacher for 2 months so the issue here has no rasist ground or prefable one its merely because the goverment want to fill the gab and distribute an equal chances of having a college education for all . by the way there is refugees makromeh
زي ما الاردنية (الي من اصول فلسطينية) بعانو من دراما تحديد الهوية…والاردنيين الي من اصول اردنية كمان بعانو من المشكلة
اول ماحد يسألني انتي من وين واجاوب اني من اصول اردنية (كركية).. بتبلش الناس تتفرج بوجوه بعض وكأني جاي من الفضاء الخارجي!! وكأنو اشي غريب انو يكون بالأردن أردنية اصلية!! والنهفة انو الناس بتبلش تتفاداني!! وتسكت كل ما تشوفني… ومواقف لا احسد عليها
When someone asks me where I'm from, I say “the 4th circle” or “Zahran” because that's where I was born and that's where my grandchildren will tell whoever asks them (probably the same person's grandchildren) where their grandfather was born!
This conversation actually happened when I was in Cairo:
-إنت أردنية؟
-آه
-أردنية أردنية؟
-نعم. أردنية أردنية
-أول مرة أتعرف على واحد أردني أردني
-مسلمة؟
-مسيحية
-مسيحية!! غريبة، ما يبانش عليك
-؟!
This is the question i hate the most and I always reply ''From Amman''. Being a circassian jordanian brazilian is tough to explain ''men wen inta'' loool… I loved reading the article specially the sound track accompanying it 😀
Very well said Lina , I agree with you on the last point most – a whole lot of our times and energies are wasted on convincing some others that , although our origins are Palestinians, we are still true Jordanians at heart.
Good read! I liked what Mike said: “I was born in Jordan, I`m a Jordanian, period.”.
Similar situations happen to most of us I blv, some of my Arab friends joke that Jordanian nationality is the only one which needs to be asserted i.e. …أردني أردني و اللا lol.
As JamalShafagoj pointed out, it is a Q. that is irritating and annoying; it is not paradoxical to love Jordan (my country) AND have fonds in yr roots as well, they DO go hand-in-hand.
H.
Good read! I liked what Mike said: “I was born in Jordan, I`m a Jordanian, period.”.
Similar situations happen to most of us I blv, some of my Arab friends joke that Jordanian nationality is the only one which needs to be asserted i.e. …أردني أردني و اللا lol.
As JamalShafagoj pointed out, it is a Q. that is irritating and annoying; it is not paradoxical to love Jordan (my country) AND have fonds in yr roots as well, they DO go hand-in-hand.
H.