Photo by Lina Ejeilat
Written by Jehad Momani
” This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”
MLK’s “I have a Dream”
I have a dream that one day, not very far off, I shall wake up in the morning, and join Jordanians from all walks of life, demanding change and democracy.
I dream of streets filling up with Jordanians, men and women, marching from every city, town, village and refugee camp. From Ramtha and Aqaba, from Baqa’a to Wihdat, from the downtrodden east to the affluent west of Amman. All chanting in one voice, to reclaim our destiny and future.
On that morning a new day will be born; a day in which, we the people, can transform the desert of Jordan into an “oasis of freedom and justice”.
The freedom we seek is the freedom to choose our representatives who in turn choose the PM. The freedom to write an offensive poem, to express a different opinion or even a stupid one without fear of arrest. The freedom to go to bed Jordanian with the confidence that you will wake up Jordanian. The freedom from “dual nationality” and “dual loyalty”. Freedom from nepotism, secrecy in the affairs of the state as well as the lies which we are fed constantly and fed up with. Freedom from torture being outsourced to Jordan. Freedom from the war on terror, which is not our war. Freedom from American “aid,” for services rendered. Services, the majority of Jordanians will, simply, refuse to perform. Freedom of long held taboos. The freedom we seek is the freedom to direct our own destiny.
I have a dream. I dream that one day justice in Jordan will reign supreme. Justice, under which, all Jordanians are equal, regardless of origin, creed, relations or position. Justice, under which corruption will be fought systematically not selectively. Justice, under which a government official will leave office when caught lying, not live to lie another day. Justice, where the laws of the land are respected by all, and no one is above them.
In my dream, I saw my seven-year-old son a university student, very well versed in democracy, justice, due process and the rule of law, and I knew, he learned all that from our generation.
I saw all that happening and a lot more. What’s your dream? What are you doing about it?
