My Views on the Gaza Flotilla Raid

I would like to say that these thoughts are strictly my own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other Arab, Jordanian, or supporter of the Palestinian case. I am a strong believer in humanity, and I strictly believe that those who don't have the power and will to think and fight for themselves are a useless part of our global community.

The reason I am saying this is that I was challenged today with the question of whether or not soldiers in the Israeli army have a choice or not. Are they merely a force of power used in missions to kill and overpower people or do they have the heart to make decisions on their own? Personally, I would like to think that they had that opportunity to decide for themselves, but from what I've read, witnessed and heard, I find that hardly plausible.

It takes a man to say yes to committing to an army, to fulfill the every demand and requirement burdened upon him, and to have the courage to believe that his superiors will always make the better decisions for the benefit of his people and country. What happens in Israel, however, is not the same case. Conscription is not a voluntary choice, it is a strict requirement for males and females at the age of 18. Those that choose elsewise choose persecution by the government or even death. Thus, they are left with no choice, and I would like to say, brainwashed into believing that Israel is right, Arabs and Muslims, and anyone who opposes the Zionist government are a threat to the stability and existence of Israel.

It is sarcastic I say "existence" of Israel when the state was actually formed as a result of betrayal of the Arabs by the British, when the land was supposed to be part of a greater Arab state as promised, and is based actually on the fact that it was the home of Judaism around 3000 years ago. If my memory serves me correctly, I recall it was professor Norman Finkelstein who said: "If I came to your house and told you that my family, according to my book, lived here 3000 years ago, would you pack up and leave?" The mere creation of Israel has created havoc in the Middle East, refugees are swarming everywhere. It is amazing that that the Middle East used to be home for all three heavenly religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, where people were living side by side in a brotherly way. Don't get me wrong however, the creation of Israel is past me, my country, Jordan, has made peace, and I stay by it. Peace in the region is indeed what I would like to see.

The Gaza Flotilla raid was, in my opinion, a selfish act of cruelty, terror, and stupidity committed by the State of Israel. It shows to what extent the Zionist government is ready to go to keep the people of Gaza in a state of isolation, malnutrition, and underdevelopment. As far as I've heard up to 20 innocent civilian activists were killed as a result of this massacre. The flotilla clearly didn't contain any weapons, as stated by the IDF and later dismissed as pictures that were taken back in 2006, the link of which can be found on my twitter account. Let alone the attack took place in international waters, making it a war crime by definition. I was honestly surprised to see Barack Obama, the man who so many people had faith in, dismiss the event and call for further investigations to be done by Israel. I must say, great choice choosing the state who committed the act to "further investigate".

I have also been recently challenged by the question of "What do I benefit of when I post and tweet about events occurring in Gaza, it's not like I'm stopping any offenses or influencing world leaders." My reply to that will be awareness, it is of critical importance that awareness of the incidents that are happening does spread, and the unfiltered, unedited reports reach the public blankly enough for them to realize that these offenses must not go by unnoticed, and something must indeed be done to help these people.

King Hussein - The Jordanian Icon

How often do we stop to say, to actually think, what this day actually means in history? How often are we thankful for the community, for the country in which we are embraced? Jordan, as we now know it, has evolved through history, under the few Hashemites who sacrificed their all, to build and maintain a country which prospers in life. We owe it all to our Hussein of Jordan, who was the longest reigning ruler in the world; 5 decades as a matter of fact, to ensure that Jordan became what it has turned out to be on this day.

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the passing of His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan. One might be fascinated by the amount of stress and pressure a person might handle, but at the same time astonished at the kind, warm, welcoming smile that person has drawn upon his bright face. King Hussein was that loving, kindhearted person who underwent those many times of war, revolution, crime and distress. It was this same person, who became an icon for peace in the world and a model for many countries in the Middle East and worldwide.

I can vividly recall the words written in his autobiography, about how his life all began by the disgraceful assassination of his grandfather the founder of Jordan, King Abdullah I, at the doors of Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. How Hussein also merely escaped death himself, by a medal he had worn on his uniform across his chest, as requested by his grandfather, which had miraculously blocked the bullet from piercing the very walls of his own heart.

The story of Hussein's life is one which must not be forgotten and bears a huge legacy to every citizen of this country. It shows us how a mere boy of 16 was given the responsibility of ruling a nation and commanding an army. How this boy grew up to become a noble king of great reputation among his people.

As Wikipedia states: "Hussein guided his country in the context of the Cold War, and through four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict, balancing the pressures of Arab nationalism and the allure of Western-style development against the stark reality of Jordan's geographic location. His commitment to democracy, civil liberties and human rights helped to make Jordan a model state for the Middle East, and the kingdom is internationally recognized for having the most exemplary human rights record in that region. He worked tirelessly and continuously throughout his life to advance the cause of peace between Jordan and Israel (which he successfully achieved in 1994), as well as between Palestinians and Israelis."

To this day, a Jordanian still remembers the incident of Hussein's sickness while he was in Britain, where upon being requested to remain a while until the symptoms had declined, he insisted that he wanted to be with his people and "to feel their warmth surrounding him". He then flew his own plane to the grounds of the Kingdom, where he was greeted with the loving smiles and waving arms of the Jordanian people.

With no doubt, I must also praise our King Abdullah II, who has continued the work of his beloved father to ensure the prosperity and development of the Jordanian society. Who has maintained the stability of a Kingdom in the midst of a region swarmed with war and disastrous events, and prevented any harm from touching this nation.

I sincerely hope time will not forget the great achievements King Hussein has achieved and all the effort he has put in making Jordan the wonderful nation it is today.