Language and Culture

"Arabs that don't know Arabic are honestly a disgrace..", my dear friend, who currently studies in Canada, went on to say as we were chatting a couple of days ago. His point of view may have seemed extreme for a second or two at that time, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense. How can somebody claim to be part of a culture he hardly knows anything about?

Can anyone imagine a French man who can't speak French, or doesn't know what baguette or crepe is? I find that hardly plausible. Or a Spaniard who hasn't heard about bullfighting, a corrida de toros?  How sarcastic would it be if you met a Russian who knows nothing about Vodka, or a Mexican who hasn't ever tasted tortillas?

Culture is what identifies us in today's community, it is what makes us who we are and gives us that uniqueness when we meet a person from a totally different background.

 So what exactly makes a person forget his culture, his blood, one might ask? Well it seems the answer is quite clear; Immigration, Emigration, and the influence of other cultures play a decisive role in a person's life.  To add to that, parents who forget the principles of teaching their children where they originate from are also a significant factor. We also can't deny what influence international media has on us. With the United States dominating media all over the globe, it isn't a surprise that the world is getting more and more Westernized with time.

So let's get back to the Arab perspective. "An Arab who doesn't know Arabic is a disgrace..", what do you think? My friend went on to say how he had once considered the Arabic language as a difficult one in school, where he could hardly keep up with the grammar that was taught in class, how he felt that it was a waste of time, a useless subject for those who were going on into a scientific field in college.

He continued to say that as time progressed and he became a foreigner in Canada, his identity became increasingly important to him, and he found that the Arabic language was an essential part of his Arab culture.

Personally, being an Arab, a Jordanian to be specific, I totally believe in culture and the moral values that have made me who I am today, and I honestly think that an individual must proudly hold his culture high, and ensure that it is not lost with the generations to come.

Men-Sushi

"Men-Sushi, what's that?" At first thoughts, you'll probably be saying its just an extra large sushi plate specifically made for men with their "special hunger needs", but NO, on the contrary it has NOTHING to do with sizes whatsoever!

Well it seems you've been missing out on the latest food trends in town! Surprisingly, this new "professionally designed" meal hasn't the slightest taste of Sushi, but resembles it in many ways. In fact, it may come as great news for those Mensaf-loving locals that a 3rd eating method for Mensaf has now been introduced.

We all know the traditional method, that involves the strategic 45 degree hand-angle dipping, squishing and artistically forming that juicy Mensaf-ball, and the neat spoon method for those who prefer a little less messiness. I am glad to present to you the new method that ingeniously combines the two stated above to give you "Men-Sushi", the Mensaf-lovers' ideal way for "Mensaf-on-the-run".

Imagine Mensaf-balls readily shaped to perfection in a Sushi-like structure, with a luscious, tender piece of meat on top, wrapped with a meek layer of bread, and a dip specially ordered from Karak, for those who crave an excess of Jameed on their Mensaf ball, to give that final, mouth-watering magical touch! Aren't we in heaven?

Water Scarcity in Jordan

Warmly seated at home, here I am, enjoying the splitter and splatter of raindrops at my window, thankful for the generous quantities of rainwater Jordan has received this season, and hoping for a green spring and summer to come.

Today, Jordan ranks as one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, facing the major issue of being able to supply it's rising population with it's water needs.
Driving around in Amman on a rainy day, it comes as quite a surprise to me that a large number of streets are completely submerged in water, that drainage and sewage systems always seem to be blocked up on a rainy day, and that all that flood water is not benefited of. To add to the sarcasm, a significant amount of the kingdom's water is imported from neighboring countries!

Ever since I moved to Amman, a noticeable feature in our residence has been the integrated rainwater well we have underground. This 3m3 (three meters cubed) well plays a vital role in our summer lives. The amount of water it is able to hold is something I honestly find fascinating, such that is provides an immediate alternate to government water and can be used for various purposes including gardening and everything but potable water; that is unless an adequate filter is implemented.

Now hypothetically, what if, to some extent, the government would put into action a program that would make it compulsory for each new building to have a built-in rainwater well underground? Just imagine the tremendous amounts of water that could be stored from this straightforward plan, not to mention the ridiculously large sums of government money that could be saved and made use of elsewhere.

Well I hope water plans for the Kingdom work out well, and wish you all a happy rainy day.

Texting & The Distractions of Driving

Commuting has by no doubt become a part of our daily lives. According to US government statistics, Americans now spend over 100 hours a year commuting. Although one may say driving is a necessity, the rules that allow it to be safe must be strictly laid down. This brings me to our main topic, the distractions of driving and how they may affect the performance of the driver.

According to Jordanian Public Safety, officials state that on average 2 people are killed and 50 more are injured in 145 road accidents each day. These statistics are quite vast if you ask me, but what exactly are the causes of these accidents? It may be surprising to find out that they are merely due to lack of concentration caused by various distractions affecting the driver. Text messaging and cell phone use, munching on a snack, listening to excessively loud music, or perhaps smoking a cigarette, not to mention the harmful effects that has, are only a few examples of these distractions.

A survey released by mobile application vendor Vlingo says 26 percent of mobile phone users questioned admit to DWT, or driving while texting. Driving while texting is now fully banned in seven states in the US as well as Washington, D.C., and partially banned in a select few other states. Eighty-three percent of the people surveyed said they feel texting while driving should be illegal. But 40 percent of those questioned would OK DWT with the proper safety precautions, such as voice-activated commands. Further, 70 percent would use voice technology to speak and listen to incoming messages as opposed to typing and reading.

"In just one year, the public conversation about the issue of DWT has escalated, particularly in the wake of some high-profile accidents," said Dave Grannan, CEO of Vlingo. "Texting is such an integral component of our daily lives, and the cautionary tales about DWT danger have not stemmed the tide. We predicted last year that this problem would get worse, and it has since more people are texting."

However, a study conducted from Carnegie Mellon University found that just listening to cell phone messages can impair a driver's ability to concentrate on the road. The Oprah Winfrey show also hosted a program that validated this assumption under the title "The Risks of Texting While Driving - Multitaskers Beware!".

 "The human brain isn't equipped to concentrate on two things simultaneously," says neuroscientist René Marois, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

To add to that Alghad News published an article today which stated that the average usage of a cell phone while driving is equivalent to a certain dosage of alcohol thus significantly lowering reaction time of the driver. Alghad also noted that the number of fines given for phone usage while driving in Jordan in 2009 exceeded 138350.

Volunteer Work with KHCC & KHCF

A little while back I applied as a volunteer with King Hussein Cancer Center & Foundation (hereafter KHCC & KHCF). The King Hussein Cancer Center is the only specialized cancer center in the Middle East that treats both adult and pediatric patients. I thought it would be a great way to spend my spare time instead of lazing around at home… and it turns out I wasn’t the least bit mistaken.

After receiving a phone call a few days ago requesting me to be part of an awareness campaign about cancer, I gladly headed to City Mall to find out what exactly I had to do. Upon reaching the booth where my 4 hour shift was to begin, I was greeted with warm arms and my fellow volunteers explained it all. It was quite a surprise to find that the 11^th of February was the worlds cancer day; which I had no idea existed. We were to distribute brochures and leaflets among the people which were about the various types of cancers, how they could be prevented and methods of treatment, with specific emphasis on smoking and its harmful effects. As well as that we were also holding booths for donations to KHCC & KHCF, and for a health insurance program against cancer.


The experience was refreshing; getting to know my fellows in the booth and mingling with the Jordanian society. With no doubt there were some people who did not give us their attention, but on the other hand there were many who did, who shared their opinion about the matter and told us about their own experiences with cancer. It was very interesting to learn so much and at the same time contribute to the people’s knowledge.

To add to that, we even had our own benefits, which included a free meal complement of the center; which was of course “healthy” in their opinion, unlike the junk food we would normally get.

Those 4 hours could have honestly been just 30 minutes with the fascinating time I had - getting to know those wonderful people, learning plenty of new info, and with no doubt contributing to the awareness of society.

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.

Tales of Emirati Camels

I've always admired camels for their everlasting cheerfulness, they always seem to be in a jumpy mood, with that cheeky smile drawn on their hairy faces, don't they?

Well the Emiratis have done it again with achieving the most eye-opening news yet!


Camel burger newest 'healthy' option
DUBAI (Reuters) - A traditional Emirati restaurant in Dubai has added a new entree to its menu billed as a fat-free choice for carnivorous but health-conscious diners: the Camel Burger. For 20 UAE dirhams ($5.45), the Local House restaurant offers a quarter pound camel burger, loaded with cheese and smothered in burger sauce, the Xpress weekly newspaper reported on Thursday. Ali Ahmad Esmail, Local House assistant manager, told the paper that the burger patties were fat- and cholesterol-free. But he declined to say how the outlet tenderised the tough camel meat. "It's a trade secret," he said. Camel meat is widely eaten in some Arab countries, but is not typically sold in supermarkets or served in restaurants. The paper reported that Local House said it was the first to introduce the burger in the United Arab Emirates. A fast food outlet in neighbouring Saudi Arabia put baby camel burgers on its menu last year.


UAE man pays $6.47m for 3 camels
DUBAI (AFP) - An Emirati splurged a whopping 24 million dirhams ($6.47 million) for three camels, including one which cost $2.72 million, at an auction in the desert near Abu Dhabi, an AFP photographer said. The auction was held Tuesday at the Dhafra Festival for Camels and was attended by the biggest camel owners in the Gulf, among them princes and tribal dignitaries. The other two camels cost United Arab Emirates national Hamdan Ben Ghanem around $2.4 million and $1.35 million respectively. Citizens of Gulf countries are passionate about camel racing, which is considered a national sport and tradition. At the festival, competitions are held for the best camel meat and camel milk dishes, and for the best poem written about camels.

The sad thing is that a pet camel has always been in the back of my mind, too bad the relatively large...or massive budget doesn't really fit my limits! Happy cameling folks!

Russell Peters Punk'd By the King of Jordan?

Stereotypes About The Middle East; A Rising Concern

Was searching YouTube for something to feed my boredom last night, when I came upon Queen Rania's YouTube channel. For those who haven't heard, Queen Rania of Jordan has launched an initiative - or several - on YouTube and Twitter, to communicate to the Western world and talk about various stereotypes westerners have about the Middle East, Arabs, and Muslims. Some have even taken to calling her the 'cyber queen of the Middle East'. I thought it would be interesting to jot down my thoughts on the matter of stereotyping:

Firstly, a common, deeply flawed misconception is that all Middle Easterners are terrorists. Well, going back to 9\11 there sure were 17 terrorists who all came from the Middle East, were Arabs and Muslims. But how far can we take that fact to say that we all are terrorists? We can hardly say that such a vast population of over 360 million people are reflected by those 17 who performed this disgraceful act of suicide in the name of religion. Sure there are terrorists in the Middle East, but the same goes for any other country in the world. Middle Easterners are generally peaceful people, as a matter of fact, Jordan itself is known for its wonderfully warm hospitality to foreigners!

Middle Easterners live in desert tents and get around using camels. To be honest I have never heard such an absurd statement without letting out a sincere laugh. Cars are well used in society here, an amazing fact is that oil-rich countries in the Gulf, mainly Kuwait, have a higher number of cars than people! The world's tallest building is in the Middle East, namely 'Burj Khalifa' - more commonly known as The Dubai Tower - which exceeds a height of 828m, making it the highest man-made structure in the world!

Architects and engineers are fully present in the Middle East (some people may think we are all desert dwelling Bedouins), doing a wonderful job of ensuring citizens' comfortable and stylish accommodation.

Arabs are all Muslims; Muslims are all Arabs Neither of these statements are correct. Muslims make more than 1.5 billion of the worlds population. Arabs make only about 360 million people straddling North Africa and Western Asia. Now the second statement has been debunked, what about the first? Are Arabs all Muslims? Definitely not, a significant population of Arabs follow Christianity, with myself being one of them. Personally, having many Muslim friends whom I consider brothers and sisters, the respect I have towards Islam is concrete. Islam itself does not teach enmity and war, but peace and love, just like the other heavenly religions.


Women are given no rights in the Middle East.  This stereotype varies significantly from one country to the next. For instance, Saudi Arabia has yet to permit woman to drive, whereas the Jordanian female population enjoy plenty of rights and can be seen in various positions about the country, from university professors to taxi drivers to ministers.

Middle Easterners hate Jews. This also, is a common misconception. The hate Middle Easterners have is directed to the Zionist Israeli government, and not the religion Judaism, which has our utmost respect. The causes of this hate are vast, and for one to know how it all began, he would have to go back to the formation of the Zionist Israeli state, which in fact was formed by betrayal of Sherif Hussein of Mecca, who had been promised the land as part of his Arab state after WW2 by the British. At present day, however, this hate is due to the daily killing and slaughter of Palestinians, their expulsion from their own lands and the numerous other mistreatment they receive.

Arab countries are oil-rich. Partly true in the Arabian gulf region, but countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria have negligible oil resources or none! Electricity generated in Jordan is 96% from oil and natural gas imported by neighboring countries. Jordan is now aiming at building renewable energy resources such as wind and solar, as well  as building nuclear power reactors for peaceful purposes due to the significant amount of uranium found in the Kingdom.. and yes, I can assure you I said peaceful. Car oil in Jordan as a matter of fact is ridiculously expensive!

I hope I have given you a reasonable perspective on these matters and please feel free to contribute your feedback if you may have a different point of view or would like to discuss these matters in a deeper manner.

Please spare some time to view Queen Rania's pages on YouTube and Twiter at http://youtube.com/queenrania and http://twitter.com/queenrania

Israeli - Jordanian Peace on the Brink

It has been more than fifteen years since Prime Minister of Jordan Abdelsalam al-Majali declared an "end to the age of wars" and Shimon Peres declared that "the moment of peace has arrived", since King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin held their legendary meeting with President Clinton at the White House to sign that treaty that was to bring peace to the region... to the Palestinians, and to end that everlasting conflict that has been raging ever since I can remember.

Looking around today, you can hardly say that the Middle East is at rest. With Iraq shattered to pieces, Iran's nuclear revolution, Yemen's civil wars, AlQaeda still at large and with no doubt, the walls going up around the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. We hear of suicide bombings, blood and death daily in our community, which has become accustomed to this outrageous news. Not to mention the endless protests that are held against various parties in our countries.

 

When it comes to the Israeli - Jordanian peace, to what extent has it really been effective? Well we can say that mutual recognition has been achieved, borders and security cooperation too, but even those matters are subject to debate.

With the Israeli Knesset announcing last year that "Jordan is Palestine", I would say what was the point of the treaty in the first place?!

Daily reports about excavations and building of trenches under and Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem have been a primary cause in the building of hate in the Arab mind towards Israel.
Article 9 of the treaty states: "Freedom of access to places of religious and historical significance. Israel would respect the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem."
From my point of view I can hardly see any Jordanian influence in Jerusalem these days!

What about refugees? Article 8 clearly states "The problem of displaced persons would also be discussed together with Egypt and the Palestinians, and the issue of refugees would be discussed in a multilateral manner in conjunction with and at the same time as the permanent status negotiations pertaining to the territories."  Palestinian refugees are increasing by day, with no dispute or talks whatsoever - with the able fleing to neighbouring countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. To add to that Israel accuses Jordan of consisting of a large population of Palestinians and even proposes a Palestinian state East of the river in Jordan. What hypocrisy, as if Israel is not to blame!

If we were to observe matters from another perspective, how often do Netanyahu and King Abdullah organise talks and debates? Haaretz reports: "Since becoming prime minister last year Netanyahu has met King Abdullah only once, in May, a few days before the premier's visit to Washington. The king urged Netanyahu to declare his acceptance of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and delivered stern criticism about construction in the settlements and Israeli activities in East Jerusalem."

Israeli and Jordanian sources point to Abdullah's lack of trust in Netanyahu, which the king expressed in a May 2009 interview to The Times of London, just a few days before meeting with the prime minister. "I had three months with the overlap (after the death of King Hussein in 1999, during Netanyahu's first term). These were probably the least pleasant of my 10 years."

To add to that, a statement was issued by Prime Minister of Jordan Samir Rifai when asked if "Jordan will grant permission for Israeli aircraft to pass over Jordan to Iran". His reply was "Israeli aircraft will be shot down if this were to occur." Another sharp statement was made by the King himself about a year ago, giving Israel a 12-18 month ultimatum saying "Peace now, or its war next year." King Abdullah has tagged Israel with the term "fortress Israel" many times in his various interviews worldwide, accusing Israel of remaining as a fortress with no diplomatic relationships with its neighbours rather than "integrating into the neighbourhood".

On other note, yesterday claimed the 48th birthday of his Majesty the King where he issued several strict statements that “We will not be a new occupation in Palestine” , he stated that peace, supported by most Palestinians and Israelis, is the only solution to the conflict. This peace, he added, is based on the two-state solution, and added that he will not accept any talks or even hints of a Jordanian role as a power controlling Palestine.

The King further stated that Jordan will always assist the Palestinians in achieving their own state on their land.  During his speech at the Economic Forum in Davos, King Abdullah said that his army will not be the new army the replaces the Israeli forces in Palestine, and that the Palestinians are demanding to achieve their legitimate right of an independent state.