I read about a rather disconcerting reality in a Jordanian travel guide. Several women gave personal accounts of being harassed in Jordan, and yet, what is disturbing about their stories is not the actual harassment (which is obviously always bad), but the expected submission of these women. While supposedly given free and equal rights throughout Jordan, it is not considered proper for women to engage males. It is absolutely out of the question for a “lady” to show any skin, and here’s the cherry on top: men can legally prevent a female family member from leaving the country. This was actually a travel warning for women visiting Jordan who have relatives who are Jordanian citizens. The Jordanian male can tell a female American citizen she cannot leave the country if they are related. The personal accounts I read from American females in the country mentioned how happy the Jordanian women were when engaged by the Americans. Just to be noticed and treated as a human being seemed to make their day.
I for one have had a similar experience. Every day I pass by an old woman who sits in the same place from morning till night selling little bags of what appears to be spinach. She doesn’t speak a word of English, wears the same red and white head covering, and silently chants to herself – presumably Islamic prayers – until a person approaches her for business. While I have as yet see anyone approach her for business, every day she has made a little bit more eye contact with me, and we are on official Ahlan (hello) terms complete with a wave and a smile. It’s hard not to wonder exactly what her story is. Does she really survive on the fruits of pennies a day? Does her husband send her out to sell his garden’s harvest? For how many years has she had the exact same Hijab? At any rate, she waves at me, and I find it to be progress. Regardless, though, I have an extremely difficult time being in a place where women are just all around regarded as inferior, even if in the cultural sense of the attitude, I don’t think the treatment is regarded as inferiority.
On another note, I am continually baffled at how the media treats extremely sensitive issues. This is going to make me sound extremely pro-Israel, but bear with me. An al-Jazeera headline reads, “Israeli Soldiers Kill Palestinian Teenager.” This exact same headline could have read, “Palestinian Teenagers Shower Israeli Soldiers With Homemade Bombs.” There is absolutely no justice or necessity for Middle Eastern media to portray Israel as the Big Bad Wolf just as there is no justice or necessity for American media to treat Israel as the Savior of the Middle East. I am still incredibly interested in finding some true, objective reporting on the issue, but that seems to be in the realm of the unattainable.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Minor Complaints...
Ok, for those of you know me well (and probably those of you who don’t know me all that well), you know I like to complain. I don’t know why, but I whine about anything and everything. It’s like drugs: the more I do it, the more I want, and the more concerned other people become.
With that said, there’re a few things I need to complain about, so bear with me.
1) I’m horribly, incredibly sick. The inside of my stomach feels like it is on fire. If you need me to go into more detail, send me a personal email and I’ll elaborate.
2) Besides the oddly large population of skinny, stray cats (honestly, it’s just bizarre. I almost wonder if there’s some strange conspiracy at work here, like a new American method on the War on Terror: “let’s just cuddle ‘em to submission…”), everywhere you look, someone is washing their car. Now let’s think about this for a moment. Jordan is one of the four most water poor nations in the entire world. How do they use the precious commodity? By washing their frickin’ cars. Never mind the fact they’re in the middle of THE DESERT! Never mind the fact there is so much sand and grime in the air that when I get home, I feel like I can scrape it all off my skin with a spoon. Never mind the fact most of the cars are taxis and besides the fact they’re not exactly Ferraris, not too many people are going to wave a cab on when they need a ride because the car is too dirty. I want to take the buckets of water they use to endlessly scrub down their “rides” and throw it in their face in the hopes they’ll wake up. Not to mention, some of the younger men will have a sort of car washing party where five or six of them will get together and wash down their taxis, all the while standing back to admire their identical taxis.
3) This one just drives me crazy. No one says hi to one another on the street. I’ve tried several times to casually say good morning to someone (yes, I had shorts on), and they look at me like I just insulted their mother. I very mistakenly waved at a couple of people on the road, and their thoughts were so palpable, they’re worth mentioning. The first person looked at me as if saying, “No, I’m not taxi, Asshole.” The other person looked me and then thought to himself, “All praise be to Allah, that American just cast a spell on me.” So it’s a dilemma because I always feel guilty if I walk past someone and don’t acknowledge him or her. I suppose I’ll just have to continue casting spells on people…
4) This one isn’t so much a complaint as a, “Oh dear Lord, you are so dumb” story. In Jordan, when you walk down the road, if a cab drives past you without a person already on the meter, he’ll honk at you. It’s a way of communicating. One honk means he wants to know if you need a ride. Two honks mean don’t dare step on the road because I’ll run your ass over. Now with this in mind, I was talking to this girl who was also upset about what she was supposed to be wearing, and she ended her complaint by saying, “I mean, no matter what I wear, the cabs still honk at me when they drive by.” What do you say to this? Do you ignore it? Do you agree with her? Do you politely tell her how dumb she is and explain that the cabs honk at anyone and everyone, and yes, it does not matter what the person is wearing?
I would have added the fact no one wear’s shorts, but if you don’t know how I feel about that by now, I would have a fifth thing to complain about.
With that said, there’re a few things I need to complain about, so bear with me.
1) I’m horribly, incredibly sick. The inside of my stomach feels like it is on fire. If you need me to go into more detail, send me a personal email and I’ll elaborate.
2) Besides the oddly large population of skinny, stray cats (honestly, it’s just bizarre. I almost wonder if there’s some strange conspiracy at work here, like a new American method on the War on Terror: “let’s just cuddle ‘em to submission…”), everywhere you look, someone is washing their car. Now let’s think about this for a moment. Jordan is one of the four most water poor nations in the entire world. How do they use the precious commodity? By washing their frickin’ cars. Never mind the fact they’re in the middle of THE DESERT! Never mind the fact there is so much sand and grime in the air that when I get home, I feel like I can scrape it all off my skin with a spoon. Never mind the fact most of the cars are taxis and besides the fact they’re not exactly Ferraris, not too many people are going to wave a cab on when they need a ride because the car is too dirty. I want to take the buckets of water they use to endlessly scrub down their “rides” and throw it in their face in the hopes they’ll wake up. Not to mention, some of the younger men will have a sort of car washing party where five or six of them will get together and wash down their taxis, all the while standing back to admire their identical taxis.
3) This one just drives me crazy. No one says hi to one another on the street. I’ve tried several times to casually say good morning to someone (yes, I had shorts on), and they look at me like I just insulted their mother. I very mistakenly waved at a couple of people on the road, and their thoughts were so palpable, they’re worth mentioning. The first person looked at me as if saying, “No, I’m not taxi, Asshole.” The other person looked me and then thought to himself, “All praise be to Allah, that American just cast a spell on me.” So it’s a dilemma because I always feel guilty if I walk past someone and don’t acknowledge him or her. I suppose I’ll just have to continue casting spells on people…
4) This one isn’t so much a complaint as a, “Oh dear Lord, you are so dumb” story. In Jordan, when you walk down the road, if a cab drives past you without a person already on the meter, he’ll honk at you. It’s a way of communicating. One honk means he wants to know if you need a ride. Two honks mean don’t dare step on the road because I’ll run your ass over. Now with this in mind, I was talking to this girl who was also upset about what she was supposed to be wearing, and she ended her complaint by saying, “I mean, no matter what I wear, the cabs still honk at me when they drive by.” What do you say to this? Do you ignore it? Do you agree with her? Do you politely tell her how dumb she is and explain that the cabs honk at anyone and everyone, and yes, it does not matter what the person is wearing?
I would have added the fact no one wear’s shorts, but if you don’t know how I feel about that by now, I would have a fifth thing to complain about.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Angry People...
I sought out and managed to find a very American hang out today, reinforcing my own worldly dilemma of continually trying to find my comfort zone. Sometimes, it can be as simple as eating a Quarter Pounder from McDonalds. Sometimes, it can be diving into a book or writing emails to friends and family. And sometimes, it is seeking out a place where Americans are. A local expat hangout if you will.
Books@Cafe is literally a small slice of America in the middle of Jordan. American books, an American-style pub, an American-style café and restaurant outside. The waitresses don’t even speak fluent Arabic. Take Anna, for example, our American waitress from Minnesota who woke up one day, assessed her life, and decided to move to Jordan, study Arabic, and work at an American-style café. How exactly does that happen? Where is the breaking point where the most obvious answer is to move to Jordan?
On another note, I took a cab in an all day search to figure out how to get a longer visa, and had a very interesting encounter with a Palestinian cab driver. Naturally assuming I was English (after at first thinking I was French…), this man who spoke broken English felt free to lecture me on the horrors of America and Israel.
“You know, I really hate Israelis and Americans,” he said. “It’s our land, and they take it for their own. We come to a truce, and the first thing the Israelis do it break it by killing people.”
Interestingly, he failed to mention the fact the Palestinians actually broke the cease fire by firing rockets into Israeli communities. He continued. I, perhaps wisely, smiled and kept my mouth shut.
“Any Arab who agrees to peace, I will never forgive. For my entire life, he will not be forgiven. No peace. They kill, kill, kill. If only the Arabs would finally stand together, Israel would be gone in a week. But they won’t come together. Some people like aid from Iran, some from America. Different interests.”
As he went on for the entirety of the cab ride, I came close to mentioning the fact the Arab nations had come together against Israel in the 1967 War, a war that Israel won in less than a week. I came close to mentioning that if the Arab nations came together and attacked Israel, those countries would be irreparably damaged. I came close to asking how he felt about his beloved Arab cities being incinerated underneath a nuclear mushroom cloud should the Arab world decide to attack Israel. I came close, but I kept my mouth shut.
I am not a fervent supporter of Israel. I believe the country has some of the most heinous foreign policies in existence and continue to build illegal settlements in the face of possible peace negotiations. I am also not a fervent supporter of Palestine. I believe if the Palestinian people would accept reality, recognize the legitimacy of Israel and reap the benefits of one of the biggest economies in the world, they would grow strong enough to actually create a legitimate state that could rival Israel’s. Instead, they fire rockets into Israel, directly creating brutal conditions for their own people that are considered practically unlivable by the United Nations.
Obviously, there is more to the picture, from religious entitlements to blind hatred, but the point I want to make is that I personally can never accept a person who does not accept the possibility of peaceful negotiations. I will attempt to empathize with them, but in the end, someone who has war on the mind, whether it’s religiously motivated (especially if its religiously motivated) or for another reason, is not interested in the advancement of the world, does not want a better life for the majority of the people, and in my opinion, cannot possibly have interpreted the word of God properly (if motivated by religion).
This is unfortunately the world we now live in. How do you possibly come to terms with blind hatred?
Books@Cafe is literally a small slice of America in the middle of Jordan. American books, an American-style pub, an American-style café and restaurant outside. The waitresses don’t even speak fluent Arabic. Take Anna, for example, our American waitress from Minnesota who woke up one day, assessed her life, and decided to move to Jordan, study Arabic, and work at an American-style café. How exactly does that happen? Where is the breaking point where the most obvious answer is to move to Jordan?
On another note, I took a cab in an all day search to figure out how to get a longer visa, and had a very interesting encounter with a Palestinian cab driver. Naturally assuming I was English (after at first thinking I was French…), this man who spoke broken English felt free to lecture me on the horrors of America and Israel.
“You know, I really hate Israelis and Americans,” he said. “It’s our land, and they take it for their own. We come to a truce, and the first thing the Israelis do it break it by killing people.”
Interestingly, he failed to mention the fact the Palestinians actually broke the cease fire by firing rockets into Israeli communities. He continued. I, perhaps wisely, smiled and kept my mouth shut.
“Any Arab who agrees to peace, I will never forgive. For my entire life, he will not be forgiven. No peace. They kill, kill, kill. If only the Arabs would finally stand together, Israel would be gone in a week. But they won’t come together. Some people like aid from Iran, some from America. Different interests.”
As he went on for the entirety of the cab ride, I came close to mentioning the fact the Arab nations had come together against Israel in the 1967 War, a war that Israel won in less than a week. I came close to mentioning that if the Arab nations came together and attacked Israel, those countries would be irreparably damaged. I came close to asking how he felt about his beloved Arab cities being incinerated underneath a nuclear mushroom cloud should the Arab world decide to attack Israel. I came close, but I kept my mouth shut.
I am not a fervent supporter of Israel. I believe the country has some of the most heinous foreign policies in existence and continue to build illegal settlements in the face of possible peace negotiations. I am also not a fervent supporter of Palestine. I believe if the Palestinian people would accept reality, recognize the legitimacy of Israel and reap the benefits of one of the biggest economies in the world, they would grow strong enough to actually create a legitimate state that could rival Israel’s. Instead, they fire rockets into Israel, directly creating brutal conditions for their own people that are considered practically unlivable by the United Nations.
Obviously, there is more to the picture, from religious entitlements to blind hatred, but the point I want to make is that I personally can never accept a person who does not accept the possibility of peaceful negotiations. I will attempt to empathize with them, but in the end, someone who has war on the mind, whether it’s religiously motivated (especially if its religiously motivated) or for another reason, is not interested in the advancement of the world, does not want a better life for the majority of the people, and in my opinion, cannot possibly have interpreted the word of God properly (if motivated by religion).
This is unfortunately the world we now live in. How do you possibly come to terms with blind hatred?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Alcohol Post...
Dave’s guide to buying alcohol in the Middle East:1) If at all possible, don’t do it.
2) If you absolutely have to do it, don’t dress conspicuously, don’t walk on any main streets, and avoid eye contact.
3) The lower the sun, the less visible the alcohol.
4) Try not to already be drunk, unless you run into someone who gives you trouble about the fact you’re buying alcohol in the Middle east, at which time play it off like you’re so drunk, you don’t actually realize you’re buying alcohol in the Middle East.
5) If someone continues to give you trouble, don’t offer them a beer as a token of peace.
6) If all else fails, say you’re on a mission from Allah and are using it for Martyr-esqe activities.
7) If you manage to make it with the alcohol intact, consume, and enjoy the fact you’re drinking a cheap bottle of rum in the middle of the most religious region in the world.
8) When you finish off the bottle, read Step 1.
Speaking of which, it seems appropriate to add in the alcohol post, has anyone ever taken the time to watch BBC for more than a few minutes at a time? See, I have a lot of downtime from class, and it’s typically so hot out that sitting indoors doesn’t make me feel quite as guilty as sitting on my couch in Monterey watching endless reruns of Scrubs, so I get the opportunity to watch the news out here. Ok, let’s take this dilemma of mine step by step. I was sold on this apartment with a selling point of, “And, it has satellite tv with over 500 channels!”
“500 channels,” I thought to myself, “Jackpot!”
Had I been smart enough to read the fine print, I would have noticed the catch which says, “Two of which are English speaking channels.”
No problem, I told myself. I’m here to speak Arabic anyways and I need to learn to roll with the punches. Well, there’s only so much I can take of watching 513 channels in a language I can’t understand and I have yet to find a Scrubs DVD with Arabic subtitles, so I naturally come back to Channel 3 – BBC – or Channel 8 – English al Jazeera.
Now, I was under the impression there was a lot of news to report on, but apparently, only about five, sometimes as many as seven stories make the cut each day. Anyone out there who goes off about the fair, timely, and accurate reporting of BBC and al Jazeera has never watched more than 15 minutes of the actual channel. The stories will go from “The North Korean Nuclear Issue!!!” to “How One Former Crack Addict Changed Her Life Around.” I already have a pretty good idea of the life of a BBC reporter. Hit record, set on loop, let’s get some drinks.
What al Jazeera should have reported on is the fact there was a cloud in the sky today. It was high and rather skimpy in fluff, but it was there. The sun soon took care of the blemish…
2) If you absolutely have to do it, don’t dress conspicuously, don’t walk on any main streets, and avoid eye contact.
3) The lower the sun, the less visible the alcohol.
4) Try not to already be drunk, unless you run into someone who gives you trouble about the fact you’re buying alcohol in the Middle east, at which time play it off like you’re so drunk, you don’t actually realize you’re buying alcohol in the Middle East.
5) If someone continues to give you trouble, don’t offer them a beer as a token of peace.
6) If all else fails, say you’re on a mission from Allah and are using it for Martyr-esqe activities.
7) If you manage to make it with the alcohol intact, consume, and enjoy the fact you’re drinking a cheap bottle of rum in the middle of the most religious region in the world.
8) When you finish off the bottle, read Step 1.
Speaking of which, it seems appropriate to add in the alcohol post, has anyone ever taken the time to watch BBC for more than a few minutes at a time? See, I have a lot of downtime from class, and it’s typically so hot out that sitting indoors doesn’t make me feel quite as guilty as sitting on my couch in Monterey watching endless reruns of Scrubs, so I get the opportunity to watch the news out here. Ok, let’s take this dilemma of mine step by step. I was sold on this apartment with a selling point of, “And, it has satellite tv with over 500 channels!”
“500 channels,” I thought to myself, “Jackpot!”
Had I been smart enough to read the fine print, I would have noticed the catch which says, “Two of which are English speaking channels.”
No problem, I told myself. I’m here to speak Arabic anyways and I need to learn to roll with the punches. Well, there’s only so much I can take of watching 513 channels in a language I can’t understand and I have yet to find a Scrubs DVD with Arabic subtitles, so I naturally come back to Channel 3 – BBC – or Channel 8 – English al Jazeera.
Now, I was under the impression there was a lot of news to report on, but apparently, only about five, sometimes as many as seven stories make the cut each day. Anyone out there who goes off about the fair, timely, and accurate reporting of BBC and al Jazeera has never watched more than 15 minutes of the actual channel. The stories will go from “The North Korean Nuclear Issue!!!” to “How One Former Crack Addict Changed Her Life Around.” I already have a pretty good idea of the life of a BBC reporter. Hit record, set on loop, let’s get some drinks.
What al Jazeera should have reported on is the fact there was a cloud in the sky today. It was high and rather skimpy in fluff, but it was there. The sun soon took care of the blemish…
To hell with going green...
Since there really isn’t much to report on from Jordan, and there is really only so many times I can go into great detail about the blank stares and hardened creases of the eyes from the faces of cab drivers as they try to figure out which language I’m speaking because it’s obviously not Arabic, it’s time for me to sound off on some pressing issues of the day.
The massive outcry that we hear day in and day out about global warming has only reinforced one very basic idea: no matter what people say, they will continue to act in their own best self-interest. The world is dying? So what, I like having a good air-conditioning system. High oil prices will prove to be the single greatest lobby for defeating global warming because now, it is not about the circumstances thirty years from now. Now, it is becoming personal. Now, people can’t afford to buy that extra scoop of ice cream for their children. Now, people need a cheaper way to get to work, and that is affecting them in the here and the now.
Most people know how I feel about energy. I believe the best signal to send to OPEC is not to beg and plead for more production, but to show them that we simply don’t need their oil. This does not mean driving gaping wounds into landscapes of our country, but developing new, clean technologies to take the place of oil. I know, I know, same ole, same ole. But here’s the thing, how hard would it honestly be for America to transition to a greener world, break away from our reliance on foreign nations with vast reservoirs of oil – a relationship a psychiatrist would most likely call an unhealthy addiction that will eventually lead suicidal behaviors – and play the role that America has grown so accustomed to playing over the past century: that of a leader? How hard would it be to offer tax breaks and incentives to people who install solar panels or buy an electric car? How hard would it be for a small group of people to get together and say, we refuse to buy products from this producer because this producer has filthy centers of production? You want oil prices to drop, than let’s for a change try and listen to our horribly boring Intro to Economics professors and turn supply and demand upside down. The key to dropping oil prices is not to have the leader of the free world get on his knees and kiss the shoes of one of the most unjust kingdoms in the world, but to say, “Fine, prices are high, we’re going to try something else.” There is no reason, given the technologies and innovation of the day, that oil and gas cannot be as elastic as the decision to buy Coke or Pepsi when at the grocery store.
I certainly don’t want to give the impression that I am a morally-righteous human being. Despite being a believer in the existential threat of Global Warming, I don’t stay up at night, fretting over the impending doom of the planet. I do, however, worry how I’m going to afford the next tank of gas to drive home from Monterey to Walnut Creek to see my family. And for all intents and purposes, I certainly panic at the thought I might go to the store one day and find that Coke and Pepsi are priced the same and I have to make a conscious decision of what actually tastes better. The here and the now is all I am worried about. Amazingly enough, though, we are fortunate to live in a country where worrying about the here and the now allows us to utilize those concerns to focus on a better future for our children.
I suppose, as truly pathetic as this might sound, the ultimate problem comes down to the fact we either don’t want to concern ourselves with the real problems and just wish they will go away, or, and this certainly applies to me, I just don’t want to be part of “The Green Movement.” Hippies go green. Ralph Nader goes green. The woman yelling at you to recycle the can you just threw away goes green. Anything that makes people feel like they are being compared to Hippies, however good or bad that might be, is destined to fail. And alas, with rising corn prices, rising oil prices, an administration that is only concerned with getting more oil, and people sick of hearing about Global Warming, the Green Revolution is on life support (but certainly not from the American government). So now, with great humility and an even greater desire to see America continue to be the leader of the free world for another century, it’s time for a new revolution. For the sake of a better or more inspiring term, let’s just call it the New America Revolution, because America will only enjoy the fruits of the 21st century if it remakes itself, and that begins with new energy policies. It’s not going green; it’s not saving the world; and it’s certainly not about solving the sudden rise in hurricanes because honestly, who the hell cares about cleaner alternatives? The opportunity is ripe for America to look for cheaper alternatives to a problem that has been plaguing us for decades. Then, and only then, will Saudi Arabia and its lackeys suddenly feel the nostalgia of breaking free of the oil crisis of the 70s. Then, and only then, will we break free of oil.
The massive outcry that we hear day in and day out about global warming has only reinforced one very basic idea: no matter what people say, they will continue to act in their own best self-interest. The world is dying? So what, I like having a good air-conditioning system. High oil prices will prove to be the single greatest lobby for defeating global warming because now, it is not about the circumstances thirty years from now. Now, it is becoming personal. Now, people can’t afford to buy that extra scoop of ice cream for their children. Now, people need a cheaper way to get to work, and that is affecting them in the here and the now.
Most people know how I feel about energy. I believe the best signal to send to OPEC is not to beg and plead for more production, but to show them that we simply don’t need their oil. This does not mean driving gaping wounds into landscapes of our country, but developing new, clean technologies to take the place of oil. I know, I know, same ole, same ole. But here’s the thing, how hard would it honestly be for America to transition to a greener world, break away from our reliance on foreign nations with vast reservoirs of oil – a relationship a psychiatrist would most likely call an unhealthy addiction that will eventually lead suicidal behaviors – and play the role that America has grown so accustomed to playing over the past century: that of a leader? How hard would it be to offer tax breaks and incentives to people who install solar panels or buy an electric car? How hard would it be for a small group of people to get together and say, we refuse to buy products from this producer because this producer has filthy centers of production? You want oil prices to drop, than let’s for a change try and listen to our horribly boring Intro to Economics professors and turn supply and demand upside down. The key to dropping oil prices is not to have the leader of the free world get on his knees and kiss the shoes of one of the most unjust kingdoms in the world, but to say, “Fine, prices are high, we’re going to try something else.” There is no reason, given the technologies and innovation of the day, that oil and gas cannot be as elastic as the decision to buy Coke or Pepsi when at the grocery store.
I certainly don’t want to give the impression that I am a morally-righteous human being. Despite being a believer in the existential threat of Global Warming, I don’t stay up at night, fretting over the impending doom of the planet. I do, however, worry how I’m going to afford the next tank of gas to drive home from Monterey to Walnut Creek to see my family. And for all intents and purposes, I certainly panic at the thought I might go to the store one day and find that Coke and Pepsi are priced the same and I have to make a conscious decision of what actually tastes better. The here and the now is all I am worried about. Amazingly enough, though, we are fortunate to live in a country where worrying about the here and the now allows us to utilize those concerns to focus on a better future for our children.
I suppose, as truly pathetic as this might sound, the ultimate problem comes down to the fact we either don’t want to concern ourselves with the real problems and just wish they will go away, or, and this certainly applies to me, I just don’t want to be part of “The Green Movement.” Hippies go green. Ralph Nader goes green. The woman yelling at you to recycle the can you just threw away goes green. Anything that makes people feel like they are being compared to Hippies, however good or bad that might be, is destined to fail. And alas, with rising corn prices, rising oil prices, an administration that is only concerned with getting more oil, and people sick of hearing about Global Warming, the Green Revolution is on life support (but certainly not from the American government). So now, with great humility and an even greater desire to see America continue to be the leader of the free world for another century, it’s time for a new revolution. For the sake of a better or more inspiring term, let’s just call it the New America Revolution, because America will only enjoy the fruits of the 21st century if it remakes itself, and that begins with new energy policies. It’s not going green; it’s not saving the world; and it’s certainly not about solving the sudden rise in hurricanes because honestly, who the hell cares about cleaner alternatives? The opportunity is ripe for America to look for cheaper alternatives to a problem that has been plaguing us for decades. Then, and only then, will Saudi Arabia and its lackeys suddenly feel the nostalgia of breaking free of the oil crisis of the 70s. Then, and only then, will we break free of oil.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Knowledge Report...
Quick post, just to spread a little knowledge to the world. I just finished a book called "Ghost Wars," an excellent account of the history of Afghanistan from 1979 (the Soviet invasion) until Sep. 10, 2001 (Something big happened on Sep 11...). It is a remarkable book that should now be required reading in high school history classes. Also, below are some good atricles about the Middle East as well as oil issues...
http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11592833
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/opinion/22friedman.html?em&ex=1214539200&en=d872eed898a898f2&ei=5087%0A
http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/11/19/analysis_irans_secret_syrian_plan/7451/
http://www.metimes.com/Opinion/2007/11/22/analysis_a_mideast_nuclear_war/4411/
http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11592833
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/opinion/22friedman.html?em&ex=1214539200&en=d872eed898a898f2&ei=5087%0A
http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/11/19/analysis_irans_secret_syrian_plan/7451/
http://www.metimes.com/Opinion/2007/11/22/analysis_a_mideast_nuclear_war/4411/
Yeah, the Middle East is Warm...
So after a little over a week, I’ve finally come to a very important, albeit not very widely known fact, about the Middle East and Islam in general: the fact women completely cover themselves and men almost always wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts has nothing to do with religion. They are wisely protecting themselves from being eaten alive from the swarms of mosquitoes that would rival the locusts of the ten plagues. If, as I now know, they leave the house and make the very minor mistake of returning home after sunrise and by chance their skin is not fully covered, they would arise to the itchy burning and pot marked skin that could only be thought of as Chicken Pocks. I know this because as of this writing, I am typing one handed because my other hand, relentlessly scratching myself like Seal after a fresh line of Cocaine.
All jokes aside, though, the fact these people are fully clothed in this weather absolutely boggles the mind. I tried for the first few days to attempt to fit in by wearing jeans and real shoes, but abandoned that idea when I was so sweaty I could have probably wrung out my pants. So, I failed in my objective of integration and busted out the ole trusty shorts, to which my roommate very aptly pointed out, “Those scream American.” It’s like, yeah, cuz otherwise I wouldn’t be getting these strange looks as I walk down the street. But in all honesty, is integration that important? Should I come here and put on Middle Eastern clothes and try to blend in to the culture? Personally, I say no. Would a woman dressed in traditional Muslim clothing come to America and abandon her wardrobe to be more American? Or would a man who has worn jeans every day of his life suddenly throw on a pair of shorts because it’s what everyone else is doing? Hell no. And I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have no qualms about being an American, and the fact I look American and dress as an American is not insulting to me. I came here to learn about Middle Eastern culture, and in doing so became a de facto ambassador of the United States of which Jordanians can in turn learn about me and where I come from.
Fortunately, while it is apparently tacky to be doing what I’m doing by wearing shorts, Amman is about as Western as a Middle Eastern city gets. This is noticeable almost instantly by seeing the different ways the women dress. Some are completely decked out in black robes, revealing only their eyes through a sort of mesh lining, while others stroll in skirts and rather revealing shirts. The best are the ones who seem to be having an identity crisis, strutting around with the traditional Hijab while busting out very tight jeans and skin tight shirts. In the grand scheme of things, seems to defeat the purpose, but who I am to say anything walking around in shorts and a t-shirt. Perhaps I’ll throw on a yarmulke to see the reaction I get. The point of all this is that, to me, this strange clash of tradition and contemporary says Jordan is going through a very Western transition because to me, being “western” is not that everyone dresses stylishly, but that everyone can wear whatever they want – from full religious coverings to skimpy “is that even clothing?” – and coexist in harmony.
All jokes aside, though, the fact these people are fully clothed in this weather absolutely boggles the mind. I tried for the first few days to attempt to fit in by wearing jeans and real shoes, but abandoned that idea when I was so sweaty I could have probably wrung out my pants. So, I failed in my objective of integration and busted out the ole trusty shorts, to which my roommate very aptly pointed out, “Those scream American.” It’s like, yeah, cuz otherwise I wouldn’t be getting these strange looks as I walk down the street. But in all honesty, is integration that important? Should I come here and put on Middle Eastern clothes and try to blend in to the culture? Personally, I say no. Would a woman dressed in traditional Muslim clothing come to America and abandon her wardrobe to be more American? Or would a man who has worn jeans every day of his life suddenly throw on a pair of shorts because it’s what everyone else is doing? Hell no. And I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have no qualms about being an American, and the fact I look American and dress as an American is not insulting to me. I came here to learn about Middle Eastern culture, and in doing so became a de facto ambassador of the United States of which Jordanians can in turn learn about me and where I come from.
Fortunately, while it is apparently tacky to be doing what I’m doing by wearing shorts, Amman is about as Western as a Middle Eastern city gets. This is noticeable almost instantly by seeing the different ways the women dress. Some are completely decked out in black robes, revealing only their eyes through a sort of mesh lining, while others stroll in skirts and rather revealing shirts. The best are the ones who seem to be having an identity crisis, strutting around with the traditional Hijab while busting out very tight jeans and skin tight shirts. In the grand scheme of things, seems to defeat the purpose, but who I am to say anything walking around in shorts and a t-shirt. Perhaps I’ll throw on a yarmulke to see the reaction I get. The point of all this is that, to me, this strange clash of tradition and contemporary says Jordan is going through a very Western transition because to me, being “western” is not that everyone dresses stylishly, but that everyone can wear whatever they want – from full religious coverings to skimpy “is that even clothing?” – and coexist in harmony.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Little Recap
Here is my attempt to fill in the missing week from when I didn’t have any internet access. I promised not to make this a public diary, so to speak, so even though I know a lot of my loyal readers out there are just dying to know the day-to-day life of Dave, here’s a few highlights of a relatively uneventful week in Jordan. The four-leg-flight was a total of 30 hours of air and layover time. Extremely brutal and capped off with a mad dash in Washington Dulles to switch planes which spun me into a full-blown asthma attack giving me no choice but to bust out my emergency inhaler in front of an incredibly attractive flight attendant prompting her to look at me like a worried mother would look at her mentally-impaired child and then asked, “Um, can I maybe get you some juice?” Suffice it to say, the old, “Make her knees week with my inhaler” trick didn’t work and I’m still without her number. I actually ran into her a couple days later in my hotel and she gave me a little wave as though saying, “You’re not supposed to be real whilst off of the airplane.”
Leave it to my inhaler to continue the drama, though. Passing through Heathrow in London, I forgot to take it out of my pocket since I haven’t had to whip it out in several months and didn’t give it a second thought once my little-boy lungs thought it appropriate to let my body take in some Oxygen. The security guard gave me a quick once over with his metal detector, looked at the inhaler, and waved me through without a second thought. I didn’t even have to go back through the main metal detector! Fucking English. As much as I hate airport security – dare I say scarred since being tossed around like a dreidle on Chanukah by Israeli security a couple years ago – this was rather disconcerting for a kid studying terrorism.
I’ve long maintained that you can tell a lot about people by the way they drive. That was before I got to Jordan. Everyone’s crazy and the car has the right of way. The fact there are actually lines separating the roads seem to be a governmental act of futility. A car goes where there is space. The real trick, though, is crossing the street. I was looking for a good restaurant and asked a man at the hotel where I should go and the first thing he asked me was, “How are you at crossing streets?” This was obviously a ridiculous question. Who the Hell can’t cross a street? Well, as it were, me. I now understand why the Middle East is so religious. If you don’t pray to God, you’re dead. If you hesitate, you’re dead. The trick is to time the cars, and then go. Honestly, I felt like Sean Connery in The Rock when he had to roll through the fire bursts to get into Alcatraz. Truthfully, I had to cross numerous four lane highways, complete with thousands of cars who have no interest in slowing down, no cross walks, and the full expectation that you will cross the street if you want to get to the other side. It is absolutely nuts and makes Darwin seem like a genius in the middle of a highly religious atmosphere.
When people aren’t driving and sitting patiently as I attempt to converse with them, only one things comes to mind: the only thing a year’s worth of Arabic has prepared me for is to realize how unprepared I am when trying to speak to native speakers. Fortunately, everyone and their mother speaks English (except, of course, the guy who takes care of the property I’m staying in), which of course begs the question, why the hell am I learning Arabic when everyone and their mother can speak English?
As for Jordan itself, it is a very un-dynamic country stuck in the middle of a very dynamic neighborhood. Amman itself is the one capital in the Middle East with absolutely zero historical significance. Literally, 100 years ago it was a small town, the king decided it would become the capital, and today it’s the biggest city in Jordan. Another wise choice, Lettis...
Leave it to my inhaler to continue the drama, though. Passing through Heathrow in London, I forgot to take it out of my pocket since I haven’t had to whip it out in several months and didn’t give it a second thought once my little-boy lungs thought it appropriate to let my body take in some Oxygen. The security guard gave me a quick once over with his metal detector, looked at the inhaler, and waved me through without a second thought. I didn’t even have to go back through the main metal detector! Fucking English. As much as I hate airport security – dare I say scarred since being tossed around like a dreidle on Chanukah by Israeli security a couple years ago – this was rather disconcerting for a kid studying terrorism.
I’ve long maintained that you can tell a lot about people by the way they drive. That was before I got to Jordan. Everyone’s crazy and the car has the right of way. The fact there are actually lines separating the roads seem to be a governmental act of futility. A car goes where there is space. The real trick, though, is crossing the street. I was looking for a good restaurant and asked a man at the hotel where I should go and the first thing he asked me was, “How are you at crossing streets?” This was obviously a ridiculous question. Who the Hell can’t cross a street? Well, as it were, me. I now understand why the Middle East is so religious. If you don’t pray to God, you’re dead. If you hesitate, you’re dead. The trick is to time the cars, and then go. Honestly, I felt like Sean Connery in The Rock when he had to roll through the fire bursts to get into Alcatraz. Truthfully, I had to cross numerous four lane highways, complete with thousands of cars who have no interest in slowing down, no cross walks, and the full expectation that you will cross the street if you want to get to the other side. It is absolutely nuts and makes Darwin seem like a genius in the middle of a highly religious atmosphere.
When people aren’t driving and sitting patiently as I attempt to converse with them, only one things comes to mind: the only thing a year’s worth of Arabic has prepared me for is to realize how unprepared I am when trying to speak to native speakers. Fortunately, everyone and their mother speaks English (except, of course, the guy who takes care of the property I’m staying in), which of course begs the question, why the hell am I learning Arabic when everyone and their mother can speak English?
As for Jordan itself, it is a very un-dynamic country stuck in the middle of a very dynamic neighborhood. Amman itself is the one capital in the Middle East with absolutely zero historical significance. Literally, 100 years ago it was a small town, the king decided it would become the capital, and today it’s the biggest city in Jordan. Another wise choice, Lettis...
Monday, June 23, 2008
And I'm Back...
There is a minor glitch in getting on the internet, so while there is a lot I have to say, I'll just post what is on my mind at the moment and fill in the rest tomorrow. Here is the issue at hand. Why any person would willingly choose to hike over 10 kilometers on what is in no way flat, paved road, compelte with a balls out ascent up a mountain to see a monastery, all in 100 degree heat, while feeling multiple blisters form is beyond me. Why anyone would do this on only two pieces of Pita bread and brand new sandals is even more bizarre. But alas, such is the wisdom of Lettis men in a nutshell. While the city of Petra (complete with the Indiana Jones treasury-gate and the even larger monastery) is miles upon miles of tombs and staircases carved into mountains and is no doubt the treasure of Jordan, it is hard not to leave depressed. Scores of young boys and girls with bad teeth go to great lengths to seel anything they can get their hands on, including shoe-boxes full of rocks they very kindly handpicked off the ground. With a little bit of initiative and some cunning fundraising, it would appear to be very simple to set up some schools for these kids, thus making Petra even more spectacular while giving hundreds of Middle Eastern children a livelihood and a sense of dreams that most children should have (or at the very least offering them the education needed to become fully aware, pissed off, and the future of Middle Eastern terrorism).
Regardless, you have to love the Middle East. It is the only place in the world where simultaneously getting kicked in the head bu a donkey whilst getting trampeled by a train of camels becomes a legitimate threat to your well-being. Speaking of which, an editorial in the Jordan Times, whic gives a relatively basic assault on American foreign policy towards terrorism (albeit largely accurate) asks a fairly simple question: Why are Americans so afraid of Arabs? Is it becasue of 9/11? Can you imagine if we took the trillion dollars we're shelling out to battle terrorism - which is a tactic and for all intents and purposes never can be defeated - and used it for something else? Overhaul healthcare, perhaps? Invest in new energy, perhaps, thus weening us from foreign oil and making the Middle East a moot point. How about putting a man on Mars and actually sparking the intrigue of "what we can achieve when we put our minds to it" that makes America so unique? The fact this debate has been largely political theater and never taken seriously is slightly disconcerting and actually plays directly into the hands of al Qaeda who claims the desire to drag the US into a long, neverending war in the Middle East while draining its resources as a main objective.
Quote of the Day: "The United States was founded on a set of beliefs and not, as were other nations, on a common ethnicity, language, or religion."
Regardless, you have to love the Middle East. It is the only place in the world where simultaneously getting kicked in the head bu a donkey whilst getting trampeled by a train of camels becomes a legitimate threat to your well-being. Speaking of which, an editorial in the Jordan Times, whic gives a relatively basic assault on American foreign policy towards terrorism (albeit largely accurate) asks a fairly simple question: Why are Americans so afraid of Arabs? Is it becasue of 9/11? Can you imagine if we took the trillion dollars we're shelling out to battle terrorism - which is a tactic and for all intents and purposes never can be defeated - and used it for something else? Overhaul healthcare, perhaps? Invest in new energy, perhaps, thus weening us from foreign oil and making the Middle East a moot point. How about putting a man on Mars and actually sparking the intrigue of "what we can achieve when we put our minds to it" that makes America so unique? The fact this debate has been largely political theater and never taken seriously is slightly disconcerting and actually plays directly into the hands of al Qaeda who claims the desire to drag the US into a long, neverending war in the Middle East while draining its resources as a main objective.
Quote of the Day: "The United States was founded on a set of beliefs and not, as were other nations, on a common ethnicity, language, or religion."
Friday, June 13, 2008
Yes, I Also Ask Why...
Why the Middle East? Why Arabic and terrorism studies and international affairs. In a word: Ummmmmm... Who knows? I made a snap decision to get my masters degree and for some reason am drawn to the events of the Middle East. The history, war, oil, people, culture, food. Something about it seems right. Something about it makes it seem like the middle of the world. If reconciliation throughout the world is to occur, I am certain it will begin in the Middle East. I don't mean peace in Iraq. I don't mean Israel and Palestine. I mean all of it. I mean when the world no longer looks at the region as though it owes us something. I mean when everyone can look at the region and understand that all Abrahamic religions started in the same place with the same people and very similar beliefs.
I certainly am not going to sit here and pretend I have the answers and won't sell myself as someone who knows everything (or even a lot) about the culture of the Middle East. However, I will say that I am studying the Middle East and will be spending at least the next three months living amongst the people who are fortunately or unfortunately in the middle of many of the world's controversies. While I won't fool myself into thinking that a lot of people will read this blog, I do not intend on writing in Against Goliath merely to explain my experiences. I strongly feel that if more Americans understood the "War on Terrorism" and the culture of the Middle East, a very different sentiment would exist on the future of this so-called war. For example, it is simply inexcusable that John McCain has mistaken Shiite and Sunni. Barack Obama has called for exits from Iraq that are very questionable. Our leaders and our citizens absolutely must know more about the situation we're in and stop being newspaper observers. Considering America's involvement in the Middle East along with the importance of oil are among the foremost issues in American politics, people need to be more educated in the events of this extremely volatile region.
My goal is to bring a little bit of knowledge to anyone who does me the honor of reading my opinions. I promise not to preach or talk about my very mundane daily experiences. Please spread the word to different people. The more people who know a few more facts about the Middle East will make the world a better place, I guarantee it.
I certainly am not going to sit here and pretend I have the answers and won't sell myself as someone who knows everything (or even a lot) about the culture of the Middle East. However, I will say that I am studying the Middle East and will be spending at least the next three months living amongst the people who are fortunately or unfortunately in the middle of many of the world's controversies. While I won't fool myself into thinking that a lot of people will read this blog, I do not intend on writing in Against Goliath merely to explain my experiences. I strongly feel that if more Americans understood the "War on Terrorism" and the culture of the Middle East, a very different sentiment would exist on the future of this so-called war. For example, it is simply inexcusable that John McCain has mistaken Shiite and Sunni. Barack Obama has called for exits from Iraq that are very questionable. Our leaders and our citizens absolutely must know more about the situation we're in and stop being newspaper observers. Considering America's involvement in the Middle East along with the importance of oil are among the foremost issues in American politics, people need to be more educated in the events of this extremely volatile region.
My goal is to bring a little bit of knowledge to anyone who does me the honor of reading my opinions. I promise not to preach or talk about my very mundane daily experiences. Please spread the word to different people. The more people who know a few more facts about the Middle East will make the world a better place, I guarantee it.
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