Comments on: Jordan, Where The Grass Is Not So Green http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/ A Jordanian Blog Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:01:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories : Fair or Unfair http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86999 Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories : Fair or Unfair Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:42:15 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86999 [...] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. [...] […] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. […]

]]> By: One Day At a Time » Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86203 One Day At a Time » Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:40:50 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86203 [...] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. [...] […] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. […]

]]> By: Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories | It’s All So Turkish http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86193 Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories | It’s All So Turkish Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:24:41 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86193 [...] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. [...] […] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. […]

]]> By: Bachelor » Blog Archive » Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86188 Bachelor » Blog Archive » Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:20:36 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-86188 [...] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. [...] […] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. […]

]]> By: Jordanian Blogosphere | Nine Crimes & Other September Stories : 7iber Dot Com http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85893 Jordanian Blogosphere | Nine Crimes & Other September Stories : 7iber Dot Com Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:09:33 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85893 [...] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. [...] […] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. […]

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85874 Global Voices Online » Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:39:28 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85874 [...] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. [...] […] The grass may not be so green here but Naseem discusses what it means to be part of an inevitably evolving Jordan while the Arab Environment Blog celebrates its first year. […]

]]> By: Batir Wardam http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85264 Batir Wardam Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:14:44 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85264 Maybe this issue does not need a lot of complex analysis. I have not lived outside Jordan for more than one month, but at the end I always enjoy the feeling of sleeping on my pillow at home. If you are satisfied inside, do not put a lot of energy to explain yourself. Maybe this issue does not need a lot of complex analysis. I have not lived outside Jordan for more than one month, but at the end I always enjoy the feeling of sleeping on my pillow at home. If you are satisfied inside, do not put a lot of energy to explain yourself.

]]> By: MommaBean http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85262 MommaBean Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:57:33 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85262 I just wanted to commend you for the introspection it takes to really think about what draws you back home. And, while I think it's alwasys extremely easy to write off someone's thoughts as typical of an age group, the reality is that some of us are simply idealogically hopeful. I have a strong belief that change happens one person at a time (and I assure you I left 20 behind long ago). What's more exciting than being in a place where you can not only make the change, but see it as well? I'm not sure boring is the word I'd use for the other living options in the world, but exciting is definitely a word I'd use for Amman... I just wanted to commend you for the introspection it takes to really think about what draws you back home. And, while I think it’s alwasys extremely easy to write off someone’s thoughts as typical of an age group, the reality is that some of us are simply idealogically hopeful. I have a strong belief that change happens one person at a time (and I assure you I left 20 behind long ago). What’s more exciting than being in a place where you can not only make the change, but see it as well? I’m not sure boring is the word I’d use for the other living options in the world, but exciting is definitely a word I’d use for Amman…

]]> By: hatem abunimeh http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85202 hatem abunimeh Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:53:06 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85202 As long as you are satisfied with your current status, nothing else matters. As long as you are satisfied with your current status, nothing else matters.

]]> By: bambam http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85134 bambam Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:24:27 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85134 THANK YOU MARKUS for not making me the only part pooper here :D This post comes off as a typical ideological 20 something, I was there before but I think now I know better. The problem with this outlook is that you are standing so far out to see the bigger picture that you end up standing alone. meaning; as markus pointed out the "Arabic" & especially the "jordanian" society is so fragmented that there is so little to base any form of movement for change from. Plus even if you try to implement social change in any manner the people who will benefit from that are xenophobic and change resistant. It does get frustrating knowing that you want to do something, and you try to do something but in the end you find it is hopeless to do anything (and if you have any ideas for things to be done then please do share). speaking about change, there are a lot of changes going on in this region & in jordan especially, and personally i believe that those changes and the direction they are heading in will be the main reason for me to start looking for a way out again ! THANK YOU MARKUS for not making me the only part pooper here :D
This post comes off as a typical ideological 20 something, I was there before but I think now I know better.
The problem with this outlook is that you are standing so far out to see the bigger picture that you end up standing alone. meaning; as markus pointed out the “Arabic” & especially the “jordanian” society is so fragmented that there is so little to base any form of movement for change from. Plus even if you try to implement social change in any manner the people who will benefit from that are xenophobic and change resistant.

It does get frustrating knowing that you want to do something, and you try to do something but in the end you find it is hopeless to do anything (and if you have any ideas for things to be done then please do share).

speaking about change, there are a lot of changes going on in this region & in jordan especially, and personally i believe that those changes and the direction they are heading in will be the main reason for me to start looking for a way out again !

]]> By: Khalidah http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85125 Khalidah Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:09:17 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85125 Thank you for this post Nas ... that's exactly how I feel when people ask me why I came back to Amman and give me the "you are nuts" look for leaving Dubai and choosing Amman over it ... I think this feeling has been living inside me but I never blurted out in so many words but as Deemco said: there is no place like home even if this home was a tent in the desert .. Bless you :) Thank you for this post Nas … that’s exactly how I feel when people ask me why I came back to Amman and give me the “you are nuts” look for leaving Dubai and choosing Amman over it …

I think this feeling has been living inside me but I never blurted out in so many words but as Deemco said: there is no place like home even if this home was a tent in the desert ..

Bless you :)

]]> By: Markus http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85124 Markus Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:55:02 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85124 Excellent subject Nas......this is half the reason I left the US and moved back. The other half is because I strongly disagree with what is being cooked up in the western hemisphere and I feel like I want to stand on the right( just) side of the equation. I would like to ask you and the other commentors, don't you feel like you are wasting your time sometimes, do you see a "business case" or a "political or social case" for the effort you are pouring in? the other question is, do you think that this is an issue of people coming back to aid a "society evolving" as Dave put it, or is it actually a society being under pressure to conform to the master, do you find yourself sometimes contributing to the demise of this society by un-intentionally aiding those who are trying to whip it into the queue? An example of this is the laborer rights in the gulf states, its a Nobel cause, and the laborers right need to be protected, but the problem is that the main advocates are people with hidden agendas, their concern is the economic boom that is materializing in that part of the world, the rights of the laborers are an afterthought to them. I personally feel that I was contributing more to this society when I was away, when you are away, you identify more with Arabs, of different affiliations and ideologies, you stick together, you form a camp, in the Arab world, its tragic, everyone is at odds with everyone else, there is no consensus on any issue wether its political, social economic or even tribal. Its beyond repair in my opinion, I think it needs to be left to a future generation for things to dip out of its nose-dive. The thing i dislike about todays "Arab situation" is its complete non-existence, what the hell is an Arab? Its tragic really, how everyone is so ultra-national today, in the name of national identity people are super fascist in the Arab world, and the funny part is not a single "Arab country" is self sufficient in any imaginable matrix, the borders drawn by Mrs. Sykes and Pico are a joke. These were put there for a reason, and the fruits are being picked today, non-viable city states, from coast to coast, even the oil rich states are non-viable because of their demographic woes for example. So I feel that the efforts will be in vain, they should aim much higher, the bar is not even visible from down here, and if you dare to look up you might see a security persons boot closing down on you. Excellent subject Nas……this is half the reason I left the US and moved back. The other half is because I strongly disagree with what is being cooked up in the western hemisphere and I feel like I want to stand on the right( just) side of the equation.
I would like to ask you and the other commentors, don’t you feel like you are wasting your time sometimes, do you see a “business case” or a “political or social case” for the effort you are pouring in? the other question is, do you think that this is an issue of people coming back to aid a “society evolving” as Dave put it, or is it actually a society being under pressure to conform to the master, do you find yourself sometimes contributing to the demise of this society by un-intentionally aiding those who are trying to whip it into the queue? An example of this is the laborer rights in the gulf states, its a Nobel cause, and the laborers right need to be protected, but the problem is that the main advocates are people with hidden agendas, their concern is the economic boom that is materializing in that part of the world, the rights of the laborers are an afterthought to them. I personally feel that I was contributing more to this society when I was away, when you are away, you identify more with Arabs, of different affiliations and ideologies, you stick together, you form a camp, in the Arab world, its tragic, everyone is at odds with everyone else, there is no consensus on any issue wether its political, social economic or even tribal. Its beyond repair in my opinion, I think it needs to be left to a future generation for things to dip out of its nose-dive. The thing i dislike about todays “Arab situation” is its complete non-existence, what the hell is an Arab? Its tragic really, how everyone is so ultra-national today, in the name of national identity people are super fascist in the Arab world, and the funny part is not a single “Arab country” is self sufficient in any imaginable matrix, the borders drawn by Mrs. Sykes and Pico are a joke. These were put there for a reason, and the fruits are being picked today, non-viable city states, from coast to coast, even the oil rich states are non-viable because of their demographic woes for example. So I feel that the efforts will be in vain, they should aim much higher, the bar is not even visible from down here, and if you dare to look up you might see a security persons boot closing down on you.

]]> By: Khalid Jarrrar http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85073 Khalid Jarrrar Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:36:23 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85073 I loved this post very much. in the matter of fact i like you a lot more right now:D dinner tomorrow night, i choose the place and i pick the bill, what do you think?:) I loved this post very much.
in the matter of fact i like you a lot more right now:D

dinner tomorrow night, i choose the place and i pick the bill, what do you think?:)

]]> By: Deemco http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85040 Deemco Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:19:30 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85040 My family and I also have the canadian citizenship, and we choose to live in Amman. We've lived in canada and in the states, but Amman is our home. It doesn't feel the same when you're living on strangers' land. There's no place like home. My family and I also have the canadian citizenship, and we choose to live in Amman. We’ve lived in canada and in the states, but Amman is our home. It doesn’t feel the same when you’re living on strangers’ land. There’s no place like home.

]]> By: Dave http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85036 Dave Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:38:50 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85036 I get asked the same question all the time, but I don't think I've ever answered back with "It's boring everywhere else." I've been to a lot of non-boring places where I wouldn't mind living. But as you said, it's fun to contribute positively to an evolving society. I get asked the same question all the time, but I don’t think I’ve ever answered back with “It’s boring everywhere else.” I’ve been to a lot of non-boring places where I wouldn’t mind living. But as you said, it’s fun to contribute positively to an evolving society.

]]> By: kinzi http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85013 kinzi Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:53:47 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/09/05/jordan-where-the-grass-is-not-so-green/#comment-85013 Bingo, Bravo, very well said!! It's exactly what I love about being here, a chance to be on the cutting edge of positive change. I hope this could be a 7iber contribution in some form. :) Bingo, Bravo, very well said!! It’s exactly what I love about being here, a chance to be on the cutting edge of positive change.

I hope this could be a 7iber contribution in some form. :)

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