First, let me introduce myself. I am a high school teacher in Vermont, USA. I am currently taking a class called “Gender in the Middle East,” and our professor has asked us to read and comment on blogs from the Middle East.

Despite the fact that the United States was one of the first countries hit by the AIDS crisis over 25 years ago, and while our rate of new HIV infections is lower than many countries, the problem of blame and denial still goes on. Many still see the disease as a “gay” disease or one limited to the “immoral” like gay men, prostitutes, and IV drugs users. In addition, the fatest growing new HIV infections are among African American women, so the average bland white guy or even gal can’t bring themselves to care all that much. And the conservatives in this country try to block sex education and promote “abstinence only” campaigns that have an incredible failure rate (see Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s, the Republican VP candidate, daughter. It is great, as you note, that the issue is getting some play in Jordan, but for everyone, dealing with and eliminating this disease, particularly among women, is still an uphill battle.

Because rape in particular is so “‘emasculating” (many people view it as something “natural” in context of women – or if not “natural,” then at least something that makes sense wrt femininity) to men, it just doesn’t get talked about.

A man cannot admit he was ever raped – not as a child, not otherwise. It’s like he ceases to be a man if the subject is broached. Silence covers everything, except that silence is getting increasingly dangerous and deadly.

I think if two dudes want to get it on, they’ll get it on, whether they call themselves gay or straight or otherwise. If they’re both adults, it should be their decision – and prohibiting it, even in a conservative society, is pointless and counter-productive. People do what they need to do, always have.

But personal responsibility and protection has to be the staple of every relationship. It’s horrifying, when you can’t trust someone you’re with because you don’t know what they’re really up to.

I think the reality is different from the idea.

Your point about shock-tactics is well taken. Maybe the whole purpose of this was scaring those who would not otherwise be careful enough to use safety measures or ask for testing prior to marriage.

I think it’s safe to say that this statistic, while informative, is not exactly useful when it comes to this topic.

Why not, Hamzeh?

It’s like the department of state in the US putting up posters in Dearborn Michigan asking people “Are you a member of a terrorist cell? If you are, then please come to this seminar to learn about why terrorism is bad.”

LOL… I can just picture that.

But I think in the case of what’s happening in Jordan (and I don’t know if it will be effective in the long-run, though it might be a useful first step) is that shock-tactics are being used to stir people out of polite complacency. I understand why this complacency exists, like I said, I don’t even think it’s unique to Jordan.

Ibrahim, how much do you know about the Bush Administration’s 8 years worth of abstinence-only education funding in the States? The program was a dismal failure. By some estimates, as many as 90% of teenagers who pledge to stay virgins until they’re married do not.

I think it’s safe to say that this statistic, while informative, is not exactly useful when it comes to this topic.

The problem with the MoH campaign is not that “it talks about sex.” It’s that it talks about it in a presumptuous way. It’s like the department of state in the US putting up posters in Dearborn Michigan asking people “Are you a member of a terrorist cell? If you are, then please come to this seminar to learn about why terrorism is bad.”

It’s not the idea, but the implementation that was completely screwed up. Read my first comment.

*hanging my head in shame*

*getting on soapbox*

Ibrahim, how much do you know about the Bush Administration’s 8 years worth of abstinence-only education funding in the States? The program was a dismal failure. By some estimates, as many as 90% of teenagers who pledge to stay virgins until they’re married do not.

People stray from proscribed interpretations of religious texts all the time. We accept that as reality when we look world religions prohibiting things like swearing, slander, over-indulgence, etc. – and then look at the reality of daily life.

For some reason, sex is the issue that gets singled out. People can be “imperfect” (as per religious texts) in most other issues, but Lord forbid anyone is honest about the “imperfections” surrounding the sex lives of homo sapiens.

I don’t know why the shift in priorities happens here. I guess powerful shaming mechanisms are at work – powerful enough to where saving people’s lives takes a backseat.

The reality is – even if you’ve never strayed outside the confines of your beliefs, it’s possible that your husband or wife has. It’s what the Pope ignores when he goes on his spiel about condoms – women in many African countries have sex with their cheating husbands, and then women are slowly murdered by disease, whereas a condom would have saved their lives. But what’s some poor woman’s life when we have a veneer of gentility to uphold?

Another thing that happens is rape. Rape in the context of marriage, and beyond. It can happen to anyone – women, men, kids. Most of us are raped by someone we know. Most rapists don’t bother putting on condoms either, so if they have HIV, there’s a risk for the victims getting it too. If you’ve been a victim – you need to get tested.

You have to fight a battle on two fronts in regard to that – you have to fight both sexual violence and HIV. One does not preclude the other, these are not mutually exclusive issues.

Ibrahim, I also find it interesting that you say society ought to be “tracing non-Jordanian prostitutes…” I guess native Jordanian prostitutes have magical reproductive organs that shield them from disease? AIDS has had a presence in this country for years – neither foreigner nor local is safe. This disease is a part of the native landscape, as it is in every country by now.

Opening up the conversation about AIDS is sure to bring out reactions – anger, discomfort, fear. Jordan is not unique in this. Muslim countries are not unique. The thing is, if you’re going to talk about AIDS, you have to be blunt. In the American south, AIDS spread silently, because social customs prevented people from talking about it. End results? More lives needlessly lost.

People cough nervously when I tell them I’ve been tested. It’s like an admission of horrible depravity, even among secular people. It’s an issue of prejudice as much as anything else – we’re used to viewing the HIV virus as something that happens to “those” people, but certainly not people we know and care for.

But that’s not how it really works. Which is why I think the discomfort is actually a good thing. Discomfort leads you to question yourself and those around you. Until you start doing that, a plague will continue to quietly infect more and more people.

Back to topic …This STD campaign like the “kaffa” car accidents campaign is not a solution it basically just says the government finally acknowledges we have a problem.

Farah makes a great point about a compulsory sex ed class, how about a driver’s ed class while we’re at it. Not to be taught by idiot professors.

Just yesterday on Hayat FM, there was an English program discussing this matter. The gracious and smart hostess of the program asked WHY it was not mandatory for couples wanting to marry to be tested for AIDS. The good Dr. on the line told her that it is not mandatory because it is an issue that carries a stigma. Ya salam. So does syphillis, and how might that be transmitted? The Dr. advised anyone wanting to be tested to do so anonymously, therefore “not having to involve the other partner and attract attention.” It was is if he was promoting silence. Someone tests positive and can go ahead and marry? And would it be the man who has had relations outside of marriage, which, am I right people, is kind of expected? Accepted? Brushed under the rug? Please let me be wrong.

Allah help us.

we dont live in the West, the social community is pretty different..

we should tackle issues in a different way
“most” of the people who actually have intercourse, are 17+ and heard all about AIDS.
so yea, the posters does more damage then help from my view rrly. i cant see how all of you finding them helpful, they are a bad joke. if you mean the part that the government atlast started handling sex, i cant agree more with you, but this is a very ineffective way.

what Jordan needs, is biology course in early school grade.. no need to go printing stuff all around..(i dont know if they rrly have it or not, but it would be enough)..

I have seen the posters in town with the arm shooting up. At first I had no idea what they were about. It took me a few tries to figure out that the Arabic there meant AIDS. Since they had transliterated the English abbreviation instead of using Arabic words to inform people of their meaning, I thought that might make others more confused instead of informed.

Perhaps we are dealing with a marketing campaign that has not had the benefit of doing some market research before going thru. I agree that the Jordanian public should be advised of dangerous issues, but the way they have gone about it is perhaps not the most effective.

I don’t think it is smart to take Western methods and campaigns and just translate them to the Jordanian public. There has to be a sense of our religious and cultural beliefs taken into consideration in order for a successful campaign to be introduced.

And Nas, I am sorry to say that your accusation towards the conservatives in the Islamic community just rubs me the wrong way. Those who are straying from their religion are to blame, not the conservatives or the religion itself. Muslims need to get back to their religion and read more from original texts. Knowledge is a tenet in Islam but so many are completely illiterate in their Deen.

The government does need to do more to address AIDS in this country. Just testing foreigners for HIV once a year isn’t going to solve this issue. We need to start testing the natives as well. It doesn’t just take a foreigner to introduce the problem to the country, it is all of those ‘good’ Muslim sons and daughters who are contributing.

Hamzeh N hit the nail on the head regarding the way this campaign should have been executed. If ever they decide to revise the survey questions set, especially those very first ones, wording, strategies, ways to reach a wider body of students without being rejected from the start, they should consult him. really.

Besides age, you have the social/plitical views. The conservatives, the liberals, and people who just want to live in peace. Jordan is a small country, and being new to globalization makes change more difficult than it already is.

It will take time, but it eventually must happen. While I am in agreement with sex education and similar issues related to health, I hope it does not escalate into bigger things such as the issues Shmal addressed. Just because Jordan is opening up does not mean that limits should be off as well.

Our society is a conservative society. To satisfy both those who are conservative, and those who want to spread sexual education, the campaign organizers could have simply made sure that the campaign materials were visible to everyone, but the wording was such that it did not carry such presumptuous undertones.

The MoH could have simply coordinated with the faculty at all schools to hold mandatory sex education classes the purpose of which was solely to educate today’s youth about tomorrow’s choices.

There are many statistics out there about STD transfer among married couples. The sessions and the campaign itself can all be spun around the concept of sexual relations that are constrained within marriage, while still reaching out to singles.

BUT, we in Jordan unfortunately are plagued with fools, and their obsession with the topic of sex out of wedlock (either in favor or in opposition) leads to this stupid target fixation that is clearly demonstrated in this campaign.

“And the argument that he has influence is true to the extent that they share his values and beliefs.” I don’t get it. Why would you expect them to share his values and beliefs? They’re his adult students, not his children!

Or maybe you meant his students are only capable of being influenced by him if they share his values and beliefs, to that I disagree. When I say influenced I don’t mean to be convinced of a specific idea….you can be influenced to just think, to consider something you didn’t before, to analyze why something is “right” or “wrong”, to take interest in an issue, or to take some kind of action. In that sense I’ve been influenced by many college professors whose “values and beliefs” I didn’t share.

Anyway my point really is perhaps a practical exchange of ideas can come out of this professor who is employed by a large university community and teaches many students (I’m assuming) being directly presented with an articulate counter point of view from a young jordanian-such as this post.

Also, for those who are rubbing the fact that those of us who are in the “Muslim Bubble” know nothing about the “outside world”, I guess you’re also living in your bubble as well; although many of our youth have sex outside marriage, many more don’t!!!

So, here is when the message these advertisement campaigns are trying to promote present a problem. Implicitly, they say “well, if you insist on having sex, then do x y and z to protect yourself”.

Sexual education is tremendously importantly. So is protection from AIDS. Matter of fact, the MoH needs to pass a law that forces newly weds to run blood tests before writing their books.

All Ibrahim is trying to say is that in order for us to control the AIDS pandemic, we must come up with solutions that are culture-sensitive and context-specific.

We can definitely make use of creativity and ingenuity once in a while!!!!!

Also, I’m sick of the attitude of many around here, looking down upon members of our society, like the Professor, who’s opinions might not jive with ours (our excellencies, cuz u knowww.. we’re educated, we have facebook ‘n all!)

يعني يا أبراهيم بكفيش المخابرات بتراقب وتجسس على الشعب، وبدك الشعب يتجسس ويراقب نفسه الى متى سنترك عقلية التجسس ونترك الناس لوحدها؟

Not to be a nit-picker, but tattoos are another method in which AIDS can be communicated. So maybe they were just cutting budget costs by hitting two birds (causes) with one stone (poster).

First, I find it unsettling that a professor from Yarmouk; a university that is allegedly in the upper echelon of higher education in Jordan, is publicly making these ignorant statements.

Second, with all due respect to the authors optimism, I find the current Ministerial “AIDS Awareness” campaign to be an inadvertent attack against homosexuality whereby they have equated being gay with having AIDS, and in doing so ignored the natural existence of a phenomenon that deserves to be recognized rather than “eradicated”. Good public policy means engaging your public, not alienating it.

In the same way that these entities have acknowledged that AIDS is a threat; they should also acknowledge that being ignorant of naturally occuring phenomena is equally so.