Comments on: What I love about Amman. And what I love less. http://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/ Another Casualty to the Seduction Of Art Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Yazan Al - Zo'bihttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18662 Yazan Al - Zo'bi Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:15:44 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18662 my anti-spam world was : YA3! which is far away from describing this truth full post.... I have lived in Amman,for 14 years,and having a mixed ethnic background(Jordanian,Moroccan,Circasian ) gave me immunity from joining the mainstream of Amman, I can fully say that I have witnessed the good and the ugly, but unfortunately the ugliness revolves around the things you just mentioned...things that are overly increasing over the years... If you go to a mall (shall we start with mecca mall?).. you can see all the society levels there... and I must say that I always noticed how people are judgmental,shallow,and overly-obsessed with just the things that can only bring fake happiness .... I have to admit that I read your PULP mag interview ,and I was impresses to hear(more like read) about a person who thinks the people in Amman have a too conservative way of thinking! so is it wrong to wear shorts when you go out ? is it wrong to do photography in a crowded place? will it ever be possible,for the spoiled kids of amman (most of them are) to stop having shitty(sorry) hair cuts? is it wrong for your family (including your mum and sister) to go swimming,without haveing the eyes on them ?I guess that's all I have to say and thank you Roba for your honesty. my anti-spam world was : YA3!
which is far away from describing this truth full post….
I have lived in Amman,for 14 years,and having a mixed ethnic background(Jordanian,Moroccan,Circasian ) gave me immunity from joining the mainstream of Amman,
I can fully say that I have witnessed the good and the ugly,
but unfortunately the ugliness revolves around the things you just mentioned…things that are overly increasing over the years…
If you go to a mall (shall we start with mecca mall?)..
you can see all the society levels there…
and I must say that I always noticed how people are judgmental,shallow,and overly-obsessed with just the things that can only bring fake happiness ….
I have to admit that I read your PULP mag interview ,and I was impresses to hear(more like read) about a person who thinks the people in Amman have a too conservative way of thinking!
so is it wrong to wear shorts when you go out ?
is it wrong to do photography in a crowded place?
will it ever be possible,for the spoiled kids of amman (most of them are) to stop having shitty(sorry) hair cuts?
is it wrong for your family (including your mum and sister) to go swimming,without haveing the eyes on them ?

I guess that’s all I have to say
and thank you Roba for your honesty.

]]> By: Faris Darwazehhttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18169 Faris Darwazeh Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:37:52 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18169 Amman, Love It or Leave IT Amman, Love It or Leave IT

]]> By: Zreighttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18140 Zreig Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:09:04 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18140 Roba you seem very right in what u wrote. I have a question then, i always asked myself. Do you belong to amman/Jordan?Belonging to a country (my own point of view) is 50% to the land and its earth. and 50% to the people (sha3b). I would also give 3-5 % to the leader in case I chose him/her, but apparently this isnt the case here. So what is it in your case, do you belong to the people whom you "love less"? I think its not easy.. Roba you seem very right in what u wrote.
I have a question then, i always asked myself.
Do you belong to amman/Jordan?

Belonging to a country (my own point of view) is 50% to the land and its earth. and 50% to the people (sha3b). I would also give 3-5 % to the leader in case I chose him/her, but apparently this isnt the case here.

So what is it in your case, do you belong to the people whom you “love less”? I think its not easy..

]]> By: طفيلي( ahmad)http://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18139 طفيلي( ahmad) Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:27 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18139 I always believe Jordan would not be Jordan like now with the major contributions of our brothers from Jordanian-Palestinian. In the same time Jordan would not safe place without Jordanians from tribes who always support and sacrifice for our royal family.I am really proud of being jordanian because of this mixture of these people.I do not need to explain again that i do not mean any bad things when i talked the Palestinians. We owe them for being strong nation and we always feel sorry for them. But i assure you i sometime use the same arguments with my relatives who are in love with Sadam regime. I say to them if you believe in other ideology which might harm my country ,this country does not need you here. I always believe Jordan would not be Jordan like now with the major contributions of our brothers from Jordanian-Palestinian. In the same time Jordan would not safe place without Jordanians from tribes who always support and sacrifice for our royal family.I am really proud of being jordanian because of this mixture of these people.

I do not need to explain again that i do not mean any bad things when i talked the Palestinians. We owe them for being strong nation and we always feel sorry for them. But i assure you i sometime use the same arguments with my relatives who are in love with Sadam regime. I say to them if you believe in other ideology which might harm my country ,this country does not need you here.

]]> By: M.AZhttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18138 M.AZ Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:35:57 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18138 I ran away once saying i wanna study in Europe, I think i knew then that its not about getting a master, its rather about running away from the Jordanian.Ya they are not civilized, I think the first rule of civilization is about considering the others and showing them that u can SEE them. I cud never see this in the jordanians, not in driving cars, not in standing in a raw not in a "Kostenlos" smile.I was fighting with my friend that day (whom i convinced to follow me out) about if the Jordanians are stupid, or if they act stupid. I was for the first option. She convinced me in the end that im wrong. Jordanians are not stupid, they simply act stupid.I do agree with you Roba in almost every word, but I still give them excuses. even though i myself dont believe these excuses. I think its just the love i have for this country.Why are Jordanians like this? I do think that religion plays the highest roll in this part. its these 5 prayers that they perform without knowing why and to how. and this month they fast without knowing how and why ()or maybe they know how to ´fast,,,by FIGHTING ) . I think religion in jordan is only instructions. not a feeling nor a choice. this thing we got in school about religion makes us BAD. we only take things the way they are given to us without thinking. I was never allowed to think what Allah is. this is "7aram" I was never allowed to think why shud I pray. the usual and one answer was always : "because Alla says so" no need to think why do Alla says so... no need to understand our deep self or experience "mistakes". no need to move this brain. there are only two colors,,,7alal and 7araam. i always thought that if i love God then there is no need to tell anyone about this, nor to show anyone this thing. why cant we love God in our own way? 3ashan ma nroo7 3annnar said "ostaaz el deen". This is the main point that makes the people in amman like what they are now. they were raised up in a way that limits their thinking abilities. mamnoo3 tfakkir. this made them think that religion comes first... a prayer comes before being honest and fasting comes before learning not to cheat ...this is what they think. and the problem is that making the religious instructions gives them a "ra7a nafsiyye" so they think they are doing the "wajib" and no need to develop...being a good person is enough to make a community a good community,, praying on the other hand and having religion is something for the individual.. not the community. Unfortunately this isnt the way we were raised. we think that if every one prayed a community will be good.... sadabout the frown u c on the faces... i have to defend them in this... no oil like the southern eastern neighbors. no water like the other neighbours. Amman is the most expensive arab Capital. they are allowed to frown.I visited amman a month ago, went out with a friend and wanted to sit somewhere. after entering some place, the Egyptian worker asked me and my friend very politely to change our table coz this is for "3a2ilaat" saying: "ya basha ma3lish law sama7t tghayyar makanak, aslo el chef ma byesma7sh hina illa li 3a2ilaat" i went with him then into a discussion saying that i am sitting with a family member, we are "3a2ile" but he said he means "7areem" anyway i smiled to him and continued talking coz i love the Egyptian slang. then came a jordanian worker and said bikol 3ajrafe and waqa7a.: "shabab inzilo min hoon, mish masmoo7ilkom" ...i fought with him...im jordanian too...i know how to fight... the thing i wanted to say from this short boring story is that i dont c this frown but in jordanians...long unorganized respond, but i had to write it .. I ran away once saying i wanna study in Europe, I think i knew then that its not about getting a master, its rather about running away from the Jordanian.

Ya they are not civilized, I think the first rule of civilization is about considering the others and showing them that u can SEE them. I cud never see this in the jordanians, not in driving cars, not in standing in a raw not in a “Kostenlos” smile.

I was fighting with my friend that day (whom i convinced to follow me out) about if the Jordanians are stupid, or if they act stupid. I was for the first option. She convinced me in the end that im wrong. Jordanians are not stupid, they simply act stupid.

I do agree with you Roba in almost every word, but I still give them excuses. even though i myself dont believe these excuses. I think its just the love i have for this country.

Why are Jordanians like this?
I do think that religion plays the highest roll in this part. its these 5 prayers that they perform without knowing why and to how. and this month they fast without knowing how and why ()or maybe they know how to ´fast,,,by FIGHTING ) . I think religion in jordan is only instructions. not a feeling nor a choice. this thing we got in school about religion makes us BAD. we only take things the way they are given to us without thinking. I was never allowed to think what Allah is. this is “7aram” I was never allowed to think why shud I pray. the usual and one answer was always : “because Alla says so” no need to think why do Alla says so… no need to understand our deep self or experience “mistakes”. no need to move this brain. there are only two colors,,,7alal and 7araam.
i always thought that if i love God then there is no need to tell anyone about this, nor to show anyone this thing. why cant we love God in our own way? 3ashan ma nroo7 3annnar said “ostaaz el deen”. This is the main point that makes the people in amman like what they are now. they were raised up in a way that limits their thinking abilities. mamnoo3 tfakkir. this made them think that religion comes first… a prayer comes before being honest and fasting comes before learning not to cheat …this is what they think. and the problem is that making the religious instructions gives them a “ra7a nafsiyye” so they think they are doing the “wajib” and no need to develop…

being a good person is enough to make a community a good community,, praying on the other hand and having religion is something for the individual.. not the community. Unfortunately this isnt the way we were raised. we think that if every one prayed a community will be good…. sad

about the frown u c on the faces… i have to defend them in this… no oil like the southern eastern neighbors. no water like the other neighbours. Amman is the most expensive arab Capital. they are allowed to frown.

I visited amman a month ago, went out with a friend and wanted to sit somewhere. after entering some place, the Egyptian worker asked me and my friend very politely to change our table coz this is for “3a2ilaat” saying: “ya basha ma3lish law sama7t tghayyar makanak, aslo el chef ma byesma7sh hina illa li 3a2ilaat” i went with him then into a discussion saying that i am sitting with a family member, we are “3a2ile” but he said he means “7areem” anyway i smiled to him and continued talking coz i love the Egyptian slang. then came a jordanian worker and said bikol 3ajrafe and waqa7a.: “shabab inzilo min hoon, mish masmoo7ilkom” …i fought with him…im jordanian too…i know how to fight… the thing i wanted to say from this short boring story is that i dont c this frown but in jordanians…

long unorganized respond, but i had to write it ..

]]> By: Ahmad Al-Sholihttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18119 Ahmad Al-Sholi Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:48:10 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18119 Ahmad Al-Tafili, Thanks for the comment, its very respectful to think of someone as fair-minded :) I totally agree with you, that was wrong and often falls under the generalizing statements that show our tendency to be self-destructive. We “Nawablseh” are often judged as homosexuals, and each town east or west has its bullshit label as well :) You have a patriotic point of view to love the country explicitly – and all do I assure you -. Whereas a fundamentalist will criticize anything for the sake of development, accordingly “I hate Amman” statement does not have the literal meaning you got. I personally would join BamBam in his/her opinion about the best way to show love, and eagerness to develop our country. Though obviously you didn’t mean it in my opinion, you reflected a “Jordanian Defense” against a “Palestinian Strike” where it was not the case. To tell a “Palestinian rooted Jordanian” – as much as I hate this description – to leave Jordan, harms the Jordanian legacy of taking Palestinians in throughout the decades and sharing the little resources they had with them equally topped with genuine generosity, and giving them solid ground to recap life and regain their rights. To say that Palestinians escaped the war harms the whole Palestinian Cause Legacy, when they went to the rescue of their neighbors (West Bank towns as the Jordanian towns, or even Lebanon and Syria) and when no one had an idea that the misery will continue for 59 years and still counting, best proven by the people of West Bank and Gazza that are suffering today more dearly than the 1948 downfall, but still hang on as all know now what will happen if people leave. You got a wrong idea and thats when you responded accordingly. To me as I guess to the majority: Palestine and Jordan are equally leveled in our spirits, but our culture is heavily troubled and we are imbalanced. Our goals are not clear, and we do not have a shared communal feel though all are nationalists.Sorry for the long lines but felt obliged to share that. Ahmad Al-Tafili,
Thanks for the comment, its very respectful to think of someone as fair-minded :)
I totally agree with you, that was wrong and often falls under the generalizing statements that show our tendency to be self-destructive. We “Nawablseh” are often judged as homosexuals, and each town east or west has its bullshit label as well :)
You have a patriotic point of view to love the country explicitly – and all do I assure you -. Whereas a fundamentalist will criticize anything for the sake of development, accordingly “I hate Amman” statement does not have the literal meaning you got. I personally would join BamBam in his/her opinion about the best way to show love, and eagerness to develop our country.
Though obviously you didn’t mean it in my opinion, you reflected a “Jordanian Defense” against a “Palestinian Strike” where it was not the case. To tell a “Palestinian rooted Jordanian” – as much as I hate this description – to leave Jordan, harms the Jordanian legacy of taking Palestinians in throughout the decades and sharing the little resources they had with them equally topped with genuine generosity, and giving them solid ground to recap life and regain their rights. To say that Palestinians escaped the war harms the whole Palestinian Cause Legacy, when they went to the rescue of their neighbors (West Bank towns as the Jordanian towns, or even Lebanon and Syria) and when no one had an idea that the misery will continue for 59 years and still counting, best proven by the people of West Bank and Gazza that are suffering today more dearly than the 1948 downfall, but still hang on as all know now what will happen if people leave.
You got a wrong idea and thats when you responded accordingly. To me as I guess to the majority: Palestine and Jordan are equally leveled in our spirits, but our culture is heavily troubled and we are imbalanced. Our goals are not clear, and we do not have a shared communal feel though all are nationalists.

Sorry for the long lines but felt obliged to share that.

]]> By: طفيلي( ahmad)http://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18104 طفيلي( ahmad) Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:51:24 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18104 OnzloWhat shall i say about your comment. This is not racism . what do you think Ahmad Al-Sholi ?May alah forgive us Onzlo

What shall i say about your comment. This is not racism . what do you think Ahmad Al-Sholi ?

May alah forgive us

]]> By: طفيلي( ahmad)http://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18103 طفيلي( ahmad) Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:48:12 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18103 Guys I am not a racist. i don’t need to explain myself because i love my country. I hate these people when they live abroad and start to say bad things about Jordan. I hate who always see black picture about Jordan. I don’t give a shit if you are Jordanian or Palestine or Syrian if you hate my country, I will be against you .this place where we were born and will be buried.Ahmad Al-Sholi I respect your opinion and i feel you have fair mind ...Look what it was written befor in this blog : ((I’m more aware than ever of a personal home-identity crisis. Riyadh is not home, it never really was, and it never really will be. Recent occurences have made me come to realize that Amman is not home either))))Ok what is she doing here? Why are we spending our money on people who does not feel this is their home?The racism means when dislike people because of their colour or their back ground ...... she made her point clear when she said she doesn’t like the people in Amman and she does not like the kids in Amman she doesn’t like....it is quit obvious who is the racist in this place.Kuwaiti dude in JordanWill you shut up ? …….. Guys
I am not a racist. i don’t need to explain myself because i love my country.
I hate these people when they live abroad and start to say bad things about Jordan. I hate who always see black picture about Jordan. I don’t give a shit if you are Jordanian or Palestine or Syrian if you hate my country, I will be against you .this place where we were born and will be buried.

Ahmad Al-Sholi
I respect your opinion and i feel you have fair mind …Look what it was written befor in this blog :
((I’m more aware than ever of a personal home-identity crisis. Riyadh is not home, it never really was, and it never really will be. Recent occurences have made me come to realize that Amman is not home either))))

Ok what is she doing here? Why are we spending our money on people who does not feel this is their home?

The racism means when dislike people because of their colour or their back ground …… she made her point clear when she said she doesn’t like the people in Amman and she does not like the kids in Amman she doesn’t like….it is quit obvious who is the racist in this place.

Kuwaiti dude in Jordan

Will you shut up ? ……..

]]> By: bani adamhttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18095 bani adam Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:09:29 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18095 Roba, I remember reading in one of your posts that you had the choice of studying abroad, but you decided to stay in jordan. Why, may i ask since it seems alot of things about jordan bother u? also, from what you are saying it seems you are being pretty judgmental yourself. generalizing alot. to be quite honest from my experience living in jordan most of the time people could care less what ur wearing unless ur half-naked walking down a street like share3 mecca or something like that. if ur in the privacy of ur own home or in a club/bar somewhere, wouldnt u expect less judgements seeing as people who go to such places are supposedly open minded and "advanced" intellectually? but that is not the case but u probably already know that. in any case, i hope uve found urself a group of same-minded people to surround urself with, otherwise ud have major problems living in a place like jordan. P.S: i enjoy reading ur posts (altho i dont always agree with you), and i think ur a breath if fresh air. one of these days if u ever run into you in amman il b sure to give u a standing ovation. untill then keep those thoughts coming. Roba,
I remember reading in one of your posts that you had the choice of studying abroad, but you decided to stay in jordan. Why, may i ask since it seems alot of things about jordan bother u?
also, from what you are saying it seems you are being pretty judgmental yourself. generalizing alot. to be quite honest from my experience living in jordan most of the time people could care less what ur wearing unless ur half-naked walking down a street like share3 mecca or something like that. if ur in the privacy of ur own home or in a club/bar somewhere, wouldnt u expect less judgements seeing as people who go to such places are supposedly open minded and “advanced” intellectually? but that is not the case but u probably already know that.
in any case, i hope uve found urself a group of same-minded people to surround urself with, otherwise ud have major problems living in a place like jordan.
P.S: i enjoy reading ur posts (altho i dont always agree with you), and i think ur a breath if fresh air. one of these days if u ever run into you in amman il b sure to give u a standing ovation. untill then keep those thoughts coming.

]]> By: Kuwaiti dude in Jordanhttp://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/comment-page-1/#comment-18094 Kuwaiti dude in Jordan Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:19:21 +0000 http://andfaraway.net/blog/2007/12/02/what-i-love-about-amman-and-what-i-love-less/#comment-18094 yaaaa roba if u hate "jordan" soo much why dont u leave our country and go back home tooo....3abdoon???? wallah this 6afili guy reminds me of some bungholes we have in kuwait...if u think kuwait is sooo bad why dont u leave!!!!....aaammm 6afili dudeville..chillpill read read read...3AMAN..noo JORDAN...3AMAN...no HATING...only what she thinking...ok???!!!!...she have brain she have thinking...u have much to much no respect this woman thinking...ok!?!?!? yaaaa roba if u hate “jordan” soo much why dont u leave our country and go back home tooo….3abdoon????
wallah this 6afili guy reminds me of some bungholes we have in kuwait…if u think kuwait is sooo bad why dont u leave!!!!….aaammm 6afili dudeville..chillpill
read read read…3AMAN..noo JORDAN…3AMAN…no HATING…only what she thinking…ok???!!!!…she have brain she have thinking…u have much to much no respect this woman thinking…ok!?!?!?

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