From: nabeel@sce.carleton.ca (Bulbul)
Subject: /home/Jordan/etc
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 18:51:54 GMT

   Shedding light on Jordan's establishments and culture got me
introduced to a couple of Jordanian bigots and one decent guy.
If Jordanian grads abroad are dominated by bigots and idiots
what would we think of those who did not achieve this level of
education? Or would we think that scholarships are granted to
selected varieties? The following sheds more light.

   Assuming that a Jordanian minister earns $40,000 a year, (I do
not think they do as much) and after their expensive life style
spendings he/she/it saves $60,000 (:-)) out of this. That is
$600,000 in 10 years (never a minister sustained position for
that long). Knowing that it is illegal for a minister to have
any investment, it is found that this amount of money can't get
him the villas, expensive cars etc. that he/she/it enjoys. Should
we assume that the extra money for him/her/it to become a 
millionaire comes from outside or inside the country? 
(Hint: Both!)

   Looking at someone who was Jordan's Ambassador in Tunisia then
in Belgium etc. and his brothers are high officials in Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, we wonder why is it so? Is it because one of
them had 51.3% in High School Certificate, and another failed the
Certificate two or three times and had to buy one in Lebanon, and
etc.? The answer is: Because his father was a friend of Akif
al-Fayiz. Show me an ambassador or high ranking official who did
not get the position in the 'chain reaction'?
   The same thing happens in all/most Jordanian embassies. Every
Jordanian abroad has stories about how he was respected and
treated very well in our embassies (safAlAtona fil .kArij.) This
is one: A friend of mine had his passport for over ten weeks in
the Jordanian Embassy in Ottawa to be renewed and I do not know
if the answer from Jordan was received yet. He got the two approvals (including the intelligence approval) and was waiting
for the approval from Department of Surveilance and Inspection
(or whatever) while this department is responsible only for
Palestinians and my friend is not a Palestinian. The government
also said that Intelligence would not be consulted in issuing
passports but still it is! All the while he was respected in the
embassy, his status in Canada expired and the embassy did not
believe that Immigration Canada won't renew his status because
he does not have a valid passport!

   Another friend of mine saw hell for two years from 
Intelligence because he attended a late wedding dinner in a 
friend's house who was considered to be a 'Muslim Brother' who
invited his friends and relatives. My friend's charge was not 
belonging to 'Muslim Brothers,' but was 'Sympathizing with Muslim
Brothers.'
   Now they are telling us we have democracy in Jordan as if
someone is doing us a favour. It is our right to live decently
out of jale. And now tell me, how would someone believe in
democracy and express his opinion and demand his rights who
spent half his life in Intelligence dungeons (in the Blue 
Building every Jordanian knows) with a family size Coke bottle
up his behind (No exaggeration)? How can he believe in democracy
while his behind is still sore?

   In Jordanian villages, weeks would pass when we just see tap
water in TV and watch TV signs urging people to save on using
water; save on water that we hear of in rumours? If at those
times you passed through Amman, Shmesani and other Elite
suburbs you would see people washing their cars with water that
other villagers can't find to drink. Probably villagers do not
pay taxes. Bastony's villa in the Southern Suburb of Irbid,
opposite to Yarmouk University is reported in 1980's to pay 15JD 
building tax while poor houses in villages pay higher than that.

   What drives me out of my cute little mind is saying social
life and moralities are very good in Jordan (or Arab World.) Are
they talking about social life several centuries ago? What
socail life if the groom's cousin (above) was the one who
reported the dinner party to Intelligence? Honestly, do you
remember the last time someone told you something and did not
lie, promised you something and kept the promise, borrowed some
money from you and you did not see hell to get it back? How many
times did you swear not to do anyone a favour after going through
all that? Is there anyone on the net who does not have a brother
or a relative who does not talk with?
   The post about Egypt-Jordan trip, cited Jordanians to be very
friendly and hospitable; that is very true -- to foreigners. In
Jordan you are respected and carried on top of heads as long as
you are not a Jordanian (whatever the hell you are,) but if you
are a Jordanian then it is another story. Do Jordanians think
that all others are their masters and they are only worthless
slaves?

   After all that and much more, they tell you thank God life is
very nice in Jordan. Well, "al.hamdo liLAhi La_thI lA yo.hmado
^alA makrOhin siwAh!"

   Please if there are any good qualities of Jordan, someone
let me know. Thanx in advance.

** "a .harAmon ^alA balAbilihi Daw.ho
      .halAlon li.Tayri min koLi jinsI?"
                               -- Ahmad Shawqi


Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic