Stories about Jordan from April, 2007
Arabeyes: On Selling a Palestinian Kidney and Changing the Israeli Flag
Do you want to know why a Palestinian wants to sell his kidney, or what had happened to the bicycle of a Lebanese blogger on September 10, 2001? What is more difficult: returning home after living abroad for five years or demanding that Israel changes its flag just as the Kurds want to change the Iraqi flag? And last but not least: why does Ala'a Abdulfattah - the Godfather of Egyptian bloggers - say he isn't and was never a blogger? To know more, read on.
Iraq: Satirical Stats
I have found a great Arabic Wiki called Beidipedia (lit. Eggepedia) about the Middle East in general but is predominantly focused upon Iraq, its approach is to present satirical items in the traditional neutral news/encyclopedia approach a la The Onion, writes Iraqi blogger Konfused Kid, who is based in Jordan.
Iraq: More on Hamas Iraq
Abu Aardvark, aka Marc Lynch, links to an article by “Mohamed Abu Roman, one of the smartest Jordanian writers on Islamist issues, (who) turns his attention today to Hamas Iraq. Like me, Abu Roman places the appearance of Hamas Iraq directly within the context of the growing intellectual and political...
Arabeyes: Palestinian Jordanian Anyone?
Jordanian blogger Hareega is furious that people avoid discussing racism in his society. He is particularly angry about the discrimination Jordanians of Palestinian origin go through in a country he claims they have helped build and project to the level it is today. يبدو أن الناس بشكل عام تتفادى الخوض...
Jordan: Kuwait Planning $5bn Health City in Jordan
Jordanian blogger Naseem Al Tarawneh is excited that Kuwait is building a $5 billion medical city in Jordan. “This is a project I’d like to see implemented in Jordan, especially compared to the other stuff going on. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Jordan’s medical industry, went from 6.1 Million JDs...
Jordan: Yacoubian Building
Jordanian blogger Natasha Tynes, who lives in the US, had the chance to watch Egyptian movie Yacoubian Building and gives us her thoughts on it here. “The person introducing the movie at the festival said two things of interest. One: The actual residents of the building are suing the author...
Jordan: Al Jazeera Interview Confiscated
Iraqi blogger Lady Bird claims that Jordanian authorities confiscated a tape containing an interview with Jordan's Prince Hassan from Al Jazeera‘s offices because of worries of the comments he made regarding his country's relations with Jordan. “This is one of the reasons that Al-Jazeera is special, other Arab media shall...
Oman: Gay Marriages a Rumour
Omani blogger Nabhan Abdullatif gets the shock of his life when he hears a fellow student announce in class at his Jordan university that gay marriages are allowed in his country. “He basically went on and on about how gay couples from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia come to Oman to...
Palestine: Christian Bookshop Bombed
Jordanian blogger Firas links to news reports about the bombing of a Christian bookshop in Gaza, Palestine.
Jordan: Car-less in Amman
Into the Wind contemplates how she will manage the traffic of Amman without her car: “Since I’m going to be car-less for over a week, I’m going to seize the opportunity to conduct a little experiment, and give our existing public transportation system a chance. I’ll try to minimize the...
Jordanian Blogosphere: An Iris Also Blooms
The seasons are moving forward, the weather is moving forward, and the clocks have all sprung forward for spring. But controversy is in the air these past few weeks on the Jordanian blogosphere… The Arab Observer has a bone to pick with people who harass women on the street, while...
Palestine: Debating the Refugee Issue
Daoud Kuttab discusses bearing responsibility for the Palestinian refugee problem.
Jordan: Reconnecting in Amman
The Black Iris recounts the strange etiquette of homecoming…and the odd conversations required: “So no, I don’t feel obligated to “get together” or to “call you”. I don’t want to “catch up”. I don’t want a sit down where people try and gather as much info about your life so...
Jordan: Perceived Anti-Semitism
Jordanian blogger The Black Iris of Jordan points out how using the term “Jew” can feel like it is Anti-Semitic; as well as words like Judaism and Israel. “It is the strangest feeling but it’s like there is an anti-Semitic radar in my head that starts to beep wildly whenever...
