A Worrying Sign

Mother Nature has made this Eid wonderful. The weather here in the city has been amazing, and I have finally began to grasp the concept of using degrees Fahrenheit over Celsius. At first, any time I looked up the weather forecast and saw the number 85 I’d freak out. That has thankfully become a rare event now 🙂

Spending Eid in the US was extremely special, and, without sounding too cheesy, symbolized some of the true values of America. My friends and I feasted on authentic Italian food as we discussed our plans for the Fall. My effect on my friends also shone through as the conversation soon took a turn to discuss some recent social and political events, these included the fatal attack on the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and how various religious institutions came together to mourn those who were killed. I was touched by the reactions that I saw on the news. It is these qualities of pluralism and tolerance that are rooted in both American and Muslim ethics.

Eid is all about reaffirming those ideas, and symbolizes a fresh start. We all toasted to that as we ended our dinner. By the time I got home it was around midnight. I decided to call my mom (an early bird) and see how Eid festivities were in Amman. She said that even though that it was great seeing almost every single aunt, uncle, and cousin, most conversations focused on an unsettling story out of Jerusalem. The story gave me chills.

Last Thursday night, during one of the final nights of Ramadan, a group of around 20 Jewish teenagers attacked four Palestinians between the ages of 14 and 17 as they were walking around an area called Zion Square.  Nine Jewish teenagers have been arrested so far, and according to reports, Israeli police believe that one of the Israeli teenage girls incited the group to attack the Palestinian youth after claiming to have had a relationship with an Arab. One of the Palestinian teenagers, Jamal Julani, was badly beat up and lost consciousness at the scene. Paramedics were miraculously able to revive him and he is now recovering.

One of paramedics recounted what she saw at the scene on her Facebook page. The Israeli +972 magazine translated what she wrote:
“It’s late at night, and I can’t sleep. My eyes are full of tears for a good few hours now and my stomach is turning inside out with the question of the loss of humanity, the image of God in mankind, a loss that I am not willing to accept. But today I saw a lynch with my own eyes, in Zion Square, the center of the city of Jerusalem… Those who were kicking [Jamal] fled and the rest gathered in a circle around, with some still shouting with hate in their eyes.”

In court, the primary suspect in the beating of Jamal admitted to his actions with no signs of regret or remorse, stating that if he had the chance he’d do it again because Jamal was an Arab.

The event should be a wake-up call to all of those still hoping and wishing for a peaceful end to the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. With such deeply embedded hatred that is so easily unleashed, true progress on this issue cannot be achieved. Palestinian and Jewish youth are physically segregated from each other. Fear, racism, and prejudice are outcomes of this segregation. Without a united educational front that is pushed for by both parties, it will be impossible for Israeli and Palestinian youth to overcome the stereotypes they are taught about one another.

Peaceful interaction is key, and if the future lies in the hand of youth like those responsible for the attack, there are a lot of things to fix and a limited time to do so.

Goodbye, and hello

Well, my friends, I have some exciting and sad news to share with you all. I was hoping to share this in a few months, but recent events at work have made things awkward and I accelerated my schedule.

Last winter, I decided I needed a change in my life. While I love the work I do and find it both exciting and rewarding, I decided to take it to the next level. A few months ago, I applied to graduate schools in Europe and the States. I was hoping to hear back from schools in Europe so I could more easily visit mom and dad back home in Amman. But, to my surprise, I received an acceptance letter from a school in the States that I’ve always wanted to attend.

After my most recent episode at work I thought things would get better, but things unexpectedly got more and more awkward. When I got the acceptance letter, I saw it as a chance to leave the drama behind and start fresh. My parents were super supportive and encouraged me to take this opportunity to advance my career and expand my horizons. Of course, having extended family in the area (who doesn’t have cousins everywhere) put my father at ease. And my parents’ biannual trips to the States to visit the family ensured that my family would never be far away.

So, friends, the city that never sleeps welcomes its newest fling.

So I got on a plane with nothing more than two suitcases and a heart full of excitement and a huge appetite for the big apple. I think my excitement paid off, since my smile got me bumped to business class (or at least I hope so). Nothing like arriving in New York in style!

Since I got here a little early, I think my most immediate challenge is finding an apartment and convincing my parents that not living with my cousins would add to my experiences, truly living the American dream.

I will continue my blogging from here. Sure the parties and scenery may change, but I will stay the same Ammani that I’ve always been. 😉 In an effort to remain connected to my roots back home, I hope to update more frequently, sharing my new experiences in class and out on the town. I think I’ll find a lot of similarities between my new home and my true home, as well as some differences. All of which I will share with you.