In the past week, King Abdullah's ever-powerful and candid statements concerning rumors, heresay and challenges have provoked my serious contemplation as to what it really means to be Jordanian. A beautiful, strong country in a region with heritage and culture so rich like ours deserves peace, prosperity and security; indeed, with a King like ours - we the Jordanian people can be guaranteed just that and more.
Like his people, King Abdullah believes in the power of change and progress. He believes in giving the "beat of the street" his time of day. Gently and genuinely he has listened and he has responded - and continues to be the attentive, caring and sincere leader we've always known him to be. Upon reading His Majesty's commentary on Black Iris and the daily which is dearest to my heart and mind, Addustour, I've never been more struck with the sheer power that the relationship between a leader and his people can hold. In our Georgetown classrooms, our snooty political science professors always speak of the rift between state and citizen, but today - our Hashemite Kingdom can attest to being the exception.
A wise friend of mine once reminisced with me about how the word watan (motherland) would "reverberate through the fiber of his soul" as a younger version of himself, as if to imply that that feeling fades with time. But while passions may wither and blow in the wind, I am sure he can attest to the truth that the love for one's home is a sentiment to be etched in stone forever.
As I hit the one month mark before I return to Washington, I've never felt more at home as I have this week. The head may lie uneasy, but with a heart of gold it will endure. I tip my hat to you Your Majesty!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
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3 comments:
as a student of poli sci...never, ever, ever, listen to your professors. their visions are eroded by years of political disappointments.
they are all, ironically, stuck in plato's cave. so stay on the outside, and never look back.
that's my advice
nas: as the author of the only english blog my father has bookmarked (and thus the object of my slight daughterly envy.. :P) i will cherish your advice, but perhaps not until i graduate (inshAllah).sadly, ive come to realize that for me to get decent grades in school, i must regurgitate my professors' theories and ideas and become their ego-massaging intellectual groupy! ahh academia :(
ah yes, your father wrote a lovely editorial!
keep up the good work on your blog and I'm sure I'll be replaced in the bookmarks by you any day now...
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