He is first, and foremost, Arabic.
That’s what this middle-aged man tells us. He is secondly Jordanian and Muslim.
We are talking to him over cups of the gritty, oily Turkish coffee that everyone in Jordan seems to drink all day, every day.
At first, this man is smiles and pleasant jokes and his English is very good. As we ask careful questions about the political situation in the Middle East, he senses we are genuinely interested in hearing his point of view.
He opens up. And much of what he says makes us extremely uncomfortable.
He is an Arab first, he says, before his religion, before his nationality.
This is why, though Jordan is at peace today with Israel, this man says he doesn’t like Israelis because, he insists, Israelis don’t really want peace.
Israel and Jordan signed a peace accord under the late King Hussein. But the man says he thinks the countries’ relationship is “very cold.”
This is why he says his country takes in refugees from neighboring Syria, Iraq and Palestine, building them barracks and giving them medical care.
He says they don’t mind doing this because those people are his people: Arabs. “We are all Arabs,” he says. “We like to help them.”
As we have been driving around Amman, we see the Syrians lined up outside their embassy. We also pass many vehicles illustrated with drawings of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
Post continues below
Travel to Jordan must include a visit to bob in the Dead Sea 
Adam asks about these drawings and the man tells us many Jordanians love Saddam because he was for the Arab people. At one time America loved him, then it made a fake war for which no weapons of mass destruction were found, he says.
The man senses we are uncomfortable with many of his comments. He is quick to add then that he does not have any dislike of people or their religions or nationalities. He doesn’t harbor dislike or hatred for Christians or Jews or Hindus or Buddhists or anyone else, he says. He has no dislike for any nationality, he adds. It’s the policies and the leaders he dislikes and distrusts.
We’re told the Arab Spring cut tourism down by as much as 70 percent in the spectacular Petra, one of the wonders of the world. Another young Jordanian tells us there were days when only 10 people visited the site, severely hurting the Bedouins who rely on tourists.
Post continues below
This man believes the Palestinians have been removed from their rightful home, and he insists the Israelis are happy to have unrest in the Middle East because it allows them to be powerful and the Arabs to be disorganized.
The middle-aged man tells us the tourism crash and related problems happened because the Arabic people are not in charge. Arabic leaders who have been chosen by Westerners are in charge, and they’re the ones causing the problems, he says.
Post continues below
This man also tells us a theory that the Israelis were actually behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S. so it could turn us against the Muslim-dominated nations. He says Al Qaeda was not smart or big enough to do it.
I am writing this only to convey the viewpoint he shared, and, hopefully, to share a glimpse of how one of the many people we encountered thinks about the world and about us.
Post continues below
We found no one else in our recent travels through Arab countries willing to be so open as this guy. And, frankly, the attitude toward us as Americans in the tourist areas of Jordan is very different from other Arab countries we have visited. At times in Morocco, we felt like some sellers in the markets saw us as wallets with two legs. In Egypt, some people were so eager to please us that we felt embarrassed. Not so in our travels through Jordan, where we are greeted with great warmth as welcome guests, but as friends would be received. If we did not want to buy a trinket in a shop, the proprietor would shrug, smile, and wish us a blessed journey.
And the middle-aged man clearly knew his comments would make us uncomfortable, but he just as clearly did not make them to offend but rather to inform about a viewpoint. As we travel, we read about India’s parliament voting to not allow Muslims citizenship, and China putting Muslims in detainment camps. The man gives us his own examples of what he describes as an anti-Muslim sentiment spreading around the world.
During our travel through Jordan, we can see the Dead Sea (which we later bob in like ping pong balls) and the promised land, as Moses did, from Mount Nebo. Our itinerary includes a visit to a mountaintop where Syria can be seen to the north, along with the Golan Heights to the west.
Post continues below
We see stunning ancient Roman ruins in Jerash and the Ajloun Castle, built in 1184. As with Petra, these places withstood centuries of political turnovers.
And that sort of long-term view is part of the middle-aged Jordanian man’s thinking as well. The Jews are “tourists,” he tells us. “They’ve only been there 70 years.”
Of course, a sample of one man doesn’t tell us much about the broader sentiment in a country. But if this man’s opinion is shared by others in Jordan, it’s hard to see how the Arab-Israeli tensions will ever cease.
Definitely, what a magnificent site and illuminating posts, I definitely will bookmark your blog.Have an awsome day!
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing for your feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!
You are a very capable person!
Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I am happy to find numerous useful information here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly loved browsing
your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping
you write once more very soon!
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively
useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & help other customers like its helped me.
Good job.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment
didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just
wanted to say wonderful blog!
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful post.
Thanks for providing this info.
Hi there everybody, here every one is sharing these kinds of knowledge, so it’s pleasant to read this website, and I
used to go to see this web site every day.
Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to know a lot approximately
this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something.
I believe that you can do with a few p.c. to pressure the message home a bit, however instead of that, that is
fantastic blog. An excellent read. I will definitely be back.
Long time reader, first time commenter — so,
thought I’d drop a comment.. — and at the same time ask for a favor.
Your wordpress site is very simplistic – hope you don’t mind me asking what theme you’re using?
(and don’t mind if I steal it? :P)
I just launched my small businesses site –also built in wordpress like yours– but
the theme slows (!) the site down quite a bit.
In case you have a minute, you can find it by searching for “royal cbd” on Google
(would appreciate any feedback)
Keep up the good work– and take care of yourself during the coronavirus scare!
~Justin
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and come with almost all significant infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .
Hey are using WordPress for your site platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you require any coding knowledge to make your
own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Yes, it is WordPress and it doesn’t require special knowledge.
Thanks a lot for the post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
prednisone for sale without prescription
lasix online australia
albendazole online usa
order clomid online uk
gabapentin generic pill
I couldn’t resist commenting. Perfectly written!
Awesome article.
Have you ever considered writing an e-book or guest
authoring on other sites? I have a blog based upon on the same topics you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would appreciate your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really loved surfing around your weblog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
You could definitely see your skills in the article you write.
The world hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe.
Always follow your heart.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your
sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future.
Cheers
It’s difficult to find experienced people about this topic, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
It’s nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Aw, this was a very nice post. Spending some time and actual effort
to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and
never seem to get anything done.
There is certainly a lot to know about this issue.
I love all the points you have made.
Saved as a favorite, I really like your site!
Wonderful article! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our site.
Keep up the great writing.
I needed to thank you for this wonderful read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it.
I’ve got you book-marked to check out new stuff you post…
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking
more of your wonderful post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and engaging,
and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough folks are speaking intelligently
about. I am very happy that I stumbled across this during my hunt for something regarding this.
Keep on writing, great job!
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post.
Thanks for providing this info.
Your style is unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from.
Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll
just bookmark this web site.
Keep on writing, great job!