A Jordanian kid's blog: Dear Iraqis in Jordan: Please Accept My Apologies.

[Robbien]

When Facebook.com was created, its creators never thought it would one day be a place for racist fights. The last of these fights, and the bitterest is a group that attacks Iraqi refugees in Jordan. The group is called “I Hate Iraqis”. I was really disappointed to see my compatriot young Jordanians join this group, and there are up till now 249 members in there. Some members attack Iraqis merely because they celebrated in Amman over the win of the late Asian Cup achieved by the Iraqi football team. Others throw blames on Iraqis for the increase of prices in Jordan. Many others are responding to what’s said about the treatment of Iraqis at an airport in Amman.

It is really sad! Let’s remind ourselves, fellow Jordanians, who those Iraqis are: brothers neighbors, and faithful friends. Go ask Jordanian students who studied at Iraqi universities in the past how they were treated. They all felt like home, they never complained about any kind of disrespect, and they were never reminded of who they were or where they came from. And now should we abandon them when they are in huge distress?

These people need our support after the invasion. They lost their country, their families, their property, each one of them have seen crimson blood flowing in the streets or even on the floor of their houses; they have seen death with their own eyes. This means they have had enough.

Many Iraqis and other Arab supporters asked to close the group on Facebook.com , and a new group appeared under the name “I Will Delete My Facebook Account If The Group “I Hate Iraqis” Won’t Be Removed.” Just think! The new group wasn’t named “I Hate Who Hates Me.” Please let’s be a bit rational.

A few days ago another Jordanian blogger waged assaults on Iraqi refugees, and what made me sick was when he started reminding Iraqis that Jordan at least has an airport but Iraq now doesn’t! I said before let’s not forget what Iraq is and who Iraqis are, let’s not forget the oil we used to get for free from Iraq before the invasion. And let me not say more dear fellow Jordanian. The blogger concluded his sharp attack by asking Iraqis to find themselves another country saying “If you don’t like the way Jordan treats you then get the hell out of it! Yes, you can… there’s Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and many other countries that you can consider home. Help yourself!”

I think this is an immature way of facing critical issues in such a critical time for us, Middle Easterners, and Arabs in general. Dear fellow Jordanians…we want no more xenophobic crises, the Jordanian-Palestinian racist conflict which was and still at stake in Jordan caused us many troubles, so let’s not show again uncivilized attitudes.

I love Jordan and I’m proud of being Jordanian, but I won’t remain silent if fellow Arabs are maltreated in any direct or indirect way because it harms the name of Jordan and Jordanians.

I didn't know this was happening. Poor Iraq.

In these days of NSA spying, I don't feel comfortable directly linking to a mideast blog site. Here is a cut and paste link to the blog
mideastyouth.com/2007/08/24/dear-iraqis-in-jordan-please-accept-my-apologies/

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Thank you. Americans are very myopic and...

we need to see things like this.

[Fridays Child]

2. Exactly right!

k/r

[Mnemosyne]

3. And how terribly sad for this country that

you have to feel uncomfortable to post a link these days, Robbien.

[Robbien]

4. What's even sadder

is that I held the window for the site open for two days debating whether it should be posted here at all. Posting mideast blogs could get the kid in trouble or DU in trouble if the NSA got a bug up its butt about the post.

We all know the story of Iraqi refugees, but perhaps we don't know the stories of how they are being treated in the host countries and felt it important this viewpoint should be shared.

It is such a shame we have to be this hesitant. But I felt if this wasn't posted, I would be doing NSA's dirty work for them by self-censoring stuff which shouldn't be censored in a free world.

[madeline_con]

5. When did Mideast blogs become verbotten? n/t

[Robbien]

6. I read a blog where the blogger was put on the

"persons of interest" airline list because they corresponded with Riverbend of Baghdad Burning.

When Bush signed the executive order that financial instruments could be frozen of anyone suspected of giving aid to "terrorists", I figure any dealings at all with a Muslim country website fits into Bush's enemy list watch. I could be wrong, but who knows these days.

[madeline_con]

7. They watch too many people to catch any "evildoers".

I'm probably on "the list". :rofl:

[Mnemosyne]

8. I very much appreciate that you did post this.

Americans need to know how our country's actions are affecting individuals.

What a nightmare the US has created in the world. :(

I guess they've caught my visits to Iranian sites by now. FU NSA.