Only in the Middle East

Only in the Middle East does metropolitan meet rural on a daily basis. This is right outside my apartment. 🙂

Things that make me Sick (ethically)

And here’s one of them: American Bigot, Al Jazeera Magazine

Happy Easter to You, Happy Holiday to Me

While most of you were having egg hunts and family dinners, I was laying out by the Dead Sea getting a tan. Since we are on the Eastern Church’s calendar, we don’t celebrate Easter for another month. Fortunately, I did get a long weekend off school to “go on Holiday.” Two of my English friends and I went on a 45 minute drive outside the city to the Marriott Spa and Hotel on the Dead Sea. It’s literally the lowest point on earth below sea level, and it’s beautiful. Mountains surround the undisturbed waters with Jordan to the East and the West Bank occupied territories on the opposite side. It was nice to get out of the business of Amman for a day. We felt a milllion miles away. Things like this remind me how blessed I am to be here, with Biblical history all around me and within my reach.

Another Reason I don’t like Facebook

(And I will never give in!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7304361.stm

Art, War, and Human Rights

This post is a culmination of all the news I’ve been thinking about this week as well as the art that helps me think about it.

On Wednesday the BBC put out an article about the war trials in Uganda. For those of you who don’t know about the situation there, it is quite similar to that of other countries in East Africa. The thing that distinguishes its conflicts from other wars and genocides is the targeting of children as soldiers and sex slaves by the Lord’s Resistance Army. The LRA has been terrorizing the region of Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan for years. Finally the LRA, led by Joseph Kony, is set to face a prosecution at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands. This is the first I’ve looked into the ICC past the acronym. It was established in 1998 for the purpose of unbiased prosecution of those who have committed crimes against humanity. The LRA is arguing that it should only face the local traditional court in Uganda and has since suspiciously moved its leader off its base, violating a ceasefire agreement (BBC article). The ICC is supposed to only convict those that have not faced punishment in there own nation, but I have to question the legitimacy of Uganda’s local justice system. The LRA is demanding the ICC to drop charges before it continues with former agreements in Uganda. I intend to do more research on the ICC and its role in East African conflicts as well as its relationship to the United Nations. My first reaction, however, is that those who have committed such atrocities against man kind should face grave consequences and international scorn. That may sound harsh, but how much longer can these kinds of crimes go on?

Uganda’s neighbor, Sudan, is worsening by the day in its Western region of Darfur. The violence is so turbulent that aid workers are unable to get into the region. Basic food rations are unable to reach the area, compounding the problem in Darfur. In spite of receiving unprecedented coverage in the United States, the situation is slowly improving and will probably get worse if those working on policy and peace treaties can’t get to the bottom of the Sudanese government’s role in the genocide.

Please remember Darfur as you look forward to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. China has funded Sudan’s weapons and missiles for years and is imperative in ending the genocide. China’s withdrawal of support to Sudan could help end the killing much sooner than policy makers could ever hope. Recently China has also been in the spotlight for it’s role in Tibet. The topic is mainly popular because of the role of the Dalai Lama in the past few years. Although Tibet isn’t facing a physical genocide, the Dalai Lama claims it faces a cultural one due to the alleged oppression by China. I just want to know, who gave the 2008 Olympics to China, anyway?

The greatest humanitarian crisis occurring right now is in Gaza. It has recently been dubbed
“the world’s largest prison.” I don’t think better words could be chosen. Like in Darfur, it is increasingly difficult for aid workers to bring in supplies and rations. In Darfur, guerrilla fighters are creating the danger (although the government is likely behind it), but in Gaza, it is an established government boldly and unapologetically not allowing basic items to reach human beings with virtually no rights. Situations like this make me wonder how we distinguish terrorists from soldiers and presidents from tyrants so easily.

On Sunday I went to an art exhibit in Amman. In a quaint, refurbished building overlooking the city, Lebanese photographers were featured. Many of the pieces were extremely creative, as well as highly disturbing. Lebanon has had very little time of peace since it’s first civil war. I am thankful for people that put the pain of there experiences into art, because art that comes from war is some of the most moving. There is also irony in the creations that result from acts of destruction. As I looked over the photographs of collected ammunition, abandoned homes, and exploding hillsides, I couldn’t help think of the people in Gaza. I have no idea where I’ll be in a few years, but working towards peace and reconciliation among those in the disputed territories would be a dream come true. I found a video recommended by Ralph Nader that gives hope of future peace among the conflicting cultures of the Middle East, at least peace in the hearts and minds of individuals. Encounter Point

Everything that’s happened this week has reminded me of an artist I am fond of, Bartolome Murillo. A Spanish painter, he was one of the first to paint the peasant class. The picture below, The Young Beggar, shows something very familiar to most people but to most art of his time. I appreciate art that speaks truth. Murillo’s art gives a glance into the society at that time, not at the society’s desired perception. There a lot of places in the world that don’t want to be seen for what they are – broken. But art like Murillo’s and posts like this are made for the reason that Abraham Lincoln put so eloquently: “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts.”

Highs and Lows

Remember that emotional roller coaster I was talking about? Last week was a string of lows. Let’s just say everyone already knows me at the doctor’s office. But was I really expecting otherwise? According to my friend Anna, the pharmacist in Columbia still asks about me. For some people it’s a bar, for me it’s a medical building: Where everybody knows your name!

Today, however, was a high. When learning a language, extreme highs are necessary. They are often the only motivation to keep at it. I was on my way to visit some Iraqi friends when I walked passed the house of a family I know. I lived with this particular family the last time I was here. I had only been here two weeks when I moved into their spare room. I had no Arabic and they had no English whatsoever. It was interesting. Fortunately with kids language barriers matter very little. So today I see little five year old Fatuma sitting outside by herself. Last time I was here Fatuma would talk and talk but I never knew what she was saying and she never knew I couldn’t understand! Today we had our first conversation! It went like this:

Fatuma: Where are you going?
Me: I’m going to Um Kother’s house.
F:Ok
Me: Is your Mom at home?
F: No she’s at work.
Me: Who is at home with you?
F: Rami
Me: just Rami?
F: Haboush and Hanoush too
Me: Where is Hajura?
F: She’s sleeping.

You may not be very impressed, but trust me, this was a big accomplishment. Not only did I communicate everything I wanted to in the correct grammar, I also was able to have a conversation with someone whom I’d wanted to for a long time. Imagine developing a real affection for an incredibly cute little girl and finally being able to talk to her? The rest of the day I felt so confident. I can actually do this. There is a saying in Arabic: “Shway shway.” It means slowly slowly or, little by little. I tell myself this all the time, but it’s blessings like these
that remind me how the “slowly slowly” actually pays off.