Amman is a wonderful city full of culture and life, though much different from my beloved Chicago. I am fortunate to have my own personal tour guide and expert to guide in the exploration of my new, temporary city. My dear friend, Mohammad, took me to a wonderful, little artisan market last weekend, Jara Market. Full of gorgeous jewelry (I refrained from buying any, surprisingly) and local goods and crafts, the market was booming with people, smells, and scenery. I fell in love with a painting of the Jordanian flower ( I cannot remember the name of it to save my life) and could not refrain from buying it, even though I know it will be a challenge to transport it back to the States.
Though the streets of Amman were pleasant and peaceful, the air around us was heavy, as were our hearts. Last Friday, the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, moved forward with the Palestinian bid for recognition/a spot in the UN. Unfortunately, President Obama has already indicated (with a speech that was devastatingly biased and full of Zionist propaganda) that the US will veto this bid. I am unable to express my sadness and disappointment in my President, nor am I able to accurately express the importance of the Palestinian position. I hope Mohammad will be able to better explain the historical and future significance of this more eloquently than I would ever be able to.
In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the true history of the conflict, I have provided some links and resources below.
Handala - Another popular sight in the market, this cartoon is another representation of the Palestinian situation/cause/condition. I encourage you to check it out.
Occupation 101 - A documentary created by the organization If Americans Knew. This is a very good analysis of the history of the conflict, outlined in a very practical manner.
IfAmericansKnew.org - The everything you need to know place to go about the statistics, etc regarding the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
This weekend, I hope to be able to catch a sunset. From what I remember, they are incredible. And coming soon (inshallah) Arabic food and cooking lessons.
Salaam
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| Painting I bought at Suuq Jara |
Though the streets of Amman were pleasant and peaceful, the air around us was heavy, as were our hearts. Last Friday, the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, moved forward with the Palestinian bid for recognition/a spot in the UN. Unfortunately, President Obama has already indicated (with a speech that was devastatingly biased and full of Zionist propaganda) that the US will veto this bid. I am unable to express my sadness and disappointment in my President, nor am I able to accurately express the importance of the Palestinian position. I hope Mohammad will be able to better explain the historical and future significance of this more eloquently than I would ever be able to.
In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the true history of the conflict, I have provided some links and resources below.
Handala - Another popular sight in the market, this cartoon is another representation of the Palestinian situation/cause/condition. I encourage you to check it out.
Occupation 101 - A documentary created by the organization If Americans Knew. This is a very good analysis of the history of the conflict, outlined in a very practical manner.
IfAmericansKnew.org - The everything you need to know place to go about the statistics, etc regarding the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
This weekend, I hope to be able to catch a sunset. From what I remember, they are incredible. And coming soon (inshallah) Arabic food and cooking lessons.
Salaam
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