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The Social Dimensions Ignored In Peace Treaties
By Tayseer Nazmi

It seems that both, the "Arab client regimes," who are still exploiting the refugees' camps for more than 57 years, and Israel, (the main cause of their plight but not all their sufferings), are in harmony while approaching the question of their right in return to their homeland, or through putting the UN's resolution 194 to judgment after more than half a century. The mutual interest of both is keeping all factions far away from the refugees' realities. On the political stage, by making peace treaties or finding final status solutions, the refugees' resulting social destruction is neglected in favor of the priority of the refugees’ national question. Some Arab regimes, including PA, are waiting the camps to milk compensations before bearing the responsibility of their deteriorating circumstances on their lands where the refugees were deprived of even the human equality, not to mention citizenship or political rights. Through 57 years the refugees were referred to as Palestinians; who are waiting the same regimes to solve their problems and in most cases they are just hosted by the generous hospitality of such regimes in fear that they will forget their problem with Israel or their main homeland and origin.  Actually, discrimination is practiced against them moreover than 57 years; through which the Palestinians participated in building the main skeleton of such countries in many modern institutions like; education, medicine, economy and even the modern media and trade. But were feared from holding high posts according to the prevailing formula of exploitation and discrimination, propaganda and depression, claiming and frustration of their issue (the Palestinian question). Even big-mouthed Arab regimes apply the united border's treatment to them unless they bear their passports that easily indicate their real origin. Didn't most of the Arab regimes participate in their horrible social deterioration to some or far extent? While in Israel their labor power is exploited in building new settlements on the same land their fathers or grandfathers dreamed of and were deprived from. Didn't they supply the PA (P.L.O. formerly) with the sole legitimate right to die in favor of high post ranking leadership, leaving them behind as widows and orphans? Had they the minimum freedom wherever they are displaced to express their own self-determination? Nobody or veteran politician could expect what they really want to decide in priority to solve their persistent daily problems, difficulties, and sufferings. We are not so dogmatic to claim that mny generations of them who didn't see an Israeli face to face on the ground and were born far away from Java and Haifa, are dreaming 24 hours of destroying Israel or even killing a human being who remains an imaginative enemy and has nothing to do with the refugees' urgent and persisting sufferings. So, it is not a matter of priority to speak to them about the resolution 194 and 242, or even what is Yaser ,Abbas or Yaser Abed-Rabbu doing in the White house. The 57 years passed to make them quite familiar with so many deceptions and leadership's betrayal and even blatant lies. The cause of this inhuman desperation is a social degree of famine, unemployment, discrimination and injustice; not offered only by Israel 's morality or the white house's presidency more than their clients .To such a question no one seems to be enough honest, brave and frank just to refer to realities on the ground, not only through media or political platforms. Even the former Palestinian Communist Party high ranked members (now part of PA), after modifying its agenda and changing itself to the Peoples' Party, did not pay attention to its main deservable function and tasks to those down to the ground left behind agonized and displaced demographically and socially in the (hosting) Arab countries. And neither want to speak clear of their fate, the nearest future of tomorrows fate, whether compensations, absorption and resettlement are approaching their misery or a near return to a Palestinian State , whatever its shape, would be. Since it is quite understood that a dream of restoring the past is a self-deception played on the Palestinian refugees quite enough 57 years of the; next month, next year or even the next century! To get this perceived reality, we don't need to read Amos Oz's article in the New York Times (Jan.6th.2001). Nor do we need to restudy the Clinton's proposals for peace in the ( Middle East ). Because it is simply clear that the social peace is not and never was imposed by the leading classes, whether in America or in any peace treaties that neglect intentionally the social dimensions, reflections, and the harmful outcome of their implementation, if so far reached. On such basis of understanding we can share even the Israeli morality of self recognition .For those refugees, (if accepted to return to reunify) are not supposed to dispute with all the Israelis when they see face to face their social partners in misery and displacement.
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Over to Arab clients and corruption, what so ever their names are

Real art and creativity are the only victims

By Tayseer Nazmi

   In the Jordanian government spokesperson weekly meeting which was held in the royal cultural centre on Monday May 31st.2004 , it has been clearly announced that the government will not abide by the results and the recommendations of the three days' meeting (1st.-3rd. June)which will deal with the national cultural affairs in Jordan . Such a statement stir the question not of politics and future policies of the Kingdom but it questions the whole culture that includes both the history of the Kingdom at least during the last 58 years and the adopted cultural life in Jordan whether in edu. Or in media. This, also stir the question of realities on the ground in what is called the body of culture in Jordan . Those who benefited a great deal and still from the ministry of culture, will support to keep on it .Some others who find themselves more talented want to let it pass with its employees since they are ambitious of higher salaries and distinguished governmental services. The third faction is somewhat aware of the skills and experiences they’ve acquired and intending to share the private sector with their investment and trade. Those who are really concerned and those who are really productive and creative are worried about the question of freedom and doubt if the government can last more than a moderately done short story or an accelerated show that had been made only for the sake of money. The margined makers of art will not be so optimistic about the whole dilemma created by festivals and meetings …so and so ..because they already know that the big trap is waiting not far behind. Real art that deals seriously with the core of social and political + economical sufferings as an outcome of hidden facts of history  will be the only victim of any so called reform process ( suggesting, of course that there will be such a process in deed). So what is the question ? let’s see tomorrow if it will bring equality, justice and freedom together or it is meant to be just an old fashioned propaganda .

II

Quantity not quality and tribes more than culture

Not only the agenda of this meeting ( conference) with its indications that is questionable but also the nomination of its attendants. What the planners are aiming at and on what basis of evaluation had the names of the participants been decided ?

If we examine the body of culture in Jordan we will discover some astonishing statistical realities such as the number of so called cultural institutions, societies, associations, unions etc.(280) whatsoever named, that receive financial support for not a neutral aim of developing culture but for other different reasons and targets from the ministry of culture, the municipality of greater Amman  and from other sources, sometimes could be from outside of Jordan. This is only one side of the picture concerning teams or groups operating through foundations and institutions that believe in collective work and elections to some extent that smell democratic for political reasons rather than cultural ones. Another side of the picture concerns individuals, since culture in great part of it is a reflection as well as a personal production of creativity in some arts like literature and thought. We may put it here in the phrase; quality not quantity. In this situation you can ask why some of them are paid and have a very high income while the really talented and well cultivated and educated ones are struggling just to eat, smoke and sleep forgetting, of course, if they have time and chance to produce art and culture. “Why”, many deserted art and culture or even reading and writing or at least to be an attendant of fine arts is the core of a serious question here. The lack of justice ! visiting courts for trivial silly reasons ! being detained just because you are contemplating a view or an incident for instance !

The lack of freedom ! or the need of 100 fils to reach home in peace ? It is not kidding if we say that sometimes all the previous reasons could gather in one. The oneness here is not the real reason for deteriorating culture or spoiling a state of mind but is an outcome which is not seen unless you check if this person’s case or family not destroyed yet. In 1973 Tayseer Sboul shot himself dead. Before that Ghaleb Halasah was shot to be out of Jordan and fortunately he found himself in Egypt where he learned and experienced how to write better than before. The ordinary citizen in Jordan knows little about these two literary men. Instead he knows by heart some singers and poets of no significance. The political elevators pushed some men of culture in Jordan to what they don’t fit for, and the result could be more than 20 books bearing one’s name but no one book or text of them could obtain the approval of creativity or of form from outside the Jordanian borders. Some of the privileged  turned to active marketers for their “ Complete Works” and I can swear that they didn’t read even the complete works of William Shakespeare  not to mention other modern names of the previous century  or even the 19th. We could mention names here and proofs but the structure of society in Jordan and the taboo of dialogue . I mean the mental dialogue of thought even in press) will not enable us to do this or discuss ideas, especially if the bearer of the ideas subjected to dialogue belongs to a big or small tribe. The ministry of political development is putting this fact and these realities in mind when approaching the theme of tribes’ law.

The law which still runs in parallel with the judicial law applied in courts and mostly both laws are effective even in a road accident. You have to imagine then what is the kind of culture we are conferencing to deal with or enter-act !

III

Bounding Culture with geography and politics

with place and time

The common defect of the talkative sheets of paper delivered mostly by PhD. Certificates bearers( obtainers) who work as teachers at the Jordanian universities is that intended geographical limits inside the boundaries of Jordan after the end of 1967’s war. Culture could not be tackled according to changing boundaries unless it is so limited and poor one. Avoiding critical realities about the mutual (Palestinian and Jordanian) history and country makers, the speakers neglected, blatantly, events of the near  history of the Jordanians before June 5th. 1967 . They also dare not speak about any controversial point in this modern history nor did they dare to go far in the past; ( B.C.) Many commentators like Mr. T.Nazmi pointed with courageous hints and gestures the missing theme of creativity which he said could not be limited to political and geographic boundaries since it is deeper than the history of countries and related to the human civilization and to mankind in general if we are going to measure it on creativity and progressive standards  as well on human basis. This opinion has its admirers and those who are hostiles to it already and haters. Nazmi , by the way, is considered Jordanian by the Palestinians and margined as Palestinian by the Jordanians. Actually he is missing both just because he was brought up in Kuwait since 1959. So, he is lost by 3 Arab countries if not 4 counting Iraq of Saddam.

But, in his vision to the future and his passionate deep strong voice Nazmi affected and impressed the attendants and most of the participants since he dared to cross borders that the lecturers couldn’t do. In the last hour the prime minister Mr. Faysal Al-Fayez  attended to listen(accompanied with minister  Mrs. Asma Khader) to what the attendants and participants would say ,demand and express. Al-Fayez ( in Arabic means the winner) promised clearly the coming reforms , some during a week, and announced that only 15% of the population are opposing his government while 85% are keeping silent and need to be activated to express themselves. These percentages indicate that the prime minister has his own calculations which are not understandable in maths. If these percentages are precise and correct, what is the percentage of military and security officials without considering other government officers including the senior officers who are voting always with the government ? Do they need to be motivated to express political will ?

And “if”, are they with or against ? One should wait more than a week to see if the meeting ( conference) was serious or not ,and if any decisions are to be made or just  a start summer night dreams!

Dropping culture and facts of history or destroying writers or  margined ones will not support democracy nor solidify a regime .Neither will it help president W. Bush or president Sharon.  

IV    The Size of Abeyance

What was astonishing in discussing national Jordanian culture and the future of arts and culture in the Kingdom of Jordan is the size of abeyance.

Previous ministers of culture did not attend the conference .Some of them avoided the fact that they don’t match nor had been fit to the job and the post. The same happened with those who engaged the job of head cultural departments in the press nor did journalists or editors. Moreover, the members of parliament did not attend, although they are in their parliamentary holidays and most of them claim being the representatives of Jordanian people. The general managers of both Jarash festival and Amman ’s international theatrical festival were also absent. Other theatre or so called artists and directors and groups or theatrical teams did not even pass to overlook the scene. What  a united one in the vision of the future ? Promising ? We hope so.

رئيسة أوميديا

تقارير سياسية  أدبيات  حضارات  شعر وصحافة  راسلنا  

 صور تتكلم  كتب ميديا  نقد دولي  مقالات صديقة  سيلة الظهر

  مهرجان أربي  غزة 3  غزة 4  بعد غزة  وراء غزة  فكشن