Worrying for America

Recently I met with Majed, an elderly Arabic schoolteacher in Amman, Jordan. Not long ago, he taught me Arabic, and we still meet occasionally to talk about the media in Jordan. He lives in a small clay mud brick house in Amman and has 10 children. He asked me about my recent trip to the US. To my surprise, I found myself telling Majid that the confident, energetic America I had come to know during my college years in the States was almost unrecognizable. I told him that America is facing challenges--people are losing their homes, losing their jobs and millions can no longer afford health insurance. They elected a new President, I told him, to try to help them. As I spoke to the schoolteacher, President Obama's themes of hope and change rung in my head. Images flashed through my mind of the thousands of young and old Americans lining the streets of Chicago hoping to be part of history. Majid shook his head in disbelief and said: "I will pray for them."

During my trip to the U.S. in November, I was conscious of an uncomfortable role-reversal. In the past, I had become used to being accosted by Americans who want to talk to me about creating job opportunities for frustrated, unemployed Arabs. This time, American friends worried about losing their jobs turned to me for comfort.

I saw thousands of Americans lining the streets to attend what was ludicrously termed a "job fair" in New York. Bill, a college friend, told me job fairs are the new soup kitchens. Instead of speaking of the future, we ended up reminiscing about the 'roaring' 90's. Today, Bill works at Citibank. I read that 50,000 Citibank employees will be laid off in the next few months. Everyday, I hope that Bill doesn't lose his job.

I saw many homeless and scarred Gulf War vets sleeping on the crowded and cold corner of Columbus circle in Manhattan. I found myself comforting a store clerk at my favorite retail store because she had heard rumors that her store was closing down. The next day, I stopped to acknowledge a lonely flautist and a grungy guitarist in the subway. The open guitar case inviting donations sitting in front of him was empty. I assured an American friend, who left Jordan to study law in New York, that a new US administration will bring a sense of optimism. Then we found ourselves staring at the front page of the business section with a photo depicting young lawyers packing their bags and heading to Dubai.

At the neighborhood drug store, another American told me about his struggle to finish film school and his diminishing hope that images will make a difference in this world. The Fletcher family, who graciously invited me for Thanksgiving dinner in Long Island, gathered to gaze at a computer screen. The images were of palm-tree shaped hotels and an indoor ski resort in Dubai. Their enthusiasm reminded me of photos I saw of Disney World when I was a child in Jordan and, later when I was older, my impressions of Las Vegas.

On my visit to New York, I awakened every morning and promised the newspaper seller I would continue buying the print version of his newspaper. It hardly eased his worries as the newspaper industry continues to suffer unparalleled layoffs and diminishing revenue. I returned to an unexpected continuing boom in Jordan--a Middle Eastern country with scarce natural resources that is currently the second largest recipient of US aid in the world per capita next to Israel.

While American newspapers file for bankruptcy, a single Jordanian news website has already hit the million mark, surpassing both print and broadcast media in the country. As the American franchise restaurant Bennigan's filed for bankruptcy this summer, Jordanian families exuberantly packed the newly built Bennigan's in Amman. The restaurant remains open. And when Americans were Googling the address of their favorite neighborhood Starbucks to see if it was closing down, I was surprised to see three newly Starbucks springing in my Amman neighborhood.

On my last day in New York, a French-Jewish woman decided to tell me the story of her journey from France to New York before selling me a suitcase. "I work day and night here so my son can go to university," she told me. "I don't sleep often." An Arab-American cab driver mentioned that in America at least he did not have to worry about access to hot and cold water or heating. "I am sure Americans will not starve. That is good, no?" Our conversation reminded me of a story I read on the debate brewing over the use of the SAT for college admissions. Only a few weeks later, I read that many young Americans will not even afford to go to college.

When I was called to speak on a panel regarding the Middle East at CUNY, a former CBS veteran correspondent told me she had traveled across the US but was convinced the best Sushi she has ever tasted was at a jazz bar in the Middle East.

I returned to Jordan a few weeks ago, and immediately noticed that local hip-hop concerts and standup comedy shows were selling out in Amman. The Mayor created the first ever standup comedy festival in the Middle East, showcasing up-and-coming comedic talent and encouraging more Jordanians to get involved in comedy. A representative from my graduate school and I met over lunch in Amman and wondered how the university might strengthen and support international alumni activities and programs. Could USAID in Jordan fund it? Then we looked at each other and laughed: American foreign aid would be returning to an American university.

Comments

[aneeshkumar]

While we in the USA are clearly going to see a decline in our standard of living--helped along by a trillion-dollar "stimulus" boondoggle--Ms. Sweis is a tad misleading in describing the Arab world's vivacity.

Most of the Arab world is mired in heart-rending income inequality, totalitarianism, gender apartheid, religious discrimination, rank racism, and a medieval, anti-modernity, anti-science culture. It is still a place where women are stoned for getting raped (sic), and which exports nothing except oil and dates.

Even after a material drop in our income levels, the USA will remain a far better place than Jordan.

Aneesh Kumar
Farmington, CT

[SAWH]

To Aneesh

You're taking Ms. Sweis's article a little too literal and to heart. It's an article stating that things are badly visible in the US and such countries such as Jordan (who has no "oil" or "dates" to export) are sharing a common struggle. The current downfall of the US is a ironic lesson at its best.

Jordan is the biggest ally in the Middle East to America. The same country that has to bear the constant change in demographics and economical irregularities because it must allow in refugees from next door countries that the US has invaded.

Overall, despite what you might feel or think, Ms Sweis's insight is commonly shared, for myself and others who "travel the world" a lot. We understand her point (without taking it literal).

It is clear you never stepped foot in Jordan to know what Jordan is all about. You clearly lack experience and knowledge of the MEast in its entirety.

I am a foreigner in the MEast. I lived in Boston for many years. I've experienced the "American life" just as Ms. Sweis has expreinced the American life. We care for America as we care for any other country. The words you used to describe what happens in the Arab world are words of bigotry. It is wrongful and descriptive terms like these that prove you have a blinded view of the MEast.

Dont be a Bigot. The Arabs are not your enemies. You yourself is your greatest enemy.

[GreatFish]

First of all, Ms. Sweis's article is about economic conditions, not social and political problems, so your comment is somewhat off-topic. Nobody denies that the troubles you mention exist in quantity in the Arab world--however, they are hardly unique to this region. Indeed, some of them prepend to an unnerving extent in the United States.

Furthermore, your rush to make blanket statements about the "Arab world" reflects a disconnect with reality. The "Arab world" is not a monolithic, singular entity with one blanket set of cultural practices, values, and problems. In fact, Jordan is a stable, secular state with fairly liberal policies, a cosmopolitan capital, and a diverse cultural scene. It has been a leader in regional peace initiatives, and is shaping up to be a source of much-needed solutions to the region's broader issues, such as the water crisis. It is also a poor country with few resources and a lot of problems, but amid its troubles are many dedicated and intelligent people struggling to make Jordan, the region, and the world better places.

As to the exports, Jordan's most significant are phosphates and potash.