Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Heroism

Al Anbat today has eye-witness accounts on the attack by a gunman on tourists in the Hashemite Plaza at the Roman Amphitheater. According to the witnesses, after shooting began, a large number of citizens surrounded the assailant, who was still shooting, and began pelting him with stones, wooden boards and shoes. They closed off the exits of the plaza to prevent his escape. Apparently, as the assailant faced off with the police man, who was shot twice, a sanitation worker attacked the gunman from behind, knocking him to the floor and eventually subduing him.

Other by-standers were busy helping the wounded tourists, carrying them to the main road waving down private cars to get them to hospitals.

While most attention is focused on what the nut job represents in terms of Jordanian society, I believe that the heroes of the Hashemite Plaza are more representative of who Jordanians are and what they stand for.

10 Comments:

At 7:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good job the did,alah ya3tehom al 3afya.

 
At 8:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

While most attention is focused on what the nut job represents in terms of Jordanian society, I believe that the heroes of the Hashemite Plaza are more representative of who Jordanians are and what they stand for.

Very true! Very intersting view you have, for it is not lost in nor does is it focus and insist on categorizing this mad man as a 'terrorist'

 
At 9:18 PM, Blogger Khalaf said...

Hamede: True, may God give them health.

Iman: I agree. The argument as whether he is a terrorist or not is pointless. It is politically motivated murder. All can agree on that.

 
At 10:33 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the swift and courageous act of the people in the street was the only positive element of this ordeal. This is a true example of the concept of Jordanian "nashama"

 
At 4:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been thinking about this all day,composing a post for the blog I should have next month!

The response of the people around the tragedy was the very best example of the cultural characteristic of "Honor". Alot is spoken about honor killings, this was an example of honor 'living'; alive and well in the hearts of normal Jordanians.

In the US, people would have run and hid. Here, a sanitation worker became a hero. And I think had he have been a vendor, or a tour guide, or a corporate officer, the result would have been the same.

 
At 6:44 PM, Blogger Khalaf said...

Batir and Kinzi: Thanks for dropping by.

:)

 
At 12:32 AM, Blogger Dino$ said...

its people who do such acts that make wad3 il 3arab wil muslimeen zbaleh fikol il 3alam....

its always il yahood who are behind it!!!

anway... u wont beleive how everything is a conspiracy nowadays...

 
At 3:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't like Jews, and i certainly don't like the west any more, they expect us to treat them real well in our countries, yet they treat us with humiliation back in their countries.
Yet once our Gov grant them a Visa, its our duty to grant them saftey, thats bevcause we are this kind of people, and thats not because we like our Gov. Its a matter of Principel. We should not allow or encourage attacks on any visitor. If we don't like to have visitors, take that with ower Gov. That is the proper channel.
we ahve to stop coming out as uncivilized, and give the west ammunition for their accusations of our civilization that is under attack.

 
At 10:26 PM, Blogger Khalaf said...

I.C. and Al Miqdad: Acting in a civilized way is a source of pride. I agree with you both that we owe this to ourselves.

 
At 7:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agrre with you too. well i really would like to visit jordan someday. I think that it would be a very fun trip. I would like to visit the Petra.

 

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