Notions

The financial crisis. A dark gloomy cloud lingering in the skies of Europe since 2008, obstructing any filtration of sunrays to lighten up the dark patches of impoverished lands and lives in this super mega power. Desperate measures have been followed in most affected countries, and when those did not work, people turned on one another and separatist movements emerged, demanding independence from the whole to achieve economic salvation for the part. Others decided to expand and annex territories with historic ties, and others decided to re-examine economics 101 and EU 101. In all cases, innovative steps and plans saw light after the crisis, and so did the rhetoric of political movements and parties. Not only has the crisis impacted parties, their programs and their discourse, but it has also led to a certain radicalization of ideologies that have dug so deep into the belief-base of some societies in a very short period of time and has been feeding citizens hopes and convictions e...

The Syrian civil war – or proxy war – has been ongoing for far too long now. Three years of infighting, hatred, massacres, radicalism, vengeance, political schemes, betrayal, diplomacy and deals. Fear and sadness drove people out of their homes and left them at the mercy of the international community and good doers to house them and give them a refuge from all the ugliness that is happening in Syria. Those financially comfortable found a place in Europe; those desperate and cunning smuggled their way into Europe as well; and those with less financial means sought neighbouring countries. In arms wide open some countries took Syrian refugees in and gave them a temporary residence until things clear up and calm down back home. Jordan, and Jordanians, are one of those countries and people that stretched out a helping hand to fellow Syrians. Jordan – as in government- and Jordanians- the people- are housing one and a half million Syrians today. Government and citizens are playing...