Khaberni - Why Jordan? A question that is repeated whenever this country climbs a step or achieves either a small or large milestone in politics or sports. The onslaught on Jordan doesn’t differentiate between a match or a diplomatic stance, and whatever the Jordanians do turns into a reception arena filled with hate and hostility by some.
It’s as if Jordan's success provokes souls filled with resentment towards this steadfast country in its choices and influential in its surroundings. Those who hate Jordanian politics can’t even tolerate Jordanian sports.
In politics, Jordan has followed a clear line for decades based on moderation, constancy, and the protection of the nation’s causes, foremost among them Palestine. Despite pressures, Jordan remained committed to its stance and did not engage in the game of deals, therefore paying economic and media prices for not compromising its principles. This constancy irritates those accustomed to changing their stances with every wave, thus Jordan becomes an easy target when some fail to attack it politically, they turn to sports hoping to find a way to undermine it.
And sports, in essence, reflect the image of the country. When the Nashama team plays with sporting spirit and reaches advanced stages, it reflects the metal of the Jordanian human who combines patience, honor, and determination despite limited resources. Thus, sporting success becomes an unspoken political message saying that Jordan is capable of asserting itself, embarrassing the mighty, and presenting a refined image in arenas that require personal strength before resource strength, which annoys those who wish for Jordan to remain in the back rows.
When the Nashama achieved significant presence, attempts to undermine the team began, as if the matter isn’t just about football but about the entire national scene.
Success on the field reminds some that Jordan also succeeds off the field and that the bright image of Jordanian sports is an extension of the political image of Jordan which some fear and others envy; those who refuse to see Jordan strong in politics are provoked to see it strong in sports as well.
The image is one, and the message is one; Jordan is present despite all circumstances and remains steadfast despite all pressures, and is loved despite all smear campaigns, and perhaps for this reason specifically, attacks on it increase every time it progresses, as Jordan relies on stances and enhances its value through competition, not money. Those who depend on themselves are difficult to defeat.
And the question remains why Jordan is targeted in both politics and sports because Jordan is steadfast and proves every time that it is capable. And Jordan enjoys the love of the people while others are content with noise, and most importantly, Jordan is a country that wants nothing but to continue standing, and it will remain so no matter how much hate rises, no matter how much talk there is, and no matter how much the haters try, even if some of them support each other.
