I will not use rhetoric when talking about the funeral of Ahmad Al-Ardon, for I have witnessed a funeral—I cannot estimate its size even though estimates are in the thousands—but I witnessed an unprecedented ceremony: in both quantity and quality! Groups and individuals, it was not sorrow that united these groups, but pride in standing with Ahmad Obeidat, or repaying loyalty with loyalty!
The mourners were neither sad nor happy, but they felt dignity and pride! It was a distinguished national day!!
(1)
What is the Jordanian society?
In sociology, one can study the society, its values, and its resilience through simple indicators; through a joke, for example, one can study the characteristics of the society, its political and economic conditions, and values, and through bread lines one can write a complete "narrative" about the society's ethics and orientations!
Today, I will try to analyze the character of the Jordanian society through a single event, although just one event, it is a rich and condensed event, filled with values and characteristics! It is the behavior of the Jordanian society during the illness of "Ahmad the Countryman" and his funeral today!
So, what can be written?
(2)
A central figure
Zionism, resistance to normalization, Hamas resistance, and the Islamic Action Front party among many others!
It was not Ahmad Obeidat, but Ahmad the Countryman, and people accepted the condolences!
(3)
Features of the society!!
I will not talk about the "community's emergency response," nor its empathy with the event, nor its resilience against events; these are known traits before and after Ahmad the Countryman!! But I talk a little deeper about some of what the funeral of Ahmad the Countryman revealed about it!!
(4)
No!!!
Ahmad the Countryman said: No!, and the people rallied around it: No to corruption, no to compromise, no to unfair peace deals! No to standing as a bystander regarding Palestine!! No to Arab inaction!
These were not frivolous nos, but there are many alternative "yeses": Yes to the freedom of peoples! Yes to a serious Arab stance!
Yes to Palestine from the river to the sea!
Yes to resistance ...!!
Everyone recalled his last words:
Anyone who compromises even an atom of the soil of Palestine is a traitor to his nation, his Arab identity, and his religion!!
These nos, and those "yeses" are
the groans of the Jordanian society that says: No to faltering! Yes to sacrifice!
For the nos of Ahmad and his "blessings" are the most prominent features of the society.
(5)
Solidity instead of fluidity!
Ahmad the Countryman was characterized by solidity and flexibility, not by the fluidity of non-stance, adopting the shape of the container!
He did not say: And what am I from Gaza if it attacks!
He attacked!, not the politics of: "Put your head among the heads"!!
And this is the second characteristic of the Jordanian society: its definiteness and seriousness. And that's what makes Ahmad the Countryman a mirror to the Jordanian society!!
(6)
National unity!
Ahmad the Countryman is the creator of the National Charter 1991. Charter of diversity and unity! Or unity through diversity, where the nationalist interacted with the Islamist, with the communist. And the son of the desert
interacted with the city and the village, and women with men, and the opposition with the non-opposition! And resulted in the charter of people's unity, freedom, and dignity!
And this is the third characteristic of the Jordanian people, and the Jordanian society!
(7)
Human rights!
Ahmad the Countryman fought for the rights of individuals and society! He prepared reports that revealed violations!! And the people were with their rights! And this is the fourth characteristic of the society!
(8)
Yes, I was wrong
When asked where did you err, Ahmad the Countryman answered: Everywhere, there are mistakes! And here Ahmad the Countryman unites with the society in a fifth characteristic!
(9)
Submit your resignation!!
It is difficult to count the number of resignations or "dismissals". But all of them reflected the stances of the people: resignation itself, from the government, from the Senate, from the National Center for Human Rights! They all have one title, dignity, and the worthlessness of clinging to a position!! And this is another characteristic of the Jordanian society!!
When a person is stronger than the position! And when dignity is stronger than fluidity! And when you find
a strong "no", then you find the Jordanian society, and you find Ahmad the Countryman!!
Did you get me?!!
