by Natasha Tynes | Oct 20, 2005 | Political mayhem
Reader Emad Hassan drew my attention to Imad Hajjaj’s latest cartoon, which I found personally annoying. In the cartoon he refers to Saddam’s trial as an act of "humiliation to Arabs." As an Arab, I was not humiliated; quite the contrary I am glad justice is being served.
The only thing that bothers me about the trial is how arrogant Saddam appeared to be, showing absolutely no signs of repentance for the crimes against humanity that he committed during the days of his oppressive regime.
Kais from Beirut Beltway refers to an editorial in the Daily Star in which the author discusses how both Lebanon and Iraq are on the path toward justice.
In both Iraq and Lebanon, the many citizens whose lives and families were affected by murderous regimes are hoping that the regimes’ leaders will be dealt heavy punishments by the courts.
If carried out properly, the trials of Saddam and former Lebanese and Syrian regime figures will mark a turning point in the history of the Arab world. Holding rulers accountable to the rule of law is unheard of in the region, where dictators, royal families and despots have habitually acted with impunity.
Indeed, it is a turning point in the history of the Arab world. It is not an act of humiliation as Hajjaj suggests. But then again Hajjaj might be playing on the emotions of the Jordanian street, where support for the popular Saddam is fierce. So Mr Hajjaj, although I really admire your work, this time you got it wrong.
UPDATE: Amir Taheri has a compelling piece about Saddam’s trial in the Times of London. Here is one excerpt:
Saddam is enjoying what he denied his victims: a public trial with defense lawyers of his choice and the rule of evidence taking into account the principle of reasonable doubt. Here a new Iraq, based on the rule of law, will be trying the old Iraq of cruelty and corruption. The Arabs will watch and decide which they would rather live under. The rest of the world should also watch to decide which side to support in the struggle for Iraq’s future.
by Natasha Tynes | Oct 18, 2005 | Political mayhem
Elaph (Arabic) has an intriguing article about the Jordanian reaction to Saddam’s trial, which is expected to start tomorrow. According to the article (Arabic), there is fierce opposition to Saddam’s trial in Jordan. Some Jordanian papers are even claiming that the person being detained is not the real Saddam but one of his doubles and that he is being put on trial simply to "increase the popularity of the American president."
Elpah went on to say that some opposition groups in Jordan have even asked for a permission to organize a rally in solidarity with Saddam Hussein! I really do not know when these groups will wake up and stop living in denial! Nobody can dispute the fact that the guy was a tyrant who committed a myriad of crimes against humanity, executing thousands of people during the days of his oppressive regime!
I really can’t fathom why these opposition groups continue to pledge allegiance to this dictator. Are they still clinging to his decade-long promise that he’ll "liberate Palestine" and "destroy Israel"? I wonder!
by Natasha Tynes | Oct 17, 2005 | Mi Familia, Shutterbug, Travel
The husband and I made a pact two years ago to put expensive gifts aside and celebrate our wedding anniversary with a trip. Last year our trip was to Dubai where we spent three "eventful" days exploring the wonders of the ambitious emirate. This year, though, our anniversary coincided with the weekend making an opportunity to visit the city that never sleeps: New York.
What can I say? We had a blast. Although this was not my first time in New York, I still could not get over how vibrant and lively this city is, not to mention its beauty. The skyline itself is simply breathtaking. I could stare at it for hours and never tire.
Our schedule allowed us to spend one full day in this great city, so we set our clocks for 12 hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 PM. It was a stretch but we did it and enjoyed it to the utmost. The day began with a trip to the Statue of the Liberty where we got the chance to venture inside the statue and not merely gaze upon it outside. Post-9/11 procedures stipulate booking tickets in advance (either online or by the phone) in order to get inside Lady Liberty. Otherwise, enjoying the statue from the grounds below is all you get.
Being inside the statue and listening to the park ranger’s historical briefing was engaging. It was fascinating to get acquainted with the history and architectural make-up of this world famous monument — a mini Eiffel Tower is inside her.
Leaving Liberty Island, we took the ferry on to Ellis Island where we toured the Immigration Museum and enjoyed it tremendously. We heard compelling stories of various immigrants that made it to the US in the early 1900’s seeking a better life. It was fascinating to see some of the belongings they brought with them from their home countries. One amusing item that drew my attention was a set of tweezers left by a Syrian couple. I also enjoyed seeing currency dating back to the Ottoman Empire. The exhibition is truly top-notch and definitely worth a visit.
After spending over two hours learning about the lives of early immigrants, we made our way to Central Park where we took a trip aboard one of NYC’s famous horse carriages that provided a beautiful tour inside the mammoth, lush park. It was so much fun. The park was buzzing with life; packed with joggers, bikers, lovers and writers. No wonder this location is a favorite spot for a myriad of movie makers.
After Central Park, we went to Times Square, where I got overwhelmed with the sights and the sounds of the place. One unusual scene was a performer right in the heart of Times Square: A topless (wearing pasties) young woman calling herself the "Naked Cowgirl"!
We closed out our day with a fabulous dinner at a Cuban restaurant in Times Square called Havana Central where we enjoyed ribs and of course … mojitos! I ♥ New York.
by Natasha Tynes | Oct 17, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
A post from over a year ago generated an interesting comment recently that I thought was worth highlighting. It is from someone claiming to be the real Norma Khoury — not the author of the fabricated book dubbed either Honour Lost or Forbidden Love. The author of those titles actually used an alias, something that is apparently causing the real Norma Khoury quite a headache. Here is the comment:
Forbidden Love by Norma Khoury.
I had to read this crap bcs I have been stopped for investigation at the airport. I hate my name when people ask me about the book and point their fingers at me. I declare "My name is Norma Khoury also" I am Jordanian and I live in Amman. I am Feng Shui Consultant. The Book, which is full of crap, is NOT MINE.
PS: I have been doing Feng Shui Cures closely to many Jordanian families for the past ten years. I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM THERE IS NO SUCH CRAP HERE IN JORDAN.
by Natasha Tynes | Oct 14, 2005 | Metro Daze, Music
We had a unique musical outing last night when we got the chance to listen to a live performance by the band Shusmo, Arabic for "What’s his name?” The band performed at The Jerusalem Fund in downtown DC, enthralling us with their compositions that mesh jazz elements with Arabic melodies.
The performance space was extremely cozy, designed to mimic a jazz bar, something that allowed for direct interaction between the band and the audience. I really enjoyed the outcome of this marriage between jazz and Arabic music, which got me engaged for the whole two hour performance.
The percussion was just fantastic. I loved the interaction between the tabla and the congas. You can check out the band here where you can listen to a sample of their music. It is also worth noting that Beisan, who graced us with her presence last night, also enjoyed the performance.
Reader Emad Hassan drew my attention to Imad Hajjaj’s latest cartoon, which I found personally annoying. In the cartoon he refers to Saddam’s trial as an act of "humiliation to Arabs." As an Arab, I was not humiliated; quite the contrary I am glad justice is being served. 
