I just sent this letter to the editor of Jo Magazine about their article.
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Dear Editor:
I am writing in regard to your article "You’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?” which was published in the June 2009 issue.
The article is simply irresponsible and absurd. Your decision to include such a poorly researched and one-sidedly written article in the June issue is not only misguided but aims to inflame. Frankly the publisher of your magazine should be held accountable for all the unwanted advances that western women will get because of this article.
The stereotyping of western women tourists is ludicrous. It is akin to a view that some Jordanian men hold that every western woman is a whore. This view no doubt stems from a lack of interaction with women in general and from watching too many Hollywood movies. I find it ironic that I have to explain to a western man like you that Hollywood offers a fictional account of life and relationships in America.
Further the article seems to confuse issues. There is a huge difference between consensual adult relationships and prostitution. While certain behavior may be different from expected norms in Jordan, it is a far cry to characterize it as prostitution. After living extensively in America and moving back to Jordan, I sense there is an attitude among a certain segment within Jordan that holds the belief that western culture lacks any semblance of moral order. I can assure you that, at least in the USA, this is not the case. Why don’t you spend some time investigating male-female relationships in Jordan to determine how they might differ or mirror western culture?
On a different point, did you ask your article’s writer about the research that he conducted when he was putting this smut together? Did he check with the Ministry of Tourism to learn more about statistics related to women visiting the Kingdom? Did he meet with or interview any women tourists about their experience in Jordan? What corroborating evidence can this writer produce beyond what appears to be overhearing a few guys bragging?
Upon reflecion I have to admit that you were successful in one area. You have managed to alienate perhaps an important segment of readership, expatriate women. I wonder how much of a segment that makes up of the people who buy your magazines. One final thought. Who are you trying to compete with, the "National Inquirer"?
Next time my wife is harassed on the street by a misguided man, I hope it had nothing to do with him reading your stupid article.
Peace
(S)mother’s Love Like a Blanket
1 day ago
10 comments:
I agree.
El 3atel, thanks your input. I appreciated the perspective of a Jordanian husband of an American wife.
I heard about this ridiculous article. It is understandable, however, that those guys were, as you said, merely bragging about, and most likely exaggerating, their interactions with western tourists.
by understandable I don't mean to condone such claims and/or actions. It doesn't surprise me that these guys might have just made up the stories. In a sexually deprived society, the sex taboo becomes the feat to show off. However, it seems that the magazine is the one to blame for running after publicity.
I think I stopped making sense two paragraphs ago!
Hamede and Kinzi, ahlan.
Mab3oos, actually you made sense to me.
Peace
Of all the hot issues and crises you have read about in Jordan you have never once written to the editor of any local paper. Poverty, corruption, social injustice, oppression, wasta, consumer protection, all of these problems and nothing moved you to action but a silly article about western women. Strange priorities.
Maysa
Actually I disagree with you, if you review his blog, you'd see that he's blogged about the highly burecratic system in Jordan, he's blogged about the injustice of the Palestinian people, he's blogged about the various discriminations taking place in the country, etc...
Alas, you call this just a silly article. I think his priorities for his wife and other women not to be harrassed on the streets of the immoral city of Amman that is filled with sexually frustrated people are in the right place.
People like you and the writer of this article should be held highly responsible the next time a western woman faces problems on the streets of Amman.
What you seem not to realize that these few western women that live in jordan or come to visit are the ones defending us against the false stereotypes that the West often slaps on us. We dont need to lose their support.
Maybe you need to check your priorities.
Regards
>>> People like you and the writer of this article should be held highly responsible the next time a western woman faces problems on the streets of Amman.
And who will hold you accountable next time a Muslim women gets killed by Western men in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Germany?
"And who will hold you accountable next time a Muslim women gets killed by Western men in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Germany?"
Do you know how ridiculous you sound? Do you realize how racist you are being? For your information there are Christians in Palestine,Iraq,and Lebanon as well, or maybe for you its ok if they get killed as long as they are not Muslim.
This is absurd. What does this topic have to do with what happened in Germany, Palestine, Lebanon, or Iraq?
And why should I be held responsible, I never condone any kind of violence, unilke you condoning violence against women being harrassed in Jordan.
While we are at it and you want to play that game, should we hold you responsible because churches were bombed in Iraq?
Regards
You stupid idiot. Don't go around blaming and threatening people if you don't want to be blamed for things you did not do. dunce.
"And why should I be held responsible, I never condone any kind of violence, unilke you condoning violence against women being harrassed in Jordan." Amazing! Anonymous, you totally silenced everyone and proved your point of view!
"You stupid idiot." these "nice" words serve only to show us how "Anonymous" proved his\her point of view and and how he\she strongly rebuked the illogical and irresponsible comments of the so-called "Maysa".
If Maysa had a reasonable reply to support her "unsupported" comment, wouldn't she have posted it?
Why did Maysa squeeze the following in! How is it possibly related to the article in JO?
"And who will hold you accountable next time a Muslim women gets killed by Western men in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Germany"
I think that some people just can't separate between America's foreign policy and issues related to America and Americans, like the article in Jo.
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