(MENAFN- Alghad Newspaper)
Following up on Jordanian news while abroad, it became clearer to me how foreigners, expats, and investors see Jordan. First, there was the power theft, Jordan's largest ever recorded incident of the sort. Then out came the video of security officers assaulting a citizen.
Right after, more news comes out on water theft and violations, followed by reports on massive drug smuggling attempts foiled by the police. Put aside all the international reports, which have —intentionally or otherwise— smeared Jordan's reputation.
Meanwhile, we hear about the National Current Part dismantling. A party headed by former House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali. He said that the Party's general assembly is looking into dismantling due to the absence and futility of party politics in Jordan.
He also said that there are various shortcomings in relevant legislation that have not been addressed.
We in Jordan live in a state of uncertainty, to what he said, under policies that marginalise party politics instead of empowering it!
When it rains, you see, it pours.
Bad news keep coming; from the imminent bundle of fiscal 'reforms in accordance to the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the flood of suicide, murder, and crime news.
Like floating a stormy sea; the waves either drown you or leave you breathless, at best.
There are horrific recurrences of doctors and nurses attacked at hospitals, crimes of new forms surfacing, robberies, and countless imageries of lawlessness across the Kingdom. All of it just leaves Jordanians at awe, as to how drastically things have changed for us in our Country, let alone expats and investors, spectating from afar.
In the meantime, there are Jordanians making world-class appearances, reaping awards of international prestige.
Just a few weeks back, the Amman Design Week was in session, showcasing our youths' brilliance and creativity.
Various cultural and artistic events have taken place over the last few month, but all of it was drowned in the flood of unfortunate news and negative perception.
Just a little effort into covering the negative news as much as the positive, and it just as soon immerses all the bright spots in darkness, pushing Jordanians into the corner, and blinding them from seeing the optimistic aspects of being in Jordan.
Of course, this isn't isolated from the building negativity over the years.
In fact, the shameful behaviours of the security personnel just a few days back is not separate from the overall deteriorated social and cultural setting.
Every aspect of our reality needs to be researched and studied. We must understand the unfathomable change in our society.
An incident where police officers attack a citizen is by no means less evil than a father attempting to electrocute his own daughter to death.
On the other hand, power and water theft is not at all isolated from the common misconception that public resources, services, and funds, are no longer off limits.
The same goes for contempt of the law!
There is a deepening belief among many Jordanians that they now have the right to take what they can and completely dismiss the authority of law.
At this point, we need to be aware of the fact that all of the above is no longer an issue of domestic interest.
It has a lot to do with shaping the world's perception of Jordan, among those keeping up with our country's news, notably investors looking to venture in Jordan.
While we are trying hard to attract foreign investment, with all the privileges and added value of investing in Jordan, we fail to address the image we present to the world.
More so, the regional situation does not help.
The entire region is suffering intensifying turmoil, and everything Jordan is enduring, from the economic blockade to the burdens of refuge, which already drains a quarter of the country's public budget, is not making it any better!
We need to be direct about this. We will never be able to convince investors to consider Jordan for as long as our own house is a mess!
In order to make real progress, we need to reprioritise our agendas. Nothing stands when the law crumbles and its enforcement agencies seem corrupt!
Everything we need to know is deductible from the law enforcement's relationship with the citizen, above all else.
Mindful of all the challenges that lie ahead, this storm can be weathered, but only by restoring authority, order, prestige, and respect to the institutions of law.
That in mind, we will not be making any progress so long as real citizenship, based on justice and equality, remains hostage to nepotism and obsolete social constructs.
Our society is slowly crumbling, and maybe not as slow as we think it is.
We must put an end to culture which allows people to undermine the authority of law and justifies their transgressions against public property and resources.
This article is an edited translation of the Arabic version, published by AlGhad.
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