A major battle

Perhaps our biggest challenge at this point in time is not the number of problems that we have to address all at once, but our faith in our ability to address these problems.

“Our” here is crucial; it refers not to specific individuals or groups that can be either optimistic or pessimistic about change, but to an overall, widespread attitude that no matter what we do, we are unable to make change happen.

Such attitude, which has become second nature to many who speak or write in various forums in our society, is very harmful.

There is no denying, of course, that we — in Jordan as well as the region more generally — are facing very many problems on many fronts: economic, political, social, ecological, educational, etc.

Under each of these headings, we have many major issues, from scarcity of water, desertification and severe energy shortages to viable democratic institutions, adequate levels of access and equity, consistent implementation of laws, sufficient green areas in our urban centres, reliable media venues, etc.

There is no denying also that sometimes, perhaps often, we do things that fail. But who says that all we do should work all the time?

And who says that if we falter or fall, we should not rise and try again?

At the same time, however, there is much that we do right that many are either entirely overlooking or belittling.

Our motor vehicle and passport departments — to cite just a couple of examples — are among the most efficient and competent on the globe, despite their limited resources and human power.

The Greater Amman Municipality, despite the huge challenges it is facing on so many fronts and some obvious failures, is keeping our city cleaner than many other cities in our neighbourhood and beyond that have double and triple budgets and human power — among many other good things that it is doing.

There are many success stories in our society, in many sectors, that are being overlooked because of the prevalence of this overriding negative, dismissive and cynical discourse that many are foolishly or maliciously promoting.

Yes, there are problems in our school system, huge problems; but there are solutions, successes and bright spots that we should recognise and capitalise on. 

The same applies to our universities, ministries, sports, tourism sector, business companies, hospitals, roads, etc.

The main problem with such prevalent negative, dismissive and cynical discourse — as opposed to the constructively critical and analytical — however, is not so much that it overlooks or undermines our achievements, but that it overlooks and undermines our faith in ourselves. And it is one of the main forces pulling us back.

This is bad.

Many of us, of course, are immune to the pernicious effects of such discourse, because we have the ability and the knowledge to see through it.

Many, however, may fall prey to it and promote it without knowing. And this causes double harm.

Therefore, we — both as individuals and as institutions — need to do all in our power to counter such discourse, curb it and obliterate it; fight it the way we fight an infectious disease.

And herein lies a major battle.