The Real Values in "Jordan First"

A collective Jordanian feeling of anger and national patriotism has been gathering momentum recently in response to the remarks of the Syrian president Bashar Al-Asad in which he has mocked the "Jordan First" logo in his opening speech at the pan-Arab Political parties meeting in Damascus last week.

The public campaign of anger has been reflected in the form of many articles in Jordanian press criticising Asad and supporting the "Jordan First" slogan, but most of these articles have been based on nationalist rather than in-depth analysis.

The writers and commentators have missed one important point, which is the fact that we Jordanians have degraded the "Jordan First" programme of reform initiated by King Abdullah into a slogan and a sticker that can be placed on the back windows of our cars.

"Jordan First" was launched in 2002 as a reform and democratization programme. The King has ordered the formulation of several committees of selecetd Jordanian thinkers, politicians, and memebrs of the media, women, private sectors and academics to form a document that contains principles and mechanisms for reforming Jordan and modernizing it, and to focus our resources on national priorities.

The committees have done a good job, and developed a concise 12 page document that contains 10 "concepts" of Jordan First and a number of operational mechanisms in sectors of Government, Parliament, Judiciary, Political Parties, Professional associations and non-governmental organizations, press and media, schools, universities and youth and the private sector.

It is a shame that this provocative and modern document did not gain political support in Jordan. In fact it has been degraded by three streams:

1- The first stream was the government which has used the Jordan First as a logo of public relations and made it so marginalised as a sticker.

2- The second stream where the "ultranational Jordanians" who have misused the slogan to promote the ultranationalistic and fascist agenda they have, focusing on "Jordanians first" rather than Jordan First and instigating anti-palestinian and anti-arab perspectives.

3- The third stream was the ideological political parties and professional associations who thought of the slogan as a means to shy away from assisting Iraq and Palestine and gave a bad impression of the slogan without reading and understanding the context.

For the record and documentation, I am posting below the 10 principles of "Jordan First": for us all to see the great amout of wisdom that was lost and to realize the major values of the Jordan First programme.

Jordan First”is a project of renaissance and awakening. It stimulates the strengths of individuals and the society, consummates the work started by the predecessors and the early architects of the Nation and heralds a new era of economic, social, political, cultural and educational development. It releases the full potential of young Jordanian men and women and invigorates their ingenious work originating from their pride in belonging to their Homeland.

“Jordan First”is a social accord between Jordanian men and women, individuals and groups, the Government and the opposition. It emphasizes the supremacy of Jordan's interests over all other considerations and reformulates the individual's relationship with the State, equally dedicated to all males and females. From the State, citizens expect justice, equality, the Rule of Law, transparency and accountability and are duty-bound to respecting its laws and dignity, safeguarding its constants, protecting its stability and national security, and defending its interests faithfully and with dedication.

“Jordan First”is a melting pot that fortifies the national fabric for all Jordanian men and women and respects the diversity of their propensities, origins, attitudes, races and feelings. It seeks to integrate them nationally and socially in such a manner as to utilize our Jordanian pluralism as a source of strength for a modern, coherent civil society that prospers in climates of freedom, parliamentary democracy, supremacy of the Law, social justice, and equal opportunities.

“Jordan First”is an investment in the Jordanian people, in his/her education, rehabilitation, training, health and well being. It prepares Jordanians for a future that promises scholarship, knowledge and accomplishment.

“Jordan First”consecrates the concept of citizenship as a basic Constitution-guaranteed right that cannot be violated. It is a positive element that stimulates the intensification of political participation and the overstepping of negative trends. It has but one heading: “No one is more privileged than others except in what he/she offers to his/her Homeland and people.”

“Jordan First”is an invitation to all institutions in our civil society, including political parties, professional and labor unions and community-based organizations, to rearrange their priorities each in accordance with its competence, to be inspired by understanding the spirit and contents of this concept. They are called upon to seek to raise their own contribution to this rejuvenating project, which aims at building a modern Jordan. They are also asked to focus on achieving economic, social, and political development; creating productive opportunities; fighting poverty and unemployment and improving the citizen's standard of living.

“Jordan First”appeals to the media, as well as all institutions concerned with national guidance, to embrace the Homeland's causes and the citizen's issues in an atmosphere of pluralism, responsible freedom, independence, and cultivated professionalism. They should be intent on precision, objectivity and respect for the truth and the citizen's intellect and rights.

“Jordan First”is to guarantee the role of a nationalist opposition in the country on the basis of respecting the Constitution and the laws and priorities of the Nation. The opposition should be to the practices and policies of the government, rather than the constants of the State.

“Jordan First”reiterates that a strong, honorable and invincible Jordan is a source of power and capability to the Arab Nation and a lever for the enhancement of the steadfastness of our kin and brethren in Palestine, relying in that on an uninterrupted legacy of adherence to national interests.

“Jordan First” is a philosophy of governance, as well as an approach to leadership. It stands on the imperative of placing Jordan's national interest in the forefront of all the considerations of the State and the homeland, Government and civil society. The philosophy does not fall back on issues of concern to the Arab Nation, or isolate the country from the wider Islamic circle, in the focal point of which Jordan, under the Hashemites, has always been. According to the Constitution, the Jordanian people are “part of the Arab Nation” and “Islam is the religion of the State.”