Jordan Update!

Jordan... wow... in just over a month I will be travelling to the Middle East.  Never in a million years did I imagine I would be travelling there.  Africa? Maybe? South America? Perhaps.  But the Middle East? Sand, heat, hijabs. And yet,  I am so excited I can't sleep!!!!!!  We have our first official planning meeting in two days.   I have been reading novels and doing historical research on Jordan.  One of the novels I read had to do with Honor Killings.  I had no
idea that in a country as progressive as Jordan purports to be, that the number of Honor Killings would be so high.  I am reading a book right now about Marrakesh and am finding that the situation there is similar to Jordan - particularly with regard to the treatment of women.  I have to check my judgement here, but it is difficult not to hold the men of these Muslim Nations in contempt for treating their women like chattel.  Once they get married many Muslim women cannot leave the house.   This Holy Land.  The land where Jesus walked, Aaron is buried, the ark of the covenant is stored.  Where Jesus was baptized and the Dead Sea gives life, there are also young women who are murdered if there is even the suspicion that she has had sex with or kissed or talked to a man without the approval of her male relatives.

To be fair, it is also a place of refuge for thousands of people seeking safety and shelter from other, neighboring war-torn countries.  Jordan refused to fight in the Gulf War and has kept peace with Israel since war for control of the West Bank with other Arab nations, in the 70's and 80's.  It is now... neutral.

And here I am, this black girl from Georgia, going over to the Middle East to do some art.  wow...