By Qais Shqair*
This is the story of Jordan, a nation that went beyond borders of space and location, because it dreamed on becoming a huge homeland that meets the aspirations of its nation with an encompassing entity and an Arab unity that Arabs long for. And since the winds of freedom didn’t find the ships ready to navigate with the intention of a captain seduced by false heroism, able to colonize peoples, the traveler landed with the flag of the Great Arab Revolt in the quiet city of Amman to make a dream possible. So started the story of a country with limited space and capabilities. Growing with the determination of its people and wisdom of its leadership, and becoming the most beautiful, even if it is the size of some roses. It has the thorn that gave back the youth to the East.
There are many examples around us of countries whose role and presence went beyond their area and population. The empire on which the sun never sets was and still is limited in size, and Japan, whose industries fills the world, too. And Singapura is a witness of the will that creates success stories out of nowhere.
As for my country, it was born great despite its small area. Its prince, with the determination of his family and the free people of his nation, wanted to save the dream of Arabs through union, inviolability and independence, so he laid the foundation stone for a nation that grows and accommodates its people. So its army was the Arab army, and its citizen is Jordanian, with roots that go from the East to the West of the river, to Hijaz and Sham, to the land of Kenana, Maghreb, the Caucasus and beyond.
So, my dear Jordan, the culture enriches your diversity, your location and geopolitical considerations have always made you an influential epicenter in the history of the region, as that is what the lover wanted us to be, Arab nationalists. We never delay in fulfilling our responsibilities, and we were the closest to Jerusalem, and we still are. Testimony of that is the grave of the person who fired the bullet of the Great Arab Revolt, who refused to be embraced by anybody, at least to be embraced by the dirt of Jerusalem, so that the Hashemite custody and guardianship are in the hands of the children of Hashem, firmly defending the protection of our Islamic and Christian sanctities.
The story continues, the story of a nation, building and construction, building first in the human being, which is the most precious thing we have, a construction that is not limited to stones, because urbanization is culture, civilization and a presence that is associated with the memory of the late great Al-Hussein, upon who His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein built, preserving the legacy and perpetuating the position of Jordan and the pride of Jordanians.
The story is not over, the story of a nation, as the economic, security, social, cultural and political challenges that face us are huge. The diagonal and regional entity that escaped the guidance schemes now need more protection that compels us to go back under the wing of His Majesty to thwart the evil that was reserved for us.
Happy new year and our country is well, happy new year and our family is well, happy new year and our country is rich with the pride of its people, and their support to the right path, the path of the nation, His Majesty the King.
Ambassador Qais Shqair is head of the mission of the League of Arab States in Brazil
The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors.
Translated by Ahmed El Nagari & Guilherme Miranda
