Liberty, Anonymity, Fraternity

A year ago, I probably would have supported France’s proposition to ban the niqab. As "liberals", we often assume that we are the proponents of liberty and freedom and it is the “conservatives” who are smothering people with their beliefs. How ironic that a country would consider outlawing a certain type of dress in the name of values like “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” It seems the “open-minded” who believe they are defending women’s rights, not only fail to understand Islam's interpretations, they miss the definition of women’s rights altogether. While some may define freedom as the ability to wear shorts or show one’s hair (qualities associated with the “modern” woman who emerged in the 1920s) there are women who have chosen to cover their hair and face. Andre Gerin, one of the key people in this movement to ban the niqab, called women who wear the niqab “imprisoned” (Erlanger, Steven, “Burqa Furor Scrambles French Politics,” The New York Times, August 31, 2009) to suggest that French law is freeing them from a frightening oppressor: Islam. Why has the word “right” (both in the context of being right and having rights) become synonymous with a leftist agenda, one that ultimately damages the the word's reputation? Is justice about protecting universal rights or being right? Do we define freedom by our own narrow standards? It seems we are now saying: “you can have freedom as long as it is whatever we consider freedom to be.” I was under the impression that freedom is the right to be who you are and believe what you believe so long as it does not encroach on other people’s rights. Perhaps, the niqab represents the oppression of women to some but it is ignorance that creates this limited view of such a religious symbol. It seems France wants to include another piece to the definition of freedom: “as long as it does not encroach on other people’s rights or your own.” If only we lived in that simple a world. The line where choice stops and force begins is very grey. And while our society values fighting for the “underdog” we cannot always be sure who the underdog is or if we are fighting for them, our self interest or out of fear. When we defend things we know little about, we mock both them and ourselves. One veiled Muslim woman cannot accurately represent every woman who covers herself, so how can Andre Gerin? France may not be sure that all women who wear the niqab are doing so of their own will, but it can be sure that it is keeping them from making their own choices. To support freedom, it is necessary to give people the tools to help themselves. Otherwise we may confuse pushing our agenda with protecting others' rights.

-Kat

A Page Out of Order - Hold the Clock Jordan

On Tuesday April 20th, as part of the Amman Contemporary Dance Festival, I performed in a show titled "A Page Out of Order - Hold the Clock Jordan" choreographed by conceptual artist Yoshiko Chuma. My involvement started as a simple offer from Ryuji Yamaguchi, the director of dance at King's, asking if I would like to participate. I liked the idea of performing in a foreign country for a well-known Manhattan artist so I said yes. The cast consisted of dancers from Ramallah, Japan, and Amman and rehearsals were conducted in a mix of Arabic, Japanese, and English. It was amazing to see the effects of working and performing together: cultural and linguistic differences are transcended in the face of a common pursuit and passion.

Yoshiko made the rehearsal process a learning experience rather than just a time to learn choreography. She emphasized the physics of movement and treated dance as both an intellectual and physical activity. Yoshiko's notes were invaluable because I began to see dance as a combination of talent and strategy. It is reassuring to be reminded that movement isn't about luck. People can do five consecutive turns or stay suspended in a leap through the air because of calculated choices made by their mind and body. In the end, the hour and a half performance was a small portion of the experience - it was the time spent rehearsing that taught me the most.

-Kat

The Citadel

Downtown Amman is home to a few ancient ruin sites one of which is the Citadel, a collection of stunning pillars, a mosque, and a palace. The ruins include stunning pillars, a mosque, and a palace. The ruins present a maze-like journey because even though the palace walls have worn down to a height only slightly higher than my own, the architecture is complicated and fun to navigate. Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of this tourism site is the view. Although downtown Amman is often bustling, at the Citadel you feel removed from the crowded sidewalks. Surveying Amman's skyline gives one a feeling of transcendence. Amman is small but it seems to go on forever; and the apartment walls and hotel signs are overshadowed in this creme-colored land underneath pale blue sky. I have never seen the sun shine quite the way it does here.

Turkiye

Eight of the Junior Fellows, including Marianna and myself, traveled to Istanbul, Turkey for our spring vacation. The two hour flight landed us in Ataturk Airport surrounded by flocks of different nationalities and signs in Turkish. From the beginning it was clear Turkey was much more European than Jordan. The culture change was enticing but being pulled out of the Arabic-speaking world felt abnormal. I had become accustomed to hearing Arabic and was hesitant to exchange it for Turkish. However, our hostel welcomed us and as we settled in it became clear that Istanbul proved as diverse and thriving as it was reputed to be.

Our first site, and one of the most notable, was the Hagia Sophia, a church-turned-mosque with a stunning interior and a rich history. Inside is a muezzin's lounge, for the person leading the Call to Prayer. During this trip I learned that there had been more than one muezzin, in fact there had been several. The restoration in the Hagia Sophia showed a depiction of Jesus, a left over sign of the mosque's previous role as a church.

A two minute walk from the Hagia Sophia was the Blue Mosque, which is still used by practicing Muslims today. The size of the mosque accompanied by its detailed interior is impressive. Because it is a functioning mosque all visitors must remove their shoes before entering and are asked to cover up.

Our next stop was the Basilica Cistern. The Cistern was eerie; it was dimly lit and damp but fascinating.

We also took a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul. Who would have thought one could cross continents in 15 minutes? We also spent a whole day at the Topkapi Palace where we were lucky enough to have a tour guide. We learned about the extensive Ottoman history while also ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the architecture, jewelry, clothing, and artifacts. Because the Ottoman Empire was so expansive in its peak, there are many incredible artifacts - such as items belonging to the Prophet Mohammad - that originated in other places than Istanbul.

We were given a tour of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, an organization that strives to promote and share Turkish culture. We were served Turkish tea, shown beautifully crafted kaftans, the type of dress historically worn by Ottoman leaders, and given an overview of the organization's extensive projects. Afterward, one of the junior fellow's family friends generously offered us a boat ride on Bosphorus. The view of Istanbul and its many faces was amazing!


And of course our experience would not have been complete had we not gone to the Grand Bazaar and a Turkish bath. The bazaar was stocked with vendors selling anything you could think of: from leather goods to jewelry to belly dancing costumes. The Turkish bath consisted of hot stone slabs for lying on, a small pool (that we were dismayed to discover was freezing), and beautifully carved fountains. Not only seeing but experiencing Turkish culture, whether by stepping into a Turkish bath or indulging in authentic apple tea, made Turkey one of my favorite places so far.
-Kat

Here Comes The...King!

Last weekend King's hosted a Model United Nations conference at the Dead Sea. On Wednesday a very special guest attended sit-down lunch - His Majesty King Abdullah II! Some of the students, mainly the MUN officers, even had the honor of sitting at His Majesty's table along with Dr. Eric. On the following Sunday, the conference concluded with several speeches given by the students who had spear-headed the weekend's activities as well as another visit from His Majesty! King Abdullah commended the MUNers on their incredible efforts and emphasized the importance of our generation's willingness to step up as leaders even at this stage in our lives. His Majesty's eloquence was impeccable and his message was inspiring. It is not everyday that one sees a king in person so you can imagine there was a lot of excitement on the part of the Junior Fellows!

-Kat

Cement + Love = A Home

Marianna, Sophie, and I recently went on a Habitat for Humanity build in Ghor Al Safi in southern Jordan. Our team was made up of two teachers, another Junior Fellow Sam Verde and eight students. The build fell on a weekend with bad weather causing all of the previously signed up students to back out so on the morning we were supposed to leave eight new students were recruited in their place.

When we arrived in Ghor Al Safi two coordinators, George and Ramel, gave us a quick orientation with information about Habitat in Jordan and the family we were going to be helping and safety guidelines. George explained that the organization loans the local community leaders money to then loan to families. This is sustainable because the money is always paid back.

We started work at the site that afternoon. Our project was to build an addition onto their house so that they would have enough room for the children to sleep. At the site we were joined by two men both named Ibrahim who have construction experience. First we mixed cement that we would later use to build three new walls onto the house. Next came the "brick dancing line" which involved moving cement blocks. I think my arms got stronger from the all the heavy lifting! The family generously brought us tea ("shay" in Arabic) and Arabic coffee while we worked and helped us with the construction. When we began building the walls we were instructed where to scoop cement using our trowels and how to place the blocks. After working for a couple hours we returned to the guest house where we were staying and ate dinner. The family who ran the guest house cooked a delicious meal for us. The rest of the evening we hung out as a group.

The following morning we returned to the site and continued building. After our portion of the project was finished the leader of the local community organization came for the dedication of the house. He said a few words and the family thanked us and we presented a framed photo to the family and told them what a pleasure it was to work with them. Then we gathered as a group to take a photo of all of us in front of the house. At the end the family gave Marianna, Sophie, and I--the only females--presents! We couldn't help but beam at this was an extraordinary gesture of kindness.

I think that everyone came away from these two days amazed at how much impact a seemingly small amount of work can make.

Today the New York Times news alert reads: "Errant U.S. Rocket Strike Kills Civilians in Afghanistan." A recent response to the Peace Day entry from my Aunt Marie has made me consider the surfacing of many issues that did not previously hold any personal connection. One of the students, an incredibly sweet girl named Zarifa, traveled all the way from Afghanistan in pursuit of the best education she could find. Afghanistan's conflicts hold even more weight when you know someone who has come so far-away from their family and friends-to afford opportunities that were voided by these problems. Furthermore, I am reminded of the power of individuals and how critical our attention is to the scale by which we represent each others' actions, because if we don't we are likely to be mislead. On a national scale, today's news tells us that the U.S. harmed Afghanistan but on a personal level, Zarifa and I are very close - we live in the same dorm and I consider her a younger sister. So why do emotion, decency, and humanity often become obsolete in transition from one-on-one to nation versus nation?

-Kat