I’m trying really hard to be an author — I’ve got my first book idea and everything, and I’m working on an English degree.
In Elizabeth George’s book for aspiring authors, “Write Away,” she says that if you’ve got discipline, passion and a knack for art along with knowledge of the craft, you will get published.
For myself, I’m about halfway there.
I’ve got the passion, a knack for the art and I’m working on learning the craft. I’ve mainly lacked the discipline, and the only way to become a better writer is to write. So, I’ve begun taking one day a week to go somewhere in the city of Amman to simply think and write — no talking.
Saturday was my first foray into this discipline, so I grabbed a taxi, intending to visit the ancient Roman Amphitheatre here in Amman, to find some inspiration. Naturally, I forgot the Arabic words for the place as soon as I sat down, so the Palestinian driver helped me remember: Daraj Romani, or “Roman Steps.”
After a fun and informative drive through neighborhoods and back alleys leading up to my destination, I said goodbye to my lively new Palestinian friend and gave him a tip for all the knowledge he shared with me about the city. As fun as the ride was, I realized I wasn’t being silent very well, so I quickly shut up and made my way to the whitewashed theatre.
One dinar later, I paid my entry fee and climbed up to the most secluded area on the grounds, near the top. Being winded when I arrived reminded me that I also planned on getting into shape during my six-month stay here.
I couldn’t shake from my mind the comments that readers left online about my first story — some readers seemed upset that I spoke well of the Middle East, as if I mistakenly forgot to mention all the terrorists running around killing Christians. I didn’t mention them because I hadn’t seen any, and in truth, I began wondering just what kind of Middle Eastern insight those readers might have had as they made those comments.
I know that most Americans are not racists or bigots — it’s just disheartening to see my own people refusing to see the plank in their own eyes even as they point the finger at the Middle East. But, I suppose if you’re getting your news from a Web site called “JihadWatch,” you couldn’t have a very objective or accurate opinion either way.
The experiences I’ve had here already have shown me how one-sided national news outlets have been toward the Middle East.
What if the only stories about America that got airtime were statistics about rape victims, child molestations or gang-related violence? You know as well as I do that those things aren’t what America is about — so why are we OK with the news painting Middle Easterners out to be violent, extremist Muslims?
It simply isn’t what the Middle East is about.
Sure, those things do exist, and they are terrible wherever they are, but the Middle East is a big place, and the people in each country are different. And from where I was sitting in the Daraj Romani, the people in Jordan looked like pretty normal people to me.
Jason Culp is studying abroad in Jordan this semester.
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