Rula Samain

Speaking the truth is not always easy, particularly when it requires us to examine ourselves, challenge long-held perceptions and acknowledge uncomfortable realities, and yet, if recent events have taught us anything, it is that protecting Jordan’s unity requires more than condemning violence, rather it demands the courage to confront the attitudes that allow division to take root.

Jordan has experienced pain, shock and anger. But amid these emotions, our confidence in our country, its institutions and the values upon which our national identity rests remain unshaken. We trust our institutions to uphold justice, just as we trust our society to reject hatred. Our collective grief reminds us that what binds us together is far greater than what differentiates us.

We must ask ourselves what it truly means to be a cultured and educated society. What responsibilities do intellectuals, religious leaders, educators, journalists and families carry in shaping public consciousness? Education is not measured by academic qualifications alone, nor is culture reflected merely in eloquent speeches, since both must be evident in how we think, speak and treat one another.

There remains, unfortunately, a troubling question in some minds: Who am I, and who is the other?

When a representative of an important segment of society regards Jordanian Christians as “comers” to this land, we should not dismiss such a perception as an isolated misunderstanding. It reveals a deeper gap in our understanding of history, identity and belonging. Christians are not newcomers, but an inseparable part of Jordan's historical and national fabric.

Citizenship is indivisible.

Our diversity has never prevented us from living as one society, sharing moments of sorrow and joy. This is precisely what makes Jordan's experience distinctive. We do not simply coexist alongside one another; we share a homeland, a history and a common future.

This shared life is deeply rooted in the Hashemite tradition. Descendants of Prophet Muhammad, the Hashemites have carried a historic message of moderation, peace and respect for human dignity. Under their leadership, Jordan has upheld justice, equality and mutual respect as essential principles of national life, reinforced by the constitutional foundations of the state.

Today, we confronted a culture of death with a culture of peace, but this responsibility cannot rest on security institutions alone. Religious institutions must challenge exclusionary thinking, intellectuals must speak courageously against prejudice, media must hold responsibly, and schools and families must nurture respect, critical thinking and a sense of shared citizenship.

We reap what we sow, thus a society that cultivates understanding builds trust, and the one that tolerances ates prejudice risks harvesting division.

Jordan remains strong because its people refuse to surrender their unity to fear, yet genuine national strength also requires the maturity to recognise our shortcomings, address them through rational dialogue and understand that managing differences is fundamental to democracy.

Loving one's country means celebrating its virtues, and having the courage to correct what threatens them. That, too, is patriotism.

Writer specialized in interfaith dialogues, peace and reconciliation, PhD International Affairs