Riding in from the airport to Amman, the taxi driver was delighted to find that this was my first trip to Jordan. He taught me how to find my way around the city, told me what to see if I had the time, described the neighborhoods through which we passed. Like many taxi drivers I've had, he pointed out the location of the American Embassy, though we didn't deviate from our route so as to actually see it.
When he found out that I did humanitarian work, he sighed.
" Baghdad. Many Americans who work in Baghdad live here ."
The question was unspoken, but I answered it. I don't work in Baghdad and am not going there on this trip. He smiled again, but his next words were serious.
" It is very sad in Iraq. They don't trust anybody." Here, we are honest. We love strangers. We will do anything to help. If you leave your bag somewhere, we will find it for you - and nothing will be missing. You have nothing to worry about here. Jordan is not like Iraq.
" Iraqis don't trust. Maybe their family, but no one else. "
History hasn't been kind, the past forty years in particular.
" Yeah, yeah. But now, now they have nothing to trust. The army, disbanding the army was a mistake. Men, thousands!, went home and didn't fight and now they are unemployed. They believed it would be all right. Now they have nothing. They trust nothing. "Posted by Martial