Senators have been forced to quit and ministers have handed in their foreign passports to their respective embassies. This has all been part of the latest constitutional amendment taking its toll, which states that public officials, including parliamentarians and ministers, cannot hold dual citizenship. The reason? Foreign citizenship allows officials to be protected by laws of foreign governments and thus cannot be held accountable by Jordanian laws. Suddenly, after all that has happened and continues to happen in the country, the Jordanian state is concerned with holding people accountable.
I was not inclined to say anything about this topic despite its growing controversy. I, like others, feel it has become another distraction that crowds out the more important issues – genuine mechanisms of accountability being one of them, and genuine pursuits of good citizenship being another. And as a dual citizenship holder, my opinion will likely be skewed. But then again, this is a blog, and possessing a personal opinion is kind of the whole point. So I’ll attempt to argue from a both objective and subjective view, and put aside the arguments that others have made pertaining to this being a discriminatory policy that contradicts the clauses of equality engrained in the constitution.
First, there are two arguments to be made: an economic one and a political one.
I think some of the most pragmatic Jordanians are those that managed to fortunately study or work abroad. Many of those people carry foreign passports and if they are working in Jordan’s political sphere, then the country, theoretically, stands to gain from their educational and professional qualifications. I might also argue that many of these people are genuinely looking to serve their country given the fact that despite a foreign citizenship they’ve decided to bypass better standards of living abroad to live and work in Jordanian politics. By eliminating these people from the picking, you now have a smaller and more filtered labor pool to choose from. The high echelons of the public sector will end up facing much of the problems that the private sector faces today: a labor pool of not-as-qualified candidates who are homebred and have little to no foreign experience.
In the private sector, having that foreign experience is always a plus simply because there is a general consensus that our educational system is a mess, and it is. Anyone who has studied here knows it, and anyone who has had the good fortune to study in both worlds knows the contrast very well. Thus, local employers seek out Jordanians with foreign experience over a local portfolio because of those qualifications, especially for the more senior positions. The way the private sector looks at the labor pool is, simply put, pure. It is apolitical and completely neutral, simply because the bottom line is always the profit margins. Hire better employees to gain higher profits. Politicize those positions, and you stand to lose.
Our public sector works in the exact opposite way. Pretty much every position in the government is politicized. Not just on the ministerial level but on every level. Even government beurcratic employees tend to gain their position through nepotism and connections, and their employment is usually secured for them by those possessing political power – be they ministers, member of parliament, senators, former officials, royal court officials, etc, etc. This methodogly of employment has of course demonstrated its faults time and time again. The unqualified will always be able to secure a job over the qualified. I would also argue that a great deal of those who are qualified and willing to pursue a low paying public sector job instead of a private sector job are more willing to forego the opportunity cost for a chance to genuinely serve. This is not to say that everyone who is qualified and wants a government job does so out of a desire to serve, but the number of people who genuinely want to serve increases by default of the meritocracy. In contrast, a great deal of unqualified secure public sector positions through nepotism simply because the private sector doesn’t want them, and government jobs come with a minimal safety net that the private sector, for the most part, has not been able, or willing to provide.
So the economic argument is quite simple: we are now encouraging a system where the under-qualified gain favor over the more-qualified, and thus further eroding any chance that our public sector may one day become a meritocracy. For good measure, I’ll emphasize again that these are generalizations but I believe that for the most part they are true even though they do not apply, obviously, to every single case. That said, those who do hold foreign citizenship and did come back to the country to genuinely serve politically, have now been given a disincentive to pursuing such goals. This door has been closed to them.
The political argument, in my opinion, is that this is simply another maneuver to engrain a cheap sense of loyalty in a country that has a major identity crisis, which is largely deliberately ignored by the state. It is just another way of questioning people’s loyalty to a country that is consumed with loyalty issues that border on the paranoid, if not xenophobic. If you are willing to give up a foreign citizenship to serve in government, then you are making the ultimate statement of loyalty. It’s very much like high school. You cannot divide your loyalties to two different cliques; you’ve got to pledge your loyalty to one group in order to be accepted at all. In lieu of genuinely tackling the identity question in Jordan, those appointed with the task have chosen instead to ill-define Jordanian identity, filling it with notions of “family units”, religious prerequisites, and singular citizenship. Creating a linear citizen in a globalized world.
If accountability was really the issue, this could have been resolved by establishing specific legal restrictions on those holding dual citizenship and public office without resorting to the country’s most rigid document, the constitution. Pursuing this through constitutional clauses is an indication that the issue stems beyond mere accountability objectives and more towards the loyalty question: the “Jordanization” of high political office. Now, the country’s most important document, one that determines the entire legal framework and operation of this Kingdom, is making an indisputable statement: dual citizenship means dual loyalties.
From a personal and subjective point of view, I’ll say this. I was born and, to some extent, raised in Canada. However, every inch of my being lies in Jordan. I feel very little connection to Canada despite all that it has offered me. Coming to Jordan at a very young age, a light bulb flickered on somewhere in my mind, and I felt a connection to something here that I did not feel anywhere else; a connection to my roots, and it was a novel feeling. Many people that I have spoken to who have similar backgrounds also had a similar experience, so I know I’m not alone. In fact, my parents were forced to retire early and move their entire existence to Jordan simply because during one summer vacation, at the age of 12, I refused to go back to Canada.
Anyone who graduates from university thinks about two things: establishing a good standard of living, and family. For those who studied abroad, many add a third factor – coming back to Jordan to serve the country in some capacity. This may seem trite or even sappy, but I can honestly say that many people I’ve come in to contact with over the past few years have held similar objectives. However, coming back to Jordan to serve means sacrificing the other two factors to a large extent; a willingness to accept a much lower standard of living and forgoing the family connection. For 20-something year olds this is a pretty big sacrifice to make during one’s so-called “transition years”. But this embodies my decision to come back to Jordan, and I think there are many out there who can claim the same thing.
With all that said, there is very, very little chance that I would ever sacrifice my Canadian citizenship simply to hold a government position. Why? While my connection to Jordan is much greater, certain realities will always dominate. If Jordan was able to offer me a tenth of what Canada has offered me, including universal health care, a progressive social security system, better and more affordable education, a universally-respected passport that allows for greater mobility, and the access to higher standards of living, then I might consider it. But it doesn’t. And it won’t any time soon. The fact that this very issue of dual citizenship is even an issue that was taken seriously and approved by the state is not only testimony to the fact that things are not progressing, but that the stage is being set for the country to actually start regressing. So for someone like me, an average citizen, to close that door of opportunity that I rely on as a safety net would be absurd. Not even the chance of securing a retirement package that pays out a monthly salary (at the public’s expense) long after I no longer serve.
I would assume that such a decision to relinquish foreign citizenship would be easier for HM King Abdullah, who I believe is entitled to a British passport by way of his mother, HRH Princess Muna, as well as HM Queen Noor who gave up her American citizenship – but to those of us who are ordinary citizens, other realities dictate the way we must live to secure a decent future for ourselves and our children. Dual citizenship is a way of doing so. No more, no less.
So, once again, a royally-appointed committee came up with a half-baked decision that was approved (and expanded upon) by a misrepresentative parliament that was elected through a flawed electoral law and stamped by a royally-appointed government, which has managed to fuel more social division over the identity question in this country than any of its predecessors during the past 30 years.
On the bright side, the private sector will, in due time, stand to possibly gain from all this as the small pool of qualified workers flow towards it, and away from a government arena that is not only dominated by nepotism (which already makes things difficult) but is now telling the qualified that their country’s constitution dictates that they have no chance for career advancement.
What is funny by making that law they have eliminated a lot of the well-educated, exposed portion of society.
The discussion between my father and I in the house has been him endorsing this law, and me completely against it. I see his point of view though, if a parliamentarian or whatever does something wrong he can simply pull a fast one. That said, very few of the upper 1% do not have dual nationality, and that includes some of the Powers that be.
I wanted to get into politics before, but now thanks to this, I’ll be damned if I give up my other citizenship!
For what? To watch people be hysterical in parliament? To watch those who have no right and were wrongfully put in places of power pull fast ones and get away with it? To watch them eating Bizer while it is in session? Ha! Hell no!
@Walid: I think there is a great number of people who would support such an amendment, especially as there is the viewpoint regarding accountability, and another viewpoint regarding leveling the playing field. To the former, as I argued above, I think there are ways of placing legal restrictions on that small group of people who hold high public office as well as dual citizenship. Placing such broad stipulations in a constitution is simply not the way to go. And as for the latter, I would argue that the playing field shouldn’t be leveled (in the non-classical sense of the term) when it comes to qualifications. We want the best and the brightest to hold public office – we need the most qualified to be serving in these positions…and many, if not most of these people have dual citizenship. Jordan’s greatest export is its human resources, and as a result, decades of immigration, of generations that studied, worked and lived abroad, have gained dual citizenship.
So that’s just the reality of the situation.
Agreed!
But another problem we have pundits like Mo7ammad Al Wakeel, actually daring to swear (shatayem) at the ones who wouldn’t give up their dual citizenship rather they gave up their post. Someone should muzzle him, he’s getting out of hand.
I am all for accountability, but is it really going to happen with a Draconian law like that?
Agree with the points presented in this blog post. I will reiterate:
And of itself, the fact that such and issue was brought up, signed, sealed and delivered by institutions we rely on to govern our lives is sufficient reason to realize the importance of having another citizenship should the self-evident regression carry on further.
The problem with the law is مسك الموضوع من الاّخر bypassing all considerations:
Let’s assume that a Jordanian man studied and worked abroad and got an american citizenship, or married an american or is son to an american. He works in the government and moves up or is randomly appointed as a minister or even a prime minister, if such (öut of whack) scenario happens there is a 99.9% that he is rich and very well connected. If he turned out to be a bad one the crime he is most likely to personally commit is corruption and embezzling, he is not going to murder anyone (at least not first hand). So this man who is now a PM turns out to be an embezzling SOB, or an intelligent business with a high sense of entitlement who arranges multimillion dinar deals during his term that he will cash in on his way out. He stinks of corruption and مكاÙØØ© الÙساد investigates him cracking the case with strong unequivocal evidence, and in only a few weeks he is tried and sentenced in all fairness by a clean judge and without interferences from his well connected friends. Oops the man who is now convicted escapes to the US, he is a refugee and even though we have an extradition agreement with the US it gets complicated for someone with a dual citizenship. so what should we do to prevent this case from going sour EVEN though we have done EVERYTHING right ? prevent Jordanians with dual citizenship from getting into politics or government work JUST IN CASE they make it big and fuck up big ? No the REASONABLE THING to do is:
-Ensure that the selection criteria for minister positions isn’t so god damn random
-Transparency of how someone becomes a minister, senator, parliamentary whether by election or appointment.
-Clear LAWS punishing ANYONE who abuses a position of power for personal gain at the expense of the public good. you are supposed to serve the people not yourself. conflict of interest and insider dealing should be regulated and punished.
-A legal system that doesn’t take months long holidays and actually settles a claim before a person dies of old age.
-Limiting the kings power to appoint such higher ups, or AT LEAST setting a criteria or a mini شورى that nominates (not including head of GID perhaps)
-Accountability and a public exist interview that involves an investigation and براءة ذمة.personal financial statements of before and after.
-Anyone with a diplomatic passport, or working in the government is treated as under investigation until we catch something on you and must submit his other passport to the government.
but it’s too much work …It takes a lot to prove that someone got rich illegally by stealing from people, and even if you proved it, what will you get from jailing him if all property is transferred in another’s name? cost the treasury more money for the 5 star prison? Tax the money wherever it ends up and put it back where it came from ..in the treasury. make the tax system faster than the legal system and tax all the big money moving back and forth ON THE SPOT.
and in regards to dual citizenship a better shortcut that will give you better results ensuring no one steals makes too much money and runs away and will actually generates income is to help foreign countries TAX their nationals in Jordan o عالنص! a Jordanian American won’t dare make over 80k a year if he knows the IRS will get 40% of it 😀 some of the biggest criminals were caught by the IRS for tax evasion when the police, FBI and CIA couldn’t do shit.
You can solve most of Jordan’s problems by making GID personnel tax collectors working on commission… ignoring the little fish and going after the big fish.
Its the same old struggle between the old guard, who regard the country as their own farm to milk the taxpayers and hire their relatives, and the liberals, you know those people who believe in financial prudence and not burning money on giveaways for loyalty. The coailition of old guard idiots decided hey lets get rid of these liberals by creating this retarded law, since they knew most of the liberals are educated and have foreign passports.
You saw Rousan’s note “Finally we got rid of all the Liberals” after the vote. This is our Government; a bunch of corrupt politicians politicking over dumb things; and enriching themselves and their families.
Even in Canada if you are looking to hold a public office you are asked to relinquish foreign nationalities. Each nationality comes with a set of obligations. So in effect being in parliament and holding a second nationality is a conflict of interest. You are not purely making decisions based on Jordan’s interest only, but also based on you holding that second nationality (e.g. if Jordan was to go into war with that other country).
This is not so different than not being able to serve on the board of directors of two competing companies at the same time.
@Maha: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion rocks! The IRS will find you 🙂
@maha: thanks for the comment. i may not agree with every specific thing you said, but all in all, i agree with the sentiment that there are various legal avenues and mechanisms that need to be in place that would allow the state to get better results than this constitutional amendment. but this is only if accountability is actually the issue. in my opinion it’s not. in my opinion, this is just a standardized smokescreen that we’re all expected to smile and nod our heads at without noticing that the lack of accountability reigns supreme and continues to do so, even these past few months, as you noted.
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@Zaid: you are incorrect. canadian officials are not, to my knowledge, required to relinquish their other citizenship. in fact, several prime ministers of canada have held office while having british, french and other citizenships. in more recent years (i.e. the past decade or so) it has become a pseudo-controversy that rears its head every now and then, and is framed strictly as an issue of loyalty. hence my political argument outlined above.
your analogy of dual citizenship being akin to serving on the board of two competing companies is also quite flawed. my canadian and jordanian passport do not “fight it out” when they are next to each other in their drawer at home. in other words, my citizenships do not compete with one another for my loyalties. and if this were the case then we would have to argue that any jordanian with another passport is, by default, unfaithful to jordan…which would account for a great number of our population.
and it is this very notion that jordan has been unable to deal with since black september…that citizens of multiple identities can be loyal to those multiple identities without the world collapsing. i should not have to choose between my canadian citizenship and my jordanian citizenship any more than a jordanian of palestinian origin should have to declare their allegiance to a single entity.
@Nas: You are right, it does looks like it is not a legal requirement in Canada but rather just an issue controversy. However, I think my argument still holds in extreme cases such as war and peace, U.N resolutions etc. If you were to vote in parliament about an issue that would result in you not seeing members of your family for years to come (e.g. an embargo), or that would result in their assets being frozen, etc. would you not think twice about it? Even if it was clearly in the interest of the country you are serving as an MP in? I know I would, and it is only natural to.
I view it as less of an issue of allegiance and more of an issue of aligning the interests of the person holding the office with everyone else. This means that if I want better public health-care in Jordan, and also hold a public position, I would have to make it happen rather than leave for another country.
I have been living in a vacuum for a few months. and I do not know the background to this. but If I didn’t misunderstand and the constitution has been changed to forbid dual citizenship on accountability grounds. then pardon my language! this is BS and has no basis in international law! no country has the right to protect you or even offer you consular assistance in another country where you hold nationality!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, I wish MPs could have read your post before voting this ridiculous constitutional amendment!
Your article is premised on two fallacies:1. the assumption that those who studied abroad are inevitably better educated, better qualified and perhaps smarter?! 2. the assumption that the majority of those who studied abroad have gained a foreign passport.
I totally agree with you. And I am very sad to say that i see more reasons everyday to hold on to my other passport, which is just that – a convenient travel document.
dual citizens actually have the choice to be somewhere else yet choose to be in Jordan to make a difference. I completely reject any attempt at questioning loyalties.
I would like to clarify one point you made. As I was researching the subject I discovered that the British law in 1962 did not allow for a British woman to pass citizenship onto her children. So your assumption is incorrect. And I’m sure you know that the Royal family cannot have anything other than the Jordanian citizenship.
@Zaid: I think as I, and others have pointed out, such rare cases can be resolved through legislation that deals with these specific cases, rather than a constitutional amendment that rules out an entire segment of society.
@NT: I do not consider either to be a fallacy. I consider them to be generalizations indeed, as I pointed out. I consider the majority of those who studied abroad to have gained a better educational experience than those who studied locally – this is not about privilege but about differences in the system. As for immigrants (not just those that studied abroad), yes, many do not have foreign passports simply for having lived abroad, but I would argue that it’s a decent segment of society.
@A7lam: With regards to the point you sought to clarify, I would refer you to this wiki: http://is.gd/JZpOoy
– yes indeed I do know that, but my mention of the royal family is an attempt to highlight a point, i.e. the difference between those that can live securely without dual citizenship, and those that cannot and therefore strive attain it. In other words, I do not think any one in the royal family would be turned down by a foreign government of a country they’re trying to enter, say, on a work trip or on a holiday. The same level of mobility is not something the average Jordanian has. Dual citizenship offers him/her that.
I can’t find the objectivity in your blog, it’s all personally driven to make a point of view, which is not what you have said to provide in the beginning of the blog entry.
Economically speaking, one of this country major problems is the almost 20 years now dependency on western models for reengineering and structuring and change.
One of the most common fallbacks for relatively most of the initiatives ran in the public and private sector is the obvious estrange models, suggestions, problems citing, solutions suggested that came to apply whatever those “highly qualified” coming from the western sphere without any alignment and consideration to our culture nature, needs and demands.
Those, you generally describe as more qualified from those who don’t belong to the same school, have proven so far to be the essential part of corrupt projects and mediocre programs.
i am not going to go deep in this, but you can take the language issue as a very evident one. Taking the language those who are supposed to be the western heaven angels that are sent to enlighten us use with a language we, the misfortunate, don’t understand regardless if we can communicate with it or not has proved to be a real obstacle in the implementation and carry of many projects… as that group like to label it: lost in translation.
I am neutral towards the law, I do believe that there is legal and logical contradictions in serving two countries or belonging to them and i have another problem with the notion of having a safety nationality all those more qualified are enduring us with their kindness to come back and serve the country while they can fly away at any moment, and i do believe that this is not what loyalty is about nor how i can describe it or legalize it.
I am not neutral though toward the panic mood dual citizenships holders are showing and the attempts to sound more qualified or of added value just because they have another nationality, especially that all examples cited here and discussed are about the American and advanced European country’s nationalities, no one is talking about a Ukrainian citizenship holder and doctors for example. I think you guys need to chill out, you are not more qualified because you have a degree from the states, regardless the endless complements you have been having ever since you have travelled abroad with the usual: جاينا شاب خريج امريكا، طبعا بÙهم كتير ÙˆØ±Ø ÙŠØ²Ø¨Ø· الأمور. Sorry, that demining stereo type is over.
I am living now in Germany since 5 years continuing my higher education and on the verge of being entitled to get the German citizenship which does not allow dual citizenship! Frustrating isn’t it!
First of all I think that abroad experience is important for most of governmental top positions as the other qualifications. Such experience could be obtained from studying or working abroad. And this does not only include western countries but any country around the world including Arabic ones! So dual citizenship or living in the US or Europe is irrelevant here.
A good portion of those who got dual citizenship throughout their career, have and had used its advantages which led them at the end to be selected for top positions. Nobody denies that having a foreigner citizenship gives one an edge. Of course if anyone (including me) has dual citizenship, he/she will be delighted to use its benefits, its normal. My point is: you as a person with dual citizenship have useful tool which most of other Jordanian does not possess! To which level did you benefit from it to reach your current level of qualification is irrelevant.
Even if the parliamentarians were representing us truly, I am sure the new decision would have passed (the timing of it is another issue).
I think if you really want to represent people in the parliament and fight for a better future of your country, it does make sense somehow that you should share with them same fears, same opportunities and same fate, and its damn hard to do it with dual citizenship. A lot won’t find it relevant, that doesn’t mean they’re not loyal, because many people in the private sector served and serves their country (and themselves) better than most politicians.
Germany doesn’t allow duality of citizenship simply because they want equality in benefits for all of its citizens… it does make sense for me…
I would like to add that there are very special cases in Germany which allow citizenship duality which is hard to apply (as am trying personally to do!) and I want to emphasize that I am not supporting this decision but merely offering an argument for supporting it! I think the right way is to do it is following the German model as a general rule for citizenship duality and not only regarding political positions.. http://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Standardartikel/EN/Themen/Migration/Staatsang/faq.html?nn=439476#doc1308132bodyText6de
I would like to add that a much bigger issue in the amendments is not including gender equality in the first article. It should be the first thing to object to since it excludes half of the society from achieving it’s full potential.
Nas, I am in total agreement with all the points you stated. I can not believe that a government is not able to place secure mechanisms to ensure accountability of MP’s and/or Senators ??! With all the challenges our country and specifically the government faces this minor issue is pumped and brought to the surface and was a headline in local newspapers ! What about unemployment levels and cost of living, Public Debt and Corruption ??!
One of the most important rules of being a true Jordanian citizen is to contribute whether within Public or Private Sector ..I hope I live to see the day were the topic of Nationality does not become the sole issue in Jordan but rather Citzenship..how many times did HM King Abdullah stress on the important fact of solidarity and unity of all Jordanians of all roots..to me the issue argued and pumped ref dual citzenship is in a way driven to slice the country’s unity and dectates yet another silly measure (in the heads of some) pertaining to Loyality..
” abroad with the usual: جاينا شاب خريج امريكا، طبعا بÙهم كتير ÙˆØ±Ø ÙŠØ²Ø¨Ø· الأمور. Sorry, that demining stereo type is over”
at least a US graduate will know how to spell demeaning…
Nas – country is goin to the dogs man, just find urself a job in dubai and enjoy your life…they want a foreign secretary from mowagar with a bachelors in poetry from damascus, because a harvard graduate who is a dual citizen ofcourse is a Traitor….
US politicans who have dual citizenship.
1) Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger
2) Joe Liberman
3) Henry Kissinger
4) Madeleine Albright
I’m a Jordanian high-school graduate and was widely encouraged to study abroad. I will therefore be studying Law at a top law school in London and have ambitions to continue a postgraduate degree at another top foreign university. There is no doubt that the standard of living outside in certain countries in the West is much higher than that of Jordan. However, I hope to return to Jordan, armed with a strong foreign legal education, and involve myself in the politics of the country, hoping to improve it for the better. My mother has constantly expressed her wishes for us to live in Canada and grow old there. However lucrative that lifestyle may be, I would prefer service to my country.
I hold a Canadian, British and Jordanian citizenship and options of a better lifestyle are open to me. I have no problem giving those up in hopes of improving my country politically, however I will never give up two of my citizenships for a political post. The citizenships may be needed in any situation and do make traveling much easier. I would rather live with the knowledge that, in the future, if I or my children are ever in need of advanced medical care, it is not far from reach with my Canadian citizenship. Or that traveling within Europe is made much more convenient with my British passport. No one knows what the future holds and I would rather give my children passports that will help them in their future then enter politics in Jordan. In this way will this law reduce the loyalty of Jordanians aspiring to improve their countries and essentially limit the options for future ministers and senators.
This is not a solution to the problem of corruption. It is a facade of a solution. Laws need to be improved to tackle corruption and prevent it, rather than merely creating a law to prevent corrupt politicians escape. The essence and foundation of the problem needs to be tackled. If the ‘escaping’ of corrupt politicians with a dual citizenship is preventing justice, then extradition laws can be improved. And what about corrupt businessmen? How does the law aim to deal with them? This is NOT a solution. Its a joke.
I do not think that the law is irrational; we must have a system whereby it’s ‘Jordan ruled by Jordanians’ (as in Jordanians-only) which, by definition means that they are Jordanian-only nationals regardless of being of Trans-Jordanian or Palestinian origin. I would gladly give EVERY Arab citizen who passes Jordan a passport, but would make it impossible for them to enter elections if they do not have Jordanian citizenship. One could ask, ‘is it in the best interests of the nation?’ & how many people could be ‘planted’ for them. Well there are additional safeguards that can be implemented.
To me however, this whole ‘dual-citizenship’ business has more to do with Jordanians of Palestinian origin & (in not so many words) a desire further tighten the definition of who is ‘Jordanian’ and who is not. Personally I feel service to my country & the Arab nation doesn’t have to come as a politician; quite to the contrary, I WANT TO HELP my country, not mess it up & I think avoiding politics is a much better proposition. I would rather citizenship reflect true social circumstances, & not political whims of the unrepresentative parliament.
I do not want to argue about the new legislation being rational or not as you ALWAYS can find arguments for and against any particular idea, I only want to mention my personal feeling. I love Jordan so much, I always felt and am still feeling it is my home and where I belong, I would die for Jordan but not for Canada which I also love and hold nationality, but my true patriotic feeling definitely goes to Jordan where I was born and raised, educated and gained my first work experience before leaving to Canada 10 years ago. In Canada I gained new advanced education and new rich experience in a tough field even for Canadians -I am not implying I am better or smarter as somebody mentioned- but what I have learned and was exposed to here are more advanced and I would never reach this level of training in Jordan, not because Jordan is bad or stupid, it is not about good or bad it is about development, Canada is way more developed than Jordan in many fields including the one I am specialized in. I’am planning to go back to Jordan and serve the society and my people and helping building my country. But when I see the government and lawmakers mentality I really get frustrated and sad, I am really afraid of going back to Jordan, rather than being given the opportunity to use my training I will be faced by the stupid bureaucracy, such laws make it more difficult for people like myself to believe that they are welcome in their own country and trust me I struggle trying to convince Jordanians living in the US and Canada to move back and they love Jordan but most think it is not worth it moving back as there is no opportunity to match their training, Jordan should open such opportunities and try to make it more attractive to Jordanians not the other way around. In my opinion holding the nationality of a particular country does not mean a lot, there are Jordanians who worked for the enemy, the true criteria of fitting a particular position lies in the person’s abilities and characters, when I see someone like Abdul Hamid Shoman or Talal Abu Ghazaleh being asked to step down from the senates I really think there is something wrong with this legislation as you can tell from what it brought in, unless we are happy with where we are at and do not want to change we should not bring more restrictions but rather more flexibility and openness. It is hard for me to believe that such law would benefit the country in any way.