AmmanAAEs centennial: Time for reflection.

By Saleem A. QunaThis year 2009 marks the centennial of AmmanAAEs first municipal council. But the cityAAEs recorded roots go back to more than five thousand years. Many finds and items on display at the Jordan Archeological Museum stand witness to this historical fact. To mark this important occasion many diversified, rich and highly appreciated cultural, artistic and sports activities were organized at intervals this year by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) in cooperation with other local partners. The primary objective of these events was to celebrate the centennial of Amman as a token of appreciation, allegiance and a symbolic pay-back by the citizens to their hometown. But two major unprecedented events on the busy time-table warrant additional notice. These two events, different in style and theme, drew the attention of hundreds of thousands of spectators who queued for long hours along the designated routes in the heart of the capital, as well as spectators of various TV stations who aired both celebrations live on October 9 and October 17, respectively. Historical backgroundIt is highly probable that the ancient city of Amman 2,500 years agoAuoriginally baptized as Philadelphia (brotherly-love in ancient Greek), and later joined the famous 10 free-city (Decapolis) states East of the Mediterranean, as envisaged by Roman General PompeyAuwent into a long forced historical absentia as part of the gradual decline of the Greco-Roman domain at that time. It was not until the third quarter of the 19th century that life bounced back in Amman as it turned to be the final destination for newcomers seeking shelter and livelihood. Foremost among those newcomers were the Circassian tribes who were forced to leave their homeland in the Caucasus at the hands of Tsarist Russia which was engaged in decades-long wars with its Muslim arch rival and neighbor, the Othman Empire. The latter had promised those Circassian immigrants support based primarily on religious affiliation. Slowly but steadily during the following three decades, Amman attracted other people from different areas and townships in Greater Syria which was under the centralized control of the Turkish Sultan in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople). People from Damascus, Nablus, Maan, Karak, Hums, Beirut, Iraq and the rest of Arabia started converging to this little new town, till 1921 when it was declared as the capital of the nascent Emirate of Trans-Jordan. Consequent events proved that this date played a major role in determining the future of this city as we know it today. The local paradeThe first big feast that can safely be classified as 100% local project in terms of its concept, composition, execution and participants, was the colorful and diversified parade which took place on Friday, October 9 in the winding path (nearly 2km-long) commencing at the Hashimeyya Plaza in front of the Roman Amphitheater up to Ras el-Ain area, where the new complex of Amman City hall is located. As the different components of the long parade have shown, the city of Amman made huge impressive strides in terms of development and modernization. The 10 segments of the parade represented the preceding 10 decades of the recent history of Amman; from a mere village of 3,000 inhabitants in 1909 to nearly 2.5 million in 2009, Amman has a story to narrate. If there was ever a contest among many cities around the globe for the speed and quality of growth and development, Amman can easily vie for first place. Amman International MarathonThe second big event on October 17 had a more international flavor since it adopted an internationally recognized theme, namely AoRunning for a good causeAo as its motto. Twenty-Five renowned international athletes took part in this first of its kind Marathon in an Arab capital, in addition to nearly 12,000 runners from around 70 countries. AoThis marathon is another version of the concept of fraternity, solidarity and tolerance which Amman humanely and culturally stands for,Ao said Mayor of Amman Omar Maani, in a statement to the media. AoThe participation of many internationally renowned athletes in this event is an additional bonus to the good cause of the Jordanian quest to fight cancer through the relentless efforts undertaken by King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) here in Amman,Ao he added. Food for thoughtTherefore the 2009 Amman Municipality centennial cannot remain just a date marked in the chronicles of Amman. This date rather represents a unique phenomenon in the region and the world at large. The question which comes to mind is how best to highlight this important event and how to keep its legacy alive in the memory of AmmanAAEs inhabitants and those who come to learn more about it. All visitors who arrived after the Parade and the Marathon would be given only the chance to see some photos or be told by local residents and friends how the Amman Municipality centennial was celebrated. Full stop! But I would strongly argue that there are numerous legitimate considerations to support this appeal and call to erect a special monument to mark this occasion: A landmark that can authentically reflect the rich history of this city, from its early lenient days, going through its growing pains, to days of content and ease, while occasionally facing different natural and regional upheavals, up to this date and cruising into the third millennium and beyond. Could it be a sort of an artwork in the form of a monument or memorial by Jordanian creative minds, which can capture the spirit and soul of Amman? Think about it: Carnivals, parades and multiple-like activities take place all the time in almost every big city in our world today; some of these activitiesAAE lifespan is shorter than that of a mosquitoAAEs! But what remain vivid in the memory are the actual physical monuments on the ground. Today when people visit the Roman Amphitheater and the Dome of the Umayyad Mosque within Amman Citadel, they are immediately reminded of those who preceded us to this place and prospered long before we came. Can we not envisage a permanent public memorial site that would remind future generations of how we did in 2009 celebrate the first centennial of Amman? I think we can and, at that, we can excel too.Salim Quna is a freelance journalist and author of a book entitled AoDowntown Amman: A Social TapestryAo.He contributed this article to The Star

2009 Jordan Press & publishing Co. All rights reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company