Jordanian National Identity Still a Touchy Subject

Jordanian identity is more than a game of origins; Blackout blacks out SOPA and PIPA legislations as they are shelved indefinitely; Representations of Muslim women in political cartoons can cause more harm than good; Laugh out loud at the "Shit Middle Eastern Girls Say" video.

The debate of Jordanian identity continues in light of Arab revolutions.

Confessions of a Vegetarian Shark [3]

On The Jordanian Identity

Identity has always been a complicated subject, especially in Jordan's multi-faceted cultural terrain. Yet, this Jordanian blogger declares that playing the origin game is a losing battle and that no one is of so-called pure blood. So, instead of yielding to paranoid rhetoric, we should focus on making Jordan a habitable place for all of its citizens. "We're a people that has become one family, in the literal meaning of the word, even if some among us try to exercise their 'ethnic purity' in the Nazi fashion, we're not 'ethnically pure', none of us is, and our purity lies in our diversity, that's how Jordan was created, and that's how it should stay, for the sake of our children; All of them."

Gradly [4]

SOPA and PIPA On Hold After Internet Protests

Phew, we'll not have to endure life without Wikipedia! It seems that online protests have more tangible effects than the ones on the street. The blackouts of some of the Internet's biggest websites, such as Google, Wikipedia, Microsoft and Reddit, have caused congress to reconsider and shelf controversial copyright bills SOPA and PIPA, much to the relief of online bloggers and activists alike.

Muslim Media Watch [5]

How are Muslim Women Doing in Political Cartoons?

Unbeknownst to most, political cartoonists have a moral and social responsibility. This is especially true in gender representations. For this gender studies-based blogger, the representations of Muslim women in mainstream political cartoons in western publications sends out the message of oppression and "other-ness". "Is this the way Muslim women continue to be presented and explained to Western audiences, through the eyes of mainly white Western men? And what are the consequences of this? Depiction of Muslim women in the Western media and much of the internet are highly problematic.

Caledoniyaa [6]

Things to Make Happy Noises At

From negative interpretations of Middle Eastern women to funny interpretations of Middle Eastern women. Copying the "Shit Girls Say" phenomenon that has taken over YouTube spawning several imitations and parodies (if you haven't seen it, YouTube it now!), these Arab guys make their very own "Shit Middle Eastern Girls Say" video. Although not devoid of stereotypes, you'll laugh at how true some of these are.