The camel in Jericho ...
I grew up learning the Islamic narrative during our prophet Mohammad (PBUH)'s era. I touched upon how challenging the reality where he and his companions lived. This peaked when he showed the people his prophecy and the religious message that he excruciatingly got across to them. Some welcomed this message and believed in while other defiantly rejected attempting to prove its falsification.
Our prophet didn't give up and set out on a long journey to Madina and sent his messengers abroad to show the Islamic message.
At that time, the way the transportation used was remarkable. It was quite traditional as there was no kind of mechanical advancement. Therefore, camels were used to move to different areas inside and outside the Arab Peninsula. That image of the camel loaded with goods walking on the burning sand in the desert, became an inferential icon as a tool of transport and travel that our prophet (PBUH) took advantage of, and also Arabs, in general.
This, indeed, what I sew in our curriculum, a cartoon image shows a line of camels loaded with goods walking in the desert and people sitting on their curved backs driving them. This objectifies the lifestyle of Arabs until 20th where camels used to move across the desert given to their capabilities to walk for long distances and stamina; they can stay for much time without eating and drinking water. That's why it's called "the ship of the desert" in Arab societies.
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| Cartoon clarifies how camels were used to travel. Source: Wikipedia |
During my cultural exchange activities, I realized that there is a stereotypical image in the West that we in the Eastern Arab societies still use cames as a methods transport and live in tents. It stirred my attention up to uncover why do westerns thing so? And what do they think about riding camels?
I found out that their media outlets convey such stereotype to their peoples who end up thinking that Arabs still don't have technological advancement, no cars or other modern ways of transport.
How come?! Aren't we in the 21st century where social media revolutionized databases making it accessible to all peoples around the globe? Isn't this sufficient to see that there are even very luxurious cars in Arab countries being imported from the original companies? How funny!
Anyhow, during 9-10th of this Jan, my German friend invited me to celebrate his 70th birthday with his friends from Germany in Auja, a small village in Jericho district, where we were hosted by a Bedouin family at camp, we slept over there and enjoyed our time chatting and narrating different stories. They cooked a dish of chickens and vegetables underground in a place called "Zarb." It's being heated up by burning firewood inside.
I pondered the Bedouin nomadic lifestyle and how they manage everything. I had questions about their lives, circumstances, and other social issues. "It's the lifestyle that can't give up on one day. I grew up here and have spent my years here at this camp and in these shacks. So, I can't imagine how unbearable my life will be if I move to a cosmopolitan area away from this charming nature," said one of the residents.
I observed that children have responsibilities at the camp, too, they feed the cattle, take care of them, and organize the whole process under their family's supervision though they do so independently, which impressed me seeing them at this barn especially this cute kid who is estimated be at age of 3 watching his sister put the fodder into the iron pot for the cattle to come and eat it up, and hugging the little sheep. It's interesting that those children are learning to be responsible for their duties and developing stamina in order to overcome the challenging situation that the future doesn't give them a clear answer whether this situation would be easier or harsher as Bedouins have never had stability in their life, which restricted under the unsteady political status quo surrounding them.
The next day, we had a tour in the Old quarter of Jericho that contains amazing monuments that go back to different civilizations long centuries ago. So, it's one of the oldest spots in the world that archaeological documents clarify.
What I had unexpectedly is the chance to ride a camel that I had been looking for to do. It was my attempt to take a photo of me riding a camel and show it off that if it's considered something uncivilized or unadvanced to ride a camel instead of using a car, I would say, there is no problem using it and if it's really symbolizing our culture in the eye of the Westerns, I would say it's a proud.
Why not, every society has certain tangible items or things to do reflect their culture which is appraised.
Therefore, riding camels isn't a justification to stereotype or look down on a certain group. Our ancestors used animals to travel and even in the battles like horses, not only in the East but also, in the Wast.
By this, I want to show that every human society was established on various traditions are inherited from the ancestors who had managed their lives and social values accordingly. As a result, their grandsons maintain on as a valuable part of their identity. Even though camels aren't significantly used as a means of transport anymore due to the technological advancement, it still represents as an icon Arabs, especial in the Arabian Peninsula, perceive it as part of their heritage, which can't be discredited.
I found out that their media outlets convey such stereotype to their peoples who end up thinking that Arabs still don't have technological advancement, no cars or other modern ways of transport.
How come?! Aren't we in the 21st century where social media revolutionized databases making it accessible to all peoples around the globe? Isn't this sufficient to see that there are even very luxurious cars in Arab countries being imported from the original companies? How funny!
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| A general scene of the camp, where shacks and barns |
I pondered the Bedouin nomadic lifestyle and how they manage everything. I had questions about their lives, circumstances, and other social issues. "It's the lifestyle that can't give up on one day. I grew up here and have spent my years here at this camp and in these shacks. So, I can't imagine how unbearable my life will be if I move to a cosmopolitan area away from this charming nature," said one of the residents.
I observed that children have responsibilities at the camp, too, they feed the cattle, take care of them, and organize the whole process under their family's supervision though they do so independently, which impressed me seeing them at this barn especially this cute kid who is estimated be at age of 3 watching his sister put the fodder into the iron pot for the cattle to come and eat it up, and hugging the little sheep. It's interesting that those children are learning to be responsible for their duties and developing stamina in order to overcome the challenging situation that the future doesn't give them a clear answer whether this situation would be easier or harsher as Bedouins have never had stability in their life, which restricted under the unsteady political status quo surrounding them.
 |
| A girl and her little brother with the sheep at the barn |
What I had unexpectedly is the chance to ride a camel that I had been looking for to do. It was my attempt to take a photo of me riding a camel and show it off that if it's considered something uncivilized or unadvanced to ride a camel instead of using a car, I would say, there is no problem using it and if it's really symbolizing our culture in the eye of the Westerns, I would say it's a proud.
Why not, every society has certain tangible items or things to do reflect their culture which is appraised.
 |
| Me, riding the camel for a short distance |
By this, I want to show that every human society was established on various traditions are inherited from the ancestors who had managed their lives and social values accordingly. As a result, their grandsons maintain on as a valuable part of their identity. Even though camels aren't significantly used as a means of transport anymore due to the technological advancement, it still represents as an icon Arabs, especial in the Arabian Peninsula, perceive it as part of their heritage, which can't be discredited.
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