The revelation of an emigrant

After a quarter of a century of emigration and being away from the homeland, media colleague and writer Bashar Jarrar returns to Jordan to launch his two books, namely “The Revelation of an Emigrant”  and  “Qurbano” at Terra Sancta College where he had pursued his studies. He says with clarity that is not devoid of anguish: “I never encourage emigration” or rather “travel but do not emigrate.” As if he is saying to the generations nowadays who want to look for a better life in a place far from their homeland: “Never think that happiness awaits you in foreign countries. The homeland is the home of peace, stability and reassurance.”

By virtue of friendship with the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, the CCSM supervised the launching of the two books. At the session, I gave an address alongside His Excellency Dr. Munther Haddadin and His Excellency Dr. Jawad Anani. His media report was read out by journalist Carol Alamat, journalist Lina Musharbash, and Bashar's sister Dr. Amani Jarrar, then the author of the books who stated, “Do not emigrate.”

The first book is titled, “The Confessions of an Emigrant” and  subtitled, “On the Banks of the Jordan River and Potomac” indicates that he holds the Jordanian and American nationalities. The Jordan River represents holiness, namely origin and authenticity to him. While the he Potomac River expresses the character he acquired with his new citizenship on the river bank that passes through Washington, where he lives with his family and relatives.

The  second book is titled, “Qurbano” and  subtitled, “The Sweetest Stories I Recite While Kneeling in My Mother’s Hands,”  to  which Bashar, the emigrant, returns whenever he is filled with longing and yearning to sit in the arms of his dear mother and tell her: Thank you for being “Qurbano,”  which is the dear Aramaic word, implying the communion which offers life, and for being of an unlimited benevolence.

In my address, I talked about my friendship with Bashar which can be traced back to the year 2000 when he used to cover the news for Jordanian television, including the Holy Mass of Pope John Paul II during his visit to Jordan in March 2000, which was the year of the start of the modern pilgrimage to the Baptism Site of Lord Jesus Christ.

Going through the pages of the book, I was captivated by this benevolent spirit and openness, as he believes that Jordan is a holy land,  where Muslims and Christians work together to serve the future of the nation. He says that Jordan is a model country with its Hashemite leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who wisely manages the political, diplomatic, and social affairs, as well as the manages religious balance and moderation in the Jordan of goodness, blessing, and holiness.

As for the faith that Bashar defends in his book, he does not defend one religion over another as he only defends the origin and authenticity. The writer considers bullying and hatred to be classified as terrorism, because this seeks to eliminate the political, religious and ethnic nature of others. How beautiful is the coincidence of the issuing of the two books with the joy of the Franciscan brothers, who run Terra Sancta College, with the canonization of the  11 martyrs of Damascus at a Holy Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. They are eight Franciscan brothers and three Maronite believers who were martyred in 1860 because they refused to submit to religious persecution and remained steadfast in their Christian faith.

Good wishes are conveyed to our friend Bashar Jarrar, and many thanks are conveyed to him for his books "The Revelation of an Emigrant" and "Qurbano”. We address him saying, whenever you kneel before your mother’s hands, and whenever you sit at the banks of the Jordan River, and whenever you sit at the banks of the Potomac River, remember that you have loved ones who always provide you with the most beautiful prayers. We are with you, here and there. We ask the Almighty God to grant you and grant this region “goodness and peace,” which is the familiar Franciscan greeting as well as the noble and continuous Jordanian message.