Denison '10 in Political Science and Arabic
Fulbright 2010-2011 in Jordan
I play the ukulele, teach English, read the news, and study Arabic.
I blog at betsyinjordan.blogspot.com
Latest posts by Betsy Fisher
Jordan: Debating a Possible GCC Union
The announcement that Jordan and Morocco might join the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) caused an immediate shockwave of reactions. Many Jordanians were elated at the news, saying that it...
Palestine: Demonstrations Against Occupation, For Unity
In the last several years, West Bank Palestinian villages have seen their land claimed both by Jewish settlements in the West Bank and by the security wall erected by Israel....
Jordan: “Bring Raad Home” from Syria
Momentum is building up online to pressure the Syrian authorities to release Jordanian Raad Kawar, who has been held since April 19. The 26-year-old was in Syria returning by car...
Palestine: Ongoing Protests for Unity
March 15th marked the beginning of protests for unity between Palestinians and an elimination of the political divisions in Palestinian society; however, on that day, protesters were violently dispersed both...
Palestine: Protests for National Unity
Independent youth in Palestine called for protests in Gaza and the West Bank on March 15, 2011, showing their loyalty to Palestine rather than to Hamas and Fatah. Organized through...
Jordan: Bloggers Celebrate Their Country
March 12, 2011 marked the fourth annual Blog for Jordan day. Jordanians, foreigners living in Jordan, and Jordanians living abroad, all pitched in to write about their love for Jordan...
Jordan: I Love Jordan because …
Love was in the air in the Jordanian Twittersphere as tweeps took turns to list why they love their country under a new hashtag #ILoveJordan making the rounds lately. Betsy...
Jordan: Demands for Response to Libya Answered
Jordanians joined the rest of the world in condemning the heinous acts of Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi against Libyans. On Twitter, their anger mounted as the government continued to remain...
Jordan: Societal Criticism through Humor
Participants of the hashtag #Jordanianlies are out to prove the stereotype wrong. #Jordanianlies features statements Jordanians hear that are often untrue. Thus, the hashtag uses humor to point out faults...
Jordan: Tweets for Reform
For the last several weeks, Jordanians have discussed their own government and society in Twitter under the hashtag #ReformJo. The hashtag has provided an opportunity not just to criticize Jordan's...
Jordan: Celebrating Mubarak's Departure
In the moments following the announcement of Hosni Mubarak's stepdown, Jordanian tweeters reacted in jubilation. Moey tweeted: WE ARE PROUD OF YOU #EGYPT – SERIOUSLY, WTF #MUBARAK – I suggest...
Jordan: Announcement of New Cabinet
A week after being appointed Jordan's next prime minister, Maarouf Bakhit announced his cabinet. Former PM Samir Rifai resigned after protests demanded he step down, citing grievances of increasing prices...
Jordan: Islamists Refuse Offer to Join Government
Following meetings with Jordan's King Abdulla and an invitation to Islamists to join the cabinet of newly appointed Prime Minister Maarouf Bakhit, which the Islamists turned down, Jordanian tweeters are...
Syria: No-Show for ‘Day of Anger’
Speculation is rampant from international media that Syria may follow in spreading unrest from Tunisia and Egypt. Betsy Fisher takes a look at tweets to see what Syrians are saying.
Jordan: Demonstrations for Egypt, against PM
Two separate demonstrations, held in Amman, Jordan, on Friday, February 4th, ended peacefully. This week saw King Abdullah II dismissing Prime Minister Samir Rifai, in favor of former Prime Minister...
