Money is no longer just a means in our society; it has become a new faith that young people unconsciously worship. An entire generation has lost its intellectual and familial umbrella, now chasing price instead of value, and individual survival instead of collective meaning.
When we hear of young men from Jordan and Iraq fighting in the Russian-Ukrainian war, we realize the disaster is no longer merely economic, but intellectual and humanitarian at its core. They are not fighting for an idea, nor in defense of a cause, but because money has become the only remaining idea in an era where all reference points have collapsed.
How did we get here? The answer is bitter. The system that once protected the collective Arab and Jordanian consciousness has eroded. Religion has turned into rituals without spirit, the family is preoccupied with surviving the burdens of living, the university has become an institution for graduating the unemployed, and the state has been absent from formulating a unifying national project.
Amid this void, the youth found nothing to fill their souls except the illusion of 'opportunity and the dollar.'
In past decades, a Jordanian youth carried a dream (even if ideological) about the meaning of heroism and belonging, whether under religious, nationalist, or leftist discourse. Today, that dream has evaporated. 'An entire generation has lost its intellectual and familial umbrella... Amid this void, the youth found nothing to fill his soul.'
Today's generation is not searching for ideological thought, but for an employment contract. Not for an idea that liberates them, but for an escape hatch. They no longer see their homeland except as a waiting station for departure at the nearest available opportunity.
The result is that society itself has lost its balance. Values around which life was built, such as generosity, justice, and chivalry, have become mere slogans uttered on occasions and in speeches. As for the values that build a person—thought, creativity, criticism, freedom—they have disappeared from the scene entirely.
We face a lost generation not because it is corrupt, but because we left it without meaning. A generation that did not find a single intellectual beacon in its homeland to light its path, nor a sincere model to emulate. They see corruption rising, honesty rewarded with marginalization, and ultimately end up searching for their own value in the arenas of others, even at the cost of their lives.
We have succeeded in producing youth who know 'what their life is worth in dollars,' but do not know what their dignity is worth in their own country.
That is the tragedy of Jordan today. Money has become the supreme reference point, after ideas died, consciousness became alienated, and the dream turned into a job abroad.
This country will not rise unless we move beyond the illusion of (money) and reclaim the idea of (mission) upon which the modern Jordanian state was founded. For when money becomes an end in itself, work loses its meaning, and the homeland loses its soul.
Our real danger is not poverty, but losing faith in the value that makes staying in this country worthwhile. For nations are not defeated by force, but when the meaning that once sustained them and gave their children a reason to dream is withdrawn.
Amman- Prof. Dr. Ali Al-Hayassat
Money is no longer just a means in our society; it has become a new faith that young people unconsciously worship. An entire generation has lost its intellectual and familial umbrella, now chasing price instead of value, and individual survival instead of collective meaning.
When we hear of young men from Jordan and Iraq fighting in the Russian-Ukrainian war, we realize the disaster is no longer merely economic, but intellectual and humanitarian at its core. They are not fighting for an idea, nor in defense of a cause, but because money has become the only remaining idea in an era where all reference points have collapsed.
How did we get here? The answer is bitter. The system that once protected the collective Arab and Jordanian consciousness has eroded. Religion has turned into rituals without spirit, the family is preoccupied with surviving the burdens of living, the university has become an institution for graduating the unemployed, and the state has been absent from formulating a unifying national project.
Amid this void, the youth found nothing to fill their souls except the illusion of 'opportunity and the dollar.'
In past decades, a Jordanian youth carried a dream (even if ideological) about the meaning of heroism and belonging, whether under religious, nationalist, or leftist discourse. Today, that dream has evaporated. 'An entire generation has lost its intellectual and familial umbrella... Amid this void, the youth found nothing to fill his soul.'
Today's generation is not searching for ideological thought, but for an employment contract. Not for an idea that liberates them, but for an escape hatch. They no longer see their homeland except as a waiting station for departure at the nearest available opportunity.
The result is that society itself has lost its balance. Values around which life was built, such as generosity, justice, and chivalry, have become mere slogans uttered on occasions and in speeches. As for the values that build a person—thought, creativity, criticism, freedom—they have disappeared from the scene entirely.
We face a lost generation not because it is corrupt, but because we left it without meaning. A generation that did not find a single intellectual beacon in its homeland to light its path, nor a sincere model to emulate. They see corruption rising, honesty rewarded with marginalization, and ultimately end up searching for their own value in the arenas of others, even at the cost of their lives.
We have succeeded in producing youth who know 'what their life is worth in dollars,' but do not know what their dignity is worth in their own country.
That is the tragedy of Jordan today. Money has become the supreme reference point, after ideas died, consciousness became alienated, and the dream turned into a job abroad.
This country will not rise unless we move beyond the illusion of (money) and reclaim the idea of (mission) upon which the modern Jordanian state was founded. For when money becomes an end in itself, work loses its meaning, and the homeland loses its soul.
Our real danger is not poverty, but losing faith in the value that makes staying in this country worthwhile. For nations are not defeated by force, but when the meaning that once sustained them and gave their children a reason to dream is withdrawn.
Amman- Prof. Dr. Ali Al-Hayassat
Money is no longer just a means in our society; it has become a new faith that young people unconsciously worship. An entire generation has lost its intellectual and familial umbrella, now chasing price instead of value, and individual survival instead of collective meaning.
When we hear of young men from Jordan and Iraq fighting in the Russian-Ukrainian war, we realize the disaster is no longer merely economic, but intellectual and humanitarian at its core. They are not fighting for an idea, nor in defense of a cause, but because money has become the only remaining idea in an era where all reference points have collapsed.
How did we get here? The answer is bitter. The system that once protected the collective Arab and Jordanian consciousness has eroded. Religion has turned into rituals without spirit, the family is preoccupied with surviving the burdens of living, the university has become an institution for graduating the unemployed, and the state has been absent from formulating a unifying national project.
Amid this void, the youth found nothing to fill their souls except the illusion of 'opportunity and the dollar.'
In past decades, a Jordanian youth carried a dream (even if ideological) about the meaning of heroism and belonging, whether under religious, nationalist, or leftist discourse. Today, that dream has evaporated. 'An entire generation has lost its intellectual and familial umbrella... Amid this void, the youth found nothing to fill his soul.'
Today's generation is not searching for ideological thought, but for an employment contract. Not for an idea that liberates them, but for an escape hatch. They no longer see their homeland except as a waiting station for departure at the nearest available opportunity.
The result is that society itself has lost its balance. Values around which life was built, such as generosity, justice, and chivalry, have become mere slogans uttered on occasions and in speeches. As for the values that build a person—thought, creativity, criticism, freedom—they have disappeared from the scene entirely.
We face a lost generation not because it is corrupt, but because we left it without meaning. A generation that did not find a single intellectual beacon in its homeland to light its path, nor a sincere model to emulate. They see corruption rising, honesty rewarded with marginalization, and ultimately end up searching for their own value in the arenas of others, even at the cost of their lives.
We have succeeded in producing youth who know 'what their life is worth in dollars,' but do not know what their dignity is worth in their own country.
That is the tragedy of Jordan today. Money has become the supreme reference point, after ideas died, consciousness became alienated, and the dream turned into a job abroad.
This country will not rise unless we move beyond the illusion of (money) and reclaim the idea of (mission) upon which the modern Jordanian state was founded. For when money becomes an end in itself, work loses its meaning, and the homeland loses its soul.
Our real danger is not poverty, but losing faith in the value that makes staying in this country worthwhile. For nations are not defeated by force, but when the meaning that once sustained them and gave their children a reason to dream is withdrawn.
comments
Al-Hayassat writes: Money—new reference point for a generation adrift
display options :
Full
Main image only
without images
comments