Did Petra Deserve to Win?
After spending the night lamenting the stupid Jordanian Channel that was screening the New Seven Wonders of the World gala for their professionalism, I started thinking whether Petra actually deserved to win and actually win second place. I personally voted for Petra, Stonehenge, Taj Mahal and a couple others. While I personally believe that Petra should be a World Wonder, I didn’t really like how it “won.”
During the last week, on my way to work, the driver would turn on “saba7ak m3 el daleel (?)” program on Fan fm which hosted the “4 million vote” campaign. The program attracted people through making Jordanians feel “bad” for not voting because they wouldn’t be “nashama elwatan” since voting is a “wajeb” that every “mo5les” Jordanian should commit to. Of course not to mention the money companies pay in lieu of votes. What happened to democracy? Shouldn’t the votes be a reflection of what people believe to be the New Seven Wonders? And buying votes is anything but that.
Needless to say, I’m really happy Petra won. It was ironic to see all Jordanians finally agreeing on something, and hear all the fireworks and such. But then, was it worth staying all night long? 
On a totally unrelated note, Al-Ghad’s marketing and advertising campaign is just pathetic.
I guess I’m to cynical today 
The Jordanian population is so chronically depressed and depressing to the point that we question our own success and joy. I am just shocked. The question of whether Petra deserved to win is like whether the sun shines every morning.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoI agree with you about Al Ghad advertising campaign! is really too pathetic!
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoI wish if UNESCO blessed the selection. To not have their blessings sorts of undermines the credibility of the selection, especially when considering the internet voting had no restrictions so one person could have voted 1000 times or more if they wrote a simple JAVA code, and it would have counted as ligit vote. But the whole event does elevate the profile of Petra so any publicity is good publicity. And sometimes pop culture is more powerful and enduring than Harvard studies. If enough people believe Petra is a wonder of the world, then that’s good for Jordanian tourism. I am relived that not too many people watch Jordan TV. because that would have made them regret their selection of a Jordanian city.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoJordan TV is the most incompetent Arab TV channel I have ever seen. It’s so bad I was having stomach ache. It’s beyond bad. It’s disastrously bad. The selection of songs and speakers, their cliche ridden speeches that repeat again and again and again. I have been with taxi drivers and street bums who are more outspoken and intelligent than some of the personalities they invite to Jordan TV. I think JTV is reflective of the whole incompetence of Jordans’ elite, a byproduct of an entrenched system of favoritism and croniesm. And what’s up with the singer? Do they even realize that many Jordanians do not like Bedoiun songs. How about a balance for chrissake. Why the delibrate effort to drive Jordanian and other viewers away with 3rd rate performances. Where is Aziz Maraqa? And I am not having my hope too high about ATV. If it will folow the same path as Al-Ghad newspaper, then we are going to see more mediocre Jordanian press and media.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoIs JTV incompetent and unprofessional? Yes!
But did Petra deserve to win? YES!
JTV’s incompetence has nothing to do with Petra’s winning or not. They’re two completely separate topics.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoIf you watched the ceremony, you will clearly hear that they announced the new 7 wonders in random order, so it’s not really accurate to say that Petra won the 2nd place. It could have gotten the most number of votes, or the least number of votes.
Is Petra one of the top 7 wonders of the world? I believe it is.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoHamzah: I didn;t know that, since JTV didn’t give me the privelage of watching the show.
Yousef: I SO know what you mean about the singers..etc. It’s disgusting, especially on the Radio that I have to listen to everyday to work. It’s pathetic.
Who-Sane: Never said they were
Bater: It’s not that we are doubting it. The methodology is just false, in my opinion, but hey, Petra won
Yugi:
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Posted 5 months, 2 weeks ago