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Mayse Nababteh: The inauguration of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in Aqaba

Mayse Nababteh/LinkedIn

Mar 3, 2025, 09:25

Mayse Nababteh: The inauguration of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in Aqaba

Mayse Nababteh, Director of International Fundraising and Development Department at King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“After years of hard work, and as we inaugurate the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center Aqaba satellite Cancer Center to serve hundreds of thousands in the South, I reflect on what it means to love Jordan now?

Jordan’s fabric has always been unique, and the absurdity of this world has amplified what it means to be Jordanian.

Questions of patriotism and national pride have always been at the forefront of conversations. Especially now. Especially with a year-long genocide in Gaza happening in front of our eyes.

Are patriotism and national pride good? Yes. Is it defined by only flooding the streets and social media with posts? No. Not because it doesn’t play an important role, but because, in my opinion, lacks the full depth of who we really are as people.

In an article by Alexandra Hudson, she reminds us that national ‘pride’ isn’t really the right (or the only word). After all, if one was born in a given place, did we earn our citizenship? What do we as individuals have to be proud of?

Jordan’s citizenship is something we can be born into. But being born into it is not enough. It is also something we must choose.

That collective choice – that shared commitment to the rule of law, our values, and our shared vision – is what it means to be Jordanian.

Jordan’s identity must continue to be chosen to be sustained. This means that each generation, and each of us as citizens, regardless of origin, must recommit to our shared ideals for themselves for Jordan to survive. Jordan needs it now more than ever.

We didn’t need anyone (you know who) to tell us we are a ‘spectacular’ and a ‘very very fantastic group of people with tremendous brilliance and energy’. We know that, thank you.

We know that our national identity casts and rallies around a vision of what we as Jordanians stand for. We stand for humanity, inclusion, generosity, human dignity, honesty, hard work, top notch diplomacy – to say the absolute least.

We are, and should remain being our own heroes who can and should craft our positive identity today and move away from the negative nationalism that defines who we are by contrasting us against each other.

This is the time to rally around and for Jordan. Think about what your role is within this country and do it. I’ve chosen to be in the business of saving lives. I hope you know what your role is and are making a difference.

It’s a lonely journey out there. And, as in life, where no one saves you except ‘you’ no one will save Jordan except us.”

Mayse Nababteh: The inauguration of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in Aqaba