As protests lose momentum in Jordan, it once again becomes evident to this observer that Jordanians are a more rational and tolerant sort than can be found elsewhere in the region.  Fewer protests and dwindling numbers of protesters have been attributed to several causes including some groups taking a "we have asked and now we will wait for the answer" approach and others taking time out for introspection and reflection on their success and strategies.

Still others might say that as the weather turns more hospitable, fewer young people will take to the streets to protest because they will be consumed with other summer-time activities such as football.  I say this last theory is rubbish.  If I want to protest what I view as government corruption or oppression then warm and sunny weather is certainly a better environment to do so than is rain and blustery cold.  Of the many theories that have been advanced as the reason for the decline in protests and numbers of protesters, certainly the weather is the least plausible.

I rather like the idea that Jordanians on the whole are more reasonable in their demands of the government.  Jordanians have taken to the streets to ask the government for more freedoms and to battle corruption that deprives the average citizen the chance of prosperity.  And by all accounts, the government has responded in a positive manner.

Task forces and committees have been formed to study opportunities for advancements of democracy.  The ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) continues to focus on investigating corrupt officials and business leaders.  Although Jordan ranked 50th worldwide and 6th regionally in terms of corruption perceptions, down from 37th in 2004, more certainly needs to be done.  Although corruption is not as rampant as many would suggest and corruption is never tolerable, it also takes time to root out.  This drop in the corruption perception index certainly bears witness that King Abdullah's government views this as a serious problem and is taking steps to eliminate this insidious problem.

Media outlets, particularly the local news websites, contributed to the higher ceiling of freedom in covering the corruption cases.  It has become normal to see official media outlets like the Jordan News Agency, Petra, and Jordan Television covering major corruption cases involving prominent figures and former officials.  Ten years ago this level of media coverage would have been unheard of.

With these positive steps being taken by the authorities, it is incumbent upon the good people of Jordan to step back and let the government respond to their demands.  It has become apparent that the Jordanian people are doing just that.  To the outside world, this is what separates the people of Jordan from the rest of the Middle East.  In an era of regional instability, violent uprisings and religious discord, Jordanians value security, stability and the chance for a better future over all else.

The late King Hussein and now King Abdullah have proven themselves to be trustworthy stewards of the Jordanian people who view modernization and a free society as the key to long-term prosperity.  As much as we all want to see more democratic economic freedom, we have to balance these demands with the necessary timetable to implement strategies that can insure these freedoms while protecting the security and stability of the Kingdom.

In my estimation, nothing would be more tragic than violent protests spurred by radical fringe groups that lead to political turmoil.  This unrest would certainly destabilize the country and undo decades of progress in the area of democratic, economic and press freedoms.  Unrest like that seen in Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Syria would do untold damage to our economy and stability, not to mention our standing in the eyes of the world.  As much as Jordanians value their culture and traditions, it is imperative that we allow our leadership to steer us into the 21st century and that we avoid falling into the vicious cycle of political instability that has plagued the region for the past 100 years.

The world is monitoring events in the region and Jordanians should be proud of the image we are portraying.  Rather than succumbing to the media sensationalism that has gripped much of the region, the good people of Jordan have made their demands in a public and peaceful manner.  Protests continued until the people were certain that their demands had been heard without allowing the fringe groups and radicals to hijack the movement.  The King's government has acknowledged the protesters and has responded with good faith measures to meet the demands of the people.  And now the people of Jordan have stepped back to watch and wait.  And we should all be proud.