Strange were the reactions that accompanied the appointment of Dr. Jaafar Hassan to form the twentieth government under King Abdullah's reign.

The reception of Dr. Hassan's designation was unlike the response to those who preceded him in this position. What was striking was the tone of the discourse, which failed to respect public decency, with many comments—coming from both men and women—lacking even the most basic standards of proper behavior, to the extent that one comment even led to a divorce case.

What’s also surprising is the disconnect of social media audiences from the pressing local and regional realities. Suddenly, critical issues such as economic struggles, poverty, and unemployment were overlooked.

Instead, some were preoccupied with digging into history books to trace the new prime minister’s family roots. We seemed to forget the very principles we’ve often called for, such as merit-based appointments—principles that Dr. Hassan embodies through his education and extensive experience. None of that was given due attention to evaluate his capabilities in tackling this crucial and challenging phase. On the contrary, many focused on scrutinizing his lineage, even though it has no bearing on his ability to succeed in this sensitive and critical context.

After observing the reactions to Dr. Hassan’s appointment, it seems we need to reflect on where we’ve gone wrong and how we reached this point. Some interpret such behavior as a reflection of widespread frustration among the public, leading them to divert attention away from the significant and critical matters to trivial and superficial ones.

Once again, we find ourselves losing focus, entangled in misplaced priorities. At a time when clarity and prioritization are most needed, we seem to be struggling.

Today, for the success of the royal initiative for political, economic, and administrative reform, we must think differently. Dr. Hassan deserves well-wishes for succeeding with the weighty files he now carries. For those who know him personally, they can attest that he is a highly serious and diligent individual.