Saturday, April 21, 2007
Jerusalem Sunday
I have to research Arab women authors and do a presentation for my Arabic class. I chose to research the life and work of Suheir Hammad. She is of Palestinian descent and was raised in Brooklyn. Suheir is a political activist as well as a talented author. Her work is quite popular today. This poem is titled Jerusalem Sunday. Enjoy:)
Jeru
salem
sun
day
three muezzins call idan
where one's allah begins another's
akbar ends inviting the last
to witness mohammad's prophecies
church bells ring the sky
an ocean shade of blue above
christ's tomb and the stones
of this city witness man's weakness
boys run by the torah
strapped to their third eye
ready to rock their prayers
the roofs of this city busy as the streets
the gods of this city crowded and proud
two blind and graying
arab men lead each other through
the old city surer of step than sight
tourists pick olives from the cracks
in the faces of young and graying
women selling mint onions and this
year's oil slicking the ground
this city is wind
breathe it
sharp
this history is blood
swallow it
warm
this sunday is holy
be it
god
Jeru
salem
sun
day
three muezzins call idan
where one's allah begins another's
akbar ends inviting the last
to witness mohammad's prophecies
church bells ring the sky
an ocean shade of blue above
christ's tomb and the stones
of this city witness man's weakness
boys run by the torah
strapped to their third eye
ready to rock their prayers
the roofs of this city busy as the streets
the gods of this city crowded and proud
two blind and graying
arab men lead each other through
the old city surer of step than sight
tourists pick olives from the cracks
in the faces of young and graying
women selling mint onions and this
year's oil slicking the ground
this city is wind
breathe it
sharp
this history is blood
swallow it
warm
this sunday is holy
be it
god
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Karen Armstrong Chapters 1-2
I absolutely loved reading Karen's history of Jerusalem. She thinks critically, which is essential when dealing with Jerusalem's many 'versions' of history. Karen attempted to answer the question why a city or area is considered 'holy.' She correctly stated when a place is deemed 'sacred,' it is not based on intellectual investigation. The 'holiness' of a city is determined by it's general inhabitants. It is a place where people's sets of beliefs, feelings, and memories are deeply intertwined within that area. A sacred place is still sacred to a religion or people, even if they are miles away from it. This idea is critical to Jerusalem and the 'conflict.' Different people 'claim' different sites, and the city itself, yet many times it cannot be truly 'proven.' It exists because of the people. It is mythological in a sense, as she further describes.
I found this quote very intriguing. "Eventually, Jerusalem would become central to the religion of Israel, but the first time the city is mentioned unequivocally in the Bible it appears as enemy territory." She stated that there are still scholars, particularly in the U.S. and Israel who adhere to the view that Israelites did conquer the land of Canaan, even though others are concluding that Israel came from within Canaan's society. Is this a coincidence, or are there political reasons behind the scholars' consensus?
Armstrong does a commendable job of organizing information that is often vague to say the least, and attempting to recreate the history of Jerusalem, one that is still debated upon. Her book is "admirably dispassionate," as one of her critics writes. I too, find this extremely refreshing as well. I look forward to reading more chapters from Armstrong's book.
I found this quote very intriguing. "Eventually, Jerusalem would become central to the religion of Israel, but the first time the city is mentioned unequivocally in the Bible it appears as enemy territory." She stated that there are still scholars, particularly in the U.S. and Israel who adhere to the view that Israelites did conquer the land of Canaan, even though others are concluding that Israel came from within Canaan's society. Is this a coincidence, or are there political reasons behind the scholars' consensus?
Armstrong does a commendable job of organizing information that is often vague to say the least, and attempting to recreate the history of Jerusalem, one that is still debated upon. Her book is "admirably dispassionate," as one of her critics writes. I too, find this extremely refreshing as well. I look forward to reading more chapters from Armstrong's book.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Weblog Assignment #3: Living Folklore
Before I read this, I was a bit confused on what the concept "folklore" actually meant. These chapters helped me to better understand what folklore was, and what it was not. Sims and Stevens offer their definition:"Folklore is informally learned, unofficial knowledge about the world, ourselves, our communities, our beliefs, our cultures and our traditions, that is expressed through music, customs, actions, behaviors and materials." From what I understood, folklore basically is the story behind each tradition, and the tradition itself.
According to Sims and Stevens, folklore can be catagorized as verbal, material, and customary. Verbal folklore includes all oral traditions, including stories and tales, music, and phrases. I was suprised to know that material folklore can include architecture. I have always placed architecture in a solely historical persepective, never really tying in the ideas and stories behind the architecture itself. Other objects in material folklore included dreidels, and how they were used by different ethnic groups. As they go on to describe it, the term "folklore" becomes clearer, and also more abstract. It can inculde many different objects and stories, yet excludes objects that are part of "pop" culture that are often temporary. Customary lore, is a consistent way of doing something, that indicates involved membership. They give the example of one that encompasses the definition completely, a fraternity's secret handshake.
I have often overlooked many of these materials and stories; I never gave much thought to how they would be categorized, or the meanings behind them. I now see the value in studying and researching folklore, as it is something that brings and holds communities together. After reading the article, I believe it is even more essential to study folklore in places such as Jerusalem, where people are divided by walls and checkpoints, yet many of their traditions and ancient histories are similar. I found it interesting when Professor Horowitz mentioned that after researching the three different types of music found in each religion, all three monotheistic faiths had the same melody in which they prayed. *I hope I am remembering this correctly; it was something to this extent.* I hope the study of folklore in Jerusalem will be a way to connect the different people that live there, rather than separate them further.
According to Sims and Stevens, folklore can be catagorized as verbal, material, and customary. Verbal folklore includes all oral traditions, including stories and tales, music, and phrases. I was suprised to know that material folklore can include architecture. I have always placed architecture in a solely historical persepective, never really tying in the ideas and stories behind the architecture itself. Other objects in material folklore included dreidels, and how they were used by different ethnic groups. As they go on to describe it, the term "folklore" becomes clearer, and also more abstract. It can inculde many different objects and stories, yet excludes objects that are part of "pop" culture that are often temporary. Customary lore, is a consistent way of doing something, that indicates involved membership. They give the example of one that encompasses the definition completely, a fraternity's secret handshake.
I have often overlooked many of these materials and stories; I never gave much thought to how they would be categorized, or the meanings behind them. I now see the value in studying and researching folklore, as it is something that brings and holds communities together. After reading the article, I believe it is even more essential to study folklore in places such as Jerusalem, where people are divided by walls and checkpoints, yet many of their traditions and ancient histories are similar. I found it interesting when Professor Horowitz mentioned that after researching the three different types of music found in each religion, all three monotheistic faiths had the same melody in which they prayed. *I hope I am remembering this correctly; it was something to this extent.* I hope the study of folklore in Jerusalem will be a way to connect the different people that live there, rather than separate them further.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Thoughts on the First Few Weeks of class
It pleases me to know that not only will we be able to discuss topics on Jerusalem in class, but also with students actually experiencing and living in the conflict day after day. I too, like some of you, was a bit disappointed to see that the students from the Hebrew University were study abroad students. I would have liked to hear from Israeli students, as they grew up there, and have much more insight into the situation. However, videoconferencing is still an excellent way to communicate and share our thoughts. I had previously done a videoconference with students from the Dubai in my "Economy Development of the Middle East" course. That was interesting as well, although some of them couldn't answer political questions due to their positions held in the government.
I am very interested in culture, and history of each individual; I think it is important that this aspect of Jerusalem is not overlooked. However, because of the dire political and economic situations that people are now facing, I find it hard to look at just someone's story about how they make bread, without really looking into the political situation. I feel at times it can gloss over the despair, and injustices being committed daily, and paint a picture that is a bit idealistic. I truly want to be optimistic about Jerusalem, that it will one day be an international city, as stated in the UN resolution 242, yet there are people who do not even have their basic necessities. It is difficult to focus on just Jerusalem (for me), when a short distance away from it, people are starving. People cannot get to school because they are stopped at checkpoints. People don't have clean water.......and I say people, but I specifically mean the Palestinians. It is they who suffer the most. I wish I could say it was equal. that both sides suffer equal amounts, but they do not. The Israelis make the rules for the Palestinians as well. It is the Israelis' checkpoints, it is the Israelis' wall..... The Israelis dictate much of what can and cannot go on, who can go where, and who cannot. As of 2006, the CIA World Fact Book on GDP places Israel at number 55, at 166 billion dollars, and the Gaza Strip and West Bank at 158, and 159, together equaling 11 billion dollars . The Palestinians are now desperately looking for jobs and a way to feed their family. I know not every Palestinian is poor and suffering like this, but the majority do.
My greatest frustration is that whenever a Palestinian commits a crime or fires a rocket, they are seen as " Muslim fundamentalists" and "terrorists." Let us not forget, that Israel is based on the Balfour Declaration: "a homeland for the Jews." It is a state that is founded on religion, and carries out operations and makes laws that are heavily based on the fact that God has given them that land, and it is theirs. The ideology is identical in both instances. The Israeli army is constantly punishing Palestinians in the occupied territories, trying to make the state of Israel more secure. They arrest citizens, have air raids, and often times kill civilians to prevent the Palestinian militia from furthering any plans they might have. Yet, who is there to stop the Israeli army, when they have thousands of Palestinian women, children, and men in their prisons? When they go into Nablus and raid their cities? When they killed around 60 people, thirty of them children, in the Lebanon war who were in a building escaping from the air strikes? The Israeli government's response: "sorry it was a mistake." They launched a three-week war over two captured soldiers. Israel has thousands of Palestinian prisoners. When are the Palestinians going to be allowed to resist the Israeli military without being considered "Anti-Semites" or terrorists? When will Israel realize that their actions and behavior are very similar to the German occupation of Europe in World War II? You cannot condemn one side, without condemning the other.
Anyways, I've rambled on again..... I guess my point was that I hope we do not forget the political aspects as to WHY situations are the way they are. Many circumstances are due to laws that have repeatedly been broken and illegal activities.
Both the Palestinians and the Jewish people have beautiful cultures and traditions. I just wish that people could focus more on their art and truly be able to enjoy their gorgeous land, rather than worry about how they will survive on a daily basis.
I am very interested in culture, and history of each individual; I think it is important that this aspect of Jerusalem is not overlooked. However, because of the dire political and economic situations that people are now facing, I find it hard to look at just someone's story about how they make bread, without really looking into the political situation. I feel at times it can gloss over the despair, and injustices being committed daily, and paint a picture that is a bit idealistic. I truly want to be optimistic about Jerusalem, that it will one day be an international city, as stated in the UN resolution 242, yet there are people who do not even have their basic necessities. It is difficult to focus on just Jerusalem (for me), when a short distance away from it, people are starving. People cannot get to school because they are stopped at checkpoints. People don't have clean water.......and I say people, but I specifically mean the Palestinians. It is they who suffer the most. I wish I could say it was equal. that both sides suffer equal amounts, but they do not. The Israelis make the rules for the Palestinians as well. It is the Israelis' checkpoints, it is the Israelis' wall..... The Israelis dictate much of what can and cannot go on, who can go where, and who cannot. As of 2006, the CIA World Fact Book on GDP places Israel at number 55, at 166 billion dollars, and the Gaza Strip and West Bank at 158, and 159, together equaling 11 billion dollars . The Palestinians are now desperately looking for jobs and a way to feed their family. I know not every Palestinian is poor and suffering like this, but the majority do.
My greatest frustration is that whenever a Palestinian commits a crime or fires a rocket, they are seen as " Muslim fundamentalists" and "terrorists." Let us not forget, that Israel is based on the Balfour Declaration: "a homeland for the Jews." It is a state that is founded on religion, and carries out operations and makes laws that are heavily based on the fact that God has given them that land, and it is theirs. The ideology is identical in both instances. The Israeli army is constantly punishing Palestinians in the occupied territories, trying to make the state of Israel more secure. They arrest citizens, have air raids, and often times kill civilians to prevent the Palestinian militia from furthering any plans they might have. Yet, who is there to stop the Israeli army, when they have thousands of Palestinian women, children, and men in their prisons? When they go into Nablus and raid their cities? When they killed around 60 people, thirty of them children, in the Lebanon war who were in a building escaping from the air strikes? The Israeli government's response: "sorry it was a mistake." They launched a three-week war over two captured soldiers. Israel has thousands of Palestinian prisoners. When are the Palestinians going to be allowed to resist the Israeli military without being considered "Anti-Semites" or terrorists? When will Israel realize that their actions and behavior are very similar to the German occupation of Europe in World War II? You cannot condemn one side, without condemning the other.
Anyways, I've rambled on again..... I guess my point was that I hope we do not forget the political aspects as to WHY situations are the way they are. Many circumstances are due to laws that have repeatedly been broken and illegal activities.
Both the Palestinians and the Jewish people have beautiful cultures and traditions. I just wish that people could focus more on their art and truly be able to enjoy their gorgeous land, rather than worry about how they will survive on a daily basis.
Occupation: What does it entail?
In the last few days the European Union has persuaded the Quartet (comprising the US, EU, Russian Federation and UN) to provide limited support to the Palestinian people. While this relief will ameliorate the humanitarian situation it will not alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. Attempts to persuade the Israeli Government to pay tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority seem doomed to fail.Palestinians understandably find it difficult to comprehend the response of the Quartet and many Western States to the Palestinian elections. They argue that Israel is in violation of major Security Council and General Assembly resolutions dealing with unlawful territorial change and the violation of human rights, has failed to implement the 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and should accordingly be subjected to international sanctions. Instead the Palestinian people have been subjected to possibly the most rigorous form of international sanctions imposed in modern times.I find it difficult not to support the above arguments. As a South African I recall the refusal of Western States to impose meaningful economic sanctions on South Africa to compel it to abandon apartheid on the grounds that this would harm the people of South Africa. No such sympathy is extended to the Palestinian people or their human rights. Moreover, I recall that the limited sanctions that were applied failed to produce regime change. Indeed history teaches us that the siege and humiliation of a people tend to strengthen rather than weaken support for the government. - Professor John Dugard of South Africa, Special Rapporteur for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
It is extremely difficult to come to terms with the word “occupation.” I am amazed and disgusted that this term is still applicable to countries in 2007!!! It infuriates me. I want to shout and say, “NO!!! This isn’t right by ANY means!!! Occupation is forcing innocent people to suffer in their own land!!! Why is the international community letting this happen?!” Whenever this term was used to describe situations in countries, i.e. the British in Ireland, or the Europeans in our present day America, the history and the results are always quite devastating to read about, especially for the natives of the land that is being occupied. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines the word “occupy” as follows: to take or enter upon possession of, as a place by settling in it or conquering it.” However, the “how” is left out of this definition.
Professor Horowitz said in class that the Israeli government itself even refers to territories acquired after the 1967 war as “occupied territories.” How were Jewish settlements often built in Palestine? How does Israel ultimately occupy the state of Palestine? Israeli settlements are partly responsible for creating the Palestinian diaspora; the number of Palestinian refugees is among the largest in the world, along with the refugees from Afghanistan. The Jewish Diasporas were frequently written about, and it was a sad story to tell. Now, we must deal with the diaspora of the Palestinians created by Israel. Now the Palestinians suffer the same fate the Jewish people once did. Palestinians’ land deeds are just pieces of paper now, papers that often mean, “Here is land that you own, but you cannot return to it. You can no longer raise a family there, or cook food there, and reunite with family there.” “Now there will be a wall that cuts through your cities, and from your holy place as well, Jerusalem.” “Now I will tell you how I have suffered through pogroms, diasporas, and a holocaust, but I am sorry, my freedom is more important than yours. You will have to suffer for my happiness. Now, this is my land.” This is how I have interpreted the occupation, as do many Palestinians. In the same way I cannot deny the tragic past of the Jewish people, I cannot deny the human rights violations and injustices done to the Palestinian people by the government and military of Israel. This occupation means a suffocated and stifled existence for the Palestinians without the correct permits, for the Palestinians living in refugee camps, for the Palestinians in Gaza, living in poverty, getting by day by day.
Very rarely is occupation of any sort carried out in a peaceful and “fair” manner. This applies to Israel as well. For the Palestinians, occupation has now evolved into the bulldozing of houses to build often times illegal settlements, the withholding of taxes, the closing of roads, over 500 checkpoints in Gaza, increased Israeli settlements, resulting in an ultimate oppression and humanitarian crisis, as declared by the United Nations.
There needs to be an end to the occupation, one that truly has no Israeli-interference at all. Palestinians are not allowed to have a say in Israel’s government and policies, so why can’t the Palestinians have their freedom as well? Oppression and occupation by way of “protecting” the state of Israel is not the answer to a peaceful land, where people can live side by side.
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/0478C20910151B14C12571940058247A?opendocument
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5240424.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6387843.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6181119.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6270331.stm
Monday, April 2, 2007
About Me
Majors: Middle Eastern Studies, Arabic
Minor: International Economic Development
Future dreams/ambitions: To work with refugees in
Palestine or Afghanistan, and try to make some sort
of a difference in people's lives. It is my greatest hope
that we will see peace in the entire region of the Middle
East; after all, it is the cradle of civilization, and their
history should never be forgotten.
About me...
I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, but only lived there for a month before my family came to the United States. It is a bit peculiar; I have two other sisters, and we were each born in different countries: Sri Lanka, England, and the U.S. My mother and father met and studied in England. At that time my father worked for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), working as a technolgy expert in the Middle East. He always speaks fondly of the "Middle East," and I think my immense love and curiosity for the region's people and culture was instilled by my father. One of my dearest childhood memories was listening to my parents and their friends debate over politics; my father chooses to obtain most of his knowledge from foreign newspapers and his friends abroad. As a staunch supporter of Palestine and the Palestinian right to return to their land, my father still encourages me to read about the Israelis' outlook and beliefs, and how they justify their actions. Through my fifteen years or so of schooling, no one has taught me more than my parents, and I am forever indebted to them.
Interests:
I absolutely love to travel. I believe it broaden's people's perceptions of the world surrounding them, and I am fortunate I have been given the chances to travel to many places abroad. The first time I have been outside of the country was when I was in 8th grade or so; I spent two months in Australia visiting my family. In 11th grade I traveled with my father on his business trips to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. I have also been to Mexico, and last summer I had the best time of my life in Damascus, Syria, studying Arabic. I made a weekend trip with friends to Lebanon, four days before the Israeli-Lebanon war erupted. Unfortunately after that, we were told to return ASAP, and there were very few flights out of Syria at that time. I took a bus to Istanbul, Turkey, (which is a BEAUTIFUL city) spent a day there, and flew back to the U.S. I desperately wanted to visit Jerusalem and the occupied territories, but as some of you might know, if you attempt to enter Syria with an Israeli stamp on your passport, you will not be allowed in. That summer Gaza City was also bombed by Israel, so it wouldn't have been possible regardless. This summer I hope to teach English in Bosnia...:)
On a small sidenote: I truly wish everyone had the money/time to travel these days, so I wouldn't have to hear comments such as, "Do they have roads in Sri Lanka? What color are the skies there?" "I was watching the news....and I'm not sure if it happened in Iraq, or Baghdad."
I'm speechless.
Anyways, I am extremely excited to work with the students in our class and with Amy. I know everyone will have a lot of insight to bring as we touch upon sensitive issues. I would just like to issue a disclaimer: the plight of the Palestinians is a topic that is extremely close to my heart. I have no familial ties to Palestine, or the "Middle East" for that matter, but to see the injustices they face makes me extremely emotional. In class, there is much I would like to say, but I get overwhelmed and the words don't seem to come out right at times. So I apologize for this; speaking CLEARLY without getting emotional is something I definitely need to improve upon. I hope I don't come across as "crazy." I just feel (as I am sure most of you do) very strongly about these situations. Please bear this in mind; I am trying work on this:)
Minor: International Economic Development
Future dreams/ambitions: To work with refugees in
Palestine or Afghanistan, and try to make some sort
of a difference in people's lives. It is my greatest hope
that we will see peace in the entire region of the Middle
East; after all, it is the cradle of civilization, and their
history should never be forgotten.
About me...
I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, but only lived there for a month before my family came to the United States. It is a bit peculiar; I have two other sisters, and we were each born in different countries: Sri Lanka, England, and the U.S. My mother and father met and studied in England. At that time my father worked for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), working as a technolgy expert in the Middle East. He always speaks fondly of the "Middle East," and I think my immense love and curiosity for the region's people and culture was instilled by my father. One of my dearest childhood memories was listening to my parents and their friends debate over politics; my father chooses to obtain most of his knowledge from foreign newspapers and his friends abroad. As a staunch supporter of Palestine and the Palestinian right to return to their land, my father still encourages me to read about the Israelis' outlook and beliefs, and how they justify their actions. Through my fifteen years or so of schooling, no one has taught me more than my parents, and I am forever indebted to them.
Interests:
I absolutely love to travel. I believe it broaden's people's perceptions of the world surrounding them, and I am fortunate I have been given the chances to travel to many places abroad. The first time I have been outside of the country was when I was in 8th grade or so; I spent two months in Australia visiting my family. In 11th grade I traveled with my father on his business trips to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. I have also been to Mexico, and last summer I had the best time of my life in Damascus, Syria, studying Arabic. I made a weekend trip with friends to Lebanon, four days before the Israeli-Lebanon war erupted. Unfortunately after that, we were told to return ASAP, and there were very few flights out of Syria at that time. I took a bus to Istanbul, Turkey, (which is a BEAUTIFUL city) spent a day there, and flew back to the U.S. I desperately wanted to visit Jerusalem and the occupied territories, but as some of you might know, if you attempt to enter Syria with an Israeli stamp on your passport, you will not be allowed in. That summer Gaza City was also bombed by Israel, so it wouldn't have been possible regardless. This summer I hope to teach English in Bosnia...:)
On a small sidenote: I truly wish everyone had the money/time to travel these days, so I wouldn't have to hear comments such as, "Do they have roads in Sri Lanka? What color are the skies there?" "I was watching the news....and I'm not sure if it happened in Iraq, or Baghdad."
I'm speechless.
Anyways, I am extremely excited to work with the students in our class and with Amy. I know everyone will have a lot of insight to bring as we touch upon sensitive issues. I would just like to issue a disclaimer: the plight of the Palestinians is a topic that is extremely close to my heart. I have no familial ties to Palestine, or the "Middle East" for that matter, but to see the injustices they face makes me extremely emotional. In class, there is much I would like to say, but I get overwhelmed and the words don't seem to come out right at times. So I apologize for this; speaking CLEARLY without getting emotional is something I definitely need to improve upon. I hope I don't come across as "crazy." I just feel (as I am sure most of you do) very strongly about these situations. Please bear this in mind; I am trying work on this:)
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