A nice switch to current affairs, with the simultaneous commemoration and celebration of 60 years as the backdrop for today's discussion. Dr. Mueller offered a non-religious approach to the situation which, after so much religious concern and debate, seemed at times a little quixotic (i.e. The solution begins by taking religion out of the equation...). Nevertheless, his ideas on Israel, Iraq, and even existentialism in America were refreshing.
Some questions I had after the readings and throughout class:
- What is the central battle of our generation, if not terrorism?
- Why wasn't the war two summers ago a defeat for Israel?
- What percentage of Israel's manpower is devoted to security?
- Is Israel's economic and political "success" after sixty years self-made? Largely due to American investment and support?
Some interesting points brought up by el doctor.
- ROMANTICISM is worse than RADICALISM
-"God gave me this land" or "Let's go back to 1948"
- Israel is facing an existential crisis from Jews leaving the country.
-The people most likely to leave are the moderates, which only polarizes the population.
- The human response: "I don't think I want my kids growing up in this country."
- If Arabs were out of the picture, Jews would be fighting themselves in a civil war.
-Settlers as "sociopaths"
- In the Book of Joshua, Battle of Jericho, God permits genocide.
- Principle of government: Once people get into power, they become fairly reasonable.
- Negotiations in Israel are analogous to a labor union... In this way "the fact that you think what the other guy says is trivial is irrelevant." You have to move past that initial reaction to get anywhere.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Dr. Klein- May 22, 2008 Video Conference
Some of the thoughts expressed by Dr. Klein in our conference:
-Demographic considerations have shaped Israeli policy in East Jerusalem since 1967.
-However, annexation actually increased Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem.
-Looking purely at numbers, Jerusalem is the only place where Israel has succeeded.
-There are currently only half a million settlers in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel had hoped for twice as many.
-Israel has an ethnically-based nationality
-The individual is not the basis of identity, the collective "we" (the Jewish
entity) is.
-Regarding the prospect of economic peacemaking, there is currently no enterprise between Jewish and Arab business owners.
-Arabs mainly work in service industries.
-"Palestinians don't have anything BUT terrorism to put pressure on Israel."
-Regarding the ability of grassroots peace building: "Peace between people will have to come after peace between governments or elites."
-Finally, regarding the role of America: Americans cannot force a peace treaty on both sides, but there needs to be an American mediator in the process.
-Demographic considerations have shaped Israeli policy in East Jerusalem since 1967.
-However, annexation actually increased Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem.
-Looking purely at numbers, Jerusalem is the only place where Israel has succeeded.
-There are currently only half a million settlers in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel had hoped for twice as many.
-Israel has an ethnically-based nationality
-The individual is not the basis of identity, the collective "we" (the Jewish
entity) is.
-Regarding the prospect of economic peacemaking, there is currently no enterprise between Jewish and Arab business owners.
-Arabs mainly work in service industries.
-"Palestinians don't have anything BUT terrorism to put pressure on Israel."
-Regarding the ability of grassroots peace building: "Peace between people will have to come after peace between governments or elites."
-Finally, regarding the role of America: Americans cannot force a peace treaty on both sides, but there needs to be an American mediator in the process.
This Past Week
This last week of final project presentations did a few things for me. First, it affirmed my contempt for technology and all things related. Second, it renewed my faith in people. Regarding technology, I could digress for a while. Instead, I want to talk about some of the wonderful and surprising things I learned that machines cannot and hopefully will never do.
1. Fend off the Flu
I don't care what the Scientific American Journal says, blogging does not help reduce the symptoms of a cold! When Abdul Rahman referred to this in class, I pictured the editorial cartoon: a sniffling schlub staring at a laptop, sitting at his desk in a dark room. Meanwhile, outside the sun is shining, people are interacting, exercising even. I realize this is a stretch, and people can very easily sit outside, be social, and blog all at the same time. But really? Blogging? Anyway, Abdul Rahman's presentation, like his work the rest of the quarter, was a thoughtful, comprehensive, and surprisingly comprehensible look into the blogosphere that we've all been warming up to (or avoiding) over the past few months.
2. Do horrible accents
Was that supposed to be French? Brazilian? Despite their acting abilities, Josh and Ben's presentation on 242 was an insightful and thorough examination of the history behind the highly contended resolution, and more broadly, of the power of words. While iMovie and PowerPoint did come together nicely for the visual presentation, my favorite part was the simple parable and the final, spoken image of scattered feathers. Whatever the cliche about pictures and words, I tend to think the opposite.
3. Speak like a child
So many things to say about Ghada, Chris and Lindsay's presentation... about music and imagery, editing and crafting. But I want to stick with the most simple and non-technological: the kids. What a great way to end a project that started with bitter fifty-year-olds and continued with disillusioned twenty-year-olds-- by ending with hopeful five-year-olds and their profound one-word answers to interview questions that we would sit and cringe over. Do you have Jewish and Christian friends? Yes. Are they different from you at all? No. Of course, all that will change eventually, but isn't it nice to know it exists somewhere?
Kudos, friends. Projects well done.
1. Fend off the Flu
I don't care what the Scientific American Journal says, blogging does not help reduce the symptoms of a cold! When Abdul Rahman referred to this in class, I pictured the editorial cartoon: a sniffling schlub staring at a laptop, sitting at his desk in a dark room. Meanwhile, outside the sun is shining, people are interacting, exercising even. I realize this is a stretch, and people can very easily sit outside, be social, and blog all at the same time. But really? Blogging? Anyway, Abdul Rahman's presentation, like his work the rest of the quarter, was a thoughtful, comprehensive, and surprisingly comprehensible look into the blogosphere that we've all been warming up to (or avoiding) over the past few months.
2. Do horrible accents
Was that supposed to be French? Brazilian? Despite their acting abilities, Josh and Ben's presentation on 242 was an insightful and thorough examination of the history behind the highly contended resolution, and more broadly, of the power of words. While iMovie and PowerPoint did come together nicely for the visual presentation, my favorite part was the simple parable and the final, spoken image of scattered feathers. Whatever the cliche about pictures and words, I tend to think the opposite.
3. Speak like a child
So many things to say about Ghada, Chris and Lindsay's presentation... about music and imagery, editing and crafting. But I want to stick with the most simple and non-technological: the kids. What a great way to end a project that started with bitter fifty-year-olds and continued with disillusioned twenty-year-olds-- by ending with hopeful five-year-olds and their profound one-word answers to interview questions that we would sit and cringe over. Do you have Jewish and Christian friends? Yes. Are they different from you at all? No. Of course, all that will change eventually, but isn't it nice to know it exists somewhere?
Kudos, friends. Projects well done.
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