GLBTQ Readings

The readings for today were not anything I was expecting to read during this semester. For me, Jerusalem has such a history of religious significance that I never imagined it much beyond that. My perception of it was so limited to that, that there have been many ideologies of Jerusalem presented in this class that have broadened my understanding. You can chalk this one up to that as well.

To start, I was very interested to see how the backlash towards the GLBTQ community in Israel would be. I wasn't overly surprised about the religious backlash referenced in the film, or the institutional backlash mentioned in the other websites. I was amazed to see how the local municipalities and police departments have just as much resistance to the GLBTQ community as does the religious right. I think my perception of Israel as a historical religious place is prevalent to them as well. It seems that in the eyes of many Israelis, that anything that could hamper the "pure" or "religious" side of Jerusalem is a problem and some people are willing to resort to violence in order to solve it. That is incredibly sad and wrong.

An interesting thing I noticed on the websites (though I may have overlooked it) was that there are very few or any specific rights mentioned that the groups are fighting for. The vast majority of the time it seemed like they were fighting against general persecution and discrimination. The discrimination was limited to just that word as compared to laying out how they are discriminated against. When comparing that to the GLBTQ movement in the United States, they lack the specific cause, i.e. marriage equality that the Americans are fighting for. In my mind, lacking that makes it harder for people to relate to where they are coming from.

Just as I have said so many times for all of my posts, the willingness to relate is a key to solve any conflict. I truly believe that if the GLBTQ community in Israel could begin to specify their fight as to how they are persecuted in a real way, people would be able to relate to them better. As it stands right now though, all people hear is this abstract idea of persecution and they do not know how exactly that is played out. It truly is amazing to see the similarities that this movement in Israel has in the United States, but its differences seem to be apparent and are the reason why they seem to be less far along the road as the GLBTQ community here. Both, have a long way to go.

Readings for the Day

The reading we had for today really intrigued me. I found the writing style to be very readable as well as enjoyable due to the sarcastic nature of the authors tone. At the same time though, that sarcastic nature made it hard for me to truly understand where on earth she was coming from. It also created some confusion for me in regards to how strong her anger was.

The main example I struggled with was when she brought her first dog, Antar, to the vet to get her rabies vaccination. The exchange when the vet was asking questions in regards to Antar's breed is where my struggle is founded. When asked what breed is the dog, she replied "Can one consider a baladi a dog breed?". Now I understand that term to be negative in connotation and so from my perspective, Saud was making just as much of a derogatory remark about the nature of her female dog as the vet did. The anger that she then expressed seemed to be one sided since she originated the negative perception of the dog in my mind.

I cannot discount her experience as a female in Palestine though. It saddened me to not only hear of the situation related to the "gas masks" that she told in the first chapter, but moreover how women are treated in Palestine as a whole. The other article we read made logical sense to me in that there is such a strong patriarchal heritage to Jerusalem and the Middle East as a whole that with out a doubt makes being a woman in those regions difficult. That being said, I cannot blame her for her anger and frustration with the vet as stated in the previous paragraph, even though under those circumstances it may not have been well founded. It truly saddens me to hear how a woman's heart can be so sensitive to the words of a man and it is all based on how society views her.

Musical Memories

Music has been an essential part of my life from the start. Music has been essential to my development both socially and personally and this journal has made me realize even more how important it has been. I can remember many nights where my mom would sing me a prayer to the tune of Edelweiss from the sound of music. I can also remember the many times I was sitting at camp up in Okobojii, Iowa listening to my favorite song Refugee by Trace Bundy.

Growing up in Iowa, I was exposed to many types of music but the main ones that my group of friends would listen to were classic rock and country. Some of my fondest memories of my time with them would be driving in our trucks or Greg’s mustang listening to the country songs that typify us. Way Out Here by Josh Thompson always brings me back to the bon fires we would have on top of frozen lakes while sitting in truck beds. The best memory in regards to music with my friends comes from the time I was in the hospital recovering from my brain tumor. While sitting in my bed, four of my friends came in right after they got back from a mission trip from China with shaved heads and were as full of energy as always. After singing Day Man from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the nurses came in and told them they needed to quiet down or else security would have to remove them.

So I have many memories in regards to music that make me smile. At the same time, it was times like that where my friends drew us together even more. I look at music as having that amazing ability. Just think of the songs for Ohio State. We have our fight songs to get everyone jazzed up for athletic events. We have Carmen to sing together after a big win or a sad loss. No matter the situation, the music in those situations is what brings all of the people together and grow us as a community.

With that in mind, music represents a way for people to express themselves and how they feel. When people join a community such as Ohio State or are born into a nation such as the United States, they are introduces to music that represents them. That is why national anthems come about in my mind. The music is a way for people to express their identity in a beautiful way and as a means to show their pride in who they  are. That is why music offers so much hope in situations of crisis.

In those situations, I believe it is best for people to express themselves in a peaceful and constructive manner. I would so much rather have people coming together and singing songs about who they are rather than them coming together and arguing about the status quo. Music offers a means of expression where the arts act as the medium of communication rather than just a conversation. Just as music was the way my group of friends identified and expressed ourselves, people groups do the same. By hearing the music of other people, we begin to understand their identity and what they desire. To me, music and the arts are the epitome of peace.

Rap Readings

I am not going to lie, I have a hard time connecting with these readings. This is mainly because I do not have much connection to rap/hip hop coming from Iowa where country music is king. Moreover, I was raised by a mother who had a fascination with classical music and that is where my heart has ended up. I will say that I understand it has an amazing cultural aspect to the African American community and it has become a main stream way for people within that community to express themselves.

The article that intrigued me most talks about how there can be some disconnect with people like me except in an Israeli sense in regards to rap as a form of musical expression. The Haaretz article spoke most on this and it had a statement about an Israeli rapper from the Tel Aviv suburbs who began to engage in rap. This may seem contradictory at first but then I started to think of what rap music has traditionally tried to express.

The Haaretz article didn't spare and expense when it came to speaking on that as well. Rap has traditionally been a means for a group such as the African American community in the United States who faced extreme cultural issues as a means to express themselves musically. I can see the natural connection and desire for Israelis who feel the same way to use rap as a means to communicate their cultural struggle.

That being said, what has traditionally turned me off to rap music is the violent nature of some of its lyrics. It makes sense why a group who is facing some sort of persecution to want to have their own identity when it comes to their musical style, but that can so easily become a means to use that musical style to express a negative response. I think that is where the violent nature of the lyrics can come in. It saddens me when people use music and the arts to promote anger and hate as compared to the special way music can draw people together.

That being said, I love the idea of people having their own cultural way of expressing music. From reggae to hip hop, to the rock and roll of the 70's, each generation has seemingly used music to express themselves. That generational gap is what makes it hard for me to connect with certain forms of music, but at the same time I still need to respect it. I just hope and desire for people to use music and the arts as a way to promote unity though a peaceful means as compared to using it to promote marginalism and hate.

A Wall, Water, and Power

The journal that I read sparked my interest for a number of reasons. The first on was the title which is shared by this post, and it also referenced a scholar here at Ohio State being Alexander Wendt. I was lucky enough to take a course under him and found his thoughts to be utterly fascinating. The journal spent a lot of time reflecting on issues related to my thoughts on the Israel/Palestine problem and went more into detail as to why they are going to be a difficult problem to fix.

Alexander Wendt's quote on Israel and Palestine that spurred the journal on is:

"A social structure composed of inter-subjective understandings in which states are so distrustful that they make worst-case assumptions about each others' intensions, and as a result define their interests in self-help terms."

That brought me back to a lecture I had by Wendt where we talked about this very topic. The idea is that everyone in the Middle East desires three things and they are peace, justice, and security. In the case of the Israeli's and Palestinians, these are the same desires. The Israelis claim to desire security more so than justice  and they justify the building of the separation wall, in the very self-help terms mentioned, in order to attain that. While at the same time, the Palestinians strongly desire justice arguably more than security. That desire stems of the 1948 war and the exodus of the Palestinians that followed.

Now while both desire peace, their desire for their respective situations to be dealt with first takes precedence over that. Each of them was addressed later on in the article with having other major issues related to the two state or one state solution. The water situation will be a problem in the case of a two state solution and a one state solution has major issues with the division of power.

In order for all of these issues to be resolved, the problem Wendt proposed needs to be dealt with immediately. As long as each group is acting in its own self help terms, then we will continue to see problems such as the separation wall being built for Israel's security, and terrorist acts as an act of justice via vengence for the Palestinians. What needs to be addressed first is the misguided social structure based on how people view each other rather than the facts of the situation. That is why there is great hope in the dialogue. Through this dialogue we have communication of facts and are able to understand where everyone is coming from in this situation.

Trottier, Julie. "A Wall, Water and Power: The Israeli ‘separation Fence’." Review of International Studies 33.01 (2007): 105. Print.

Artistic Hope

Today's readings brought back many of my memories from when I was in the West Bank and viewed the separation wall for the first time. I remember thinking how out of place it looked curling up and down the mountains around Jerusalem. It was strange seeing a concrete barrier winding its way around hordes of historical holy sights in the city. It was even more strange seeing all of the graffiti on it from the Palestinian side, often graffiti that was beautiful and horrific at the same time.

The reading from OSU spent a lot of time talking about how national identity very much putting the us vs. them mentality into action. The separation barrier is a great example of that. While Israel says it is for security reasons, the very core of this issue is the us vs. them mentality. Without that, there would be no need for the separation barrier because there wouldn't be any difference between the Israelis and Palestinians. To me, the issue of the separation barrier tells how the Israelis view themselves differently than the Palestinians and they then need to build the separation barrier to define that.

The artistic response of the graffiti artists is amazing to me. When I was first in Israel, I viewed the graffiti as simply a form of rebellion through vandalism. While that may be there, I never had reflected on graffiti as a form of political expression. I admire the peaceful approach to the conflict of the separation barrier over any of the violent alternatives. I wish I had this understanding when I visited Israel the first time.

More than just the geopolitical issues surrounding it, the issue surrounding it to me was/is how it has ruined a pristine and beautiful piece of global history. While it has some severe human right issues related to it, to me the issue is how it has ruined the splendor of Jerusalem and Israel as a whole. At the same time, the separation barrier has provided a new form of history. It has become and avenue of expression that would not be there otherwise. While in some senses the wall is a form of aggression, at the same time it has become one of the most beautiful means of communication and that is of the arts. That combined with projects such as the Western-Eastern Divan Orchestra provide solutions and means for dialogue that I believe will hold the key to solving the issues surrounding Jerusalem.

Final Project Outline

Here ya go:

The idea for my final project is based off of the HBO series Newsroom. This has quickly become one of my favorite shows mainly because it addresses facts and fiction in a highly entertaining and informative way. I also am a theatre guy which has given me some thoughts as to how to approach this.

To start, I will be working with Ben for the script and I will have a couple of friends in the theatre department help me with the acting. The filming requirements and location have yet to be finalized, but the set will be that of a newsgroup's set. I will be acting as the anchor and moderator who will be interviewing a representative of the Palestinians and one of the Israelis.

Where it will get interesting is in the script. The topic at hand will be a current event taking place in Israel. It will be a fictitious one based off of real events so that we can address typical arguments made by both sides.
The representative of both parties will intentionally be biased to show what the common argument is so that the anchor will have the opportunity to speak on a factual basis. The acting will intentionally be emotional and argumentative to represent the passion made on both sides. The anchor's main job will be to rebuttle all of the arguments on with on a factual basis.

I like this format for a number of reasons. The first one is because we can address the arguments typified by each party. This format also allows there to be objective fact in a debate that so often is based on emotion alone. Secondly, this format gives me artistic discretion to drive the facts home. I believe I have the experiences, resources, and most importantly some amazing friends that will help this be a very special project.

Here are some links to clips from the Newsroom format that give some meat to the bones of this idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAjX2aiX3PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdeSsnjuS0Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBnk2aKsIQA

Tonight's Response

My initial response after reading the conversation between Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said was of sheer amazement. Here are two amazing minds with vastly different intellectual backgrounds who seem to be the closest of friends. They also represent two opposing nations and yet, they are able to put aside their differences and were able to sustain a powerful friendship.

What also amazed me was how the arts drew them together. The writing told of how Edward was a person who was able to see the importance of understanding many facets of life from the arts to philosophy to literature. Daniel is a man who has a passion for music and also seems to understand how the arts are able to draw us together. Someone in our discussion time on Tuesday said how music is a language that everyone speaks and I think this friendship is an example of that. I also admire Daniel's passion in that belief. When he decided to play the piece from Triston and Isolade in spite of Israel's taboo, that shows his passion for how music is something that anyone can appreciate.

That passion for the arts as a means to draw people together is inspirational for me. As an avid participant in theatre and a former musician, I can really relate to this subject. To me, the opportunity to work alongside someone with the common goal of turning a piece of music into a masterpiece, is a special opportunity as a human being. I perceive that the arts are seen as just a means of entertainment any more to most people. That explains why it is not seen as a vital part of our education and culture anymore. These two men's friendship and the Western-Eastern Divan orchestra are examples of how the arts can bring people together. To me, this story shows more progress towards the Israelis and Palestinians achieving peace more than anything else in history.

To my family and those who have impacted me

There have been many things that have defined who I am and how I got to where I am at today. I have been blessed with so many things from travel, to my health, to my education that has directed me throughout my life. To write all of these things, would take up far to much of my and your time so I will narrow it down to a very special few and those few are my family.

I cannot narrow down what exactly family is so I will simply show you who they are and how they have impacted me. I am so blessed.

These are my closest friends from Iowa. They are the greatest group of guys a person could ask for. I look forward to seeing them every time I go home or visit them where they are at. I see our friendship, though started at the end of high school, as being a friendship of a lifetime. They also are men in case the epic mountain climbing picture didn't give that away.

This is my boy Jimmy D. What a guy. He is my best friend at Ohio State, my fraternity brother, partner in crime, and my professional developer. I have been lucky to have him as my roommate these past two years and everything that has come with that. I will miss him when he goes to Duke next year. Go Bucks.

This stud is my grandpa Schoffelman. My middle name is shared with him and that alone is a big enough honor for me. This man is my hero. My role model. My best friend. His humility and devotion to character is something I strive to show in my life. I am honored to be his grandson.

Here is my dad and I during a skiing trip last spring break. He exemplifies hard work and devotion in every possible way to me. If I could be half of the man he is, I would consider that an accomplishment.

This beautiful woman is my mom Jill. She has shown me love and grace throughout my entire life and she has a special place in my heart. I always look forward to our coffee dates and her long drawn out stories as to how life is going for her.

This is my brother Alex. He will probably kill me if he finds out that I posted a picture of him wearing an OSU shirt on a public blog. Oh well. He is my exact opposite but yet I admire him for his amazing work ethic and desire to help the world with his amazing interest in agriculture.

This is my step dad Bruce. He is a fighter to say the least. He and I have had many special moments and I look back on them with extreme fondness. His fighting spirit is going on display in one of the most extreme ways I can imagine right now with his fight against cancer. Yet, throughout all of this, he still cares for and looks after my mom in a truly loving way.

This is my amazing girlfriend Liesl. I don't know where to start with her so I will say just a few words. She encourages, challenges, and inspires me everyday. She has the most beautiful personality and appearance I could ever dream of. I have been so blessed to have her in my life these past two years and I cherish every moment I have with her. She is a keeper.

All of these people only scratch the surface of those who have impacted me. I have many men who poured into my life from my pastors to my hunting buddies. I can say without a shade of doubt that I would not be who I am today without every person who has been in my life. I hope I can be as encouraging and impactful as these people have been to me to someone else someday.

Some more reflections...

The readings for Tuesday really brought me back to previous studies I have done in other classes. Ever since I first went to class at The Ohio State University, I became amazed at how classes from all different backgrounds can be applied in all sorts of academic settings. I truly feel like I am a better student if indeed a better person because of this style of education.

But back to the topic at hand, I have been reminded of an archaeology class I took two years ago here at Ohio State. The topic of that class was archaeology of the Near East and many of the places we have referenced so far in this class were also brought up then. An interesting topic we talked about was the colonial power's approach to archaeology. I find it to be very similar to that of the colonial photography during that time which was very biblically focused. There is a widespread belief among secular and religious scholars that believe the archaeology of that period tarnished if not destroyed the veracity of the science. I am amazed at how a similar thought has come about with the photography during that period.

I also reflected back on my experience in Northern Israel in 2009 with the article on the historical problems of the Jewish Arabs. When I was in that region, I was among Lebanese Christians who were residing in the state of Israel. They were doing this because they sided with Israel in the various conflicts between Lebanon and the IDF and so they could no longer return to Lebanon. The only problem that they then faced was their residency in Israel. Due to their previous national and religious affiliation, they could not gain citizenship in Israel. This left them in limbo citizenship wise and left them in extreme poverty.

Having said all of this, I am still amazed at the role religion plays in that region of the world. It is so easy to say that we should all come together and respect each other's beliefs while still realizing we do not have to compromise our own ideologies. Time has shown this never to be the case whether it be through war with the Lebanese Christians or through the arts with the problems of colonial photography. Even the sciences of anthropology were skewed to disrespect or bias religion. This is a sad truth that has led to so many conflicts but at the same time awareness of this will only cause the betterment of everyone who chooses to do so.

Reliving Research

These last few chapters brought me back to my original thoughts in regards to the Israel/Palestine issue. These thoughts are centered around the confusion of how the groups got into this mess and who actually is to blame. These are thoughts that started before I ever visited the Middle East and were very important to how I viewed that region when I went there. So many historical events have left marks on the nation of Israel even to this day and I remember the fascination that I had when I saw them with my very own eyes.

The first event I remember studying was the Arab revolt of 1918. When I first went to Jerusalem, I was working on a large high school project in regards to that event and the role of T.E. Lawrence during it. I remember walking through the old city and reflecting on how T.E. would have been thinking in that situation. I had begun to admire his approach to the Middle East and the people therein. While he himself was very respected by the Arabs, only a short glance at a history book shows how the British are very much at the center of the conflict at hand. Whether it was the Sykes-Picot treaty or the Balfour declaration, not everyone in the British military was as keen on the Middle East as T.E. Lawrence was.

The next event I remember very clearly was the drive form Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This stretch of road is known as the Bab-El-Wad and it was a region of intense conflict during 1948. When driving along this, there is wreckage from the past wars strewn along the roadside from blown up cars to burned out military vehicles. I was amazed how they remained there till today yet they still seemed so fitting. I say that because no matter where I was at in the Middle East, the importance of all of the conflicts to today's events is of the utmost importance.

Time and time again those very events from the past play important roles into the dialogue between the Palestinians and Israelis today. These last chapters brought me back to everything I was learning and researching prior to my time in Israel. Now that I am back and am reflecting on that history, I am amazed at how much I have learned. Time has blessed me with many new opportunities to understand the conflict surrounding Jerusalem and I look forward to looking back on this post someday and realizing how much more I have learned.

Patterns

After going through today's readings, I am amazed at the pattern that is coming up again and again throughout history. I see that in the continual shuffling of power in Jerusalem, the actions taken by its leaders, and the religious tendencies that come up from the groups involved. Whether it is a Christian, Jewish, or Roman leader, almost without fail, they failed to represent the minority groups. Without fail, the minority groups became disgruntled and rose up against their oppressors.

That has caused me to reflect on the discussions had throughout our class. When the topic of Jerusalem has come up, the idea that the Israelis are oppressing the Palestinians is brought up. I am becoming less and less surprised with that perception as I am looking at the history of that region. I can think of very few if any times where the governor of that region has equally represented all of the faiths. Sure there have been a few here and there but I struggle to find a group that has done just that.

With that in mind, the thoughts I have are along the lines of how can we fix a problem that has been reoccurring throughout history for thousands of years? Every major monotheistic faith has had the opportunity to rule in that region and at one point in time or another, they have all been the perpetrators of this conflict. You cannot simply blame this on religion, borders, resources or history. This conflict has to do with people simply not being willing to respect one another.

That respect is the key in my mind. There has always seemed to have been the mentality of it is "us versus them" and that is the powder in the keg that is ready to explode. This requirement is universal for all parties involved in the conflict. Every one is to blame for this situation. When I look back on the utopia that is my last post, that is only possible when the actors in the Israel/Palestine conflict learn to come together and work through their differences for the common good. This conflict is far too old and far too unsustainable to continue with this status quo. I look forward to the day where people not only in Israel but all around the globe learn to do just that.

A One State Solution?

Disclaimer:

Consider me an optimist with this post, but also please take it for a grain of salt. With the amount of issues related to the conflict and solution to the Israel/Palestine problem, I don't see many ways around these issue other than the two sides coming together and learning to live alongside the other as equals.

That being said, I am going to take the suggestion of Noura and think outside the box with this. My solution is simple and it is a one state solution. The government would be similar to that of the Lebanese "Gentleman's Agreement" which would create a system where an Israeli Jew would be the Prime Minister while a Palestinian would become the President. This can change over time as whoever recieves the majority vote will be Prime Minister and the person who wins the second most will be President (this system is similar to that of the United States prior to the Civil War).The legislature would be made up of Israeli and Palestinian parties and the Prime Minister would be put in charge of forming a coalition government similar to its current ability. The President's job in that situation would be to approve of the coalition and to work with the Prime Minister in all executive duties. Each group (Palestinian and Israeli) would have its own Judiciary and a system of appeals up to the point where the Supreme court would have to be split evenly between the two sides. The deciding vote would then come from the President or Prime Minister depending on the appeal.

The reason I chose a one state solution is because to me, the two state solution is becoming more and more impossible with every passing day. The two main issues that are the reasoning behind this are water and the settlements. I will address the later first. In my mind, the settlements have become far to integrated into the West Bank for a new border for a second state to come to pass. The settlements also bring a strong economy as well as something else very important to the long term development of the West Bank and that is agriculture. That would provide for a much more stable West Bank in the long run.

What is required for agriculture though, is water. That is the first and most important issue in my mind to this conflict. All advanced nations require massive amounts of freshwater in order to survive. Currently, the main source of freshwater is from the Jordan river as well as the largest underground aquifer is underneath the West Bank. Under a two state solution, both of those go more directly to the Palestinians and I do not see the Israelis letting that happen. Iraq has been described as the last Middle Eastern war to be fought over oil and the rest will be fought over water. By giving up the rights to the freshwater, I only see a war being the result of that.

This map shows the water location and the issues surrounding it.

By forming a one state solution as described above, both of these key issues can be solved. This would take massive consolations of key issues such as security and justice by both groups. In order for this to happen, the Israelis must be willing to concede some of their national identity as a Jewish state and to allow for equal participation by the Palestinians. The Palestinians must also give up on their hopes for their own state and as well as be willing to put up with what is sure to be years of accommodation into this new system of governance.

Both sides would have to halt aggression immediately and the current powers at hand must begin to solve internal issues related to the conflict. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas must begin to negotiate and determine who has legitimate authority over the Palestinians. The ruling parties of Israel must come together and begin to negotiate not only amongst themselves but also with the Palestinians. The past problems related to injustice must come to a conclusion which will probably have to happen by an international court.

Once again, this solution may seem very optimistic and probably will never happen. But once again, in my mind a two state solution has become nearly impossible. Let us all hope that under whatever circumstance the solution comes, that the two groups will one day learn to coexist and to treat each other as humans with dignity and respect.

Imagio Dei

Imagio Dei is a Latin phrase that carries meaning to many people. Translated, it means image of God, but that carries with it so many meanings. According to the readings, that concept caused many ancient Jews to reflect on the presence of God. Where does God reside? Is it only in the temple? Or can the image of God be seen elsewhere throughout the world? To the Christians, that phrase could mean the image of God in the believers heart. All of these play into how believers of the two religions view their lives as well as their holy places.

If the image of God was found in the temple, it is no wonder why the Jews originally cared so deeply for the temple. The crisis came about with where God was during their diaspora whether it is with the Babylonians or the Romans in A.D. 70. Did God go with them when the temple was destroyed or did He leave them on their own when it was destroyed? For those who believed that God went with them when the temple fell, the concept of carrying God with them gave them much hope and encouragement that the hardships they were facing would be short lived.

That concept has carried great meaning with me. To believe that in under no circumstance God will still reside with me is a powerful beacon of hope. Throughout the times when all else has seemed to fade away whether it is my health with my brain tumor, or when my family is collapsing with my parents divorce, God still resided with me. One of my favorite quotes is: "If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings." by Adoniram Judson. I can say with confidence that the concept of God residing with me rather than in a temple is the source of that love and mercy.

At the same time, I can understand why the ancient Jews felt so strongly about the image of God being found in the temple. From the very beginnings of that establishment under Solomon, God had resided in the temple among the Ark of the Covenant. Their desire to restore that under Cyrus, the Greeks, and then after its fall with the Romans, shows how important that understanding is to them. I am amazed by their passion to restore the temple and to keep Jerusalem as a holy place, set apart for the worshiping of Yahweh. A passion that is continued to this day.

Childhood Memories

After I finished the readings for Tuesday, I was caused to think back on more than just my time in Jerusalem, but my entire childhood growing up. To me, many of the stories referenced in the book  carry much personal meaning to me in that I grew up hearing the stories of Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon and all of the others referenced. I can think back on times where I was sitting in Sunday school learning about Joshua's conquest of Canaan or Davids flight from Saul and these are memories that hold value to me.

What I appreciated more about the reading was the context that the author put it in. When reading these stories in scripture, it is difficult to keep everything in context. Once more, by framing these stories with a historical as well as a geographical setting for me, they became more real to me. That is one reason why I found these readings to carry so much meaning to me; they put the stories into reality. That is also what made my first visit to the Middle East so amazing. That trip put a face to what I grew up believing and basing my life around.

As with the other readings, the question as to why Jerusalem was important was asked. I still find it amazing that a city with so little geographic importance became the center of the region. After reading these chapters though, I am coming to realize the importance of the symbolism behind this city. From its very beginnings, the people typified Jerusalem with a deity. It is beginning to make sense to me why the conflict around this has less to do with its regional significance in trade or as a military installation, but rather as a center of people's faith.

"Even those who have no interest in any of the traditionally holy cities and have no belief in the supernatural often have special places to which they like to repair. such sites are "sacred" to us because they are inextricably bound up with our conception of ourselves; they may be associated with a profound experience that transformed our lives, with memories of early childhood, or with a person who was important to us" 

                                                                               Karen Armstrong

With this in mind, it amazes me how people hold on so dearly to their upbringing in regards to cities such as Jerusalem, Mecca, or Rome. These are all places that people are raised, just as myself, holding special circumstance to them. History tells that story as well. Time and time again there has been conflict raised over the status people hold with these cities. I look forward to the day when peoples of all different background and upbringing can come together with respect to the other's perception of the city and admire how it makes those cities all the more special.

Weblog Journal One

To tell the truth, I really had no idea what to expect of this class. I actually signed up for it a class late, after spending time deciding if I wanted to take this or another Islamic law course. I chose this course for a variety of reasons. The first one was because I feel like I have a personal connection with the city of Jerusalem. Having spent time there in 2009, I felt an urge to continue where I left off during that trip in regards to my knowledge of that city. Another reason was because I am always interested to hear what people's perception of Jerusalem is. There are so many different ways of viewing the conflict surrounding that city that I feel as if I could spend an entire lifetime conversing about it, and still not have the whole story. My last reason for choosing this class was because of it's format. The idea of speaking to people from all around the world over the internet is fascinating to me and that only will add to my interest in the opinions of the city. I think the usage of this technology gives me a truly novel way of understanding the conflict and I am excited to see how it unfolds.

So far, this course has proved all of my reasons to be well founded. The topics of the readings have caused me to reflect back on my experience when I was in Jerusalem as well as my time since I returned. The second set of readings set a historical background for this city and its importance. I remember how my friends from Israel suggested that I do that before I leave for the country and now that I am reading that topic again, it has shown me how much I have learned. Prior to leaving for Israel the first time, I knew very little about the country. I was limited to what I had learned in school and my personal reading that I had done. Now since my return, I have grown in my understanding of Jerusalem and I no longer view it just through a historical lens like the second readings. Rather, I see Jerusalem as a wide set of conflicts, organic, and always changing. The first set of readings only supported the idea that Jerusalem is more than just a historical landmark, but rather, it is a blend of cultures and traditions that is nearly impossible to describe through any means.

Another aspect of this class which has had value to me is the classroom discussions. These discussions have proven to be very insightful as to the variety of opinions in the class. It has been amazing to see the openness of students from very different backgrounds with often opposing views be willing to speak up and ask questions. It is encouraging to see the cooperation and willingness to relate in all of the students minds and it has caused there to be a very positive dialogue. I look forward to hearing more about people's opinions and how they formed them in the coming weeks. To me, this will provide just as much insight into the conflict as any reading I could ever read.

Lastly, the opportunity to blog and interact with students as per the classes requirement, is exciting and innovative to me. While this portion of the class is still in it's infancy, already I have begun to see the potential this style of learning has. I have enjoyed reading the students opinions on their blogs mainly for the reason that I can look back on their work more than once and reflect on it. I almost feel like I am reading a students paper, where I can spend time out of class reflecting on what that person says, rather than only hearing students opinions in class. I also see that the opportunity to speak with classes from all around the States will give me even more opportunities to hear opinions of the conflict in Jerusalem.

Once more, this class has and I believe will continue, to provide me with new ways of learning about the conflict surrounding Jerusalem. I am very excited to interact more with the students here at OSU and from elsewhere and to understand their background more. I truly believe that unless I do my best to relate to people and where they are coming from, that I will not be able to get the most out of any discussion. This class has proved that I am not the only one who thinks that, and that gives promise to a long term solution to Jerusalem.

The Three Influences

After spending some time reflecting on the readings for today,there were a couple main themes that stood out to me. The first one was that there is no one group whether it be Muslims, Jews, or Christians that is without fault for the current status of Jerusalem. It truly seems to me that all of them tell a similar story of how although they once cherished and controlled the city peacefully, each group lost that control and often by bloodshed. The next theme for me was similar to that of my previous post and that is each group here must be willing to concede in certain areas for peace to ever happen in Jerusalem.

I am also amazed by the reading Jerusalem Then and Now because the importance of the city really struck me. It has no obvious military importance, but so many bloody conflicts have arisen over it. It has no major natural resources or food supplies, but its siege almost brought the Jews to their breaking point in 1948. The city is a symbol of religious diversity, but no religious coexistence.

Those facts are what have amazed me thus far throughout this class. I think it is easy to be tempted to think that the issues facing the Israelis and Palestinians have to do with statehood. The issues in how to handle Jerusalem alone are enough to divide the people, but there are many more on top of that. Issues such as water allocation, border security, trade routs, and political structure are just as important as anything else before the Palestinian/Israeli issue will ever be resolved.

To end, I will comment on another quote from the reading "The History of Jerusalem".

"Thus, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim beliefs, which have repeatedly proven themselves to have a profound influence on Jerusalem's history, must be considered with the utmost gravity."

This sums up all of the readings we had to read and also the point of this post. Each group involved in the conflict in Jerusalem has had a profound influence on the city's history. Until each of their respective part in that history is acknowledged by each group, this conflict has little chances of ever coming to a peaceful end.

Two Truths

"It is true that society's [Jerusalem's] problems are deeply rooted in tradition. It is also true that solutions to these problems can grow from the same place."

                                                                                                  -Amy Horowitz    

This statement seemed to outline issues found in the readings over the past couple days the best. Hearing the story of the attempt by the Israeli and Palestinian women who came together to put on the Jerusalem festival for the Smithsonian Institute, showed if these truths could be the reality. From both sides of the table, the two ethnic groups (Jews and Arabs) were set forth with the task to display the cultural characteristics and traditions to put forth on the National Mall. What a feat that would be.

While it was so easy for me to see why these traditions were capable of dividing the two ethnic groups, it was much more difficult for me to understand why the author said it was able to solve the problems. From history, we have seen how cultural traditions have been a centrifugal force that has divided these groups. Traditions such as food styles, musical pieces, wedding celebrations and such were all spoken of throughout the texts as issues that the people designing the project had to overcome.

All that being said, the question still remained in my mind as to what could possibly be a tradition that brings people together in a situation such as Jerusalem. I first thought of it being as simple as a common goal for peace in the region. But as the writers of the article have stated, one cannot look at a modern outlook on life without first understanding the history behind that very outlook. That being said, while a Jewish person may want peace, they may also feel the need for security from what they see as a threat of violence from the Palestinians. On the contrary, a Palestinian may desire justice for the deeds done by the Jewish settlers more than they desire peace.

So now looking back at the statement of two truths, I realize that something has to be done in order for these two people groups to allow themselves to come together through their respective traditions. In the same way as the ladies putting together the festival did, I have struggled to come to understand how that issue can be solved. So while the above statement has two truths included in it, under the present circumstances there is only one reality. Until people allow themselves to respect the others traditions, they will only be capable of dividing them.

Initial Thoughts

It seems like forever ago that I was in Jerusalem and writing in a similar fashion. In reality, it was only 4 short years ago but much has changed! That first trip to the Middle East not only provided me with a more broad understanding of the world but it forever changed the course of my life. Since my return, I have become proficient in the languages of the region, more understanding of the Middle East's political economy, have gained a much wider appreciation to the people of the region, and most importantly, a desire to return! I look forward to continuing where that trip left off, and to continue to grow in all of these ways and more.

The direction my life has taken due to Jerusalem so far, is a far cry of where I would have expected it to be now. I am triple majoring in Economics, Middle Eastern Studies, and Islamic Studies. All of these come together to be a part of my goal to be in Islamic Finance. That may seem strange to hear from a small town Iowa male who was raised as a Reformed Christian, but I see the purpose of my life as to be a servant to the people of the Middle East.

That is what makes this so exciting for me! I can think of no better place in the world where people need to come together and to serve one another. There are so many stereotypes and misunderstandings that only seem to hamper the process of moving that region of the world forward. I hope to be a part of dispelling that and to bring people together to serve one another. I am so excited for the opportunity to take part in the Living Jerusalem and to interact with people all around the world who desire this as well!