about the final projects

I was really impressed with the quality of projects! I havent been in a class that really has any projects assigned since h.s (which is now 2 years ago) and I guess thats the kind of thing I was expecting....thats not what I saw....I really liked Chris, Lindseys, and Ghada's projects on the children. And Ben and Josh's movie....hilarious and yet still very informative. I cant think of any other specific projects right now, but every one that I saw was great! :)

Almost done! wow

First off, I found this quote in TIME magazine that I feel sums up the situation in Israel-Palestine in a way. Its not simple and doesnt explain everything, but overall, I think the quote works; "But both groups are so bound up in their own sense of victimization-the Israelis over the Holocaust, the Palestinians over the loss of their land-that they are blind to the legitimate needs of the other". The author brings up quite a good point, albeit, not simple one, but a good one nonetheless. I just wanted to share that.
As for Prof. Mueller (or Dr, I cant remember), I thought he was very well versed in the Middle East for his saying he wasnt an expert on the subject. Though I noticed some other students incredulous at his remarks (one in particular, but I wont name who lol), I thought he brought the subject around nicely.

Final Project

Ok, so I was thinking about what I wanted to do my project on and I began thinking about discussions in class and why there are so many problems in Jerusalem. So I know its naive, and it really doesnt mean anything cause the problems will be there for generations no matter if they realize it or not, but for my project, I wanted to outline the similarities in culture, folklore, religion, and the day-to-day lives of the three main religions in Jerusalem, probably highlighting the major issues between the Jews and Palestinians. I'm thinking I'll write a paper and then maybe a power point or something similar with video and music. I'm not positive thats what Im going to do, but something of the sort.

Folklore article

Ok, so I feel like I should admit that when I first thought of the word "folklore" it tends to bring hippies, "folks" (which seems, yes respectful, but old), and the 60's to mind...Im not exactly sure, but after reading this article, I still dont know why. Folklore, it seems to me, is purely the culture and lives of a certian people. The stories that had been passed down from generations, songs that meant something at one point that are now lessons for us now. Its our superstitions, our ideals, traditions...the ways of life that we live by. As pointed out in the article, folklore is not just another anthropological study of human behavior, it is the study of everything we are: art, stories, songs, and behaviors, folklore encompasses it all. And I liked how the article pointed this out. Folklore to me, was the stories and songs of generations passed, Asops Fables and the stories of moral rules, and the songs about life. I never really thought of folklore as a living thing...but it is, because as long as humans are alive and kicking, so is our folklore. (which makes sense in a lot of different ways lol).
The part of the article that delves into the traditions of weddings was particularly interesting to me because it brings up the questions of why we do these things? Is society based on the ideas of luck and good fortune to the point that weddings are a mix of superstitions and good luck charms to make their marriage last? I like the traditions, "the something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue", but where did they come from and why have they persisted in our society for the amount of time they have? I enjoyed this article, and Ill admit I went into it expecting to be thoroughly bored (going back to my preconceived notions of hippies and "folks"),but it was interesting and it made me think of why we have such traditions and superstitions.

Sharon and my Mother in Law

The title alone brings interest for me. While I was reading these two chapters, I was astounded that the author could bring humor and humanity to the text. I feel as if it it is a terribly hard thing to do when writing on such a controversial subject, but I enjoyed these 2 chapters. Especially the part about her dog and the passport. It amazes me that a dog can get a Jerusalemite passport with just a few vaccines, but people who have been married for years couldnt get one. How does that work?
One part of the story I dont understand is the part about the bus and the gas masks. Im sure I just missed it in the context, but what exactly did the bus signify? Why did some palestinians get on the bus and were then driven away? And the deal with turning around? I just dont understand it....I dont know if I missed it or what, but I am thoroughly confused about what happened there.

the last of Armstrong...

One of the things I find interesting about this book is how in depth Armstrong goes into the history of each religion and who was in control on the city at different times. The city has been under seige, it seems, for the entirety of its existence. She stresses the history and the ideals of each religion, and one thing each has in common, as has been pointed out in class, is the emphasis on helping others and setting a good example for future generations.
I have no religious background...the only religion I can tell you extensively (kinda) about is Mormonism...not because I, myself, am a Mormon, but because I grew up in Utah and Utah History, as a required class, was pretty much the history of the Mormons coming to Utah. I cant really tell you about their religious beliefs, but I can tell you that it seems like every religion in the history of the world has been persecuted in some respect. The Mormons were chased out of state after state before coming to the Great Salt Lake, the Great Basin. There they found hope that they would be able to live in peace. Every other religion I have ever heard of, has had similar histories. Being driven out of places because of a difference in opinion or religious beliefs. Every occupant of Jerusalem have dealt with this. When the Romans came in, the Jews were exiles. everytime someone new came to the city, someone else was moved out. Persecution, it seems, has been a prerequisite for any religion.
Ive brought it up before in my blog, but why is it that people cling to religions so hard that they are willing to kill for it, to die for it? I mean, objectively, I understand it, but personally, Ive never been that passionate about anything before in my life, never have I been so passionate that I would be willing to die for it. My religious beliefs came from no where. I wasnt raised in a church or a religious family, so Im not entirely sure where they came from. All I know is that I feel God. I feel that he is with me. Its that simple. But these religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity; they seem to all be a complicated, complex belief system that spout beliefs and ideals that they dont seem to follow. Islamic people and Jewish people still kill each other, they still fight. They dont seem to follow their own rules of compassion and respect. Mohammad told his followers to respect their ancestors and future generations alike. He believed in peace and compassion, but I dont see it. Granted, the need to fight back is necessary for survival, but self defense is only needed after a first attack, but who made it? At this point, the cycle is so historical and hidden, that there are so many different opinions as to who originally started the conflict. It doesnt matter, though, really. What matters is that people are dying.
On page 217-218, Armstrong tells of how Mohammad didnt think he was creating a new religion when he spoke the words of Allah. He was speaking the words of the ancient "religion of the one God worshiped by the Jews and the Christians. It called upon the people of Mecca to to make an existential surrender (islam) of their whole lives to God".
"The whole of islam, therefore, can be seen as a quest for wholeness, a return to the paradise that human beings had lost". Mohammad stressed the necessity for giving back to ones community, to help the poor and vulnerable, and treat them with respect.
"As in Judaism, God was experienced in a moral imperative rather then in orthodoxy. " (218) I like this quote, because what it says to me is that anyone can experience God. If a person remains moral and grounded, then they can have a relationship with God. I dont think Ive ever heard it put so clearly before.
"It is difficult to be optimistic about the either the furture of the Middle East peace process or the future of the Holy City.....Both sides have to decide if they whether they want peace or victory." (430) I think this quote sums up the book pretty well, especially of Karen Armstrongs opinions on the situation. How can we be optimistic about a city as controversial as Jerusalem? I would love to say that I believe it will someday end, and it may. But not in the near future because there are still a great many differences to be ironed out. Granted, both sides are slowly, very gradually figuring out how to live together. But its only a few people on each side at a time. All the while, bombs are going off, people are dying, and boundaries are bing tested. So I ask, who thinks this could end soon? Does anyone have hope? Does the city?

Reaction

Isnt it the worst feeling in the world to feel as if you've been abandoned? Like when your parents left and forgot to tell you? Well, I wonder if that was how the Judahites felt when their city was destroyed and they were forced to leave their homelands. In Armstrongs book, she goes into great detail of the exodus of the Judahites and the destruction of their holy city of Jerusalem. I guess I never realized the vast history of the city....coming from the US, we think something thats only 2 or 300 years old is old, but this city of Jerusalem....its been around for thousands of years and that is the hardest part for me to comprehend. But the Judahites were thrown from that land, their city destroyed, and their connection to their God, the Temple of Yahweh, was destroyed and defiled. As Armstrong explains, back in that time, it wasnt as common to have mobile faith as it is today. In the time of Yahweh, people needed a concrete, tangible connection to their God...be it a temple, or statue, or something else of the sort. And when their temple was destroyed, along with their city, the people felt lost...and deserted. Until a preacher in exile had a vision. As armstrong pointed out, during times of hardship, people tend to look more towards myths then the traditional forms of faith, and I can understand why....Faith to most people is somewhat logical, more of a day to day thing. Myths are stories of people overcoming odds, stories that inspire...or just tell a good story, but myths arent necessarily based in the real word and I think thats why people tend to turn to them.. When life is hard, its easier to imagine something good in another world or time then something in the here and now; its harder to imagine a time of good fortune and love and harmony in a reality that doesnt necessarily shout those images from the rooftops.
But back to Armstrong, shes very in depth. Even with such a touchy subject, she still gives time to the historical analysis, and I like it. She goes into everything, the ottoman empires take over, then the romans....I knew about most of this from another book I read on the same subject, but Armstrong goes much deeper into the intricacies of the empires and the effects on the people.
Ok, so Im gonna be honest, Im losing steam on this, I know there is a lot of information in this book, but the thing Im stuck on is the sheer amount of oppression and assimilation these people have put up with. They've been exiled, beaten, murdered, praised....they've been so many different people, and yet they are still the same. How have some of their traditions lasted thousands of years? Even when they were forced to become someone else with someone elses beliefs and customs, the people of Jerusalem (some of them) stayed true to the God they believed in him, even when they thought he had abandoned them....thats pretty cool, I must say.