After our first session of the class Living Jerusalem, I am really looking forward to diving into the discussion and dialog. I do understand, however, that this class will be a challenge for me as I am still unfamiliar with all of the dimensions of the conflict. That being said, I do think that I need to realign my thinking in regards to the conflict. As I learned about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict growing up, before learning about the religious and cultural differences of both involved parties, I would always wonder, “Why can’t they just get along? I have Muslim friends and Jewish friends and we all go to school together. These people need to give it up and move on!” Then I quickly realized it was much more than a simple problem that could be fixed. Not to mention, as an American Christian, even though Christianity has important roots in Jerusalem, I do not (yet!) feel any personal connection to the city, and this poses a problem when examining the issues. For a long time I could not comprehend why people feel so strongly about this certain issue. Because I am taking Arabic and am often surrounded by Arabs, I am exposed to intense opinions about the topic. On the other hand, an Israeli friend of mine has also exposed me to his side of the story. After discussing the conflict with friends and seeing their points of view, I do not feel more enlightened or as though I may have a solution; on the contrary, I feel even more confused and helpless. In this aspect, I see the difficulties that this class may present. For example, after seeing the film, Bridge over the Wadi, a documentary that explains the challenges that accompany a bilingual, bicultural school in Israel, I felt as if there was no way to change the ways and the mindsets of both groups. In the readings I was even struck by the fact that the researchers for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in D.C. from both the Israeli and the Palestinian side felt the tension during the planning of the exhibit. Where is the hope when the people in charge and motivating the peace dialogs still feel frustrated? I hope that through this class I can begin to understand the progress that is taking place between Israelis and Palestinians and become more aware of solutions. It is also my hope that the people in Israel can see that we as Americans are interested in trying to help find a solution and not complicate matters more. I hope that they can see the diversity in our classroom and know that we believe it is possible that they achieve peace. Most importantly, however, as the readings discussed, I want to learn more about the individuals living their daily lives in Jerusalem. I have so many political ideas clouding my view of daily life and I hope to gain more of an understanding of that. It is my goal to not just think of Jerusalem as a “disputed city,” but as a place where people have lives and families and friends, just as the Israelis and the Palestinians working toward the exhibit at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival attempted to show. I am looking forward to learning from my classmates and understanding their personal connections to Jerusalem and how their backgrounds and experiences have shaped their opinions.
