Reading Response 10

After reading a bit from Parallels and Paradoxes and seeing the film Knowledge is the Beginning, I can begin to understand how these two influential men teamed up to help promote peace in the region. From every online website or biography on either Daniel Barenboim or Edward Said, it seems as though both of these men were extraordinary individuals that have a constant hunger to make a difference in many aspects of life. It was only a matter of time before they met each other and began as what many described a ‘passionate and intense’ friendship. I am amazed by both of their biographies and the many identities that they both have. While Barenboim is Argentine, Russian, Israeli and Jewish, Said is in many forms America, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Christian. It seems as though because both of these men possess multiple identities they are able to see the world as they do. Through their dialog in Parallels it shows their intense humility (very difficult with such credentials I can imagine) and also their ability to look at a situation such as the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (or occupation, if you will) in a different way. For instance, in the first chapter, Edward Said says “There’s a lot of sentimentality about “homelands” that I don’t really care for” (4). If only every felt the same way. Barenboim also comments on this: “The sense of belonging to different cultures can only be enriching” (6). And once more, I must comment, wouldn’t things be easier if everyone felt this way too?! A project such as the Barenboim-Said foundation and the West-Eastern Divan orchestra had to have developed from minds such as these two. I think it’s a genius idea to create a youth orchestra with equal numbers of Palestinians and Israelis. Art is a universal language that connects all people. After reading the excerpts and information on them, I begin to understand how they were able to put their identities and opinions aside and form this project. It makes me think for a moment, ‘peace could be so easy!’. But then of course, it’s not. 

We were reminded by this after speaking with Jenna from Ramallah at the movie showing on Thursday. She had the exact opposite view of these two men. She was against normalization and the pretending as if everything is okay and happy. She said you travel to this setting and live in a bubble, then return to Israel/Palestine and relive the same problems that you already had. I can understand why she may feel this way, and of course I see things differently because I did not grow up in her situation. However, it really upset me to hear her opinions especially after seeing the film that gave me some sort of optimistic high. It really brought me back down to reality to realize how difficult this all is. I do want to ask her though, if she is against this sort of situation, I do not understand what she proposed instead then? Obviously something has to be done, and if she is not against this type of dialog, what can be done?! She says that it’s not helping anything, but can it really make the situation worse?! I would like to hear more from her about her ideas and what she would propose as an alternative. 

Questions to ask Mariam Said:
1. How involved were you in the process of beginning the Barenboim-Said Foundation?
2. Were you ever against this type of ‘normalization’? What do you propose as peace measures? 

Questions about Knowledge is the Beginning:
1. How has this project affected the lives of individual kids?
2. Have you begun to see the benefits of the project?
3. What has been the most rewarding aspect?
4. What has been the most challenging? 

More questions for Mariam:
1. How did you make the transition from the financial sector to helping run the Barenboim-Said Foundation?
2. What do you think is the most influential aspect of your husband’s work?