Class Discussion: I think our class discussions became more comfortable as the quarter rolled by. In the beginning, I felt unsure if my questions and concerns were applicable to the subject matter. When I found that other people had similar concerns, it helped me steer and confirm my thoughts. I learned a lot through others people’s questions. Many times the class would raise questions that I had not thought of, and it helped me further develop my understanding of the situation. In general I found the class discussions thought provoking and polite.
Video Conferencing: I think the video conferencing gave me a lot of exposure that I would not have received from books. For me, the video conferences with Dr. Held’s class and Pyalara were very insightful. It was helpful to see how two different groups talk about an issue with a totally different perspective. They both talked about daily life in Jerusalem in a completely different light. It was incredible to become in learn about contemporary issues from the people experiencing them. Additionally, I have become more bold and gained courage to ask my questions.
Readings: I appreciated the subject matter of the readings. I am really glad that we read Armstrong’s book. It was very helpful to me, as an outsider to the three religions, in understanding the rich history of the three religions. When people describe the deep seated religious divisions that exist in Jerusalem I understand what they are referring to. Through reading this book, I understand which events sparked religious tensions. The book also helped me realize that there was peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Jews, and refuels my hope that peace is possible. I have learned the importance cultural knowledge through the readings. In addition, I really appreciated readings that traced change in Jerusalem through a cultural context. Salim Tamari’s article about Wasif is an example of this. Even analyzing architecture can provide insight into who was the hegemonic culture.
Lecturer and Speakers: I thought that each of our speakers was very unique and brought a new perspective to the class. I found my opinions of what Kasa Bayasin said to have significantly changed from when the class began through now. I recognize bias related to Israel and Palestine with much ease, even in our speakers. I found Dr. Herrmann to be incredibly helpful and easy to understand. He laid out complex relationships and policies in an elucidating manner. I really understand the politics of Israel and Palestine much more because of him. I found the three scholars of religion to be a good supplement to the Armstrong reading, but very conservative.
Blogging: I was very new to blogging before this class. I find that it is a great mode through which I can express myself. I realize that what is written in blogs has the potential to elicit strong emotions from readers. My individual blog helped keep me responsible and kept me on track with the assignments that were due and the readings. I liked the class blog because it was a very for me to stay connected with the class outside of the classroom. Also, the class blog kept me updated about any amendments that were made in class. I liked that the reading assignments were also there; it was easy to manage. It was also a way for me to share something I found interesting with the entire class and learn about from other people’s interests. I enjoyed reading other people’s blogs and learning from them. Many times, I would agree with what they had to say and appreciate their comments, but I would not know what to write besides that I concur. Through reading others people’s blogs I had the opportunity to learn how their thoughts are shaped what the way they perceive information.
Syllabus: I found the syllabus to provide clear directions most of the time. There were instances when I was a little confused. I think that is because of the nature of this class. The class is very dependent on the lives of our speakers and current events; it adds an extra dimension to our class. However, because of the class blog and updates provided in class, I found it very easy to stay on top of what was due.
Final Project: I learned a lot about the wall through compiling my own project. I realized how emotionally charged people become because of the presence of the wall. Although walls do not speak themselves, they do elicit an outpour of emotions from people located on both sides. I also found movement an aspect of culture that is changing as a response to the conflict. I have become more interested in experiencing Gaga for myself and seeing how it impacts my kinesthetic sense. I wish that I could have somehow found a more personal way of conducting my project. While I learned a lot through my project, I feel as though I presented James Graham’s thoughts and work. I would have liked to experience a Gaga class for myself and conducted interviews about how other people feel about the wall. I am glad I had the opportunity to learn how to create a multimedia project. I learned a tremendous amount about various topics through others people’s projects. The projects were interesting and informative. I enjoyed seeing what things other students were interested in and how it all ties in with Israel (i.e. Poetry Slam and Painting). Further, through observing other people’s projects I also more ideas of how I could better conduct mine in the future.
Personal Reflection: When I started this class, I thought it would be more of a political science course and we would discuss what can be done to bring peace to both groups of people. I thought that both side would be misinformed and that once they realized this, everything would be okay. I have learned that no part of the conflict is black and white. I have also learned that no group should emotionally blackmail another group by proclaiming the number of people killed because it is very ineffective. I have a clearer picture of what the situation is like in Israel and Palestine, but my conclusions for bringing peace are more muddled. I would have liked to learn more about the Gaza strip, especially because of the recent raid in the flotilla. I would like to actually visit Israel for myself to learn more about the conflict and experience the tension for myself. Until then, I can increase my awareness for events that are taking place to raise awareness about the conflict from both sides and read the news. I will be sure to keep my eyes open for any peaceful demonstrations and documentaries that are showing nearby. I definitely want to stay engaged with what is going on.
Last Project Response: I thought the project about Holy sites was very creative. It offered a holistic perspective. I wonder how Ashley got in touch with the Israeli soldiers. I liked to compare how my opinions align with the opinions of an interviewee. I found it interesting to compare the identity of the speaker with their opinions, and how it relates to stereotypical stances.
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