Issues from the class

Overall, I think this class makes for a unique challenge that has so many twists and turns in itself.  With that said, there are some issues that do make it difficult to wrap your head around the information being brought to our attention.  One issue that I really struggled with in the beginning was the Armstrong book.  I think that all of the information was great, but just the thought of where she got her information and some parts where she seemed to lean to one side or the other really caught me off guard.  There was so much going on in the book and with it being the beginning of the semester, it took a lot longer to get in the groove of the overall content of the class between the book and the guest speakers.  Although I thought they were both beneficial, for me personally, I thought it put the class to a rough start.

With regards to the categories in my final paper, I think that there were many great suggestions thrown out yesterday and I agree with some of them.  The thought of reading Armstrong before class would help, but how many people would actually read the book before the semester? I think that there could be certain prerequisites that would help the class because if you come in already knowing the history, then the Armstrong book is basically not needed and can be used for more speakers/activities, etc.  I also thought that going to events is something interesting because being at things first hand rather than just watching videos or listening to them really makes a difference. Other things I would like to touch on are social media/blogs, speakers and their topics, and Jerusalem updates.

Reading Response 15

After looking through these websites, it is different, yet interesting, when looking from a perspective that you are not used to.  When looking around, you can tell how these people feel about themselves and what they want to accomplish.  They believe that they have the power to do what they want and fight for what they believe in, which brings so much confidence to a group of people.  The Open House blog is very interesting because it has different interns posting about the things they have done around Israel to support the group.  All of the different events that have gone on supporting the community really makes them feel like they are making a difference in people's lives.  I think that these people are making a name for themselves and showing people that freedom of choice exists.

The other website that really stood out to me was the city of borders documentary about the relationship between gays and Israelis/Palestinians in a Jerusalem gay bar.  There are so many people that can relate to this in Israel and I think that it is a great opportunity for the people who are a part of this movement.  They are only trying to create an environment for these people and they have the right to do what they want, even if their friends, family, or others disagree.  The big quote that really stuck out was from the Israeli bar owner that said “When I read in the bible that I could be killed for being gay, I understood what it was like to be Palestinian.” I think that really makes a big impact in being the outside looking in and should give perspective to others doing similar moves in the future.

Reading Response 14

The two chapters from Amiry were very different from what we have been reading and I think it helps get through it easier.  On that note, I thought the second chapter was extremely interesting about how to get vaccinations for dogs in Jerusalem.  The relationship to actually getting a passport for your dog (which as I write this, still seems like one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard) can be compared to people in certain circumstances that are not allowed to go to certain places.  People in Israel and Palestine are not allowed in each others territories to a certain degree and it is amazing how powerful organizations are to make this kind of thing happen.  From the beginning of the semester until now, we have learned about how this situation has become top heavy in the governments and a majority of the citizens are just trying to live their lives the best they can.  It just seems so surreal that all of this can affect so many people.

The second reading from Galit was a bit of a twist from the first article, relating Jerusalem in a feminine way.  It is interesting to think about because as we discussed in class today, there aren't many things that are compared to men in this country today.  The feminine comparison has a spiritual meaning of love connected to it that should be thought about every day.  However, the main outlook I took from this was that it should not be felt as a 'possession' as one normally thinks, but as a love characteristic.

Weblog 4

Even though I do not listen to a variety of music and primarily use it to keep me entertained, I think that it does get me into the right mood.  I am a fan of R&B, Pop, and some hip-hop music.  I like to listen to r&b most of the time because it puts me in balance and seem like I'm carefree.  However, when I need to get pumped up for something, I might break out some old rap that I know the words to in order to get my adrenaline flowing. I do not update my music very often, but I do enjoy listening to music in the background of my daily activities.

Many people in the world use music to mean different things, especially in the movie we saw on Tuesday.  I think between the orchestra from a few weeks ago and the rappers we just saw yesterday, music can have so much more impact than just entertainment.  These people are making music and setting a stage politically by interacting with both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  I think that it is a unique way of attacking the subject, but can also help because of the shared interests.  The rappers had a lot more arguments about the political side than the orchestra players did, but that could partially be due to the kind of music they are doing.  Rappers are meant to be aggressive and I think the article that went with the video talked about the background of that very well.  We will continue to see if any of the music interventions will collect enough interest to become a part of a movement towards peace in the future.

Reading Response 13

After reading the article about the dissection of the inner conflict of Channels of Rage, it is very interesting to see tidbits of both sides of the story.  It seems as though both of them are doing this during a violent time, but stick to their own sides.  However, they both understand what the other is going through.  I think that the most interesting part was the quote from each at the end, when Tamer says the problem isn't between him and Kobi, but Kobi believes the opposite.  Maybe this is to make it bigger than it really is, or they are really in a struggle to find that inner peace.

The Israeli Hip-hop article 'All Flow, No Edge' really puts a different perspective on how Israelis look at rap compared to those in the United States.  When reading the article, one thing really caught my eye: How Israeli rappers perceive 'black'. Now to start this off, are there not any white rappers? Of course there are, and even though African Americans are a majority of the rappers, I think it is obscure to point them out like that.  There are tons of famous white rappers and to directly try to link to the blacks is weird to me, considering the Israelis can probably relate to the white rappers more.  I think the comparison of violence in Israel and in the ghettos aren't very similar and cause two different styles of rap, which is good for the category.

The interview with Subliminal was also very interesting from him rapping at his house to the army to making albums.  He has been progressing to make his music out of Israel since he has basically taken over the hip hop market there.  His next mission is to make an album in English for Europe and then progressively to the United States.  It is interesting to see where he has come from to where he is now.  Although he compares his childhood to being on the streets like the rapper Biggie Smalls, he was more in the politics side because there really isn't any other option.  He has come a long way to his success and I think he will continue to develop and hopefully make a difference in the region and in the world.