The Israeli-Arab conflict is unfair. Millions on both the Palestinian and Israeli side have experienced all degrees of death, destruction, desperation, and constant depression. Yet this unfairness is not my point, because I am instead selfishly speaking of people like me.
There is so much information available about the Arab-Israeli conflict spouting from every imaginable public. Whether its in the form of books, magazine articles, news articles, blogs, art, etc, its accessible and expanding. In fact, I feel as if you could read a different outlook about the situation daily. Why is this a problem? Well if I am meant to be the future and I dearly care about all sides involved in the conflict, what the hell am I supposed to do?
Some days I feel as if what I have just read makes complete sense and justifies my previous understandings and opinions. During these 'some days', I believe that there is a chance that I can do something to heal the ragging conflict. I become close from afar to specific writers and dive into their world to comprehend why and how they write as they do. My trust in their knowledge allows for this relationship.
Yet when it is not a 'some day' and rather an 'other day', my understandings and opinions receive a shaking to their core. Skepticism overtakes my trust and I can't have a relationship, even from afar, with a subject that I don't trust. Besides the fact that this continual pattern is extremely frustrating, I think what aggravates me the most is my dependence on their knowledge. Since I wasn't alive for the pre-conflicts, the establishment (1948), the wars that followed (especially the 1967 war), and I don't even live in Israel or Palestine, my dependence is unavoidable. I know that in the end, it would be impossible to please all sides in the Israeli-Arab conflict, yet is it too much to ask for a little bit of historical evidence that both sides can at least see eye to eye on?
My uncertainty in this matter leaves me wary of defending either side, although my opinion about the entire situation sounds something like this: The Israeli and Palestinian governments (which includes Hamas as they were elected a majority in the Palestinian government and rule the Gaza Strip- whether people like that or not since they forcefully seized Gaza, it doesn't matter because they are the ones holding the power in the area) are equally guilty of mistreatment, hate, and lies. The Israeli people and Palestinian people, who are the ones that experience the most daily suffering, need to realize that the conflict's lack of a clear historical background makes it ultimately impossible to say who is in the right and who is in the wrong concerning most matters. They should not forget the past by any means, but they must try to comprise with the information that both sides can agree on and live in the now and deal with the problems in the now. In order to do this, the most difficult task comes next and that is learning to trust each other. Only when trust exists between two parties can a true relationship bloom and change occur. Without this much needed positive, activism, the murderous cycle will continue.
As for confused people like me who possess an unstoppable compassion for the many that suffer there, it is crucial that we assist both the Palestinians and Israelis in order to portray to them an influencing third party full of hope and belief in reconciliation.
I know that I have set this all up very simply since there are many other factors that play a part in the Israeli-Arab conflict and I might change my mind about all of this tomorrow. None the less, there must be a way to heal the conflict and this unfair created confusion only convinces me to seek more answers, listen to more opinions, and persist in my hope for change.
FYI, if you would like to speak to me about anything I've covered above, please do so because I will listen. If you do though, please do it in a civil way and don't yell at me about the issues or my opinions. I'm not here to listen to you fight with me. Talk to me as you would if explaining important matters to somebody you love. Thank you.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Purpose of this Blog
Creating a 'professional' blog has been a very weighted decision for me, since I'm not fond of blind communication. As a people-person, I much rather explain myself and learn about others through engaging conversation that opens the mind and the soul.
Even so, after my semester internship at the University of Miami's PRADUM Agency (Public Relations and Advertising Agency at UM), I realized more than ever how important it is to document your professional thoughts and activities by blogging.
Another encouraging factor that has persuaded me to do this is the outlook of the next eight months of my life. Not only am I interning at the Jerusalem Music Center in Israel for the majority of my summer vacation (which would translate to 2 months of interning and 3 months of living in Israel), but I will also be studying abroad in Paris, France from September through December.
Being a public relations intern in Jerusalem possesses its difficulties. It will test my abilities in the Hebrew language, adjustment to an institution in a foreign city, and my persistence in practicing violin every day for multiple hours to improve my talent. I'm the type of person that will find ways to leap over boundaries in order to fulfill what I believe is my purpose (of course in a completely ethical fashion). To make this internship tangible and plausible, I researched and jumped hoops for months, yet now I realize that was merely Phase 1. Phase 2 will begin once I actually start interning and hopefully prove to such a distant institution that I am ready for business and can make a difference. The other issue that unnerves a bit about living in Jerusalem for three months is the fact that it is in Israel, which is always prone to skirmishes between Israelis and Palestinians.
Before continuing, I feel that I must clarify my views about this previous statement at least in general terms. I have many Muslim friends at school. In fact, I helped establish a coexistence group between Jews and Muslims here at UM that is called JAM-Jews and Muslims- based on JAM at Yale University. One of the most mind-blowing courses that I have taken so far in my college career was called, Islam in Modern Times, and I loved every second of it. There is just something about that area of the world that fascinates me and lures me closer. Whether that means hanging out with friends from the Middle East, reading various news articles and books, watching movies, or learning about the culture and ways of life in that area, it ceases to bore me. Most of all, I think about the lack of understanding and mistrust that forces the West v.s the East and the East v.s the West. So many people suffer from this sickly relationship across all borders. I hope that some day I will be able to take part in the solution of it all.
Many of the same issues that I faced concerning my summer internship also apply to the process of studying abroad. If interning internationally is a risk, well then studying abroad in Paris outside of my university is a gamble. I have to take a semester leave, graduate later, hope to not overload on credits, find a great Parisian violin teacher, and go with the flow of a new life. The adjustment issue is not one that worries me incredibly, but moreover, whether the overall outcome of my planning and decisions play out well for my future. As my best friend has said in the past, "Go with the feeling in your gut and give your mind a break". In my mind, I think my decisive, well formed planning has a chance for success. In my gut though, the gamble feels right despite everything.
Welcome to my journey in life! As I write more postings and upload my portfolio, you will learn more about me.
DISCLAIMER: I hate how many times I have written the word 'I' in this, but I don't think I have much of a choice. Sorry!
Even so, after my semester internship at the University of Miami's PRADUM Agency (Public Relations and Advertising Agency at UM), I realized more than ever how important it is to document your professional thoughts and activities by blogging.
Another encouraging factor that has persuaded me to do this is the outlook of the next eight months of my life. Not only am I interning at the Jerusalem Music Center in Israel for the majority of my summer vacation (which would translate to 2 months of interning and 3 months of living in Israel), but I will also be studying abroad in Paris, France from September through December.
Being a public relations intern in Jerusalem possesses its difficulties. It will test my abilities in the Hebrew language, adjustment to an institution in a foreign city, and my persistence in practicing violin every day for multiple hours to improve my talent. I'm the type of person that will find ways to leap over boundaries in order to fulfill what I believe is my purpose (of course in a completely ethical fashion). To make this internship tangible and plausible, I researched and jumped hoops for months, yet now I realize that was merely Phase 1. Phase 2 will begin once I actually start interning and hopefully prove to such a distant institution that I am ready for business and can make a difference. The other issue that unnerves a bit about living in Jerusalem for three months is the fact that it is in Israel, which is always prone to skirmishes between Israelis and Palestinians.
Before continuing, I feel that I must clarify my views about this previous statement at least in general terms. I have many Muslim friends at school. In fact, I helped establish a coexistence group between Jews and Muslims here at UM that is called JAM-Jews and Muslims- based on JAM at Yale University. One of the most mind-blowing courses that I have taken so far in my college career was called, Islam in Modern Times, and I loved every second of it. There is just something about that area of the world that fascinates me and lures me closer. Whether that means hanging out with friends from the Middle East, reading various news articles and books, watching movies, or learning about the culture and ways of life in that area, it ceases to bore me. Most of all, I think about the lack of understanding and mistrust that forces the West v.s the East and the East v.s the West. So many people suffer from this sickly relationship across all borders. I hope that some day I will be able to take part in the solution of it all.
Many of the same issues that I faced concerning my summer internship also apply to the process of studying abroad. If interning internationally is a risk, well then studying abroad in Paris outside of my university is a gamble. I have to take a semester leave, graduate later, hope to not overload on credits, find a great Parisian violin teacher, and go with the flow of a new life. The adjustment issue is not one that worries me incredibly, but moreover, whether the overall outcome of my planning and decisions play out well for my future. As my best friend has said in the past, "Go with the feeling in your gut and give your mind a break". In my mind, I think my decisive, well formed planning has a chance for success. In my gut though, the gamble feels right despite everything.
Welcome to my journey in life! As I write more postings and upload my portfolio, you will learn more about me.
DISCLAIMER: I hate how many times I have written the word 'I' in this, but I don't think I have much of a choice. Sorry!
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