Journal 1

Well, I've only experienced one class session at this point. However, I already do have some things I'm reflecting upon in regards to the class and this semester. I'm really looking forward to the progression of this class, as I was able to learn on Tuesday more of what we would be doing in this class.

I'd like to start by saying I really like the structure of the class. The somewhat informal and experimental setting is interesting, especially having been at OSU with its giant classes and mostly formal lecture settings. I am excited about the video conferences we're going to have. It is one thing to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from an intellectual standpoint, reading textbooks on the issue. When Edward Said used the term "orientalism," he was referring to those in the West studying the Middle East and misunderstanding it as an underdeveloped region. This patronizing attitude has always been frustrating for me to see in my international studies classes. While I have never visited the Middle East myself, I want to study the region by actually interacting with those who have lived there. I am thrilled that this course is going to offer that opportunity to me. I know people who have lived in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and other countries in the Middle East, and their stories have all moved me in different ways. They have allowed me to vicariously experience another culture in another part of the world. Being able to experience more of this through video conferences will no doubt be an interesting and enlightening experience.

I have been reflecting upon how I became so attached to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the first place. I grew up in a small town about an hour away from Columbus. It is an extremely conservative, all white town. I was even looked down upon by some for being of Italian descent (and even more so for being Catholic). It is such a closed off town and there is little opportunity to experience anything outside of that town. In high school, I joined a national debate organization that allowed me to go to conventions in Washington, DC, and Columbus. It was there that I met my first boyfriend, Abdul, who was from Lebanon. His family was of Lebanese and Palestinian descent. I knew nothing of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict except that it existed, due to Fox News coverage I would see at home and from my grade school religion classes. I learned quite a bit from Abdul and his family. Hearing the stories about his family being torn apart and his grandfather being abducted and killed by the IDF moved me more than anything I had ever heard in my life, perhaps because I knew someone I cared for had something traumatizing happen to them. I knew from our hours and hours of discussion on the topic that I had to know more about it to try to wrap my mind around what had happened. One of the books that motivated me academically was "The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy." I became more intellectually invested in the conflict and realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to bringing about justice for those impacted by this conflict.

I know I definitely have very strong preconceived notions about the conflict, but I'd also like to think of myself as having a fairly educated opinion. I would imagine that many of my fellow students have very strong feelings about the topic and educated opinions. I am excited to hear them all, whether or not they agree with me. I want to discuss the issue with those who do not agree with me in an academic setting, as those that take place outside of academia tend to become very heated (as with many political topics in general). I hope we can all use these blogs to talk more about the conflict not just in a modern context, but also in a historical one. A respectful, constructive dialogue is exactly what I hope to glean from this class. We are clearly all opinionated, passionate people. And that is such a wonderful thing that I look forward to experiencing more as this class moves forward.