Things I will discuss...
The need to have a tool for the student to use in the readings. I would create a few 'thought questions' which will give the students an idea of what ideas, issues, facts the professor sees as the most important aspect of the reading. I feel this will not only help the students get more out of the readings, but also encourage discussion of the texts.
The blogging should be done after each class, not before. I think it will be a more useful tool if students are commenting on (A) the readings of that class session (B) the discussions from that class session or video conference and (C) their own personal reflection from the session.
I also like the idea of commenting blog 'buddies', but I think you should have the students draw names of two students to follow throughout the semester so they can follow to different perspectives.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
i dont know how to feel...
These two links to the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement website informed me of what is currently going on in Jerusalem. I am saddened and discouraged by the news. I wonder how the people fighting for peace are still willingly to go out and protest this Friday. I believe it is very brave of them. It is very hard for me to fully conceptualize this situation fully. I am hoping that meeting Eitan Grossman tomorrow will give me a better understanding of how the people involved are feeling at this point and what they hope the outcome of Friday will be.
http://www.en.justjlm.org/617
http://www.en.justjlm.org/631
http://www.en.justjlm.org/617
http://www.en.justjlm.org/631
from a few weeks ago, will post more tonight
I posted this information a few weeks ago on the class blog. I will not be able to post more current things until later tonight.
The following article, "Genuine solidarity vs. stale promises" was written by Eitan Grossman in July of this year. Grossman is the Isreali Sheikh Solidarity Movement organizer. The follwing statement by Grossman contains an important criteral of the negotations for peace and futher explanations is given in the following article. Enjoy!
"Solidarity is not making a theoretical argument for a two-state solution or for a unilateral declaration of independence. Rather, the struggle is for the recognition and support of the basic right of Palestinians to national self-determination, out of recognition that political independence is not the goal of negotiations, but rather a prerequisite for it. As Nelson Mandela put it, only a free man can negotiate: only when Palestinians and Israelis are free from the occupation will they be able to begin negotiating for peace."
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=229265
The following article, "Genuine solidarity vs. stale promises" was written by Eitan Grossman in July of this year. Grossman is the Isreali Sheikh Solidarity Movement organizer. The follwing statement by Grossman contains an important criteral of the negotations for peace and futher explanations is given in the following article. Enjoy!
"Solidarity is not making a theoretical argument for a two-state solution or for a unilateral declaration of independence. Rather, the struggle is for the recognition and support of the basic right of Palestinians to national self-determination, out of recognition that political independence is not the goal of negotiations, but rather a prerequisite for it. As Nelson Mandela put it, only a free man can negotiate: only when Palestinians and Israelis are free from the occupation will they be able to begin negotiating for peace."
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=229265
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
music
Music has a very important role in my life. I am an avid music lover. In the past I have been apart of choirs, though I have never been able to play a musical instrument.
The way I feel I most contribute to music is being a listener and lover of what is being created. At least once a week, if not three times a week, I am watching music being played live. Most of my friends are artists and I support them as much as possible. I love being involved in every part of the music process. From being in my friends basement, listening to the practice a new song they just wrote, to being in the studio while they lay one down, to being at their shows and dancing along with every beat.
Music is the one thing that can always give me a sense of hope. Anytime I am down, I put on music or go to a show, and I feel a spark of encouragement. I feel that music is the easiest way for people to communicate. Everyone can feel a beat, hear a melody. Music is a medium that all people can understand, it may have different arrangements and tempos, but the core is the same. I believe because music is such a universal language it has an important role in conflict resolution. Music naturally brings people together. Countless amounts of times, I have seen someone strumming a guitar and throughout the night people are drawn to the sweet sound. If we can use music as a tool to gather different types of people together, we can take it one step further, and begin having dialogue among the conflicted.
The way I feel I most contribute to music is being a listener and lover of what is being created. At least once a week, if not three times a week, I am watching music being played live. Most of my friends are artists and I support them as much as possible. I love being involved in every part of the music process. From being in my friends basement, listening to the practice a new song they just wrote, to being in the studio while they lay one down, to being at their shows and dancing along with every beat.
Music is the one thing that can always give me a sense of hope. Anytime I am down, I put on music or go to a show, and I feel a spark of encouragement. I feel that music is the easiest way for people to communicate. Everyone can feel a beat, hear a melody. Music is a medium that all people can understand, it may have different arrangements and tempos, but the core is the same. I believe because music is such a universal language it has an important role in conflict resolution. Music naturally brings people together. Countless amounts of times, I have seen someone strumming a guitar and throughout the night people are drawn to the sweet sound. If we can use music as a tool to gather different types of people together, we can take it one step further, and begin having dialogue among the conflicted.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Heartbeat Jerusalem
Heartbeat Jerusalem is a Fullbright funded program started by a young American musician. The program seeks to, "utilize music’s power to build trust between the Israeli and Palestinian communities by amplifying Israeli and Palestinian youth voices for change and reconciliation. Heartbeat began in 2007 and brought together 12 Israeli and Palestinian teenaged musicians for a weekly musical-dialogue.
By listening, playing and writing music together, the students learned about each other’s communities, histories, political views, identities, and hopes and developed new tools for self-expression and social change. The youth members seemed more than hopeful that the people of Jerusalem will find peace one day. One student said music was the international language of the world and all can communicate with one another through the medium.
The dialogue coming from the youth involved in the program was not only convincing, but also inspirationally moving. The program brings the Jerusalemite youth community together, in a safe and neutral space, to create music. I am sure the youth involved in this program feel more of an impact from Heartbeat than most peace movements that have sprung up and fizzled out in the region.
By listening, playing and writing music together, the students learned about each other’s communities, histories, political views, identities, and hopes and developed new tools for self-expression and social change. The youth members seemed more than hopeful that the people of Jerusalem will find peace one day. One student said music was the international language of the world and all can communicate with one another through the medium.
The dialogue coming from the youth involved in the program was not only convincing, but also inspirationally moving. The program brings the Jerusalemite youth community together, in a safe and neutral space, to create music. I am sure the youth involved in this program feel more of an impact from Heartbeat than most peace movements that have sprung up and fizzled out in the region.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
outline of project
I will research different ways in which music is used as an alternative dialogue in Jerusalem. In the video about the Heartbeat foundation, I found it quite moving how the youth interviewed where quite optimistic about the future of peace. I believe this optimism arise from the musical outlet an organization such as Heartbeat provides to the youth of Jerusalem. One teenager said music was an international language which enabled them to see past cleavages which arise from defining identity in an ethnic and national context.
I will use a medium such as blogger or prezi to provide a learner with the ability to hear the music coming out of Jerusalem along with articles, interviews, and video clips which help to give a 360 degree view of the music emerging and its influence on the conflicted region.
http://prezi.com/
I will use a medium such as blogger or prezi to provide a learner with the ability to hear the music coming out of Jerusalem along with articles, interviews, and video clips which help to give a 360 degree view of the music emerging and its influence on the conflicted region.
http://prezi.com/
Sunday, October 16, 2011
question for Palestinian Students from PAYLARA
When you see the wall, on an average day, what emotions do you feel? Is is the same feeling every time you look at it, or does it change from day to day, depending on how your demeanor or the environmental factors around you?
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