Weblog Journal Assignment 1 Pt.1

The Class-

I initially signed up for the International Studies 501 Jerusalem course to help decide if I wanted to become an International Studies major. Now that I am in the course, I find it very interesting and I am looking forward to the group discussions and the educational benefits of the course. After one day in the class I knew that it was going to be an enjoyable course that would allow me to gain a better understanding of the world and grow as an individual. I am coming into this experience with little or no knowledge of the conflicts and problems that have plagued Jerusalem for the past several decades. With an open mind, I hope to gain a knowledge and better understanding of the problem. I know I will not be able to gain a perfect understanding or for that matter scratch the surface of the problems that lie within the Jerusalem and the surrounding areas but, I wish to engage in an educational discussion to help me learn of the problems and events the are creating turmoil in the Holiest city on earth.

Moreover, this class is somewhat overwhelming to me because it is going to involve a long debated subject that most likely will be rough to talk about at times. Not only is the class overwhelming because of the subject matter but it is also going to challenge me to become more of a technologically dependent individual. My previous experience with computers is very minimal. I am an individual who is intrigued by discussion and history so I feel the class with stimulate my mind and allow me to grow by learning about my self and making me a more tech savvy person.

In response to the readings-

I feel that the articles were very helpful in providing background as to how the Living Jerusalem project was established. When I began the readings, I initially felt that the reason that the 1993 Folk Festival in Washington D. C. was cancelled was due the controversial attendance of the Jerusalemites. However, while reading the articles I feel that the festival could have possibly been cancelled due to the financial reasons provided. I am currently torn between the two causes because both are feasible but neither alone seems to be a sole reason to cancel a public festival. After becoming aware of the work of the Smithsonian Institution to include the Jerusalemites in the festival, I feel that it had to have been a combination of both the controversial topics and finances that cause the festival to be cancelled.

The most prevalent lines of the readings were, “Jerusalem is a city where people are carrying mirrors…One holds a mirror in one direction. It is a city of many realities: every individual or community has a mirror of history, of cultural realities. As a true Jerusalemite, if I can call myself that, I carry my mirror, but I respect all the other mirrors. The problem is when one big mirror seeks to marginalize all the other mirrors except for itself!” These are very powerful and I feel like they correctly give a description of the conflict and how it has developed over the years.