It seems like the more we talk and discuss and read the less answers I have and the more questions. I guess that's more a function of the educational process than of Jerusalem in particular. But still...
Here are a few more questions that I would like to pose to anyone wishing to answer.
How can you put up sanctions against violence without impacting an entire population?
Are we creative enough to find solutions?
Can a place be holy if it has caused so much pain and suffering?
How can we have progress if we just hear the extremes?
Do the extremes represent a major portion of society, or are they by nature and definition fringe ideas?
How does the public become ready and what can the government do to get them there?
How do people learn to live together without gigantic amounts of fear?
When will history stop us from progressing?
Why is an event that occurred 1,000 years ago still at the forefront of the Muslim mind?
Why is the Israeli government/Jewish faith so willing to forget that 1,000+ years have lapsed since Jerusalem was their homeland?
Out of all the cities in Israel, why did the Israeli government choose Jerusalem as their capital?
How do we make sure Jerusalem does NOT become Berlin?
Why does building a wall sound like a good idea to anyone?
Why is it so important for either side to have complete control over the state?
Which pushes the process more- belief or history?
Why did we have to add a dimension of women's rights? Isn't this situation already complicated enough?
Can you love something and still tolerate people who love it in a different way?
Why can't we just leave the Israeli's and Palestinians alone to solve their own problem? Why does the international community have to butt in?
What makes people religious extremists?
Can studying this issue really open your mind? Or does it just depress you. Or does it just make you really cynical about the whole process. Or does it push you further to your side.
Wow...that's a longer list than I had intended to write. Don't feel obligated to answer, I just needed to vent a bit. If you'd like me to elaborate, I'd be more than willing.
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2 comments:
Hey Marissa, you've got a lot of questions there! Some of them may have no answer...or maybe just to me they are quite difficult. I did see a couple things that I have an answer, well, maybe it's just my opinion. But i'm going to try to answer a couple...
You asked when will history stop us from progressing. Well, I think it already has. It's not that I think it has stopped progression and change for good, but it has already gotten in the way of many things, not just the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict. Consider large chunks of the African conflict. The history and legacy of colonialism has severely crippled many states in Africa. This is not to say that I beleive conflict in Somalia or Sudan can never be ended, but history is and will always be one of the largest obstacles to conquer when adressing such large-scale issues.
You also asked why the Jewish faith and Israeli gov't couldn't forget that it's been so long since it was thier homeland. I think that period of time, and the fact that there have been many struggles, but Jews have always returned and been partr of the history, I think that alone makes it so it's unforgettable. I also think someone of the Jewish faith could give you a much better answer to this.
I think that beleif and history cannot be seperated. That is one huge thing i've learned. Maybe you can seperate it, maybe I can seperate it, but when faith is so instrumental in your everyday life, I think it is hard to seperate it from any part of your life, beleif, or history.
You asked the final question about whether studying this issue really helps anything...Well, I definitely think it does. I know I feel I have learned so much and began to understand so much. I will be the first to admit, the increased understanding has been coupled with the increasingly true fact that this conflict has a long, long way to go. But I don't think it should depress you. I understand how it can. Sometimes it is disheartening to read some things or hear of the lack of progress, but understanding, though it maybe be a never-ending quest in fully understanding, is the only start we have to finding an end.
I hope I helped a little! See you tomorrow!
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