(no subject)
What an up and down day.
Set my alarm wayyyy too early this morning because I had to print out a History project, so I gave myself an extra half hour... I was 15 minutes early for my 8 a.m. class, shudder.
Oi vey: Today the class discussed Islam: The Straight Path by John Esposito, which is a fabulous introduction and explanation for non-Muslims. I definitely think every Western Civ class needs a fair, in-depth look at the history of Islam. And I keep reminding myself that it's not an individual's fault if they weren't instructed in world religions. And that it's a good thing when an unfamiliar person gets an introduction in a classroom, from a credible source. (My high school world history class used the transliteration “Moslem”... you can only imagine how that intro went from there.)
But come on, you're in college and you're initially awed that Islam is on the whole a peaceful religion? You're old enough to vote, but you'd never separated “Muslim” from “terrorist” before? I just cannot fathom how you exist.
And it seems so hopeless when students think that Christianity is the only religion that exists, or that all other religions should be compared against it (only to fall short). It's even worse when they don't understand their own faith! (“Christian prophets”? Plural? How many Jesuses do you think there were? And P.S. Old Testament prophets had a lot of wives, it's an empire-building technique. Remember Jacob and his four wives, one daughter and 12 sons? So how about I accuse you of being a polygamist by virtue of your Christianity?)
Vom. Vom. Vom.
Considered dropping out a second time today during my editing class, when my role as content editor came under fire for picking stories that were all too “depressing.” Sorry, forget Ethiopia, I should select stories like: “This just in! Sheltered white people voted best people ever!”* WOO.
I don't want to be a journalist anymore. Again. I know.
But this evening I was beyond impressed with university events. First stop was the 2007 Starshack speaker, Debora Davis. She talked about transgendered people and her life as a transsexual. Even though she's led a difficult life and deals with heartbreaking opposition, she was so positive and hopeful about education in the future. I can never understand how people can keep their souls so light....
Then went to a panel discussion called Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared Vision. Three women-a Muslim Palestinian, a Jewish Israeli, and a Christian Palestinian-spoke about the realities of Israeli occupation and the work they're doing for peace.
Don't you think it's a miracle that this group exists? I do.
When Tal Dor, the Jewish Israeli woman, spoke I kept making comparisons in my head to South Africa during the apartheid regime. The settler's myth, “There was no one here when we got here.” The nationalism driving the occupiers. The legacy of the oppression turning the oppressed into oppressors. The physical segregation that made virtual geographic neighbors think they were on the other side of the world from each other. The convenient historical amnesia. The carefully chosen words and explanations, those reductionist catchphrases, that justify prejudice. A romanticized view of land possession. The list goes on.
I do believe that there are people at this university capable of comprehending issues like this, and hopefully, thinking up creative solutions. They're somewhere amidst the sea of morons who think the one pillar of Islam is “Kill Americans.” Sigh.
Haggerty Gallery for snacks, tunes, and Team Cake Kids (and various other cool kids).
P.S. I cannot freaking wait to see “The Vagina Monologues” again this weekend!
*I stole that from an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Set my alarm wayyyy too early this morning because I had to print out a History project, so I gave myself an extra half hour... I was 15 minutes early for my 8 a.m. class, shudder.
Oi vey: Today the class discussed Islam: The Straight Path by John Esposito, which is a fabulous introduction and explanation for non-Muslims. I definitely think every Western Civ class needs a fair, in-depth look at the history of Islam. And I keep reminding myself that it's not an individual's fault if they weren't instructed in world religions. And that it's a good thing when an unfamiliar person gets an introduction in a classroom, from a credible source. (My high school world history class used the transliteration “Moslem”... you can only imagine how that intro went from there.)
But come on, you're in college and you're initially awed that Islam is on the whole a peaceful religion? You're old enough to vote, but you'd never separated “Muslim” from “terrorist” before? I just cannot fathom how you exist.
And it seems so hopeless when students think that Christianity is the only religion that exists, or that all other religions should be compared against it (only to fall short). It's even worse when they don't understand their own faith! (“Christian prophets”? Plural? How many Jesuses do you think there were? And P.S. Old Testament prophets had a lot of wives, it's an empire-building technique. Remember Jacob and his four wives, one daughter and 12 sons? So how about I accuse you of being a polygamist by virtue of your Christianity?)
Vom. Vom. Vom.
Considered dropping out a second time today during my editing class, when my role as content editor came under fire for picking stories that were all too “depressing.” Sorry, forget Ethiopia, I should select stories like: “This just in! Sheltered white people voted best people ever!”* WOO.
I don't want to be a journalist anymore. Again. I know.
But this evening I was beyond impressed with university events. First stop was the 2007 Starshack speaker, Debora Davis. She talked about transgendered people and her life as a transsexual. Even though she's led a difficult life and deals with heartbreaking opposition, she was so positive and hopeful about education in the future. I can never understand how people can keep their souls so light....
Then went to a panel discussion called Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared Vision. Three women-a Muslim Palestinian, a Jewish Israeli, and a Christian Palestinian-spoke about the realities of Israeli occupation and the work they're doing for peace.
Don't you think it's a miracle that this group exists? I do.
When Tal Dor, the Jewish Israeli woman, spoke I kept making comparisons in my head to South Africa during the apartheid regime. The settler's myth, “There was no one here when we got here.” The nationalism driving the occupiers. The legacy of the oppression turning the oppressed into oppressors. The physical segregation that made virtual geographic neighbors think they were on the other side of the world from each other. The convenient historical amnesia. The carefully chosen words and explanations, those reductionist catchphrases, that justify prejudice. A romanticized view of land possession. The list goes on.
I do believe that there are people at this university capable of comprehending issues like this, and hopefully, thinking up creative solutions. They're somewhere amidst the sea of morons who think the one pillar of Islam is “Kill Americans.” Sigh.
Haggerty Gallery for snacks, tunes, and Team Cake Kids (and various other cool kids).
P.S. I cannot freaking wait to see “The Vagina Monologues” again this weekend!
*I stole that from an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.