Chapters 8-10

I found the relationship between the Jews and the Christians very intriguing while reading these chapters. The speed at which they turned on each other clearly showed how sincere their relationships were. In chapter 9 it was very evident that under the Christians rule the Jews continued to deteriorate at the hands of the Christian emperors. The banning of the intermarriage between Jews and Christians after Constantine's death in 337 in addition to new legislation prohibiting Jews from owning slaves. Such measures were designed to isolate Jews and to the cripple Jewish industry. Later in 353, there was new legislation that forbade Christians from converting to Judaism. I find it very interesting how the Jews are somewhat seeking revenge by treating the Palestinians in a similar manner today, one would think that after being stigmatized as being "savage" "abominable"and "blasphemous"  as well as being deemed "the enemies of society" they would understand that isolating and treating another group as such is kind of inhumane. The Jews were also pushed to the margins and treated as outcasts similarly to how the Christians had once been. History does seem to repeat itself.

Journal 2

The memories of walking in the crowded streets, buying prayer rugs from local vendors, smelling the fresh falafel and handmade bread as you try to not lose your relatives through the crowds of people. Many of us take for granted returning to places we love, no even questioning if it will still be there when we return because we assume its not going anywhere. My family and I take trips to Florida every winter break and the question of is our resort still going to be open, or will there sill be our favorite pool to swim in next year, never crosses our minds. Every time I travel to Palestine, my brothers are always hesitant and reluctant to travel but my mother reminds them that it may not be there the next year we decide to travel. Such thoughts, are saddening but at the same time  instill the patriotic ideals we have about Palestine. To question if the Al Aqsa mosque will still be standing, if our great grandparents home will still be in the same condition we left it in, if the local taxi driver will still have his job; these are all questions that I ask to myself every time I leave Palestine. It is sad but it also strengthens the emotions and makes the memories in Palestine when I'm there more memorable and unforgettable. Walking to the little markets with my cousins, riding the taxis alone with my brothers, giving charity to the homeless and feeling that instant satisfaction knowing that you truly have changed their lives for the better; are just a few of the memories that will last with me for a lifetime.
I find myself tearing up while writing this journal entry, because there are times when I forget to thank God for the uncountable blessings I have in my life. The fact that I have traveled to Palestine at least every other year since I was born is one of those blessings that I thank God for each and every day because I understand that, that alone is something millions of people of all faiths could only dream of.  Just being in the third holiest site sends chills down ones spine, but praying there especially on a Friday is one of those experiences that cant be expressed with words. I am thankful for having the privilege of praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque and I pray each and every day that it will still be as beautiful as it is today when I take my children there in the future, Inshallah (God willing).

Chapters 5-8

Reading how Armstrong describes those who were exiled was very interesting and thought provoking. One can define exile as “the state or a period of forced absence from one's country or home” (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exile) but Armstrong goes into depth to describe that in times of distress and difficulty many people “turn more readily to myth than to rational forms of faith” (pg 82). To force someone to leave their home, abode, residence; where they formed so many memories was torn away from them as they were forced to leave ones country. Armstrong delves further into the psychology of exile and attaching to a myth in times of crisis and upheaval, by stating “myth can penetrate deeper than cerebral discourse and touch the obscure cause of distress in the farthest reaches of our being.” (pg. 82) Such profound thoughts strengthen the readers understanding of what it was like for the Judahites when they got exiled.  Feeling spiritually dislocated, exiles “can feel cast adrift and lost in a universe that has suddenly become alien..” (pg 82) It was very interesting how at that time those who still wished to worship God couldn’t fathom contacting Yahweh spiritually in an alien land. The way that we pray today would be quite foreign to the Judeans at the time. The interior spirituality was something new the Judeans would learn after being exiled.

Chaps 1-4

One City, Three Faiths a great title to such a novel about the history of a religiously beautiful city. I knew Jerusalem was a history with a rich past but the facts and information that Karen Armstrong illustrated in this novel emphasized its importance. At first I had trouble getting interested into the reading, but after the first chapter I began to realize the amazing struggle so many sects went through for this holy land. One of the many quotes that Armstrong said that gripped my attention was "such sites are 'sacred' to us because they are inextricably bound up with our conception of ourselves; they may be associated with a profound experience that transformed our lives, with memories of early childhood, or with a person who was important to us (pg8)." This statement could not be more accurate, the memories and events that have taken place with me and my family and Jerusalem are what pull my heart that much closer to the holy city. From picking blackberries off the trees in the great grandparents backyard, to jumping on the taxi with my cousins and having him drive us around the city; are just a few of the everlasting memories that I will keep with me forever. Armstrong expands that thought in the next sentence by saying "when we visit such places, we can perhaps recall the experience of enhanced life that we once had there, an experience which momentarily convinced us that despite the distressing and arbitrary nature of much of our mundane existence, it had some ultimate meaning and value, even if we would find it hard to explain this insight rational terms (pg 8)." So many of my relatives found their loves in Jerusalem, my family continues to grow in Jerusalem and unfortunately a lot of my relatives are also buried in the graveyards in Jerusalem. No words can express, just like Armstrong expresses, the ultimate value Jerusalem means to me.

Personal Journal

Using technology is such a web-based class makes it possible to facilitate dialogue much easier than a typical classroom environment. Being able to communicate with others of different backgrounds and cultures makes the classroom dialogue very diverse.  Such a diverse background in ideas, thoughts and beliefs makes the resemblance to real life very similar and relatable. A class such as this makes the students more culturally aware of beliefs other than their own. This will assist them as well as me in the interpretation of the local and international news that discusses the state of Jerusalem in a biased manner. Being able to interpret and comprehend different ideas that don’t necessarily correspond to ones own makes an individual very well rounded and open-minded.

The representation of Jerusalem as a city has varied dramatically since the 1990’s. The beauty of its multiple and diverse cultures and heritages makes it a highly contested and debated area of the world. The combination of the three Abrahamic faiths makes its rich religious nature an area of political, cultural and logistical conflicts and issues.

Discussing the conquest of the city itself and the partition of the city makes for a very heated and debatable topic of interest. Learning the history of the Old City opened my eyes to the even deeper and even richer history and past. Its hard to not get emotional when reading such articles and topics because one would assume that if such religions shared more similarities than differences that the living environment and habitat would be less contested and challenged.

By being a Palestinian Muslim American my views may be very different than the girl who has family in Israel sitting across from me. Learning how to respect each other’s opinions and beliefs is an aspect of this class that I look forward to exploring about myself. I tend to get very emotional but I hope to set my emotions aside in a class such as this where the majority of dialogue may differ from my own. By being born and raised as a Palestinian American I value my freedom as an American but at the same time I wish the same to my fellow brothers and sisters suffering from an occupation in Palestine. Travelling every other year to Palestine with my family opens my eyes to the lifestyle outside of the United States of America. I constantly take for granted the freedom to just drive around and be my own person and not be frightened every time I leave the house that men with army attire and guns, shooting based on their desires and humor. 

I am passionate about my country, Palestine, and I can’t wait to learn more about its history and rich background.

Reading Response #2

It’s very interesting how a city with such religious and cultural significance can also at the same have “the most fiercely contested history of any city in the world” (Khalidi 1). In addition, it was new to me that the it is not necessarily the religious beliefs that the conflict stems from but rather the narrative of Jerusalem’s history. And the different variations of the political agenda are what also seem to be highly contested between both sides of the conflict.

But expanding beyond the conflict is the issue of the numerous faiths that occupy Jerusalem and its effects. The three Abrahamic faiths each have their complied stories and occurrence of events, in the Bible, Gospel and Quran. The fact that most of these events cannot necessarily be verified using historical methodology, to many people it’s the religious tradition that is what grounds individuals to the holy city of Jerusalem.

The influence of all the faiths has had a very significant impact on Jerusalem’s history. It is also a question of who were the original inhabitants of the land. Following the Islamic conquest in the 7^th century, Jerusalem’s population was Arabized (Khalidi 2). The tradition shared by both Arab Christians and Muslims, is what ultimately has caused both groups to have an utterly strong connection to the holy city. The religious nature of the city for Muslims serves as the third holiest place in the world. Such significance in the monumental structures of Jerusalem, such as the Dome of the Rock and Al-Masjid Al Aqsa have deep connections with Muslims in respect to the religious nature of the buildings that date back to the first century of the Muslim Era.

Ever since the arrivals of the Europe knights dating back to 1099, there was always a constant struggle with the “intemperate arrivals”(Khalidi 3). Despite the certain degree of tolerance there was still difficult in maintaining the city of Jerusalem from being seized. By the Crusaders attempting to take Jerusalem this caused the Arabs and Muslims to unite to protect and recover the city that means everything to them.  Learning that the Ottoman era (1516-1917) was the last period in which Jerusalem was under Islamic sovereignty brings me to tears knowing the blood, sweat and tears that were lost to maintain the Islamic religious endowments. The impact of this conflict that began to implant itself in Palestine in the late 19^th century has become so massive that the religious history of the buildings and structures mean more to the Palestinians than ever before.

About ME!

Hi! I'm Medina Rasul and I am a 2nd year majoring in Biology with an Arabic minor. I am a Palestinian American born and raised in this beautiful state of Ohio. My family and I try to visit Palestine as well as Jerusalem at least every other year. Travelling is a major part of who I am, learning other countries cultures and heritages is one of the most beautiful things of life itself.

Reading Response 1

     The art of telling ones story seems to be an art that we as Americans have definitely taken for granted. Suad Amiry states in her article that Palestinians have been deprived of such rights for far too long. She later on speaks about the principle of mutual recognition and equal representation which is what I believe is the basis of the Palestinian and Isreali conflict.
     The love and passion for the city of Jerusalem that both the Palestinians and Isrealis have is unexplainable as described by Suad Amiry. The intertwined nature of politics and culture is what at the end of the day is the basis of the 26 year occupation that Palestinians in Jerusalem struggle with daily. The militaty restriction that Amiry also addresses the limited access the Palestinians have on the city itself.
     The rich cultural and religious significance of Jerusalem is so beautifully described and elaborated in so many "mirrors" as Amiry talks about. Respecting all the other mirrors is a precise explanation of the history that each individual holds no matter where they are from.