Week7

To Live and Die In Jerusalem

The film was a very emotional look into the personal lives of families from the Palestinian and Israeli perspective.  The movie shows brief glimpses of the problem of understanding by showing examples of how many people are misinformed and have clouded ideas about other cultures, nations, and individuals. The need for understanding between Christians, Muslims and Jews is at a critical moment in history.  All three religions believe in the same God, that this god does not allow or encourage murder and that every individual is part of his family.  Both families expressed their deep sadness and regret for the loss of their loved ones by mourning in their own way.  It was interesting to see that the Palestinian martyr's parents praise the courage of what their daughter did despite if it was right or wrong, because she saw and injustice happening to her people and sought out to help them.  It was sad to see that two families who are rivals with each other share such similar feelings, goals and aspirations.  Neither family wishes harm on another and both seem to be peaceful kind and god loving families.  Its sad that just due to a lack of communication and understanding that families, brothers and sisters are dying for a dispute and cause that seems irrelevant.  The families of Palestine and Israel as well as in any country that feels a need for violent action towards other humans, need to end the violence and bloodshed between each other and at least recognize where each sides anger and frustration is being originated.

Week 6

In regards to the attempts at reform in the Ottoman Empire during the late nineteenth century, I think it was a wise idea for the authority and the Sultan to realize that the citizens needs and ideas need to be preserved and protected.  A nation where citizens feel pride, they feel protected, and feel as though their ideas are cherished make a successful nation as well as a powerful and enduring one.  Of course conflicts of ideas and conflicts between nationality will always be present in attempting reform.  This sparked religious reaction as well.  The Ottoman reform wished to let people express their religion with freedom.  This willingness and openness was a major aide when taxation was enforced through out the empire.  When given freedom and fair treatment, religions were more willing to pay the taxes placed on them.

Week 5

This week during class we held a major discussion about our Zayni Barakat papers.  Many of the issues in the news today is the conflict in the Middle-East between Palestinians and the Israeli.  This is a conflict that arises when territory and leadership is not decided.  In Zayni Barakat the same problems arise for the Sultans rulers in Egypt.  The main focus of my paper was how leadership and authority of the Mamluks were the glue that held the empire together, especially in Egypt.  Like present day in the Middle-East some regions are inhabited by multi-cultural backgrounds each with their own set beliefs and ideas.  The Mamluks had to remain in charge while regulating many aspects of the civilians lives in order to keep the Sultans empire running smoothly.  The Mamluks understood that the citizens were the most important thing to the empire and that peoples needs and beliefs needed to be catered to and respected.  This is an idea that needs to carry on through time so that humans can live harmoniously with one another no matter which plot of land we choose to live.