Keeping Busy

If anyone is wondering why I haven't blogged or e-mailed in a few days, let me explain. I am taking a class this summer, an elective for my Master's of Arts in Jewish Studies degree. It is called "Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Arabs, Israeli Arabs and Jews in Hebrew Literature." The class is nine days long during two weeks with an intensive reading list. All excerpts from novels, short stories, and critical essays, but still a substantial amount to read each night. This afternoon is our last class, but we still need to write a final paper about a novel we will read later.

Unfortunately this class has become timely due to the escalation of violence in the Middle East. We're studying how literature in Israel has developed through the twentieth century. At first the Jewish writers stereotyped Arabs without trying to humanize them. This led to Jewish writers developing Arabic characters with empathy. Finally we have Israeli Arabic authors writing for their own people in Hebrew.

Where are the Israeli academics in all of this? If Israeli Jews and Arabs are writing about each other, trying to create dialogues, why aren't the politicians listening? We talked yesterday about using literature to shape political history. Most people don't want war. Both sides will lose on the world stage if Israel, Palestine, and terrorist organizations continue to kill each other. They can't keep doing this and expect to accomplish anything. Obviously the word "peace" means nothing to either side anymore.

All we are saying
Is give peace a chance. -- John Lennon