Parallels and Paradoxes

For this blog I decided to pick out a few quotes that inspired me/ had a lot of meaning to me, my life, and my views. 

"Let us not forget that until May 15, 1948 we were all Palestinians- Jewish Palestinians, Muslim Palestinians and Christian Palestinians"- Daniel Barenboim 

This is a very interesting and yet probably a controversial idea. It is true that before Israel was a nation that everyone that lived there lived in the land of Palestine. However, because of the conflict, the history and the birth or Israel, Israelis would now consider themselves to be Jewish Israelis as opposed to Jewish Palestinians. But this quote goes back to the idea that we are all human beings that live together in this world and therefore should treat everyone with respect because we are all the same. In one of my other classes we talked about nationalism and identity and how the idea and purpose of nationalism results in immoral actions/ideas. One puts their national identity first when making decisions when really everyone in the world should be united.

"It's not only possible to have multiple identities but also, I would say, something to aspire toward"- Daniel Barenboim 

 This quote relates back to our previous blog and made me think of what I wrote about. I have two major identities that make me who I am- Italian and Jewish. However I also have my interests and hobbies that make up my identity. I am a poli sci student. I am an AEPHI sister. I am a big sister at home. I am an israel-activist. I am a fashionista (or at least strive to be). I am all these identities and that is what makes me who I am. 

"There was an Israeli group, and a Russian group, and a Syrian group,  a Lebanese group, a Palestinian group, and a group of Palestinian Israelis. All of them suddenly became cellists and violinists playing the same piece in the same orchestra under the same conductor"- EWS 

The reason that I picked this quote was because I felt it really exemplified the purpose behind the orchestra but also the purpose behind this class. We are all students are Ohio State, we are members of the class, doing the same assignments. But we are all from different backgrounds and religions. There are Palestinian students in the class and there are Jewish students. But there are also christian students, catholic students, muslim students, and non religious students. But every tuesday and thursday at 9:35 we are the Living Jerusalem OSU class, all learning from the same teacher. Our class is a Parallel.