Hello everyone,
I was recently evacuated from Israel for security reasons, understandably ending my experience on a sudden note. However, before I permanently close this specific narrative, I want to say a few humble words about everything that I have witnessed, encountered, and felt during my time this summer.
Obviously, the Middle East is not the easiest place to live or exist for many reasons that most people can gather, if they saw a report about terrorist organizations in the region, or the ethnic tensions between many groups, or the fact that many civilians get killed in the crossfire between main powers fighting for control over a piece of land or territory. Whenever a conversation occurs about the Middle East, it usually involves dialogue concerning space, history, power, and who has the right to actively live within that region.
For a closer connection, when I lived in Israel this past summer, although I was in a city characterized by its cosmopolitan nature, it was easy to see how coexistence had its complications within Tel Aviv, and within the surrounding areas, like Jerusalem, what with riots, protests, and disagreements occurring as the conflict escalated. Occupation and the right to self-determination played a role in driving bitterness towards the citizens and anger towards the victims, which were, virtually, everyone involved in the Middle East.
The thing about these situations, like I said previously in a separate post, is that it's a matter of perspective, which philanthropy tends to focus on when telling the stories of who they help and why it helps its intended audience. But, more so, when it comes to down to it, I feel that a culture needs to change through challenging these perspectives of ownership and what territory truly belongs whom, because no territory can be singly owned by one person or one group. If that view continues to penetrate the minds of people in that region, then there is no end to the conflict. It's not an easy conversation to have, but it's one that should inevitably happen to realize a larger foundation.
However, regardless of political talks, I am saddened to see my experience end because I had to witness a conflict explode in very literal ways, but I am more depressed on hearing of others who have died because they got trapped in a conflict that always has ramifications on the citizenry. Although a bit odd to say, especially since I had to evacuate to bomb shelters and build my mentality to stay persistent and strong, in many ways I was privileged to be in a secure environment - an environment that many do not have when it comes to these kinds of scenarios. Tired words at this point, but because there is inequality and conflict amid groups, talks, discussions, and conversations should never end, even when it seems like the whole framework is collapsing and failing.
Despite the pessimism surrounding peace, I can only hope that the next time I visit Israel and the Middle East, it will be in a better state.
Until next time,
Joel
Monday, July 28, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
First time evacuating to a Bomb Shelter.
Shalom everyone,
Today, I am going to share my experience in evacuating to a bomb shelter for the very first time, just so you know a little bit of what it is like over in Israel. Obviously, this case is not representative of everybody's sentiments or situations in evacuating, so by all means, take this as an individual narrative from yours truly.
As most of you already know, and for those of you who don't, rockets have been targeting Tel Aviv for about two and a half weeks. This has caused many people to worry over my status and whether I will be staying in Israel until the end of summer. I, myself, have never been in a situation where I have had to evacuate and update others over my status, with the exception of short, nonthreatening fire drills at schools; so, suffice to say, it was a bit of a shock to me when I woke up at 10:35AM to loud sirens blaring over the dorms of Tel Aviv University, warning of rockets approaching.
In all honesty, it took me a few seconds to enter reality, especially waking up in a groggy state. However, when first hearing that siren, I knew that I had to bolt down to the basement of my dorm building, and because it was my first time, although I was calm for the most part partially due to being warned about the proper protocol for these situations, I was still a little bit nervous. When you're in these kinds of scenarios, you never know what to think or predict, you only see yourself in that moment, adrenaline-equipped, making a quick decision, no matter what happens.
After rushing down to the basement of my dorm building, I entered the bomb shelter. There were others like me, simply waiting for what would happen. The shelter, coincidentally, also functioned as a storage room; to pass the time, I would look at books, artwork, pots, pans, letters and whatever there was to ensure a distraction. However, despite my calm state and my preoccupation, nothing could take my attention away from the loud explosions overhead in the sky, stopping me from whatever I was doing. Even though there was small chatter among others, there was tension hanging over the atmosphere.
After waiting for about ten minutes, the sirens died down, no other instructions had been given, and I returned to my flat to begin my day.
That was my first experience in a bomb shelter. Past that time, I have had to evacuate from threats once or twice a day since rockets started firing from the Gaza Strip. I've also started to become a bit more nervous of loud noises, since I've had to become more vigilant. And, although I know the drill, am confident about my safety in Tel Aviv, and am now almost completely level-headed about evacuating, I can definitely state that the nervousness stays the same.
Until next time,
Joel
Today, I am going to share my experience in evacuating to a bomb shelter for the very first time, just so you know a little bit of what it is like over in Israel. Obviously, this case is not representative of everybody's sentiments or situations in evacuating, so by all means, take this as an individual narrative from yours truly.
As most of you already know, and for those of you who don't, rockets have been targeting Tel Aviv for about two and a half weeks. This has caused many people to worry over my status and whether I will be staying in Israel until the end of summer. I, myself, have never been in a situation where I have had to evacuate and update others over my status, with the exception of short, nonthreatening fire drills at schools; so, suffice to say, it was a bit of a shock to me when I woke up at 10:35AM to loud sirens blaring over the dorms of Tel Aviv University, warning of rockets approaching.
In all honesty, it took me a few seconds to enter reality, especially waking up in a groggy state. However, when first hearing that siren, I knew that I had to bolt down to the basement of my dorm building, and because it was my first time, although I was calm for the most part partially due to being warned about the proper protocol for these situations, I was still a little bit nervous. When you're in these kinds of scenarios, you never know what to think or predict, you only see yourself in that moment, adrenaline-equipped, making a quick decision, no matter what happens.
After rushing down to the basement of my dorm building, I entered the bomb shelter. There were others like me, simply waiting for what would happen. The shelter, coincidentally, also functioned as a storage room; to pass the time, I would look at books, artwork, pots, pans, letters and whatever there was to ensure a distraction. However, despite my calm state and my preoccupation, nothing could take my attention away from the loud explosions overhead in the sky, stopping me from whatever I was doing. Even though there was small chatter among others, there was tension hanging over the atmosphere.
After waiting for about ten minutes, the sirens died down, no other instructions had been given, and I returned to my flat to begin my day.
That was my first experience in a bomb shelter. Past that time, I have had to evacuate from threats once or twice a day since rockets started firing from the Gaza Strip. I've also started to become a bit more nervous of loud noises, since I've had to become more vigilant. And, although I know the drill, am confident about my safety in Tel Aviv, and am now almost completely level-headed about evacuating, I can definitely state that the nervousness stays the same.
Until next time,
Joel
Monday, July 14, 2014
The Normalization of Fear and Acceptance?
Shalom everyone,
Ever since the deaths of the three Israeli teenagers and the Palestinian teenager, tensions between the two regions have been escalating to the point where both areas have started firing rockets at each other in an attempt to defend their citizenry and, from my perspective, gain a sense of justice for their respective victims. However, ironically, by defending one innocent citizen from terror, another innocent is killed on the other side, and so the cycle repeats itself.
What people do not truly take into account at times is that although everyone suffers from war, the masses suffer the most. And, right now, it is anyone's guess as to how long the current conflict will be going on, since wars are relatively unpredictable periods of time. Most would think that this causes trauma and panic, yet surprisingly after the sirens, most people, from my observations, returned to their daily lives.
Of course, that statement is a large generalization, and to be sure, many people do deal with anxiety and trauma after hearing Code Red Siren Alarms. But, it was interesting to see people go back to waiting for a bus, going to a restaurant, or resume shopping. It was interesting to me because, having come from a country where national attacks do not happen often, I knew that most people in America would be shocked and terrified. Here, it contrasts quite a bit. Although people take shelter and protest against the violence and the war, many do not necessarily let these warnings hinder their day.
In a way, when you live in a region surrounded by turbulence, I think that you have to become used to that kind of expectation but never let it damage your character or your way of life because if you do, then you'll never commence what you set out to do. One half of the battle is getting to a shelter, and the other half involves swallowing that anxiety and that fear in order to survive. That acceptance, resilience, and normalization, I feel, has become a part of Israeli culture - a culture that I am beginning to understand more, now that I have seen it in its good and, sadly, bad times.
Until next post,
Joel
PS) Thank you to those who have reached out to me in hopes of my safety! I was initially a bit anxious and nervous upon hearing my first Siren Alarm (which is a topic for my next post), but I am doing fine as of now.
Ever since the deaths of the three Israeli teenagers and the Palestinian teenager, tensions between the two regions have been escalating to the point where both areas have started firing rockets at each other in an attempt to defend their citizenry and, from my perspective, gain a sense of justice for their respective victims. However, ironically, by defending one innocent citizen from terror, another innocent is killed on the other side, and so the cycle repeats itself.
What people do not truly take into account at times is that although everyone suffers from war, the masses suffer the most. And, right now, it is anyone's guess as to how long the current conflict will be going on, since wars are relatively unpredictable periods of time. Most would think that this causes trauma and panic, yet surprisingly after the sirens, most people, from my observations, returned to their daily lives.
Of course, that statement is a large generalization, and to be sure, many people do deal with anxiety and trauma after hearing Code Red Siren Alarms. But, it was interesting to see people go back to waiting for a bus, going to a restaurant, or resume shopping. It was interesting to me because, having come from a country where national attacks do not happen often, I knew that most people in America would be shocked and terrified. Here, it contrasts quite a bit. Although people take shelter and protest against the violence and the war, many do not necessarily let these warnings hinder their day.
In a way, when you live in a region surrounded by turbulence, I think that you have to become used to that kind of expectation but never let it damage your character or your way of life because if you do, then you'll never commence what you set out to do. One half of the battle is getting to a shelter, and the other half involves swallowing that anxiety and that fear in order to survive. That acceptance, resilience, and normalization, I feel, has become a part of Israeli culture - a culture that I am beginning to understand more, now that I have seen it in its good and, sadly, bad times.
Until next post,
Joel
PS) Thank you to those who have reached out to me in hopes of my safety! I was initially a bit anxious and nervous upon hearing my first Siren Alarm (which is a topic for my next post), but I am doing fine as of now.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Good and Evil; Perspectives and Narratives
“There are no facts, only interpretations.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche
Shalom everyone,
With the kidnapping and subsequent murder of three Israeli teenagers, suffice to say, the news has been perturbing, with riots, arguments, and grieving on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I wanted to bring this up today because it reminded me of an important point that I learned from my Study Abroad trip that I took this past Winter. The topic was on philanthropy, and my cohort and I were hearing from several "Peace-Process" Organizations that facilitated discourse about the conflict.
There was one particular group called the "Parent's Circle". They consisted of parents, adults, and members who lost something from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, mainly a child. From several narratives and listening to both sides of a story, hearing from these groups merely reaffirmed a precept that I always believed in ever since I was able to sympathize with characters from all sorts of stories and tales. This precept involved the concept of perspective and how no one is ever really "good" or "evil" in any sense.
In actuality, I believe that everyone is in this "grey area" that is characterized by a myriad of thoughts, feelings, intentions, and perspectives. I believe this because, while looking at the news and stories about conflicts and global disasters, each story has a side that interprets a narrative a certain way. That side, for better or for worse, leads to an interpretation that conclusively characterizes a person's moral dimension. But, it is ever really as simple as that? These sides believe that they are doing good for their people; so, if anything, can we ever characterize people by these "black and white" standards that have flooded media, literature, conversations, and aspects of our lives?
I think the truth is that "Good and Evil" are merely constructed out of our own perspectives, our own narratives that we consistently create, shape, and change. How do we begin to see other aspects of people, other than a "Good or Evil" characterization? Maybe through involvement, maybe through conversation, but most importantly, through understanding between others and other parties that have suffered the same consequences, which is why dialogue and cooperation, rather than immediate action, are so important in these types of situations. Even if sides do not agree to work with one another, there needs to be a mutual understanding and respect in order to move forward; otherwise, it seems like a circle that will inevitably cling to a problem.
On the same level, philanthropy aims to understand others through taking into account an individual's needs and what they need help with or what they want to work on, as I am learning through my research at the Institute for Philanthropy at Tel Aviv University. However, social-responsibility is not an easy concept to incorporate in many respects, especially when perspectives are irreconcilable and many are not willing to work with one another. That is an individual's challenge if one wants to be philanthropic in a world where misunderstandings are plentiful and the victims, abundant.
Until next time,
Joel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)