2009-01-07T01:01:45Z No Author Copyright 2009, No Author SPHPBLOG
The second retreat was far less intense than the first in my experience. During the first retreat, we were all pushed to our limit when put in a role playing activity. This retreat seemed more like a wrap up of our experiences and the last time we would all be able to be together as group. I cannot speak for the group, but for myself only. I felt emotionally worn out by this retreat and during this retreat.

My overall experience was completely worthwhile. In some ways, I am most challenged not by group process but by what we saw and heard in the Balkans. The experience there really resonates with me. During classes or even just conversations with my friends concerning world affairs, it something I often either bring up or think about. Group process has pushed me to challenge myself further be it in personal learning or campus activism. The activities I have done on campus this year are direct reflections of my Abraham’s Vision experience.

-- Miriam Liebman
]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080424-173133 2008-04-24T00:00:00Z 2008-04-24T00:00:00Z
In my first weblog, I made an observation of how the Muslim and Jewish communities in Serbia are able to get along and work with one another maybe in an effort to build a stronger force than separate. We see many times around the world that minorities band together to magnify their voices. I then related the Muslim and Jewish minorities of Serbia to the Catholic and Orthodox minorities in the Middle East in that they are not divided by religion. The division between Catholics and Orthodox may be only that they are two separate churches in the Middle East, and they can inter-marry with one another without conflict. Yet, the division between Catholic Croatians and Serbian Orthodox was a major part of the Balkan Conflict that I cannot help but compare the two scenarios. I revel in the reality that there is something very unique about how we as individuals can remove ourselves from the larger group and be able to find a connection with someone from the other group. I believe that if it is feasible to love your neighbor than Israelis and Palestinians can live with one another under one-state.

I heard the fears that some Jewish and Israeli fellows had about losing a Jewish state, where any Jew can move to and feel free, but I wonder if these fears are individually developed or culturally ingrained. In studying psychology, fear is most often something that is taught to us as children from our parents or adult figures in our life. A study observed a baby’s reaction after walking across a glass plate, where in the middle of the glass plate it looks as though there is a hole that he or she could fall through. The hole is an illusion, but the purpose of the study was to observe if the child would hesitate or fear walking across the plate because of the imaginary hole. In the study, the baby walks across the plate without fear in the first trial until a parent comes into the room and observes the baby walking across the glass plate. The fear of his or her baby falling is apparent when looking at the parent. The baby’s face shows fear and hesitates to cross the bridge after seeing his or her parent’s reaction. This study kept running through my mind during our last retreat when the Jewish and Israeli students spoke of their fear for not having a Jewish state.

The circular nature in my weblogs seems to reflect the circular nature that I perceive in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. As stated above, the dynamic between the minority groups in one area of the world compared to the same group being the majority in the other part of the world is an interesting topic to dive in deeper. Then, there is the discussion of fear and how fear can turn one group from being the oppressed to the oppressor. These thoughts and these weblogs are important, because they force us fellows to sit down and compose our thoughts into an entry. The task of writing 250 words may seem simple, but this is not so after sitting in discussion amongst 12 other intellectuals trying to process their thoughts while processing one’s own thoughts. On the other hand, the writing process could be an easier task than speaking up in a group for some students. I observed with this Vision 2007-2008 group that our progress was stunted because of hesitation amongst many of the members to voice their views. I spent much of my youth not allowing others to hear my voice, which stunted my own growth vis-à-vis the conflict and interpersonally, but this program gave me a platform to speak up and challenge my resistance. I wrote in my weblogs that I pushed people to speak up because I wanted to hear what they had to say. I know that some people thought I wanted to be fed answers I hoped to hear, but on the contrary, I wanted to know their true beliefs. I noticed that some people hesitated speaking up or answer questions directly, which may have to do with their fear of speaking the truth. Slowly but surely in the last two retreats fellows began to speak these truths that were not discussed in the Balkans.

Although the formal Vision Program meetings are over, I am still processing and analyzing the thoughts and concerns brought up by my colleagues. Many times during this experience I am teased for not speaking sooner in our group process sessions, yet I think much of that has to do with the time I needed to process these deep thoughts and relate them to my own. Although, I cannot negate that it took change within myself to trust in my thoughts and judgment before voicing my inner thoughts amongst this group. I would be interested to see my discussion a year from now and if my growth will continue to evolve as it has throughout this ten-month fellowship.

-- Janan Saba
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I sensed that members of the Jewish group understood me better than those of the Palestinian group. I had important discussions with some of the Jewish members, not that I did not have meaningful discussions with the Palestinians, but some of the Jews in fact truly listened to what I had to say and understood me as well, during group process as well as in person.

I disagreed with members of the Palestinian group as they continued to label each Palestinian either as the legitimate Palestinian, the knowledgeable one who “understands the facts” or the emotional one. I noticed that as an extremely immature and ignorant act. Instead of attempting to unite with one identity, that identity continued to be fragmented. I have no knowledge of how many facts the Palestinians know, not that it matters, or how legitimate a Palestinian is. We as Palestinians do not represent every Palestinian in Palestine and the diaspora, but it is our duty to tell the story of the Palestinian people without trying to discredit each other.

I believe that I hadn’t spoken a sufficient amount during our few group process sessions over the last retreat because I felt I had stated my point during our last gatherings together. The absence of the original two facilitators may have contributed to my insufficient participation. Because I didn’t speak often enough during the few hours of group process does not mean my voice was not heard. The Spring Retreat had given me an opportunity to engage in personal talks with members who I had yet truly spoken to. I am grateful for that opportunity; it facilitated me in answering questions that had yet been answered. Maybe if the retreat was not so short, I may have opened-up more often during group process. I would like to thank Noa for supporting me during our final gathering. During our last meeting together, after I was labeled by each Palestinian member as emotional, silent, etc…, Noa expressed her disagreement with those Palestinian members. She was in opposition to what they were saying, because for the most part it was not true. Throughout the program Noa and I were able to speak to one another on an individual and intellectual level. We were able to agree and disagree with each other without trying to deceive or discredit the other.

I enjoyed the Spring Retreat, given that it had set for me an opportunity to see all of the members for a final time. I learned a great deal from the members and staff; I would like to thank everyone for their participation and extensive work.

-- Ameer Saleh
]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080415-183133 2008-04-15T00:00:00Z 2008-04-15T00:00:00Z
I think I gained a lot from the comparative conflict analysis portion of our program. I have always been one to immediately side with the oppressed community in a time of conflict. Because of the program and also because of studying Theater of the Oppressed and The Pedagogy of the Oppressed, I began to understand the mechanics of conflict in a totally different light. History has always baffled me, and I often get lost in dates and events enough to give up. But man history is why we live the way we do today and history has created our reality around the world. By understanding that I understand so much more of why wars happen. A few months ago I sat next to a woman on a bus who is American, but teaches in Turkey for a semester every year. We were on the bus right after Turkey had denounced or denied the Armenian Genocide. I noticed a change in how I approached our conversation because I wasn't just focused on how absurd it was for Turkey to deny the genocide. Instead we were having a discussion on why the Turks were so resistant to accepting what their ancestors had done and what was behind the current tensions. I really appreciate having an open mind to the full picture of a conflict and through that I am able to see the complexity in it, rather than the black and white news paper printed headlines of oppressed and oppressor. After sifting through the many details of a conflict I am more comfortable voicing my "side" or opinion.

This past retreat was moving. I think those of us who were ready did a lot of work, and then some were not in a place to push themselves. Of course, a lot of work is done internally and I can't determine if someone is working or not. I enjoyed how our facilitators challenged me to explain my national identity, which I am still figuring out. They spent a lot of time pushing me in a discussion on each of our personal experiences and I think through that I discovered some funny thoughts on glorifying suffering and how I change how I identify depending on who I am with and what will make me seem cooler, or deeper...When I said this the whole group laughed and a student said it's so true. We swim in the coolness of our parents having suffered. I know this is a complex thing to say, but true on many levels.

In that discussion I also came to a realization of what my goals are for the program. I may have written about this in my evaluation, but my goal is to include every ones experiences and stories in my understanding of the conflict at large...not to go from one "side" to the "other" or have anyone move from their "side." There is so much more power in the room to move within our own "sides." The power of my voice within the Jewish community is so valuable and vise versa for the Palestinians. Through this process I have been able to humanize the Jewish community as well as the Palestinian. By this I mean break down the stereotypes I have carried inside for both groups and value the individual voice. "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

I participated in AV at the perfect time in my life, and look forward to how I will be able to continue with dialogue work and cross-cultural discussions. I may be spending this summer as a drama staff member at Face to Face, which feels like another great step...one of what I hope to be many on this journey towards conflict transformation and dialogue. Maybe someday I will even be able to work with the Vision Program or AV again.
THANK YOU. I AM IN AWE.

-- Simnia Singer-Sayada
]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080415-183016 2008-04-15T00:00:00Z 2008-04-15T00:00:00Z Ethnic statehood makes me sick to my stomach.

Israel has a right to defend itself.
Security fences/walls/barriers are atrocious.

I am neither Israeli nor Palestinian.
I feel as though I have a stake in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I care more about my friends and my family than I do about someone whom I have never met.
I think that privileging people who are closer to us leads to many of the ills and inequalities our world currently faces.

Throughout my exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict I have been constantly confronted with profound and seemingly irreconcilable tensions. There is the oft-spoken-of, seemingly eternal tension between Israelis and Palestinians, between Jews and Arabs. There is the tension within each community between those who want to take bold steps for peace and those within each community that seem rigidly committed to absolutism. The tension between divergent communal narratives. The tension between the comfort of ideology and the difficulties of praxis.

My hope is not to erase these tensions – and indeed, to attempt this would be an impossibly audacious task. Rather, I hope that we, as humans, can use our incredible capacity for empathy, joy, sorrow, action, acceptance, and anger, to embrace these tensions. I hope that we can hold them in a meaningful way, such that when we speak of 1948 we can feel the joy of atzmaut (independence) – the joy of a people creating a state in their ancient homeland after 2000 years of exile – while also mourning the price at which it came, nakba (disaster) – the creation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who would never return home, the fracturing of Palestinian society, the birth of another community’s exile.

By allowing these tensions to penetrate our own being, I think that we can approach the conflict more vulnerably, more delicately, and more honestly. It is from there that we can begin to move forward. Ultimately, this conflict will have to be managed and resolved by the political forces that have been so powerful in bringing us to where we are now. But for those who do not wield such political power, I think it is incumbent upon us to engage with these issues fully and honestly. Throughout the Vision Program, I have been forced to do just this. To speak openly and listen carefully to people who have become my dear friends as they share their experiences of the conflict.

As I return home, I am committed to ensuring that future conversations are given the care that they deserve. For those who care deeply about this conflict, I hope that our discourse is both inflected with joy and tempered by sorrow and our demeanor animated by emotion and passion as well as moderated by humility. In my best moments, I almost manage to do this.

-- Benjamin Bechtolsheim
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My main thoughts during the retreat however, were quite disheartening nonetheless. The barriers that separate my inclinations from the inclinations of the Jews and Israelis in the room still stood and still stand and are likely to remain standing for quite some time if not forever. Why? Because the desire to protect the Jewish homeland is so fervent and unchallenged, as it has been from the beginning, that there is no room for accommodation, negotiation, or concessions.

It was interesting for me to see very distinct sentiments that are often expressed by Israel as a state present in the room. In other words, Israel’s unwillingness to concede to anything for the sake of the Palestinian population at the cost of even a little bit of Jewish discomfort or sacrifice manifested itself in individuals. One Jewish student admitted his racism towards Palestinians through his refusal to accept the notion of me moving in with my family in Haifa. He stated that every state has the right to decide who they allow within their borders. When I pointed out that the premise of these decisions is fundamentally racist, he didn’t seem to have much of a problem with it, because it was for the sake of preserving a Jewish majority in Israel, the end all be all of happiness. This objective guides so much of Israel’s actions.

The effect that this discovery had on the conversation was noteworthy considering the numerous requests by this student, as well as others, to be viewed as individuals rather than arms of the nation state that they may represent in this setting. It is examples like these – this student’s unwillingness to accept the thought of me as a Palestinian moving to live with my family in Israel- that make it very difficult for me to consider his request, and the request of a few others, to see them as individuals rather than members of a certain group. It is as if they do not understand that the IDF, kills, humiliates, and dehumanizes my, yes my people on a daily basis, and the goal for many Jewish organizations in America is to further the ends of the Israeli state and thusly, the oppression of the Palestinian population. What about that is disputable? In fact, how dare you even speak to me that way after what you have committed and continue to commit?

The second most prominent thought that occupied my mind over the weekend is somewhat in the same realm as it concerns the idea of simplicity versus nuance vis-à-vis the conflict. Another student told me at some point that I consistently simplify the situation and ignore the complexities, failing to analyze the situation and history more deeply. What is so complicated about racism? What I found to be disconcerting is that there seems to be a tendency to attempt to benefit intellectually over this crisis. This is not an academic exercise. These are people’s lives we are talking about. And this is not history. It is the here and now and it will continue to be as long as we treat it like its something we can poke and prod for the purpose of extracting some sort of personal benefit rather than taking action on crimes against humanity.

The concept that many people in the room hold of “dialogue” is a concept that is not to be applied to the Palestinian-Israeli situation until it has been resolved in some shape or form. I will not accept that I must see only humans until some humanity is shown. Until then, I will continue to see in the colors of flags; individuals will remain tainted with the crimes of their nations.

-- Anonymous Palestinian Student
]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080415-182239 2008-04-15T00:00:00Z 2008-04-15T00:00:00Z
The first night of the retreat we watched the movie, “Battle d’Algiers” that was quite similar to the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict. A quote in which the general of the French Army said in the movie to the Foreign Press, “If we want to continue to colonize Algeria, then we have to accept the consequences that comes with it.” This comment came after many attacks from the Algerian rebels and the French Army. For myself, this French declaration set the tone for the duration of the retreat. I began to relate the scenes from the movie to the current situation in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories. But more importantly, I used the quote as an evaluative tool before I spoke during the group process sessions. I asked myself is what I am about to say a consequence of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict or a misunderstanding of a topic inflated by individuals? One concept that was explored more in depth in this retreat than in the past was the role of the Jewish Americans and Palestinian Americans in the conflict. I know that my role as a Palestinian American has strengthened during the fellowship, and I have gained much interpersonally and academically. I hope everyone in our group experienced similar growth as me.

At many times, I recognized that the Palestinian and Israeli students felt disconnected from the American experience and that displaying this disconnect in the group highlighted the global reality of the conflict. The Americans in the group feel connected to the conflict; therefore, we as Americans, citizens of the most powerful nation in the world, are influential in directing the course of this conflict. I believe as a humanitarian there is a role that encompasses the entire global community, but the US is an overarching power. Returning to the quote from the French General stated above, Americans must think deeply if we are willing to continue to aid in the oppression of the Palestinians or if we are willing to be the power that ends it.


--Janan Saba
]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080320-173007 2008-03-20T00:00:00Z 2008-03-20T00:00:00Z
I understand the views of the other Fellows and why they believe that incident of violence was justified. However, my pacifism stems from my belief that no human has the right to take the life of another. This value, put into practice, necessitates my being a pacifist. I saw throughout the Vision Program and specifically the spring retreat, contradictions and struggle between people's stated values and beliefs and their acceptance or support of actions that violate those values. These contradictions and the resulting internal struggle are present in everyone and indicate that people are actively seeking to redefine their own beliefs and reform their behavior. However, too often stated values, such as pacifism, are seen as impractical. People wish they could stand by those values, but see it as impossible in the real world. I constantly struggle with this issue. However, my belief in pacifism has strengthened over time because of the element of personal choice. Every individual gets to make choices about how they will interact with other people. Every individual gets to choose, for themselves, if they will be use violence. Rejecting pacifism as impractical denies an individual their power of choice. If you believe in pacifism, or any other value, you can strive to realize that belief in your own life. You can begin the change you wish to see realized in the world within yourself. In the end we really only have control over ourselves, so take advantage of that control and attempt to live your life according to your values.

This has been one of the biggest lessons I have learned from the Vision Program. Seeing all the disagreements between the Fellows, especially between those on the same "side," has confirmed to me that trying to convinced others or even reach a consensus is less important than engaging in self-evaluation. Our group will never agree on anything beyond that the conflict should be resolved. As disheartening as this realization was when it first occurred to me this summer, I now understand that there is nothing wrong with this. The point of the program was not to reach a resolution or any type of agreement concerning the conflict. What was productive is that I leave the Vision Program with a far better understanding of myself. This deeper understanding includes my values, as I elaborated on above, my relationship to the Israel-Palestine conflict, the nature of my Jewish identity, and where I want my life to go in the future.

Despite not reaching consensus on the conflict, I feel that we made progress. My views and perspective on the conflict changed. I leave the program more moderate and sympathetic to a wider range of viewpoints. However, on certain issues and values I became less willingly to compromise, more certain in my convictions. The sanctity and equality of human life has been reconfirmed as I saw examples of times when these values were upheld and times when they were not. By all of this I mean that I can now see the legitimacy and important of Jewish claims to Israel which were not as apparent to me before. This also means that I believe strongly in a one-state solution that would offer equality to all peoples living within the borders of Israel/ Palestine and I believe this resolution must be reached nonviolently.

It is exciting to look back on the program and the past year and see how much I have changed. At the end of our time in the Balkans we were asked a lot about our experiences and their impact. It was too soon then to try to process the experience. The impact of the program has been revealed slowly, as I observe the new ways I look at the conflict, the world, and myself. I know that I will discover the influence of this program in new ways the rest of my life.


--Sarah Weinstein
]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080320-172704 2008-03-20T00:00:00Z 2008-03-20T00:00:00Z

Benjamin Bechtolsheim (facing camera) shares pictures and his experiences with the group from a recent trip to Israel and Palestine.




Janan Saba (with book in hand) reads a chapter from a book on Palestinian Diplomacy for the group to discuss how to move forward from the current deadlock.




Dror Post (left of middle with black jacket) opens up the first day's discussions.




Several students hover over dinner in it's final moments of cooking.




If you cook it, they will come...




Students continue some discussion and start others around the dinner table.



I wonder if the food that was prepared by the students themselves (sharing different recipes) was any good? By the looks of the empty plates I would assume it was not bad at all.




Deena Ismail and Samy Qarmout (seated) share family pictures with Vision Program Facilitators Ahmad Amara and Dror Post (from left to right).




Simnia Singer-Sayada (lounging) and Sarah Weinsein (sitting) work on their retreat evaluations during the last evening of the program.




Alana Kinarsky (left) speaks with Janan Saba (right) during one of the breaks.




Students up very late during the last evening of the program.




Something tells me that a lot of the folks around the table are not used to waking up so early for breakfast.




Students take pictures of one another as we get ready for the hour and a half ride back to the airport.




Final group shot brings the Spring Retreat and 2007-08 Vision Program to a close. However, the process that we have all started together will continue for years to come. ]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080320-164525 2008-03-20T00:00:00Z 2008-03-20T00:00:00Z
The Culture Project aims to convert interest, energy and engagement into a motivational demand for progressive change. Through our productions, we are committed to initiating dialogue about critical issues. We seek to inspire and participate in a national conversation, amplifying the voices of individuals, which are rarely heard and seldom considered.

The Culture Project has been involved in several productions, such as Tings Dey Happen, Rebel Voices, My Trip To Al-Qaeda, Dai, Speak Truth to Power, Women Center Stage, Border/Clash: A Litany of Desires, Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog From Iraq, Guantánamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom and Jesus Is Magic. Each piece shared personal stories that have affected individuals around the world and throughout history. Bringing to life the struggle and power of social action and change, each of these productions presented the possibility of lifting the human spirit and inciting political action.

Our current production is the world premiere of George Packer’s new play, Betrayed. In early 2007, Packer published an article in The New Yorker about Iraqi interpreters who jeopardized their lives on behalf of Americans in Iraq, with little or no US protection or security. The article drew national attention to the humanitarian crisis and moral scandal.

Betrayed, based on Packer's interviews in Baghdad, tells the story of three young Iraqis — two men and one woman — motivated to risk everything by America's promise of freedom. It explores the complex relationships among the Iraqis themselves, and with their American supervisor, struggling to find purpose while a country collapses around them.

This production provides an opportunity for the much needed dialogue on the complexity of the occupation in Iraq. It is a rare occurrence to hear the voices of Iraqi citizens, let alone the experiences of interpreters working for the US army. Betrayed not only tells the stories of Iraqis, but also follows the lives of US embassy employees in the “Green Zone” and soldiers stationed throughout the “Red Zone.”

"You see these badges? This one is for the Green Zone and this one is for the Embassy. To Americans I am nobody without them, but to Iraqis they are like a target on my neck," cries out Intisar, an Iraqi interpreter in Betrayed. The audience watches the relationship unfold between the interpreters and a US aid worker, inspired by Kirk Johnson from The List Project, who is still tirelessly working on getting visas for Iraqi refugees. Betrayed, provides the tools for a greater understanding of the current situation in Iraq.

In an attempt to delve further into dialogue, we have organized talk-back discussions with the people and organizations that inspired the play. These individuals include Iraqi interpreter Omer Salih Mandi, playwright and New Yorker journalist George Packer, Kirk Johnson from The List Project, Lawrence Wright, a journalist for The New Yorker, and organizations such as Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, Iraq Refugee Initiative, the Center for Law and Security at New York University, and the Arab American Family Support Center. These discussions allow our audience to ask questions and share their thoughts on our involvement in Iraq as we near the war’s fifth anniversary.

The Culture Project recognizes the invaluable opportunities found in educational and political theatre. By doing so, we hope to develop and diversify our audience by forming relationships with communities and schools that are interested in dialogue and social change.

- Simnia Singer-Sayada]]> http://www.abrahamsvision.org/visionprogramweblogsummer2007/index.php?entry=entry080219-013025 2008-02-19T00:00:00Z 2008-02-19T00:00:00Z