NationStates Jolt Archive

An opinion piece in the Daily Collegian (http://www.dailycollegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/05/05/42797426615dd) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (where else?), signed by eight people, describes how a campus "dialogue" solved the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs:

Towards the end of the evening, we formed a Middle Eastern drumming circle led by local world music performer/educator Michael DiMartino and created rhythms together, with one voice, in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation. The energy engaged the crowd and set differences aside as it unified people of different backgrounds and perspectives.

We closed the drumming circle and the evening with a song of peace in Hebrew and Arabic.

I hope others find this as hilariously self-indulgent as I do.

I hope others find this as hilariously self-indulgent as I do.No, I don't find this hillariously self indulgent. I salute the students that took the time and caring to organize what sounds like an interesting and well-thought-out event.

If drumming circles and facilitated discussions sound like a lame idea to you, fine, but think of the context in which these strides are being taken: many campuses are experiencing mini wars of confrontation, propaganda and aniomosity that are exported directly from the middle east. THOSE people are only propagating confrontationalism, and indulging their colsed opinions. I find this short article to be a breath of fresh air. These folks should be applauded for comming together, not ridiculed.

I think at my school, the zionist and palestinian clubs almost managed to get themselves eliminated as official school clubs with their behaviour last year.

If drumming circles and facilitated discussions sound like a lame idea to you, fine, but think of the context in which these strides are being taken: many campuses are experiencing mini wars of confrontation, propaganda and aniomosity that are exported directly from the middle east. THOSE people are only propagating confrontationalism, and indulging their colsed opinions. I find this short article to be a breath of fresh air. These folks should be applauded for comming together, not ridiculed.
I agree it's very nice and all. But it's one thing to do it in Amherst and another to do it in the West Bank.

Thank God and Allah we can finally quit worrying about terrorism.

*gets out bongo and tambourine*

I agree it's very nice and all. But it's one thing to do it in Amherst and another to do it in the West Bank.
As long as the drumming leads to pot smoking and subsequent nudity and a general free-for-all orgy, and no one is embarassed the next morning, it's just a fun thing to do.

But that aside, it's essentially meaningless. These people weren't doing anything "real" aside from beating on some drums. They might as well have done a circle jerk for all it changes.

I agree it's very nice and all. But it's one thing to do it in Amherst and another to do it in the West Bank.Clearly its a different story.
We're not even talking about the peace process in Israel, the issue is how members of both communities outside the middle east interact with one another. Either a) import a war and fight it at home, or b) attempt dialogue and reconciliation as a start of something bigger.
I don't think that this type of thing is likely to make much difference in the actual conflict, but it eliminates the ripple effect of the conflict and effects people's attitudes, and people's opinions. This IS important.

As long as the drumming leads to pot smoking and subsequent nudity and a general free-for-all orgy, and no one is embarassed the next morning, it's just a fun thing to do.

But that aside, it's essentially meaningless. These people weren't doing anything "real" aside from beating on some drums. They might as well have done a circle jerk for all it changes.With respect Whispering, this is bullshit. The disparities between the Jewish and Palestinian student groups are often so large that they are merely identified as some sort of "enemy" or unified adversary. It takes ALOT of maturity and planning to come together even on such a level as is described.
Frankly, I don't see what you people's problem is. As a Jewish student, I'm often disgusted by the childish exhibitions of "solidarity" that happen on my campus, and these types of events are a serious step forward from the tit-for-tat stradegies often employed.
The simple act of meeting, and talking with each other make a BIG difference in people's attitudes! How is this meaningless!?

describes how a campus "dialogue" solved the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs:

What a ridiculous statement for you to make. Nowhere in this articled do these people claim to have solved the conflict in the middle east. It is a description of an activity, no more, no less.

Clearly its a different story.
We're not even talking about the peace process in Israel, the issue is how members of both communities outside the middle east interact with one another. Either a) import a war and fight it at home, or b) attempt dialogue and reconciliation as a start of something bigger.
I don't think that this type of thing is likely to make much difference in the actual conflict, but it eliminates the ripple effect of the conflict and effects people's attitudes, and people's opinions. This IS important.

If the problem between "students" in the "United States" is so bad, then we really need to put all of them in the fieldhouse and pump hash smoke in until they are all mellowed out.

And they should leave their stupid conflict at home. If they can't be civil when away from home, we should send them back on the first plane. Together.

If the problem between "students" in the "United States" is so bad, then we really need to put all of them in the fieldhouse and pump hash smoke in until they are all mellowed out.

And they should leave their stupid conflict at home. If they can't be civil when away from home, we should send them back on the first plane. Together.
Hey WL...what about the conflicts between groups BORN in the US? Where do we send them when they can't manage to be civil to one another? (think, white pride versus everyone else:))

I agree with the hash smoke though, and we have some great BC bud for y'all...

WL, I don't think you really have a concept of what's going on on campuses, or how deep it goes.

No, I don't find this hillariously self indulgent. I salute the students that took the time and caring to organize what sounds like an interesting and well-thought-out event.

If drumming circles and facilitated discussions sound like a lame idea to you, fine, but think of the context in which these strides are being taken: many campuses are experiencing mini wars of confrontation, propaganda and aniomosity that are exported directly from the middle east. THOSE people are only propagating confrontationalism, and indulging their colsed opinions. I find this short article to be a breath of fresh air. These folks should be applauded for comming together, not ridiculed.
I wonder if they excluded anyone with remotely conservative leanings, or is the institution of "higher" learning simply excluding them automatically? :rolleyes:

I wonder if they excluded anyone with remotely conservative leanings, or is the institution of "higher" learning simply excluding them automatically? :rolleyes:
This is UMass. What conservatives?

I hope others find this as hilariously self-indulgent as I do.
So enjoying music is now self-indulgent? :rolleyes:

I wonder if they excluded anyone with remotely conservative leanings, or is the institution of "higher" learning simply excluding them automatically?
I don't know what you're saying here. Is it:

1) That conservatives wish to encourage animosity between Zionists and Palestinians?

-or-

2) That conservatives can't get into higher education? ;)

I wonder if they excluded anyone with remotely conservative leanings, or is the institution of "higher" learning simply excluding them automatically? :rolleyes:You conservatives are always trying to be "excluded" from something or another. If someone is willing to participate, then they do. simple.

WL, I don't think you really have a concept of what's going on on campuses, or how deep it goes.
I haven't been on a campus in over 10 years. Did it change that much?
Oh, that was law school.

Well, for undergrad, I was in from 1979 to 1983. Probably a transitional fossil.

Still, I have a lot of friends today who are Jewish (perils of the trade in this area), and I also have a lot of friends who are Arabs, and we all hang out together without singing peace songs or kicking each others' asses.

Perhaps all-night poker and smoking like a chimney and drinking scotch isn't a student's idea of how to get along with your friends. It works for us, and we don't even get a news story.

I remember the night of 9-11, we all got together and played, figuring we'd have the next day off (we were right). We managed to discuss Arab-Israeli politics like normal humans and didn't fight or scream or yell - and we discussed American foreign policy without me kicking people in the nuts.

Go figure. Some people must really be retarded out there.

Oh, I think I've figured it out.
The people in my group were all soldiers. Egyptian Army. Israeli Army. US Army and Marines.

Some of the Egyptians and Israelis in our group were shooting at each other during the 1973 October War.

You wouldn't know it now. But go ahead and feel good about your drumming and singing - we'll stick to smoking and drinking.

Some of the Egyptians and Israelis in our group were shooting at each other during the 1973 October War.
:eek:

Goes to show that soldiers are just guys doing a job, I suppose. Like those WW1 soldiers who played football with their "enemies" on Xmas day.

:eek:

Goes to show that soldiers are just guys doing a job, I suppose. Like those WW1 soldiers who played football with their "enemies" on Xmas day.

What I think it shows is that young stupid people sometimes grow up into smarter adults.

Or that anything can be forgiven over a drink and a game of cards. Anything.