My utopia...

Assignment: Complete the sentences:

1. I believe...

2. So, my utopia is...

Some responses:

"I believe in a free Palestine. So my utopia is a free Palestine."

"I believe that my utopia should have the things I enjoy. My utopia would have all the computer and gaming consoles and all the games I could have with a wide screen television and the best internet I could haves with all my friends and family."

"I believe women's basketball should get more attention. So my utopia is a place where women's basketball is very popular."

"I believe cancer should not exist. So my utopia is a place where you can't get cancer."

"I believe of living in Peace. So my utopia is living in Netherlands."

These responses come out of a unit with The Giver where we have spent time talking about utopia vs. dystopia. One element of life in a dystopia has been the feeling of outside control, and we have talked about the role of propaganda. 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict fuels the production of propaganda on both sides, and a little bit of research indicates that the statistics we look to in order to understand the mindsets behind the conflict are ... faulty. 

The New York Times published this article which cites an ADL study which found that 93% of Palestinians harbor anti-Semitic feelings. Let's take a look at the statements those surveyed were invited to weigh in on:

“Jews have too much power in the business world” 

“Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country/the countries they live in.”

As other news outlets and journalists point out, it is hardly surprising that Palestinians, for whom the flow of goods, utilities, money and people are controlled by Israel, would respond affirmatively.

As a student of the social sciences I know our research is fallible, but I'm also wary of what appears to be intentionally stirring up ill-will.  

On a completely separate note, peace falls on Ramallah on Friday morning, since it's the Muslim holy day, and this morning I took a few pictures.