Very soon, I will have been in Jerusalem for two months; I landed in Tel Aviv on January 2! After two months, some new feelings seem to come up that I would summarize under three headings. Firstly, an inevitable feeling of oppression in this environment where it is difficult to ignore the continuous presence of armed forces. Secondly, a feeling of sadness, overwhelming at times, when you look around you and you grasp the degree of suffering experienced by everyone. Thirdly, a feeling of guilt at not being here long enough and at having the extraordinary freedom to leave and to travel. Somehow, it looks like we are always on the wrong side of the wall...
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Feeling guilty
Very soon, I will have been in Jerusalem for two months; I landed in Tel Aviv on January 2! After two months, some new feelings seem to come up that I would summarize under three headings. Firstly, an inevitable feeling of oppression in this environment where it is difficult to ignore the continuous presence of armed forces. Secondly, a feeling of sadness, overwhelming at times, when you look around you and you grasp the degree of suffering experienced by everyone. Thirdly, a feeling of guilt at not being here long enough and at having the extraordinary freedom to leave and to travel. Somehow, it looks like we are always on the wrong side of the wall...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Je suis en pensées avec vous , mais sachez bien que, moi ausi , je me sens coupable ... Mais vous répandez vos informations autant que vous le pouvez .Et votre présence apporte un peu d'amour et de compréhension . Vous parlerz lorsque vous serez rentrée . Toute mon amitié
ReplyDeleteJeannette
Professor,
ReplyDeleteI recently found out why I haven't seen you on campus this semester. I just wanted to comment and say that I can only imagine that it could be hard being there for different reasons, but I can also imagine a certain joy from being a close witness to a different culture. There is much I wish I could say and I hope that we get to talk upon your return. On your last entry, you describe these feelings of guilt and, although I understand what you write, I cannot begin to imagine how it is that you are feeling. But I know that there is an amount of constriction that I can't comprehend about what you are living, sitting in my comfortable university of Utah chair. I wish, however, that we all had the experience that you are having. I'll keep it short or I'll go on, but thank you for writing, professor. I hope to see you soon and I hope that you are doing well.
Cassy
I think this blog is very insightful because it gives a glimpse of the daily life of every day people in a place where freedom of movement depends heavily on which side of the country {wall} you live in. Thank you professor Schmid for sharing your thoughts and observations. I think such commentary is important in order to raise awarness in a place where world media is often on the "Right" side of the wall. Can't wait to discuss such an amazing experience with you when you return.
ReplyDeleteBest,Khadija.
Thank you much very for sharing your experience with us. I think your last statement “it looks like we are always on the wrong side of the wall…” captures quite well the sad reality of this ongoing tragedy. It is important to share and voice the injustices and suffering you witness. However, the world needs also to look, listen and act (or act differently…). It will be a pleasure discussing with you your experience when you return!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Richard
Thanks for your notes and encouragments! I am looking forward to talking more about my experience when I am back in SLC in April.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention in my post that what you see on the picture behind the Wall is the Mont of Olives; the tower on the picture is next to the guest house I am staying at. I took this picture of my Jerusalem "home" from the other side of the Wall while I was monitoring a checkpoint with my colleagues.