Week Twenty-One - Guest Speaker Week

This Week

 

This week has proven to be an exciting one, and we still have one more day! The theme of this week is listening. I was up in front of the class very little this week as students were fortunate enough to be able to hear from three different speakers provide three different perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. This is such an important topic, as the past truly is prologue to the present reality that is Israel/Palestine today. Thanks so much to all of my speakers for coming in and presenting their perspectives and their wealth of knowledge about this conflict. You can see some pictures from their visits below and what they talked about below.

Today, Park University Instructor Safa Suleiman came to speak with the students and present the Palestinian perspective on the conflict, sharing her views on why she believes there should be a one-state solution to the conflict.

Also today, former U.S. Representative, Steve Austria, came to discuss the importance of voicing your opinions to your Members of Congress and talk about his experiences while in Congress, which included meeting with the King of Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his travels to the Middle East.

On Tuesday, Former Montgomery County Assistant Prosecutor, Angela Frydman, came and spoke about her passion for the State of Israel and why she believes a two-state solution must take place through negotiations.

On Thursday, students will begin to process all that we have heard and discuss the role that historical primary documents (such as the Balfour Declaration or UN Security Council Resolution 242) continue to play in shaping peoples' views about the conflict and how it should be resolved. Students will be reconsidering their positions this weekend and are being asked to think through what it is, exactly, that they want to see happen to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and how they want their Members of Congress to make that reality happen.

As I tell the students, "I don't care what you think, I care how you think," so my goal is only to make sure that their letters are rational, well-reasoned, and historically accurate. The resolution to the conflict is entirely up to them!

Upcoming Week

 

For homework this weekend, students have to create their thesis statements for their letters, which they will turn in on Tuesday when we return at the beginning of class. At this point they can still change their minds, however they should be close to forming their opinions. Next week is a short one, and we will use it to finish up the remaining content we can cover and then begin writing our letters.

Also, over the weekend, I'm asking students to keep in mind why they're off on Monday, and I would ask all of the parents, as well, to consider the fact that we are getting a day off to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and remember the sacrifices (and ultimate sacrifice) he made for peace. In light of this, I'd encourage you to read some of his words from one of his most famous speeches, which we've been reading in portions throughout the year. I think a great way to celebrate this day would be to read the portion from this famous essay, the World House Essay, which talks about how to bring an end to war and violence. It starts halfway down page 10 of the document.

Have a thoughtful weekend and please talk through this conflict with your sons and daughters. They're slowly becoming experts on this issue now!

I'll leave you with a favorite quote of mine from MLK Jr. ~

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.