Stories by Etgar Keret

I just finished reading The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God by Etgar Keret, and I have to say it is probably my favorite work thus far for the class. I found his writing to be refreshingly open and thought-provoking as it challenged common perceptions of daily life. I am shocked that it is a work in translation, as the language and style seemed comparable to many American writers of contemporary comedy. What intigued me most, however, was the careful balance of humor and morbidity that made each work interesting and emotionally fulfilling.

Many themes are prominent in this collection of stories, such as the problem of the individual versus society, the significance of Hell, sleep disorders, suicide, and the history of the Middle East. Israeli politics were referenced through many of the stories, including "Rabin's Dead," whose title seems to play on the assasination of former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was opposed after signing the Oslo Accords in an attempt at furthering negotiations with Palestine.

My favorite story was "Kneller's Happy Campers," in which Keret creates an afterlife for all individuals that commit suicide. The story is told directly and honestly, and almost resembles a utopia where miracles happen and families are reunited. There was a movie made based on this story, entitled Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006). The author's religious culture is evident throughout many of the works, seen in the references to Hell, a "Messiah," and other biblical events. The stories seem to set religion in a skeptical light or with a strange twist attached, such as in "Plague of the Firstborn," where the father finds out that his wife had betrayed him as a result of the Old Testament plague.

Although I don't know what the stories can reveal to us specifically about Israeli life, I do feel that reading the book puts Israelis in a more sympathetic light in which we can separate them from war and Palestine. I feel this is especially important after our discussion of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, during which I felt the majority of our class agreed that Isreal was responsible for a large portion of the guilt. It is important to try to consider the lives and values of all of the parties involved as equally as possible.

Peace Week Keynote Address

On Thursday, October 22, I was able to attend a presentation by Phyllis Bennis as part of Western Michigan University's annual Peace Week. Ms. Bennis is a fellow of the Transnational Institute, as well as the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. She specializes in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the United Nations, and is a highly published author on topics such as Palestine, Iraq, and United Nations Reform. Her works include Understanding the Palestinian-Israel Crisis and Ending the Iraq War: A Primer.

Although Bennis pointed out early in her speech that her primary audience is the youth of our nation, I was struck by the lack of young people in the crowd. Her target audience for this speech seemed to be scholars and community members of the 50+ generation. I felt that this could be attributed to the lack of publicity concerning not only this event, but Peace Week in general. While at the address, I was able to sign up to hear about future events, but it seems that the organization sponsoring Peace Week could do a much better job of reaching the general public.

Bennis' address focused mainly on the U.S. war in Afghanistan. She pointed out that President Obama's promise to pull troops out of Iraq was accompanied by a promise to further expand the war in Afghanistan. She also brought up the controversy surrounding a tactic of counter-terrorism versus one of counter-insurgency. She explains that one can not win the hearts and minds of the citizens in Afghan while we are dropping bombs on them. To illustrate her point, Bennis told of the former administration's use of cluster bombs, which when dropped explode into many little mini-bombs, each with the strength to kill a child. However, not all of these cute little mini-bombs explode once landing, thus, turning into landmines. These parts were all wrapped in yellow plastic, assumably to be easily seen by civilians. After we had bombed Afghanistan, there were a number of people who fled their homes, with no food, no shelter, in the middle of winter. We then decided to drop MREs to these starving victims, and , in order to make them visible, wrapped them in the same yellow plastic. Embarrassed, the administration sent out warnings, but did not attempt to recall the packages. One can picture the scene when a small, unknowing child runs up to one of these packages to get some food, and is instead blown up.

In addition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Bennis also spoke of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. One point that I found particularly interesting was that of the Goldstone Report. This report was the findings of a mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone to investigate possible war crimes taking place in Gaza late in 2008. His findings were published, which criticized both Palestinian and Israeli actions, though found more guilt with the latter. The Goldstone Report included a list of recommendations, which included asking Israel to pay reparations. Among others, the U.S. found the report to be biased and illegitimate, despite the evidence presented.

In conclusion, I found Ms. Bennis' speech to be informational and thought-provoking. She touched on many topics for possible future research, especially concerning the laws of war and the U.S. domination of the United Nations. My only regret is that there weren't more students in attendance, as I feel the information presented was highly relevant and necessary in order to take an active role in democracy and become an informed citizen.

Palestinian Literature

When reading Sahar Khalifeh's The Image, the Icon, and the Covenant, I was at once struck by the beauty of the language despite having gone through the process of translation. I could easily appreciate the novel as a work of art, and not only as an example of Palestinian Literature. I began reading the book in search of examples of life during the Palestine-Israel conflict, but what I found was the story of a man, who on a journey of self-discovery falls in love with a complex and mysterious woman.

The novel can be analyzed through feminist perspective while it challenges the patriarchal norm of Palestinian society. The protagonist, Ibrahim, has been robbed of a strong masculine identity beginning in his youth with his father's rejection of him as a son. To further this disempowerment, he chooses a profession in academics, and appreciates books over business.

When Ibrahim becomes infatuated with Mariam, he falls in love with her "image." He prefers the weak and depressed Mariam we see weeping over her brother's grave to the lively, passionate, and sensual woman she later proves to be. As the couple progress in their relationship, Mariam's money and sexuality further disempower Ibrahim, eventually causing him to reject her and their child. Later in life, Ibrahim continues his search for identity through his abandoned son, and possible heir; once again looking for empowerment through the practice of leaving a legacy by patriacrchal terms.

This book can be a valuable teaching tool at the advanced secondary or university level in a variety of ways. First, it creates sympathetic characters from a region that we do not always consider approachable. The story can teach a number of lessons about patriarchy and Palestinian culture that can also be compared to our own society. One could analyze the text through a feminist or Marxist lens, as well as read it to gain insight on the state of Palestine after Israeli occupation. It also brings up questions concerning the Palestinian conflict, such as questions about the priority of the personal versus the national, or awareness and culture versus armed revolution.