Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land by David K. ShiplerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
There were a few ideas I wanted to explore further after reading this book.
WHAT IS A JEW?
In the book, an Israeli Arab (I believe) mentions the difference he sees between an Israeli and a Jew. I've forgotten his definition of an Israeli but his definition of a Jew is interesting. He said that a Jew is someone who knows how to ask the right questions and is bothered by the right things.
So, what are the right questions and what are the things that should bother us? It seems like those would be those things that help us to engage in repairing the world.
VICTIMIZATION AND DENIAL
What is it with wanting to be the victim? And why is it so natural to downplay or deny the valid sufferings of other people in order to portray ourselves as the biggest victim? Maybe it gives a sense of moral superiority. But isn't there something twisted in wanting to be seen as a victim? I wonder, if at some level, seeing ourselves as victims makes it easier to excuse our failures. I ask this because I've done the same thing myself from time to time. I can't speak for the Israeli-Arab Situation. That issue is much too complex for me, especially with terrorism being involved in the problem.
However, on a personal level, this whole victim/denial thing is something I need to look at. It's a little hard to "repair the world" when I'm so wrapped up in my own pain that I can't even recognize that other people have suffered too. I'm not saying that people should ignore or deny traumatic events from their past-that's not healthy either. But there is a difference between acknowledging painful stuff and dwelling on it. And there is also a difference between sharing past events in which I've been victimized and in choosing to make "VICTIM" part of my basic identity.
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