My question is what are you final views and opinions of the Middle East after taking this class? Somethings I would like to know are have your views changed and what are some important things you have learned? My personnel view and knowledge of the Middle East has completely changed and this class has broadened my horizon. I would like to know what some of the things that you learned and that interest you the most about the Middle Eastern. (IE: culture, politics, religion and geography) I would also like to hear about some of the rumors or stereotypes that you previously had about the Middle East that you now feel are false or unjust.
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Middle Eastern Studies has changed so many of the original ideas I had about the Middle East. I think my biggest mistake was grouping all the countries that make up the Middle East together because I thought they had an overwhelming number of similarities. When, in reality, each country is obviously very different.
The best thing that I learned, though, was how to differentiate between all the different groups of people. For instance: Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Fatah, Hamas and even the largest ethnicities that make up Iraq: the Shias, Sunnis and Kurds.
My favorite part of the Middle East that we studied would definitely have to be the culture. I especially enjoyed the class we spent learning about music.
this class did change my view of the middle east quite a bit. I learned a lot about the issues and what the culture and people are like
this class has brought to my attention the extent of the problems we are facing in the middle east and how my life will be greatly affected by what goes on there in the future
First of all, I completely disagree with jbolognani. But besides that, my views and opinions about the Middle East have changed. I am really passionate about issues that occur there now, and I enjoy partially knowing what I'm talking about when i discuss and debate with people about current issues.
I personally want to study international affairs in college, and this class has definitly confirmed my belief that this is what i want to study.
There was nothing more interesting to me than embracing other's points of view and trying hard to understand other people, and help them communicate with eachother, and the world.
I also learned through doing, which is rare in public school NH land. Through the summits, i learned how to defend a point that wasn't my own, which is key in understanding other people.
So in all, i learned about understanding and communications, and the troubles that facet them. The best part is that we learned this through learning specific information, so not only have i developed these skills, but i've learned so much information doing so.
So yeah, jbolognani, get bent!
Middle Eastern has definitly been one of my favorite classes this year. I never knew how little I actually understood about the conflict in the Middle East.
I definitly think that the best topic we learned about was the Palestinian Israeli conflict. To be honest before this class I didn't understand the issue of the palestinians being in what is now called Israel before the jews were sent to live in their homeland. I also think that learning the differences between the Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis were important for understanding much of the conflict in many of the countries.
My favorite part was our study on media depiction of certain current events. Learning about how to understand if a source is liable and looking around for infromation in more than one area is very benifical. Learning this is definitly a life skill.
Having the Middle Eastern class has changed me ideas on the "middle east" greatly. I will admit that I was one of those people that got a little worried when I was on a plane and a person that seemed of middle eastern desent would walk on. I now do understand the great difference in the middle east and that the middle east is not just one large country but many diverse and interesting countries. I also like that now I can actually understand when on the news they talk about the Israeli-Palistinian fighting or problems between the sunnis and the shias.
My favorite part of the Middle Eastern class would have to have been the summit meeting and the senete meeting.
i would like to respond to eolivers request for me to "get bent" if there is one thing this class has taught me it is to repect other peoples views
oh and i would like to say that eoliver is a member of the axis of evil...and him and irv gotti should get an apartment together!
I used to think that all the countries had the same amount of the same religion, ya know? But now i know that there are so many differences it's not even funny.
Also, i didn't think there was anywhere in the middle east that was as advanced as Dubai or so similar to our country. They're making their own islands for christs sake!
Middle Eastern studies has somewhat changed my view on that place between Africa, Asia and Europe (quite some geography huh). What I've learned the most from this class is that there is no easy solution. I used to think if people were just more understanding then maybe there'd be a medium, but after putting myself in some of the many many perspective of the Middle East, I see that there's no clear answer.
Before this class, I heard a lot on the news about the Middle Eastern Countries: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, etc... There were always reports of car bombings, and suicide bombs. It made my opinion of the Middle East, a very negative one. The media has this tendency to only share what gets attention, and sadly, the violence gets plenty of that, so that's all that's ever reported. Middle Eastern Studies, was an extremely eye-opening class, as we explored not just the current conflicts, but the people, and the culture. The class made me realize that there's a lot more to the Middle East than building bombs and the Taliban. The people there are rich in culture, and have the most fascinating religions ever! I've come to have a much stronger appreciation for the Middle Easterners who have suffered tremendously during this time of conflict. (And continue to suffer as we speak!)
Of course, I learned a lot about things like the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Shi'a Muslims, and other topics like that; but for me this class was far more educational on a different level. Like I said, I've a new appreciation for the people over there, their lives are so hard, and it's not getting a whole heck of a lot better. I think America would have completely fallen by now if we were in their situation!
Prior to taking this class i did know that much about the middle east. i knew the stereotypes and somewhat about the muslim religion but other than that i thought it was a big hunk of sand with some guns and bombs.
Now after taking this class i have realized all the diverse concepts and conflicts that go along with the Middle East. My favorite part of the class was learning about the Taliban and how they came to power in Afghanistan.
After Taking Middle Eastern Studies my perceptions of the demographic has greatly changed.
I did however start the class with a positive outlook but with misguided opinions.
after learning more about Iraq especially my opinions and understanding of the war are more concrete and I am now able to answer a lot of relevant questions that many Americans face today.
Well seeing how as of right now i need 11 more blogs i find it reasonable that i should blog on my own blog. MES has definately changed my opinions of the Middle East, before i knew little to nothing about the conflicts that were occuring there and this class has definately broadened my horizen of their culture, geography, politics, religious views and history.
I would have to say my favorite part of this class was learning about the history of how each country was created by the colonization after WWI, and their ancient history which they still pride themselves on today.
Middle Eastern studies most deffinetly changed my views on the middle east, i used to have the usual take on what it was all about, camels turbans. and now i know its a lot more its culture is more, there way of living is different then what i thought. its deffinetly made me re-think alot of things we may all judge. i learned about the different ethnic groups, why the wars going on, it even helped me develop my own opinion on the war happening in iraq.
After taking this class, I don't think I will ever think of the Middle East in the same way again. For some reason, I have been reluctant to learn about the confusing politics of that area, intimidated by it. Almost all of the stereotypes we have discussed, I believed! It was embarassing to admit that as a relatively literate and somewhat intelligent person, I couldn't locate those countries on a basic map or list the three major groups that make up Iraq. This was probably my favorite class mainly because I do not think I have ever learned so much about such a diverse area in such a short time. Not only did I learn a lot, I also taught my other friends and parents stuff I had learned. This class taught much more than information and facts; it taught me how difficult and complex this small area actually is.
This class really changed my perspectiv of the Middle East. Like most people I believed that everyone there wore turbans and rode around on camels shooting people.
Obviously my views have changed a fair bit. I think that the best thing that we learned was all of the different groups of people, groups, and ideas and how they vary greatly between different areas, even in a place that is so small.
Taking this class has definitely made me realize that there is no real end in sight for peace in the middle east. its just to hard to get people to listen to each other and negotiate reasonably.
i think this is a great class to have offered at the high school so that teens are actually informed of whats happening, its hard to really grasp whats happening by just reading newspapers and watching the new - many perspectives are twisted.
i liked learning about the many cultures in the middle east...
MES has completely changed my view on the Middle East and helped me understand situations alot more clearly. I thought countries were pretty much similar when in fact they're are pretty big differences between each of them. The class alos helped to inform me on background to current issues facing the Middle East today and why.
I enjoyed learning about the cultural aspects in each of the countries and learning through the summits. Also the problems different countries face and why held my interest.
there was a lot i didnt know about the Middle East. now that i have taken this course i realize that there are more problems in the world other than ours.
Chill is th man...peace
This class has really changed my perspective on the middle east. It has opened my mind to new ideas and has explained the culture much better. I now know about all the troubles with the Kurds and the struggles with Pakistan and Isreal and Lebanon. It was a great learning class.
This class has changed my veiws of the middle east a lot. I thought I knew a lot before I took the class, but I quickly came to relize that I knew almost nothing. I found the class very intresting. I liked learning about how all the conflicts started. My opion was mostly based off of what I saw in the news. Now I can form my own opions. I realize now that the middle east has many problems and our involvment is not helping. In the end I really enjoyed the class and I am glad I took it.
Thank all of you for posting on the chillspot . I think it is only fair if we, the students allow mr. Blais to post on the chillspot also and tell what he thought of the class and wha some of his favorite things were to teach us about the middle east.
Well Chill,
Nice way to get the last response you need! As far as the class is concerned, I think you all learned or studied at least one thing that made you stop and say "whoa"! How many teachers can say that? It was a great experience for me to teach people who really cared what they were learning and are now even better prepared to talk about, think about, and appreciate a diverse, beautiful, and unique region of our world. Knowledge is the new Gideon's Trumpet of the world, for the walls of ignorance will one day come down.
when i first entered this class i thought that the middle east was pretty similar culturally throughout the region. after taking the class ive found that i couldnt have been more wrong about it.
this class made me realize all of the challenges and differences the middle east faces that are preventing peace and progress.
I agree with what Mr. Oliver said in terms of actually knowing what one is talking about during an in depth debate about the middle east.
I loved this class and it totally helped me understand why the Middle East doesn't really appreciate America as much as we thought. I enjoyed learning about the women's struggle and how America has it soooo easy.
Although most of the movies were not nearly as up lifting as Mr. Blais portrayed, they were indeed insightful.
Of course I would have to say one of my favorite parts of the class was Off to War. Thank goodness Matt didn't die. Besides the fact that Matt was hot, the show really helped depict how middle America really sees the war and the mis-information.
I loved the class and I'd take it again if I could.
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