My initial thoughts on this class

Creating a college course that incorporates recent advancements in communications such as weblogging and web media with the current events in Jerusalem is a fantastic idea! Finally, a class where applications of real-world examples are just as (if not more) important as the theory behind the ideas. As a science major (specifically in the Biochemistry department), I am coming from a background of problems that usually deal with x and y rather than human beings. I am not saying that science courses are being taught incorrectly, but it will be an interesting change of pace to start with applicable problems and work towards general theories for once rather than visa versa. The beauty of the world wide web and all of its uses is that we, as students of the Living Jerusalem Project, will be able to experience the ongoing issues second hand through the miracle of web conferencing.

Possibly arising from all of the graphs and figures that I have studied in the sciences, I am a strong believer in the saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words". The internet is so valuable for its incorporation of both text and media, which includes the display of videos which add that crucial fourth dimension of time into the perspective. Pictures also bring with them a sense of purity and truth in the information that they display because it is typically more difficult to portray biases through visual media rather than textual media.

As a person who has often strayed from literature instead in pursuit of numbers and equations, I apologize in advance if my writing ability is not refined. I am a little nervous about the possibility that so many people could be reading what I post on this blog throughout its entireity. I am also nervous about how those reading this blog will interpret my opinions and while I do hope that they are not offensive, I cannot promise anything so again I apologize in advance. Although challenging, this class should help me to develop my writing skills.

Above everything else though, I am most excited about hearing the accounts of those living in Jerusalem. I have always been interested in understanding different cultures and their unique ways of life. More specifically, I met a Palestinian citizen in my high school with the first name Hussein. I had always sided with the Israeli idea of Zionism before I met him. He explained how much of what we hear on the news is often slanted in Israel's favor which now leaves me torn in making a decision on what we should do with the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I have much to contribute and much to learn which makes me excited for how this class will go.