The Wise Bard: A different model of coexistence
This is interesting: a project where one textbook contains the historical narratives of Israelis and Palestinians side by side. The narratives often conflict with each other. This is a positive project. Both sides should know the other side's version of events, and think critically about both versions. Knowing what the other is saying and not taking your own side's story as is does not mean necessarily that you stop believing in your people's general narrative.
Kudos to Prof. Dan Bar-On of Ben-Gurion University is Israel and Prof. Sami Adwan of Bethlehem University in the Palestinian Authority for coming up with this idea at PRIME (Peace Research Institute of the Middle East). Now let's hope the Israeli and Palestinian education departments will start using this book soon. I wouldn't hold my breath.
Farewell to Steve Silberman
1 day ago
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou wrote:
"Both sides should know the other side's version of events, and think critically about both versions. Knowing what the other is saying and not taking your own side's story as is does not mean necessarily that you stop believing in your people's general narrative."
Most nationalistic narratives contain huge amounts of embellishment, mythologizing and sometimes sheer fabrication and have been heavily air-brushed. This is true also of the Palestinian and Israeli narratives. Accepting your own side's account is therefore rather an article of faith, as you (perhaps inadvertently) pointed out when you used the term "believing".
I think it is indeed hugely important for people to remain critical of the official national history of the people they belong too, even though that can lead to being spat out by those who swear by the "state version" of events.
It's all a bit reminiscent of Imagined Communities...