Cal Students in the Middle East
There have been a few comments asking why we haven’t posted anything about the conflict in the Middle East. Because it’s not directly Cal related, an open article about the situation would be inappropriate. And since Ben and I are both in a Jewish Fraternity, we have considerable biases on the subject.
However, there are Cal students in the middle east right now. I would like to hear comments from anybody who is there right now or if you know someone who is there.
These videos were recorded by former CalStuff writer Andy Ratto. They feature cal students Joe Rothberg, Tomer Chernia, ASUC Senator Ilana Nankin, and Lindsay Bailey. They were both shown on CNN and give some idea of life in Israel during the beginning of the conflict:
I was in Israel the week before this situation began and was able to meet a few of the soldiers who are now fighting.
I would like to hear about other Cal students in the Middle East right now, especially about those in Lebannon. Whichever side you personally support, wish for your fellow classmates to make it home safely.
Nice version of Aleinu in the 2nd video there.
My brother just left for med school in Tel Aviv 2 days ago. He says that being in Tel Aviv, you’d never even know there was anything going on. Pretty peaceful, evidently.
Comment by Anonymous — August 13, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
> Whichever side you personally support, wish for your fellow classmates to make it home safely.
What do you mean by “support”? It is a war where people die, not a football match!
Comment by Anonymous — August 13, 2006 @ 10:36 pm
When I originally posted that, I intended it to suggest that readers not comment with personal opinions about whether or not this war is ethical, which side should be considered the agressor, and any other discussions along these lines that are bound to come up when this topic is mentioned but don’t neccesarily belong on this blog.
However, to criticise someone’s “support” of a country during wartime a complete misunderstanding of history and human nature. In any conflict between two people and two groups, outsiders are going to have opinions. The more important a conflict, the stronger the opinions. Therefore, to have an opinion and “support” a side during a conflict that is deeply significant to so many people should not be considered wrong.
Comment by Andy M. — August 13, 2006 @ 11:06 pm
By the way, here are the lyrics to the song being sung in the second video:
“Until peace comes upon us and everyone. Peace (in Arabic), for us and all the world, peace.”
Comment by Andy R. in Missouri — August 14, 2006 @ 5:33 am
much respect for keeping your opinions to yourself, even though you have a good amount of readership and obviously a lot invested in the conflict.
but really… ethical war? c’mon…
Comment by yikes — August 14, 2006 @ 12:29 pm
so did joe’s “i just shat my pants” actually go on cnn?
Comment by anonypus — August 14, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
The guy with the water bottle in the second video is also a Cal student, named Todd Horwath. Kind of surprised to see him there. Why were all the Cal students in one place, or was it just a coincidence?
Comment by James McBride — August 14, 2006 @ 5:03 pm
I’m not sure about the answer to number 6 (although I assume not)
To number 7, all of them were on Birthright, a program that takes Jewish students to Israel for free. Each birthright trip has a different sponsor and this one was sponsored by Berkeley Hillel so it was mostly CAL students.
To number 5, I have a lot to say but as mentioned before don’t really want to get into personal opinions. Anyone who wants to argue with me can feel free to e-mail me at andymorris@berkeley.edu or just click on my name when I comment and it should take you to my personal blog.
Comment by Andy M. — August 14, 2006 @ 5:28 pm
Damn straight i was in those Videos. I was the one leading them in “Bim Bom” hahahaha.
Comment by Todd Horwath — September 27, 2006 @ 3:50 am