muddled world

Here I am in Jerusalem, holy city of unholy conflict. The stereotypes fly in your face on a short walk through the old city: black-clothed Orthodox Jews with twirly hair and solemn expressions; chubby nuns with thick glasses and virtuous spring in their step; cocky soldiers with too big guns; frustrated young Palestinian men hanging on the street corners, scowling at the world; loose-toothed old Palestinian men sitting on the street corners, smoking their water pipe; excited tourists in shorts and singlet staring at old stones and new souvenirs. And then of course me: blond volunteer for peace, oozing of naïve confidence in dialogue and solidarity.

This is a blog for the muddled world of Jerusalem. For the astoundingly beautiful city with a solid concrete wall gashing through it. For the people to whom it is a home. This is a blog for the disruption of stereotypes, of the perception that this is a black & white conflict where you are either against us or for us. I hope to locate some alternative voices: the raging grandmothers, the stubborn refuseniks, the impatient families living with daily humiliation, the Rabbis working for human rights, the perhaps unorthodox blond volunteers. I have no intention of being neutral - neutrality too easily supports the status quo. This is a blog to question the way things are, and the way they are portrayed.

And then, also, it is a blog to share some scenes from my everyday goings and doings with you - some glimpses from my world. It is a blog for muddled up words and worlds, for random thoughts and persistent search for constructive confusion. Welcome to join the disruption!