Hi Claire, Thanks for your outreach. I was, and am, very interested. 2 things: the start time conflicted with my Sunday church time (10-11am EST), and there wasn't much interest in having an alternate time. And the reading list got to be a challenge quickly. I had a number of concurrent obligations and really wanted to delve in. But I underestimated the reading expectations. And, as I followed some of the comments of others who wanted to join after the course started, the understanding was "do the reading - all of it." And once you miss a section, that amount of material accumulates, and your gap in the cumulative understanding also becomes a detriment, if only to your own learning, and - understandably - disqualifies you from chiming in. My hope is to use the postings as a go-to resource. If ever there was a time for people to dive more deeply into this conflict, and so many others that challenge world stability, it is now. I think I need a MidEast 101 - Lite version.
Thanks for the explanation. Yes, I think the ME 101 tab can be used as a standalone resource: I plan to leave it there so new subscribers can avail themselves of the reading list and discussions. On New Year's Eve we'll be having a no-reading-required discussion of the Gaza conflict: The invitation is in the most recent ME 101 post. Join us!
I just subscribed so I can take the class. Please sign me up. I've spent the last few days in conversation with Chat GPT 4 trying to understand the hot mess we're all in now in the ME. I've learned a lot. Hopefully, the bot is telling me the truth as best it can be known. I'll use the class to fact check the GPT bot. :-)
Sounds daunting, frankly, but I'd like to give it a go. In the event your enrollment gets unwieldy, I'd be content with just receiving the reading list.
This is a great idea. One thing that might be interesting to add in the intro to this is a very high-level primer on some of the general lead-up to set up the 20th century events. I'm thinking of (working backwards), things like the Ottoman rule and occupation of the Middle East, the Arab conquest in the 7th century, Roman rule. Obviously these are all huge topics, but even a few minutes of general knowledge on them give so much context to what happens later.
"I think we could cover the basics in about eight to ten weeks. I’d assign one or two hours’ worth of readings each week, mostly source documents, which I’d send you by e-mail. Then we’d convene in the chat or by Zoom, at a scheduled time, to discuss them for an hour or two. The discussion would be open only to those who’ve done the readings."
This is to my time what Weta Workshop collectibles are to my money. Yes, I know I have other things to spend it on...but this is what I WANT to spend it on!
What about the Canaanites? If the hair-brained academics in this country really want to expel the settlers and colonizers, the land should be returned to the Canaanites.
Sorry I missed it. My slow time is January to March.
I also have subscribed because I want to take this class - Is a comment the same as a reply?
Just subscribed. Eager to attend - what a privileged opportunity! Please do put me on the registration list.
Kernan, I haven't seen you in the class--unless you're attending under a different name. What happened? You seemed so excited about it.
Hi Claire, Thanks for your outreach. I was, and am, very interested. 2 things: the start time conflicted with my Sunday church time (10-11am EST), and there wasn't much interest in having an alternate time. And the reading list got to be a challenge quickly. I had a number of concurrent obligations and really wanted to delve in. But I underestimated the reading expectations. And, as I followed some of the comments of others who wanted to join after the course started, the understanding was "do the reading - all of it." And once you miss a section, that amount of material accumulates, and your gap in the cumulative understanding also becomes a detriment, if only to your own learning, and - understandably - disqualifies you from chiming in. My hope is to use the postings as a go-to resource. If ever there was a time for people to dive more deeply into this conflict, and so many others that challenge world stability, it is now. I think I need a MidEast 101 - Lite version.
Thanks for the explanation. Yes, I think the ME 101 tab can be used as a standalone resource: I plan to leave it there so new subscribers can avail themselves of the reading list and discussions. On New Year's Eve we'll be having a no-reading-required discussion of the Gaza conflict: The invitation is in the most recent ME 101 post. Join us!
I just subscribed so I can take the class. Please sign me up. I've spent the last few days in conversation with Chat GPT 4 trying to understand the hot mess we're all in now in the ME. I've learned a lot. Hopefully, the bot is telling me the truth as best it can be known. I'll use the class to fact check the GPT bot. :-)
Sounds daunting, frankly, but I'd like to give it a go. In the event your enrollment gets unwieldy, I'd be content with just receiving the reading list.
Yes - sign me up!
I'd like to take the class.
Ok, I can afford 1 - 2 hours a week. Sign me up.
I'd be interested in this! Don't get the emails though anymore so can't reply there...
I sent a reply
Many of the topics in Claire’s seminar are covered in Walter Russell Mead’s new book, “The Arc of a Covenant.” It’s well worth a look. See,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EQ2S3RY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
With that said, I am sure that Claire’s seminar will provide much more detail.
This is a great idea. One thing that might be interesting to add in the intro to this is a very high-level primer on some of the general lead-up to set up the 20th century events. I'm thinking of (working backwards), things like the Ottoman rule and occupation of the Middle East, the Arab conquest in the 7th century, Roman rule. Obviously these are all huge topics, but even a few minutes of general knowledge on them give so much context to what happens later.
"I think we could cover the basics in about eight to ten weeks. I’d assign one or two hours’ worth of readings each week, mostly source documents, which I’d send you by e-mail. Then we’d convene in the chat or by Zoom, at a scheduled time, to discuss them for an hour or two. The discussion would be open only to those who’ve done the readings."
This is to my time what Weta Workshop collectibles are to my money. Yes, I know I have other things to spend it on...but this is what I WANT to spend it on!
Just so we are clear, with regard to "do you have an uneasy sense that there are lots of things you should know, but don’t?"
I always feel like that. About most things.
What about the Canaanites? If the hair-brained academics in this country really want to expel the settlers and colonizers, the land should be returned to the Canaanites.
Hey, those Philistines were colonizers, so we’ll have to ship them back to across the Mediterranean.
I am in for this too! It seems very timely and helpful at this very sad and confusing moment. Thank you!