Reflective Response Assignment

 

Day 1:

Assignment: Reflective Response Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to examine the experiences that have shaped participants’ views of the world, peace, and peace education.  

 

I grew up in a devout Muslim family where Islamic principles were deeply emphasized, especially values like forgiveness, respect, and understanding. Being raised in a small city with very few non-white Americans, I was also the only Muslim girl in my school. I made it my mission, both within my close circle of friends and the wider school community, to embody the peaceful and respectful teachings of my parents and my religion. I worked to show others what it truly meant to be Muslim, countering the often inaccurate portrayals and misconceptions seen on TV. 

 

I am also a Palestinian whose father grew up in Palestine. The events of the first intifada in 1987 deeply impacted me. At just eight years old, I witnessed images of the conflict in Israel on TV and radio, which conflicted with the values of peace and respect I had been taught. It was challenging as a child to reconcile these two realities—what I was learning at home and the violence I saw in the media.

 

Then, after September 11, 2001, my beliefs were once again tested. Living in a small city where most people had no personal experience with Muslims, I was labeled a "terrorist" and told to "go back to my home country" as I walked down the street. By this time, I had just graduated from college, earned my teaching certificate, and started my first teaching job. I felt a strong responsibility to incorporate peace education into my classroom, especially teaching students the importance of living alongside others who may different than ourselves. I made a conscious effort to address conflict and conflict resolution, helping students understand the importance of peaceful solutions to issues, starting at a personal level and then branching out to global events.

 

These life situations have significantly shaped how I interact with peace education in schools by making it a personal mission to promote understanding and emphasize the importance of conflict resolution.  Peace education is not an abstract ideal but rather it should be a lived reality that we all need to apply in whatever setting we are in.