Questions:
1)I know that the experience has opened dialogue and enabled students to work together and have a common understanding in their love for music. How have students brought back what they've learned to their respective homes?

2) Have there been other efforts to bridge gaps between the Israeli and Palestinian people?

When I was reading Parallels and Paradoxes, I kept thinking of the movie Remember the Titans. The movie takes place in a time in the U.S. history after segregation had been made illegal. A black football coach becomes head coach of a football team, and conflicts emerge between the black and white football players. After weeks of conflict, they finally grew to respect and then love one another as family after living and working together during training camp. Their experience on the high school football team changed how they saw each other and how they saw life. They worked together, because in the sport of football, they needed to be willing to defend each other on the field. The discussing of the Wiemar workshop stirred up feel good feelings, and made me believe that people can come together for their love of a common goal, such as music. It seems too good to be true. I wonder if there is truly peace within the orchestra, but then again, I should not belittle the power of open dialogue and respect. In the video, the woman talks about how everyone is friends, and whether or not they like the person is based on their personality and not on where they're from.

At first, I was very optimistic of the situation because people who had come from different parts of the middle east, with different religions can come together to play music. They have an understanding because they have this one commonality of playing music. What happens if that is taken away? I'm not saying that these students are going to be hostile with one another after their tour is over, but for how can we find dialogue and common ground for the people of Israel and Palestine? I do commend the efforts Barenboim and Said who have used their talents in a meaningful way to bring people together, but it is just a start.