The documentary One Day in September, discusses the hostage situation involving Palestinians and Israeli athletes. While this documentary tells a disturbing and depressing story, it also revolves around issues of nationalism. Within this film a story evolves consisting of complex ideas about Palestinian, German, and Israeli nationalism. Where in the film did you see ideas of nationalism concerning these different countries? Was there anything missing from the film that would help you understand the situation a little bit more? Where there anyways that sport and nationalism were intertwined within this event?
Finally, earlier this week we discussed what we thought nationalism is. Many of us talked about nationalism inspiring pride in one's country, as well as bringing people of a nation together? How does this film make you feel about nationalism? For me it illustrates the different ways in which nationalism ideology can be used. In that sense this documentary makes me scared in some ways about the powerful effects of nationalistic ideology. While we may often think of nationalism as bringing us together, this same sense of connection can be used to bring together those who feel or are oppressed, as well as promote particular racial, gender, religious or sexual ideology. In particular I think of Hitler and the Nazi's who used racism as well as particular religious beliefs to bring a country together. All in all this film makes me feel the tension between the different ways in which nationalistic ideology can be used. Additionally, it also makes me sad that not only did these innocent Israeli athletes die, but it also makes me sad that 37 years later both Palestinians and Israeli's are still dying everyday.
This entire documentary was about nationalism and standing up for yourself. This fight between these two groups has been going on for so long that it is almost second nature to stand up against the country that your nation, or culture has hated for centuries. The biggest form of nationalism to me is the olympics. Everyone comes together to represent their nation. As far as information i would have liked to known more of a background of why these two countries hate each other so much. I'm sure that i learned it way back in the day but I think a refreshment of the little details would be beneficial for me and possibly others throughout the class.
ReplyDeleteSome people may view nationalism in a different light than others, like the Palestinians trying to get their voice out to the world by sending message and standing up for what they believed in. Other countries may not have handled the situation like that but that is what nationalism is all about; the only that matters is what "you" think.
In the beginning when they talked about the old Olympics that were held by the Germans. All of the Germans came in doing the Hitler solute. For the others as Palestinian you could see it when they were taking the Israeli over. The people doing it were doing it not just for them self’s but for their whole country. Like it said in the movie when the dead bodies of the men were returned to their country they were treated as movie stars. I wish we had enough time to watch the whole thing in class. I understood it for the most part, but I feel as if I was to see the whole thing I would have a better grasp on it. This was a big deal for the Israeli people to be going back to Germany. Where so many of their people died. These was showing that how strong they were I feel.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me feel good and bad about nationalism. Nationalism is good because you want to do things for your country and be accepted. Shouldn’t there be a line where it isn’t nationalism any more. With the Palestinian’s, I don’t know if I would call that Nationalism going out there and killing men who shouldn’t have died that day. I know how I look at things is different than other people. When the died Palestinian killers got back to their country they were praised by hundreds of people just trying to touch there casket. It shows that nationalism is different where ever you live and it can be held to very high standards in some areas of the world.
This documentary really opened my eyes to the different types of nationalism and how they contrast to each other. For one instance you have a lot of proud athletes competing for their countries at the Olympics and on the other hand you have terrorists who feel they are serving their country by kidnapping and holding hostages using the Olympics as an opportunity to spread their message worldwide. This scares me because I have a hard time relating to the second type of nationalism. I don't see using terrorist acts as something that could promote your country or help to spread your beliefs or values.
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