(Blog entry from 3/16/12)
Today we had our last meeting of the trip with John Medved, former (as of 2 days) CEO of Vringo. Coming into the meeting, I expected him to discuss how the company got started, what the company did, etc. However, instead he gave us a great lecture summarizing everything we have learned on this trip ?from Israel?s position in the global market to the geopolitical controversy. Hearing everything one last time after seeing many businesses first hand and being in Israel as the Gaza Strip was under attack really made me start thinking about my overall experience of this trip.?
?
After the speech, we did a tour of the Jewish quarter. During the tour we saw the room, which supposedly was the spot of the Last Supper. We then went down to the tomb of David, and ended our tour at the Western Wall. We returned to the Western Wall at night to see it during Shabbat, but unfortunately it was raining and there were not many people there. However, I snuck a view through the barrier separating the men?s side and the women?s side and saw a circle of soldiers dancing and singing, even in the rain.
?
After the wall, we had Shabbat dinner at a Washington University alumni?s house. During the dinner, I sat next to their fourteen-year-old son who told me about the difference between life in St. Louis and life in Jerusalem. He also told me that he already knows what division of the army he hopes to be in when he turns 18.
?
I am still processing everything I learned this trip. Israel is an amazing country that is full of culture, religion and life. Yet, there are fourteen-year-old boys planning their future in the military. I can?t help but think about when September 11th happened in the United States, people across the country came together and foreign countries showed their support. But in Israel, terrorism has become acceptable to the rest of the world and so common that people have no choice but to go on with their daily activities. Life in the north continues normally when about 200 missiles hit the south in a country about the size of New Jersey. ?To me, regardless of your religion or beliefs, whether you like Israel or not, this should not be tolerated.
?
Unfortunately, I don?t have the power (or the articulation) to change the views of the world. But what I did realize, what made me fall in love with the country, was that despite all of this, the country flourishes and has a spirit that nowhere else in the world has. I am not talking about a religious spirit; I am talking about a spirit that comes from the fact that these people are not afraid to fail, they are not afraid to die, in fact, they are not afraid of anything.? If they are, though, they do not let it stop them. I hope that one day, all people, Jewish or not, are able to see the amazing culture and life thriving from this tiny country, and Israel can one day live in peace. In the meantime, I know they will continue to fix the problems of the world with their brilliant start-ups.
?
Jamie ? Olin Business School ? Freshman ? Florida
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
Source: http://olinbizinisrael.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/a-spirit-like-no-other-2/
all star weekend 2012 howard hughes giada de laurentiis nationwide race wanderlust gone tyler perry good deeds
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.