Hi Blake
Your answer did a good job of explaining the importance of “zooming out” to better understand the actual components that exist often behind the scenes of the conflict. I like how you pointed out that these big-picture aspects of conflict exist both in religion and politics. Not only between Jews and Muslims or Palestinians and Israelis but Christianity is also included in a religious perspective and the surrounding countries of the Near East are also involved in a political sense. In any conflict, I think it can become very easy to focus on one aspect or even side rather than taking the time to understand what other factors are at play. I appreciate Friedman’s perspective primarily because it encourages us to look beyond what seems to be the immediate problems and see the bigger picture. I hope that this understanding leads us to effective action in the Near East.
