MAKING OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

My two sides of my family (mother and father) could not have had two different immigration/migration stories into the United States. My mothers family migrated to  the United States as early as the Mayflower, whereas my fathers family migrated in the early 1900s.  Due to lapses in information, I will be sticking to my fathers side, as I am more informed about his side.

My fathers family immigrated to Canada shortly before the breakout of World War 1. With the rise in antisemitism in Eastern Europe (Pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe), my family moved to the Americas for new economic opportunities as well as for the purpose of religious freedom. My Grandfather’s family immigrated from Austria to Toronto and my Grandmother’s family immigrated from Romania to Toronto. From there, both families immigrated to the United States by way of Cleveland, Ohio.

I think that my family’s immigration history can be connected very much to the theme of the persecution of Jews in Europe throughout a great portion of European history. This can also stem largely into a theme of migration as a result of religious persecution. We can see this not only through large migrations of Jews in WW2, but also through the large migrations of religious minorities to the British Colonies in the Americas. I think this  can be also connected to Israel’s declaration of Independence, as much of the reasoning for a Jewish state was because of the constant religious prosecution and horror that the Jews had to go through. My family is  just one instance of that. I will be forever greatful that they made such a sacrifice as I would probably not be here today if it was not for them.

Both of my parents were born and raised in Greece. My father was the son of a farmer and became very familiar with the daily struggles of poverty. As a child, he was accustomed to tending to his family’s orange and tobacco fields in the city of Nafplion. He was very interested in anatomy, and coincidentally, after losing his father to a heart attack, he received an incredible opportunity to pursue his passion for healthcare, and practice cardiovascular surgery in New York. Knowing little to no English, he traveled to the city for this opportunity and navigated his way to a secure job in Youngstown, Ohio where he raised six children with the help of my mother. Similarly, yet very different, my mother was born in the metropolis of Volos and traveled to France to earn her teaching degree. She then traveled to the States, where she, like my father, spoke little to no English and navigated her way through the country until she met my father at her best friend’s home in Boardman, Ohio. My parents represent the embodiment of hard work, to attain their Greek-American dream. There hard work and proliferation motivated them to break through boundaries, overcome obstacles, and create a better life in America for me and my siblings.

When looking into my family’s immigration history, I found that my father’s side of the family came from a german background and my mother’s side is Irish. My parents/grandparents were unable to tell me the german side of the story, but I was able to uncover some more in depth information concerning my former Irish ancestors.

The first members of my mother’s side of the family arrived in the United States during the mid to early 19th century. More specifically, they came while the Great Famine struck Ireland and killed many. However, they were able to make it out and ultimately end up in America. As far as my family knows, they came to the Northeast and began as laborers. They were Catholic, and looking into American history at the time there was a clear need for workers especially for the building of the Erie canal. Irishmen made up the majority of workers for this project. I can even speculate that some of my ancestors even worked on this project since they resided in Cleveland, OH.

This timing of Irish immigrants fell right peace was reestablished between the United States and Britain after the War of 1812. Immigration from Western Europe began to rise, which caused a shift in the demographics of the United States. During this time period, the Irish amassed and made up half the immigrants entering the United States This was the first major wave of immigrants called the Irish Wave, and it lasted until the Civil War.

Religion in both documents are used as a utility of identity. In the Israeli Declaration of Independence the Tanakh is mentionedthree times: “…the Jews gave to the world the eternal Book of Books…” “…Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel.…” And finally “…placing our trust in the Rock of Israel…” Israel is described as a safe place for Jews as in a factual and historical aspect it provides evidence for this reason.  ” The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people and “here their  spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped”. With regards to the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, religion serves as a reminder of their nation state as it just serves as an extended kinship unit. It is also intertwined with the Palestinian culture. However, in the document, The Palestinians are looking to develop their independent statehood; trying to find a means of tracing their identity of their people to the land as it says “The Palestinian Arab people forged its national identity”, “Yet the undying connection between Palestine and its people secured for the land its character and for the people its national genius”

Israel in its document describes itself as safe place for Jews due to the trials and tribulations in Europe. It would also say that its values originated from Hebrew Prophets. It would also say that it stands up for the rights of Arab inhabitants of Israel even though its main religion is Judaism. Palestine describes itself in the document as a nation that has strong sense of its people and the land but a strong connection has to be made between them

Israel defines Palestine as during The Zionist occupation and the dispersal of the Palestinian Arab people, through the disasters, which befell them, do not make them lose their Palestinian identity and their membership in the Palestinian community, nor do they negate them but the seem to suffer more than Israelis.  Palestine would define Israel as the people who took our land . However are accepting of arab inhabitants.

1.) Both documents start by claiming they have the best right to the land. This right they both claims is granted by God and their historical connections to the land. They also both present their declarations to the UN and ask for recognition and support in their efforts. Lastly, they both claim to desire a peaceful resolution and desire a country where discrimination based on sex, race and religion are not allowed.

2.) Religion is very important in each document as it is presented in the first paragraph of each. Religion was used to justify their rights to the lands as their connection to God in this area is used to justify their claims. Religion is also in the desire for their nations. The Israeli’s want a Jewish state while the Palestinians want an Islamic state.

3.) The Israeli people define themselves as Jewish people while the Palestinians identify themselves as Palestinian Arabs. Both groups define themselves by their religions and cultural qualities. They also present themselves as victims in history and use this as why they should be allowed to claim their right to the lands.

4.) The Israeli people call the Palestinians “the Arab inhabitants” and the Palestinians call the Israeli’s just Israelis. Though, both Declarations have limited dialog about the other’s which I thought was interesting as they claim their right to the lands but do not specifically claim why the other group does not have a proper claim.

5.) Both see their new state as singular Jewish or Islamic, but also identify that persecution by race, sex, gender and religion would not be tolerated. This is seen as the governments  will be based on principles of social justice, equality and non-discrimination in public rights of men or women, on grounds of race, religion, color or sex”.

• The two Declarations of Independence of Israel and Palestine follow a very similar trajectory. Both begin by establishing their right to the land by affirming their historical and religious roots in the area. They describe their people’s spiritual connection to the country as the birthplace of their respective religions and claim the right to establish a self-governing state safe for their people. Both documents describe the prosecution their people have faced and praise their fortitude and will. They both refer to the United Nations and use its authority to support their right to establish a state and denounce those who have challenged this right. They both claim that, despite the unjust and unprovoked attacks on their rightful lands and peace-loving people, they are willing to extend the hand of peace and fellowship towards their neighbors. The Israeli document proclaims, “We appeal – in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now and for months – to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace… We extend our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness”. The Palestinian document makes similar statements, frequently referring to Israeli occupation of their lands and affirming their commitment to a peaceful resolution. Both documents conclude with a call to their people to remain strong and rally around their righteous calling of defending their homeland in accordance with their expressed desire for a peaceful state governed by themselves in which all peoples can be safe and work towards the betterment of their society.
• Both documents use their religion to support their stance. Their religious history is used to assert their claim to the land. Because their religions were established in Israel/Palestine, their entire identity as a people is indelibly linked to the physical ground on which they stand. Religion is the basis on which their nation is formed. They both want to establish a place where their religious fellows can safely practice together without fear of prosecution. Religion and religious history are the fabrics that bind both peoples together and define their national identity. Unlike the Israeli document, the Palestinian declaration begins and ends with the statement “In the name of God”. They are both appealing to their God and using it, as the highest authority available in their eyes, to grant legitimacy as being within its will.
• The two groups both use a combination of religion and shared history to define themselves. This is how both documents begin, and it is what lays the groundwork for their claim to sovereignty. Both groups speak of themselves in terms of a collection of people sharing the same religion who have a shared history as a result. They express the desire for sovereignty because they wish to find a place where others of their religion can live without fear of prosecution, something both groups use as a uniting force. They all share a history of being wrongfully attacked because of what they believe, and they both take pride in their people’s ability to survive despite this.
• The Israeli declaration does not specifically address the Palestinians except in the reference to those attacking them in the statement quoted above. They have an “us versus them” mentality in that there are those who are part of Israel as they see it and there are those who are not. They speak of their neighbors in the abstract only. The Palestinian declaration is far more specific. They explicitly denounce Israel for invading and occupying their lands. To them, the Israeli are portrayed as the horrible invaders who make violence without reasonable cause.
• Neither declaration specifically outlines how they foresee the other if they get their way. The closest either of them come is in saying their state will be one where all religions can be practiced freely. Specifically, the Palestinian document says, “governance will be based on principles of social justice, equality and non-discrimination in public rights of men or women, on the grounds of race, religion, color or sex…”. The Israeli document gives a very similar statement when it says, “[Israel] will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion…”.