This is an excellent piece, very simply made, about the mundane dehumanization that happens to soldier and civilian in any militarized system. I wish I could play this for all the young people I know in my small, poor, rural area who are planning to join the military when they get out of high school. My sincere thanks to this producer for sharing his experience, and his insightful reflection upon that experience. It is so relevant to the problem of terrorism. I have heard the results of a psychological study of suicide bombers. The main thing they had in common was the experience of witnessing one of their parents being humiliated by the 'other side'.
This is a worthwhile piece, a story about one "minor incident" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The storyteller, an American Israeli Defense Force soldier, inconveniences, humiliates and probably frightens a couple of Palestinian civilians, a father and son, by holding them at a checkpoint to relieve his own boredom. He later regrets his actions and writes about the incident in his hometown Jewish newspaper, prompting responses of denial that even such a routine act of dehumanization could happen in the Israeli occupation. The soldier's monologue is placed over accompanying music. This by-now-familiar device is effective, though at times the music gets monotonous and could stand to change or go away. The piece may not be easy for stations to place, given its length. It could work as a set-up to a talk show about the Middle East conflict or the Israeli occupation.
This piece has the tone of a story from This American Life. The tone is conversational and authentic. The honesty helps convey the story of life in the Israeli Army. It also gives a good impression of what it is like being a young soldier. It could be stronger with more tape about the emotions felt by Matt. But it was good to hear his reasoning for his actions at the border crossing and to hear his impressions about the reaction to the newspaper article.
The story has a good arc. A few spots where the music made the transition may have helped with some narration and/or continuity. However, unnarrated pieces are difficult to produce and this one is well done. The music does keep the piece flowing. The Kruder and Dorfmeister is appropriate for this piece.
This would work well in a station-curated magazine program or a story-telling program like This American Life.
Comments for American Jews in the IDF: One Day at the Border Crossing
This piece belongs to the series "Active Voice Radio"
Produced by Chris Goldstein
Other pieces by Chris Goldstein
Rating Summary
4 comments
linda tarr
Posted on April 14, 2006 at 02:50 AM | Permalink
Review of American Jews in the IDF: One Day at the Border Crossing
This is an excellent piece, very simply made, about the mundane dehumanization that happens to soldier and civilian in any militarized system. I wish I could play this for all the young people I know in my small, poor, rural area who are planning to join the military when they get out of high school. My sincere thanks to this producer for sharing his experience, and his insightful reflection upon that experience. It is so relevant to the problem of terrorism. I have heard the results of a psychological study of suicide bombers. The main thing they had in common was the experience of witnessing one of their parents being humiliated by the 'other side'.
John Biewen
Posted on April 01, 2006 at 08:19 AM | Permalink
Review of American Jews in the IDF: One Day at the Border Crossing
This is a worthwhile piece, a story about one "minor incident" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The storyteller, an American Israeli Defense Force soldier, inconveniences, humiliates and probably frightens a couple of Palestinian civilians, a father and son, by holding them at a checkpoint to relieve his own boredom. He later regrets his actions and writes about the incident in his hometown Jewish newspaper, prompting responses of denial that even such a routine act of dehumanization could happen in the Israeli occupation. The soldier's monologue is placed over accompanying music. This by-now-familiar device is effective, though at times the music gets monotonous and could stand to change or go away. The piece may not be easy for stations to place, given its length. It could work as a set-up to a talk show about the Middle East conflict or the Israeli occupation.
Arvid Hokanson
Posted on March 03, 2006 at 12:38 PM | Permalink
Review of American Jews in the IDF: One Day at the Border Crossing
This piece has the tone of a story from This American Life. The tone is conversational and authentic. The honesty helps convey the story of life in the Israeli Army. It also gives a good impression of what it is like being a young soldier. It could be stronger with more tape about the emotions felt by Matt. But it was good to hear his reasoning for his actions at the border crossing and to hear his impressions about the reaction to the newspaper article.
The story has a good arc. A few spots where the music made the transition may have helped with some narration and/or continuity. However, unnarrated pieces are difficult to produce and this one is well done. The music does keep the piece flowing. The Kruder and Dorfmeister is appropriate for this piece.
This would work well in a station-curated magazine program or a story-telling program like This American Life.
Cheryl Davis
Posted on January 30, 2006 at 06:50 AM | Permalink
Review of American Jews in the IDF: One Day at the Border Crossing
this was a great piece. never heard work on the stresses of israeli soldiers. very interesting.