Destruction and Renaissance

Damascus

Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus

Acts 9New King James Version (NKJV)

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him,“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting hishand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,[b] who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

"In Damascus" documentary (2011) [before the Arab Spring]

“'In Damascus' is a film about Damascus, an 11,000 years old city, the most ancient and precious of cities, set to the poetry of the world famous Palestinian poet / author Mahmoud Darwish."

"Drone video shows devastated Damascus neighborhood" from RT

 

Ancient City of Palmyra

"#NewPalmyra Crowdsources the Majestic History That ISIS Destroyed in Syria" from Global Voices

"ISIS Bomb Cache in Palmyra: Russian sappers unearth depot with 12,000 explosive devices" from RT

"He looked after the ancient ruins of Palmyra for 40 years. Now ISIS has killed him" from PRI







"Syrian heritage in ruins: before-and-after-pictures" from The Guardian

""I marvelled at the influence, art, and wealth of Palmyra. Now I mourn it" from The Guardian

"Islamic State Blows Up the Temple of Bel in Syria's Palmyra from The Wall Street Journal

"In Palmyra, archaeologists tally the losses after Islamic state threats" from Science

The Strategy Behind the Islamic State Destruction of Ancient Sites from The New York Times

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What do you think about the 3D projection of the Buddhas that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001?
Read this article.

Finally --

"Meet the Syrian YouTube Star Who's Making Germany Laugh" from Huffington Post

See the Zukar YouTube Channel of Firas Alshater

Alshater and Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales from the 14th century: "What is it that women most desire?"

"The Wife of Bath's Tale" by Geoffrey Chaucer




Firas Alshater's version of Chaucer's "The Wife of Bath's Tale"

Assignment for English 4:

In the Refugee Crisis blog, go to the page titles Destruction and Renaissance.

Read or watch the artifacts:

• ​Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus [Acts 9]
• In Damascus documentary
• "Drone video shows devastated Damascus neighborhood"
• Readings for "Ancient City of Palmyra"
• "Meet the Syrian YouTube Star Who's Making Germany Laugh"
• Watch the videos of Firas Alshater
• Finally, watch the animated video of "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales of the 14th century and Firas Alshater's contemporary version of "The Wife of Bath's Tale"

Writing -- Post to your Google docs folder by Friday April 29, 2016 [G block due May 2]
50 pts.

1. Respond to the title of this blog page "Destruction and Renaissance" using evidence from the readings and videos.

2. Respond to the original version of Chaucer's 14th century tale as well as Alshater's 21st century interpretation of the tale.