Response: Jolin's In the Name of God

As I'm sure everyone else is saying, this was a difficult text to read. I still don't know if this is something I would ever consider teaching in my own classroom, however I can see the value in it, and would definitely want to contrast it with a second comparable text that offered the other sides not seen in this text, maybe an American Muslim, or a Muslim who feels oppositely of Nadia in Syria during all of this conflict, which has been going on since 9/11 and even well before that with civil war and the fight for the holy land and the Palestinians. These are wars that have been going on for centuries in different ways, and so it's really always been relevant. My point however is that it's more relevant now more than ever.
I can't really see this being taught in an English class. I see this more likely to be taught in a current world events class, which is offered to seniors at most schools and is a requirement to take in order to graduate. When I took my current world events class, we delved deep into political, economical, and social events that were happening all over the world, but because there has been so much strife in the middle east over the past 15 years, that was really where we focused most of the curriculum and discussion. The war on terrorism has been a hot topic all over the world since 9/11 and since the rise of technology, media, internet, and general access the worlds public has to what is happening around the world.
I think teaching this book in a social studies class would be more effective because there you have students who are able to actively connect this book to what is happening every day in parts of the world, and what is a reality for countless people. As Americans, it is more important than ever to been as knowledgeable as possible, even if just considering our geographical location. Very few of us (Americans) are within driving distance of another country. Most of the world is surrounded by countries that have different languages, economies, governments, laws, leaders, etc.  This is just one example of what it means to be American and why it is so important to expand our horizons and show students a glimpse of what other peoples realities look like.