Posted on September 20, 2007
Palestinian-American Rami G. Khouri spoke Monday night about the interaction between America and the Middle East as part of the Nelson Institute’s Guardian Lecture Series.
Khouri is editor-at-large for the Beirut-based Daily Star as well as an internationally syndicated political columnist. In 2006, he co-received the Pax Christi International Peace Prize, for work against violence and injustice. He is also the director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy at the University of Beirut.
The event was co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters. The Dean of the College, David Jeffrey, introduced Khouri as “one of the most important and articulate political observers writing in the Middle East.”
Khouri discussed his opinions about the causes and remedies of conflicts, focusing on the Arab-Israeli conflict, American and foreign powers, and democracies.
“One of the critical things we need to do these days, with the world as it is today, is to understand each other,” Khouri said.
Khouri also spoke about Arab perceptions of Americans.
“Most people in the Arab world don’t talk about a democratic transformation as a priority,” Khouri said. “Probably the single most important issue of how Arabs see the United States is the issue of having a consistent policy. There’s a very high premium that people in the Middle East attach to that.”
Khouri also addressed the concerns that the Arab world has about American involvement.
“People think that the U.S. is coming in to change people’s values,” he said. “The U.S. says it’s altruistic, but it is not perceived that way.”
Freshman Jenn Laughlin said she hoped to learn more about the Middle Eastern region by attending the lecture.
“I wish I was more aware, which is why I chose to come to this Wellness Passport Event,” she said.
After the lecture, Laughlin said she enjoyed it.
“I liked how he talked about how it needs to be based more on the people, and that democracy is the ultimate answer but getting there is the hard part,” she said.
However, other students disagreed with Khouri. Alum Boaz Blake (07) believed that Khouri’s statements were not factual.
“The man managed to come along and speak his propaganda,” Blake said. “I’m heated up right now.”
During the lecture, Khouri said, “I think the lesson for Israel and everyone interested in this problem is that time is not going to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict.” He said that it is no closer to being resolved now than it was 50 years ago.
Blake said he has a different belief about the situation.
“If the Israelis put down their weapons tomorrow, there’d be no more Israel,” he said. “If the Arabs put down their weapons, there’d be peace.”
Khouri mentioned other major American involvements as well. He said that the war in Iraq is a result of other problems.
“I think it’s an absolute catastrophe for the U.S.,” he said. “There are no easy answers. I think that the only answer is gradual but sustained withdrawal to show that we’re on our way out.”
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