International Week offers hoard of eclectic events

Former Ambassador laments lacking media coverage of Middle East

American attention has been elsewhere — with a presidential election looming and a war in Iraq, little thought has been given to other worldly issues, said a former U.S. Ambassador Thursday evening in Wilson Hall auditorium.

Ambassador Edward S. Walker emphasized the importance of maintaining positive foreign relationships with Middle Eastern countries, he said.

Walker, a former U.S. ambassador to Egypt and Israel, currently is the president and CEO of the Middle East Institute.

According to Ambassador Walker, the United States recently has shifted its focus in the Middle East. He explained how Israeli/Palestinian conflict has been placed on the back burner. "It doesn’t make headlines as it used to," he added.

Ambassador Walker pointed out it will be an issue of concern for the future president. Ambassador Walker said our president must engage and use "rolling-up-the-sleeve action."

Freshman Stacy Fuller said, "We are world citizens — people need to understand how much this stuff matters … just because its not here doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter."

Ambassador Walker explained that U.S. strategies to fight terrorism must be executed in all regions where terrorism exists, not just in Iraq.

Thomas Lavenir, assistant director of CMISS, said, "It’s essential to know what is going on in the world — we are not in a JMU bubble, a Harrisonburg bubble or a United States bubble."

Junior Daniel Teweles, president of Hillel, said, "I think the Ambassador’s insight and experiences really showed through."