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May 24, 2002
Contact: Greg Siragusa
(805) 772-3883 or 756-5834
emtgreg@yahoo.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Speakers To Address History and Peace in Middle East
Two speakers will give different perspectives on current conflict in the
Middle East in a three-hour program titled "History and Its Impact on Peace
in the Middle East" on June 5 at Cal Poly.
As'ad AbuKhalil, associate professor of political science at CSU
Stanislaus and a research associate at UC Berkeley's Center for Middle
Eastern Studies, will speak first, beginning at 6 p.m. in Harman Hall
in the Christopher Cohan Center, and then take questions from the
audience.
Mark Paredes, press attaché at the Consulate General of Israel in Los
Angeles, will then speak and answer questions.
"The purpose of this program is to learn what has happened in the past
that has led to the current situation," said Greg Siragusa, student
director of Raise the Respect, a program of Cal Poly's Student
Community Services and Multicultural Center.
" 'Their' tragedy has become 'our' tragedy, too," said Cal Poly Dean
of
Liberal Arts Harry Hellenbrand, referring to the events of Sept. 11.
"We suffer no delusion that one conversation will solve the
controversies in the Middle East. But we also know that without
conversation there will be no end to the bloodshed and despair, there
and elsewhere. We need to understand the facts and passions."
AbuKhalil, born in Lebanon, is considered one of the world's foremost
authorities on Middle Eastern affairs. He will explain the views and
history of the Arab nations and Palestinian people. He has written
numerous articles, book chapters and encyclopedia entries as well as
three books, including "Bin Ladin and Taliban: The New American War
Against Terrorism," published this year. He has appeared on such talk
shows as CNN's "Crossfire," "Prime Time Live,"
"Politically Incorrect,"
"The Today Show" and "Hardball with Chris Matthews," as well
as on the
CBS Evening News and National Public Radio.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science at
the American University of Beirut and his doctorate in comparative
government in 1988 from Georgetown University. He has taught at
Georgetown, Harvard, George Washington University and several other
schools.
Paredes, an American citizen and former U.S. Foreign Service officer,
will explain the issues facing the Israeli people and the history
behind them as well as the concerns that guide the actions of the
Israeli government. Among his assignments in the Foreign Service, he
was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. In Israel he
also appeared on that country's leading talk show and was featured in
several Israeli publications. He speaks seven languages, has studied
law, and is now pursuing a career in entertainment in Los Angeles.
The event, a project of Raise the Respect, is co-sponsored by the
university's College of Liberal Arts and Newman Center. For more
information, call Siragusa at 756-5834.
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