Foreign policy experts came to the Rotunda Dome Room last night as part of a national town hall-style forum series called "Hope Not Hate," which seeks to broaden cultural perspectives between Americans and Muslims in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The experts included U.S. Ambassador David Newsom, General William Nash, director of the Center for Preventive Action, and University Religious Studies Prof. Abdulaziz Sachedina.
Nash discussed his travels in the Army and encounters with the Muslim world. He also spoke about the delicate balance America must maintain as a global power.
"We have to promote our values while maintaining respect for the religious customs and culture of others," Nash said. "If we don't have respect for people of other cultures, we're going to have a hard time in the future."
Sachedina criticized the American media's portrayal of global conflicts, saying "we share more concern when an American dies than an Iraqi."
"There is an unwarranted use of the words 'terrorist' and 'terrorism,'" he added. "We are living in the age of communication. What we think about others is known by others."
Sachedina noted that the effects of American foreign policy are felt not only in Iraq, but throughout the world. "More attention is given to Israeli loss of life than Palestinian loss of life because our allies are more important," he said.
Newsom said the United States must be more aware of the Muslim world, especially after Sept. 11.
"To many people in this country Islam is strange," he said.
Newsom objected to American stereotypes about Muslims.
"Osama bin Laden and members of his network may wrap themselves in Muslim rhetoric, but their objectives are the overthrowing of Muslim governments," Newsom said.
The forum was organized by a coalition of non-partisan groups including the University chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy.
AID Executive Director Seth Green, a student at Yale University, formed the organization in the weeks after Sept. 11 in order to bridge what he saw as the widening divide between American and Muslim communities in the United States and abroad.
He suggested it was possible to close the cultural gap between the communities. He said forums like last night's are a good place to start.
"We are closer in our values and our aspirations than we often realize with the rest of the world," Green said.
University AID Chapter Co-president Kitty Ganier had similar hopes for the forum's effect on the University community.
"With the upcoming elections, hopefully it will shed light on how important the way the rest of the world views the U.S. really is," Ganier said.
Following the panel's remarks, guests and speakers engaged in a question-and-answer session.
AID chapter co-president Jasdeep Ghumman said she was pleased with the crowd at the forum.
AID will continue its series of intercultural discussions this weekend, when it hosts "Face to Face," a video-conference discussion between American and Kuwaiti students.
Read More
Two measles cases confirmed in Charlottesville this spring
By Nicolas Biernacki | 19 hours agoVirginia’s first case was confirmed in April, with the patient being a child under the age of 5 and from the Northern part of the state.
Summer construction on Grounds disrupts traffic, foot pathways
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayOne of the two largest disruptions to traffic is at the three-way intersection of McCormick Road, Rugby Road and University Avenue.
What is U.Va.’s Faculty Senate?
By Adeline Miller | 5 days agoThe Senate is able to represent the faculty perspective to legislative bodies through positions such as the faculty representative to the Board of Visitors.
