President's Peace Commission : 2002 Spring

Lynnelle Burkett, editor of the editorial page of the San Antonio Express News, welcomes everyone and introduces Brother Cletus Behlman, the 2001 recipient of the Art of Peace Award. Brother Cletus discusses the honors of receiving the award, introduces John Branch, and reads and presents Mr. Branch's plaque. Mr. Branch expresses his gratitude. Following the remarks, several examples of Branch's artwork are displayed. (14 minutes)

Dr. Charles Cotrell, President of St. Mary's University, serves as moderator and introduces Margaret Luevano, Director of the International Student Services, St. Mary's University and the President's Peace Commission, and Dr. Leona Pallansch, professor in the Political Science department at St. Mary's University. Ms. Luevano defines which countries are included in the Middle East and looks at the people, languages, and religions of the region. She also dispels common misconceptions of the Middle East. She tries to explain the complexity of the issues of the region. Dr. Pallansch discusses the political, historical, and archaeological aspects of the Middle East. She also provides a slide show of images of the terrain, peoples, and buildings of the Middle East. A brief question and answer session follows. (70 minutes)

Rev. J. Willis Langlinais, a professor of Theology at St. Mary's University, serves as the moderator for this panel discussion on Islam. He introduces Narjis Pierre, Co-Founder of the San Antonio Muslim Women's Association, who speaks from and about the Koran; she explains the basic tenets of Islam. Rev. Langlinais then introduces Nadir Faris, Imam at Fort Sam Houston Mosque and a St. Mary's Univerity alumnus, who further speaks on the religion of Islam. A brief question and answer period follows. (68 minutes)

Yolanda Constancio, of the President's Peace Commission, serves as moderator and introduces Marian Haddad, a writer and poet, and Salwa Elaydi, an artist. Ms. Haddad reads from an essay she had published to explain what it was like to grow up in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of Syrian immigrants. Ms. Elaydi explains how she was born in Java, Palestine, but moved every five years or so throughout the Middle East; then she displays some of her art on from a slide projector and she explains the meaning behind each piece. A question and answer period follows. (69 minutes)

Patrick Simeroth, President's Peace Commisssion, serves as moderator and introduces Dr. Mary Ann T'etreault, professor of Political Science at Trinity University, and Siham Naseef, of the Islamic Education Bureau in Austin. The speakers try to answer the following three questions: (1) What is the place of women in Islam? (2) Can we speak of Muslim feminism? (3) What are the main challenges for Islamic women in the present century? A brief question and answer session follows. (45 minutes)

Dr. Leona Pallansch, professor in the Political Science department at St. Mary's University, serves as moderator and the first panelist. She provides a basic history of the region. The second speaker is Dr. Mary Lynne Gasaway Hill, professor in the English and Communication Studies departments at St. Mary's University, who contends that the failure of the United States to understand the current situation as a situation of apartheid is one of the roadblocks to peace in the region. Sister Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, PhD, professor of Religious Studies at the University of the Incarnate Word, presents a slide show of her recent travels to the area. (49 minutes)

The moderator for this discussion is Sophie Henrichs, a senior at St. Mary's University and member of the President's Peace Commission. She introduces Mr. Ronald J. Young, founder and director of the U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East. Mr. Young examines how the West looks (and has looked) at the Middle East. A brief question and answer session follows. (43 minutes)

John Salazar, Diplomat-in-Resience at St. Mary's University, serves as the host and introduces Captain Robert Summers, J.D. professor at the St. Mary's University's School of Law, who speaks about how the rule of international law governs our lives every day and governed how the United States responded to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Robert Kunczt, J.D., attorney and professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, gives a PowerPoint presentation discussing various post-9/11 initiatives, such as creating an Islamic coalition, creating the Homeland Defense office, and bringing the perpetrators to justice, including how to handle the detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay. The final speaker is Lt. Col. Wayne Christian, former Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (IMA), currently stationed at the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Col. Christian discusses the War on Terrorism; what changes it will bring and who "they" -- the enemy -- are. A question and answer session concludes this panel discussion. (61 minutes)

Dr. Larry Hufford, professor in the Political Science and International Relations departments at St. Mary's University, serves as moderator and initial speaker for this panel. Dr. Hufford explains the difficulties in trying to define terrorism and reminds that the Middle East is not the only location where terrorists reside -- the United States also has "home-grown" terrorists like Timothy McVeigh and Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. He asks that the stereotypes be put aside. Dr. Jalal K. Nejad, professor in the Political Science and International Relations departments at St. Mary's University is the second University is the second speaker. He explains that it is futile to attempt to defeat extremist movements without understanding the underlying problem(s) which lead to the development of the organization. If you only eradicate the organization without dealing with the problems, several more extremist groups will spawn as a result of the elimination of the original group. A question and answer session concludes this panel discussion. (60 minutes)

St. Mary's University student Ben Domingue of the President's Peace Commission hosts this discussion panel. Professor James Ball, of St. Mary's University's Theology Department, argues that the nature of war is counterproductive in regards to the terrorists and that as Christians we are instructed to love our enemies. Mr. Ali Moshirsadri, Director of the Islamic Foundation of San Antonio, discusses the Islamic perspective of war; he explains that the word "jihad" means to struggle, not to kill or make war. He also states that the Koran does indicate cases in which it is acceptable to make war, but the fighting should be as short as possible. Rabbi Areyah Scheinberg, of the Congregation Rodfei Sholom, is the final speaker. Rabbi Scheinberg explains that fighting is acceptable as a method of self-defense. He asserts that the Jewish faith is about saving lives. A question and answer session concludes this panel discussion. (67 minutes)

Javier Cervantes, of the President's Peace Commission, serves as moderator for this panel discussion. He introduces Barbie Gorelick, the Education Director for the Congregation Beth Am and the Founder and Director of the Tri-Faith Dialogue; Rev. Laura R. Holck, of St. Mark Luthern Church in Adkins, Texas; and Daniel Wright, member of the Interfaith Dialogue at University of Texas at San Antonio. The first question put to the panel is "What are the historical roots of your faith's tradition in the Middle East?" The second question is "How has your religious tradition been impacted by and responded to the events of September 11th?" The final two questions are "What are some core values of your faith tradition that might appeal to students?" and "What are some concrete steps students can take to understand other faiths?" A question and answer period concludes the session. (60 minutes)

President of St. Mary's University Charles Cotrell welcomes and introduces Dr. Jehan Sadat, former First Lady of Egypt (1970-1981). Dr. Sadat discusses the challenges her late husband faced as he tried to bring peace to Egypt and to the Middle East. She also shares her hopes and dreams of a peaceful Middle East. A question and answer period concludes the session with Dr. Leona Pallansch and Dr. Larry Hufford reading the questions formulated by students earlier in the day. (67 minutes)