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Show International Corner by Myriam Hernandez Media representations form the basis for most Western concepts of the Middle East. The West has long held stereotypes about Muslims and Arabs who are seen as interchangeable and not as distinct entities. Foreign policy issues are greatly influenced by journalistic views because the American media is the most powerful and free media in the world. The recent interest in the Middle East and Islam is due to the political military and economic importance of the region. The Cold War, the Arab-Israe- li conflict, the anxiety about oil supply, and the Iranian revolution and war with Iraq have opened the medias appetite for news. Until World War I, most of the Arab world had been part of the Ottoman Empire, which had controlled the region since the sixteenth century. The war accelerated nationalist movements throughout the region. The British, who wanted to protect their imperial interests and the Suez Canal from the Ottomans, allied with the Central Powers in WW I, were generally willing to assist the Arab ' national istsn The British made-three secret agreements. -- of the Holy City in Mecca. It was agreed that the Arabs would revolt against the Ottomans in return for an independent Arab nation after the war. Iraq and Lebanon were excluded from the agreement due to the interests of the British and the French. The British and the French decided to divide the Middle East, France getting control of Lebanon and Syria and Great Britain obtaining control over Iraq and Palestine, with some influence over Saudi Arabia. The third treaty was the Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which the British favored an establishment of a national home in Palestine for the J ewish people. The Jewish or Zionists accepted the declaration with victory. The Arab leaders condemmed it and opposed the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, where the population was almost 90 percent Arab. Many Westerners failed to recognize that by supporting Jewish nationhood, another group, the Palestinian Arabs, would lose their homeland. The Zionists or Jewish, supported by Western nations, began the Jewish immigration and colonization. The Palestinians opposed both Zionist and British activities. The 1948 Arab-Israe- li war was referred to as the War of Liberation. The mass exodus of Palestinian Arabs from their territory is scarcely mentioned in any literature or media accounts. After 1945 both Palestinian Arabs and Zionists pressured the British to divide the land. The British, who started the conflict, could not handle the problem so they turned it over to the United Nations. The United Nations gave 50 percent of the most fertile coastal area to the d of the population. Zionists, who were On May 14, 1948 the creation of Israel was announced. The Palestinian Arabs and surrounding Arabs refused to recognize the state. one-thir- The Arab-Israe- li war started. The British, representing the Israelis, won the 1948 war and expanded their territory more than the U.N. had first pronounced. The 1948 war left almost a million Palestinians homeless. By 1979 there were over a mil-- ; lion and a half Palestinian refugees who wanted to return to their homeland. The first agreement was made during 1915-1- 6 Because of poverty and discontent of the between Henry McMahon, British Commis-sione- r in Egypt, and Sheriff Husayn, the leader refugee camps, the guerrillas of the Palesti- - V nian Liberation Organization arose in 1967. The Arab Nationalism, like all Third World National movements, had its roots in the genuine desire of the masses for independence from imperial domination. The close ties of Israel with the West and the interests of the United States and the Soviet Union have often retained Arabs from their independence. In addition, the location of the vast petroleum reserves of the Arab world have put the region in the forefront of competition between the The media and popular novels do not mention this conflict. geo-politic- al super-power- s. Egyptian President Nasser moved his country toward a more neutral position within the global struggle. His growing importance in the Arab world, and among Third World leaders, was viewed as a threat by both the United States and Israel. Israel has treated the Arabs exactly the same way Hitler treated the Jews in Germany. But even today the Western public sees Israel as little and heroic while the Arab nations are seen as backward, ignorant and blood thirsty. The American media sees the P.L.O. terrorist group as it does because it does not understand the groups aims and purposes. They are asking for the right of living on a land that belongs to them so they dont have to be refugees anymore, said an Arab student attend- ing Westminster. Mazen Shahatit, from Jordan, adds, The American government gives Israel about 4.5 billion dollars a year to support their military action against the P.L.O. and against the refugee camps in Lebanon. Many think of P.L.O. as terrorists, I think the American government is doing some terrorist acts by supporting Israel to increase military action against the refugee camps in Lebanon. The Middle East is one of the most sensitive areas in the world today. It is ready to explode. The United States, like other responsible nations, is trying to act as a damper for such an explosion. t There is much that can be done to influence all sides in the conflict: but we must be able to see the situation clearly before it can be dealt with effectively. , Seniors raise funds for class gift by Erick Scheen The Senior Advisory Committee has prepared a variety of fundraisers this year, including Dining Plus books, which are rently on sale. Everyone knows how college students are always looking to save some money, said SAC member Noelle Frank, and Dining Plus books are a great help. Frank said that the books are 16 dollars, and they are available at either the information booth in Shaw Center or at Campus Life. She also indicated that the coupons in the Dining Plus book range from as simple and functional as Burger King or a movie discount to more elaborate dining, such as the Thirteenth Floor or the Nikko. One night at the Thirteenth Floor practi- cally pays for the book itself, said Frank. Another fundraiser that will occur late in the year is portrait taking. Frank said that the cost will probably be somewhere around ten dollars, and that they will be doing them around graduation time. It will be a good opportunity for graduates to get cap and gown pictures, said Frank, but just about any kind of portrait will be done. Frank indicated that all the money raised in the fund raisers will go toward the senior gift. Some of the possibilities for the gift are a new entrance sign for the college, or a Professor of the Year plaque for Shaw Center. She said that the SAC have no goals set as far as funds go, but that she hopes the seniors and the rest of the student body will support the graduating class as much as possible. Wed really like to see at least one great big event, one really big fund raiser, said Frank. Second year for seminars " ..by Kristie - Sowards The Womens Brown Bag Seminar Series is G. "in its second year. According to Julia Kleinschmidt, who developed the series, this is continuing to experience the , years program , success of the previous year. She said, Its pretty obvious that weve hit upon something that people need and are responding to. The seminars are generally held the first Thursday of the month at the Reherd Dining Room. Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch because they are held at noon. The purpose of the seminars is to provide a forum for learning, socializing, support and fun, said Leinschmidt. She remarks of students, faculty and staff: We all get so busy that too often we dont sit down and learn from each other. The seminars, she believes, have the potential to draw the various aspects of the campus together. Attendance at the seminars vary from 20 to 50 people. Generally, however, only four or five of those in attendance are Westminster students. Kleinschmidt would encourage more students to attend. The seminars are definitely for the students, she said. According to Kleinschmidt, the seminars offer students three main things: A chance to network and meet informally with faculty and staff, a chance to look at issues in society, and an opportunity to be heard and to voice an opinion. Although the Brown Bag Seminars tend to focus on womens interests and issues, men are welcome to attend. The speakers at the seminars are all volunteers, and the topics for this year were selected by those individuals who attended the 1986-8- 7 seminar series. According to Kleinschmidt, the first 30 minutes of the seminars consist of a presentation and the remaining time is used for discussion. Brown Bag Series Schedule November 5 View the University of Indianas film Speaking of Nairobi, a documentary on the International Conference for Women, Forum 85. Meet for disucssion of the above with Utah women who attended the Nairobi Conference, Esther Land and Jolie Howard. November 12 December 3 January February Holiday Pot-luc- k No meeting Book Discussion: After the Second Sex, Conversations With Simone de Beauvoir by A. Schwartzer, Discussion Facilitator: Dr. Mike Popich, Westminister Professor of Philosophy. Conflict Behaviors and Approaches to Managing Them," Dr. Chuck Tripp, Westminster Professor of Political Science and Psychology. Offering Strokes to Colleagues, Susan Heath, Director of Counseling and Career Services, Westminster College. LuncheonPlanning Session for 1988-8- 9 Brown Bag Seminars, Nunemaker Place. 4 March 3 April 7 May 5 Nov. 3; 1987 at Nunemaker Place Issue 5 numecommg was a great success. Pictured above is Homcoming Court 1987. From left to right: Marshon Smith and Paul Moret, 1st attendants; Darcelle Padilla and Lance Sharp, Queen and King; Karla Kelly and Kai Uno, 2nd attendants. - ' Forum 5 ' ' |