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Al-Hewar Center Enters Millennium

with Discussions of Depth and Diversity

After celebrating its 6^th anniversary last November, Al-Hewar Center has entered the new millennium with an abundance of interesting weekly discussions on such diverse topics as the situation in the Occupied Territories, discrimination in the US workplace, Libya, Islam and Arabism, the countries of the Nile, the new Bush Administration, developments in US immigration laws, the Gulf War, and Individuality in the Arab Lifestyle, among others.

Since it opened in December 1994, Al-Hewar Center has provided a place for an open, respectful exchange of opinions and ideas. To date, the Center has hosted over 430 meetings and events, including panel discussions on a wide variety of topics, youth meetings, a book sale and exhibition, receptions, musical performances, poetry readings, and conversations with thinkers, activists, politicians, business leaders, and artists. From the beginning of 2001, the Center has hosted the following:

Mr. Rateb Y. Rabie, President of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, about “Israel’s Brutal Occupation and Its Agenda to Expel the Arab Christian Population”
Mrs. Wendy Ghannam about “Arab-American Discrimination in the US Government Workplace and Its Ramifications” (in English)
“The Threat of Ethnic and Religious Divisions in the Arab World”, with Introductory remarks by Mr. Sadek Sulaiman and Mr. Sobhi Ghandour
Panel Discussion about “Muslim America and the New Bush Team: Current Assessment, Future Plans”, featuring Mr. Nihad Awad (CAIR), Mr. Ali Ramadan (AMC), Mr. Khalid Turaani (AMJ), and Dr. Hassan Ibrahim (MPAC); Moderated by Mr. Abdulwahab Alkebsi
Immigration Workshop: Get Your Questions Answered, with immigration attorney, Mr. Ismail Laher (in English)
An Evening of Literature and Poetry about “The Homeland in Immigrant Literature” with Dr. Suheil Bushrui, Mrs. Nahida Fadli Dajani, and Mr. Mounzer Sleiman
Open Discussion About “Ten Years After the Liberation of Kuwait: Has the Gulf War Ended?”
Mr. Sadek Sulaiman about “Culture and the Role of Intellectuals”
Open Discussion about “New Developments Concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the New Government of Israel”
“Thoughts about Islam and about Arabism,” with Dr. Taha Jaber Al-Alwani
“Relations Among the Countries of the Nile,” with Dr. Rushdi Said and Dr. Ibrahim Elbadawi
“Libya Yesterday and Today,” with Dr. Mohammad bin Youssef
“The Policies of the New American Administration Toward the Arab World,” with Dr. Shafeeq Al-Ghabra and Dr. Abdul Monem Al-Mashat
“Al-Fardiyya (individuality) in the Arab Lifestyle and in Muslim History”, a conversation with Mr. Zaid Al-Wazir about his new book “Al-Fardiyya”
Open Discussion about “The Clinton Plan for the Palestinian-Israeli Peace Negotiations”, with remarks by Dr. Khalid Abdalla

Al-Hewar Center is an experiment on a small scale of what needs to be done on a large scale: to work for understanding and cooperation; to respect the right of others to think and believe as they wish; and to look for the commonalities among people of differing opinions. The Center’s main goal is to help the diverse members of the Arab community discover their commonalities and reach consensus on critical matters, so most of the discussions take place in Arabic. But the Center also hosts events in English from time to time in order to help achieve greater understanding between Arabs and the larger American society. For more information, including the Center’s calendar of upcoming events, interesting articles, links to Arabic radio and TV, and much more, visit our Website. To become a member or subscribe, look for the subscription coupon.