 Conference
Summary
Shifting
Perceptions of the Middle East
After the War: A Clash of Cultures Under Occupation
October 18th, 2003
6pm – 8pm
The Great Hall
Cooper Union
7 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY USA
Set
in the Copper Union’s Great Hall, “After the
War: A Clash of Cultures Under Occupation” was ICD’s
second conference in the Shifting Perception of the Middle
East series. Focusing on the second Iraqi war, the panel
included Saman Zia-Zarifi who is the deputy
director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, Prof.
Mustafa Bayoumi, editor of The Edward Said
Reader, Ruth Fremson, a Pulitzer prize
winning photo journalist with the New York Times, and the Global Nomads Group who showed clips from
their documentary on Iraqi and American children.
The
conference began with a look at the photographs taken
by Ms. Fremson during her time in Iraq and was followed
by Prof. Bayoumi’s views on the political situation
in Iraq immediately after the war. Mr. Zia-Zarifi then
spoke to the human rights issues in Iraq, comparing his
experiences before the war and then under the occupation.
Finally, Global Nomads Group showed their film clips
and discussed some of the issues facing the youth in
Iraq and America with regards to the war and relations
after. Prof. Bayoumi was quite critical of the occupation,
comparing it closely to the colonialism of the 18th century.
Mr. Zia-Zarifi and Global Nomads Group were much more
optimistic with Zia-Zarifi pointing out the improvement
in human rights, schooling, and medical care within Iraq
under the American lead government. As the only speaker
to be in Iraq for extended periods of time with the soldiers,
Ms. Fremson was able to speak at length about the cultural
conflicts that arose daily for the American soldiers
in Iraq, including language barriers, safety concerns,
and common American luxuries not found in Iraq.
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Original
Invitation
Date:
Saturday, October 18
Location: Cooper Union
Time: 6-8 p.m.
In
this new edition of its "Shifting Perceptions of the Middle East" series,
icd will evaluate how culture plays a role - for better
or worse - in post-war US-Iraq relations. Among those
offering their distinct perspectives will be:
- SAMAN
ZIA-ZARIFI, Deputy Director of the Asia Division
of Human Rights Watch
- MOUSTAFA
BAYOUMI, Professor and Editor of The Edward
Said Reader
- RUTH
FREMSON, New York Times photographer, who will
host a slideshow presentation of her exclusive coverage
of the conflict.
The
cultural divide that separates the United States from the
people of the Middle East has grown increasingly complex
in the post 9-11 era. Efforts to bridge this gap have been
thwarted to a certain extent by the U.S.-led occupation
of Iraq. Despite its avowed goal of ferreting out Weapons
of Mass Destruction, and providing democracy, human rights
and prosperity to the Iraqi people, the occupation has been
perceived in deeply contrasting shades around the world.
And on the ground, clashing perceptions of the occupier's
intentions have led to an increasingly anarchic situation,
which could undermine regional stability, and undercut America's
war against terror.
The
institute for cultural diplomacy wishes to present a nuanced
analysis of the occupation through the lens of culture.
How does America's cultural attitude affect its attempt
to rebuild Iraq? What kind of culturally sensitive policies
has the U.S. carried out and to what effect? Can democracy
be foisted upon a culture that has known mostly tyranny
since colonial times? Can cultural understanding deflect
conflict or is America doomed to fail?
icd
is a cross-cultural center for dialogue, exchange and analysis.
This event will be co-sponsored by Cooper Union. |
Details
Date: Saturday, October 18, 6-8 p.m.
Place: Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue,
New York, NY
Language: English
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