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Jordan's Prince Hassan: 'True democracy' the aim of education Commencement speech stresses role of civil society University president Father Rizk discourages USEK graduates from emigrating, saying Lebanon deserves all their energy
By
Maya Abou Nasr,
Daily Star staff
KASLIK: In a dazzling celebration, nearly 580 Lebanese and Arab students gathered on Saturday for the 40th annual commencement exercises at Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik (USEK) to celebrate their graduation. The VIP list of guests on hand for the ceremony included Lebanese officials and parliamentarians, along with Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, who was accompanied by his son, Prince Rashed. "Dear graduates, Lebanon is the first place where your energies should be exploited," said the President of USEK, Father Karam Rizk. "Your country is suffering from rising aggravations each day, such as unemployment, accumulated debts, corruption ... However, emigration is not the solution," he added. "Emigration will lead to deadlock, it will impoverish the country and surrender us to the unknown." Rizk also praised the major role played by the Prince in tying USEK into the Union of Arab universities in the 1990s. "The prince has an internationally recognized ... position regarding openness and dialogue between civilizations," Rizk said, adding that "Lebanon is committed to its unique role that arises from Islamic and Christian coexistence." In a speech to graduates, Prince Hassan thanked USEK for bringing his son Rashed to "a true Arabian country" where "love and an appreciation for its people who live on the basis of mutual respect and cooperation" among its various religions prevails. "Lebanon has overcome, during the last three decades, the cruelest disasters and crises. It was exposed to conflict, internal and external war, destruction and the paralysis of its development, one of its highest characteristics. However, due to its solid national will and its strong faith, it has overcome hard times." The prince added that graduates are the future pioneers of the nation and region's future, which has become, through America's lens, "the Great Middle East." "We found ourselves in the middle of a new kind of war that others hold us responsible for - what others call 'the war against terrorism' ... We have become the problem of the world at the security, civilization and humanitarian levels." "The victim," the prince added, "has turned into an executor because of the unfair propaganda! The issue is no more about occupied territories, a vain justice, a breached international law, but an 'illusive conflict of civilizations,' aimed at disregarding the real causes behind it." Prince Hassan argued that education was one of the primary weapons the region should take hold of in attempting to turn the tide of history. "Educational curricula should be reconsidered," he said, "not just to meet current needs, but because the right education is the basis of progress ... true democracy, and freedom from evil, sectarianism and fanaticism." Good governance, a topic high on the agenda of many regional non-governmental organizations, also figured prominently in the prince's remarks, as he said: "it is where the recognition of the citizens' sovereignty ... economic growth, institutional structures, social development and common culture prevail." He also noted out that he was invited by the foreign affairs committee of the US Congress to present an Arabian concept of reform in the region. "I stressed the importance of civil society," he said. "I also stressed the concept of participation instead of the patriarchal governance," messages which, the prince said, were well received. While the prince's remarks were well-received by graduates, mixed emotions seemed to prevail among many, given the country's current difficulties. Carole Jalkh expressed her concern that she may not be able to find a job in the near future. "It was a special ceremony," she said. "However, I don't know where my path will lead me. I'm afraid I can't find a job." For George Mouawad, the ceremony marked a triumph as well as a new challenge. "I am happy because this ceremony is the fruit of several years of hard work ... However, I hope hard work will start to bear fruit. With young people begging at the embassies' doors, no one knows what their fate will be." On Saturday, Prince Hassan had visited Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir in his Diman residence in which he announced the creation of a cultural parliament that would be located in Turkey and which will work on the foundation of a center for human studies in the Middle East. The visit, which was the second of its kind since President Charles Helou's mandate, falls within the framework of "spiritual communication to establish mutual respect and peace to all citizens in this tortured part of the world," according to Prince Hassan. "Some say that there is a conflict between religions and civilizations, but I believe that we can rebut this hypothesis and live together, both Christians and Muslims, in understanding, solidarity and peace." Prince Hassan regretted the increasing emigration of Christians from the Arab East. Sfeir praised Prince Hassan's efforts in the ecumenic field and for Christian-Muslim rapprochement.
Copyright © Maya Abou Nasr and the Daily Star
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