NOTE: The following remarks were offered at the opening session of the Model Arab League, April 11, 2003.

When I addressed this group last year, I noted that you could not be engaging in this exercise at a more critical time. Sadly, those words are even truer today. Last year, I referred to the September 11 attacks and the escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. While the need for a peace process that leads to an independent Palestinian state remains critical and urgent, the war in Iraq and its consequences is, naturally, uppermost in the headlines and in our thoughts today. Perhaps your fresh minds can approach these terribly troubling times in new ways, offering insights and perspectives that are not well reflected in our copious media accounts -- or in Washington.

Your agenda is far-ranging and positive. I am pleased that you are moving beyond the war, addressing such issues as developing a joint response team to combat terrorist situations in Arab League states; strengthening and standardizing education in the Arab world; establishing controls on unsustainable consumption of natural resources; and finding

alternatives to violence in the Palestinian resistance movement. I am also delighted that you will hear from an informed and exciting young faculty member at San Francisco State, Dr. Maziar Behrooz, an historian whose scholarly expertise lies in the Islamic world. In less than a year on campus, Dr. Behrooz is already contributing greatly to our plan to develop scholarly strength in this area and has become a frequent speaker on campus.

In a retreat for San Francisco State student leaders that we held last fall, I spoke openly of my opposition to the war. However, I am not here today to expound on my own political views, but rather, to remind us all of the values and goals that can help communities like this university, and like the Model Arab League -- forge something positive from disturbing and dangerous times. At this University’s first all-campus gathering after the war in Iraq began, I reminded the campus community of the many things on which we could agree:

• We could agree that war is a tragedy.
• We could grieve for the loss of life -- civilian and military, Iraqi and coalition forces.
• We could share the conviction that Saddam Hussein is the cause of great suffering among his people.
• We could recognize the courage and sincerity of our troops -- so many of them so very young -- who are fighting because leaders have not been able to find a better way.
• We could also agree that this University community will -- even in the heat of great emotion -- remain a safe and free place for all points of view and all people among us.

Last spring, this campus was struggling with that final point. Yes, the campus was safe, but pro-Israel – pro-Palestine tensions had led to bitter and regrettable confrontations and exchanges of words. The University responded in a great variety of ways, ranging from revision of policies for student demonstrations to establishing a Presidential Task Force on Inter-Group Relations on campus. One of the many good things that have emerged from our process has been new and, we dearly hope, strengthened ties with members of the Bay Area Arab community.

Another good thing has been the University’s much more positive responses this spring, even as war was added to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a focal point for campus rallies and activism. We have had -- and will continue to have -- our rallies and marches, our banners and strong speech, but we are, for the most part, avoiding attacks on those who disagree with us and are maintaining a climate that truly allows for the expression of opposing ideas.

All of us are living through a critical, perhaps pivotal, moment in history, and we must remain awake for it. “Awake” means more than demonstrations or marches; it means seeking ways to affect the political process more directly -- perhaps by rallying behind political candidates who share our views, or working in our communities to build understanding and support for the views we espouse -- or, as you are doing here, deepening

your understanding of the needs, issues, and possible future of a part of the world about which Americans understand far too little.

Those of us who hope to mediate political differences and effect positive change, need to recognize the humanity of those we might be tempted to describe as “enemies” -- the humanity of all members of the world community -- and their status as individuals, not embodiments of evil.

That is the spirit in which I hope you -- and your real-world counterparts -- can find a way to proceed. I hope that between now and Sunday afternoon you will live out your roles in a way that makes this Model Arab League gathering a sustaining and healing place, a microcosm of what we would like the world to be. May you have a rewarding and productive experience in your time here.

Thank you.