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.: News & Events
- International Symposium - Washington, DC (April 18-20, 2002)
This International Symposium was organized and sponsored by The Ameen Rihani Institute (ARI) of Washington, DC and American University (AU) Center for Global Peace. ARI was established in Washington, DC in 1999 and is dedicated to strengthening the cultural, literary, and political links between the U.S. and the Arab World. ARI seeks to ensure that Rihani's efforts to improve Arab-American relations are sustained. Carrying out these activities involves wide-ranging collaboration between ARI, universities, research organizations, think tanks, policy institutions, and The Ameen Rihani Organization (ARO). AU's Center for Global Peace, founded in 1996, provides a framework for programs and initiatives that advance the study and understanding of world peace. The center fosters a sustainable world order and focuses on the human environment, the cultural environment, the economic and political environment, and the natural environment.
The symposium was held on AU's campus, in the Washington College of Law building, and addressed many of the themes to which Rihani dedicated his life.
The generous support of His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia made this symposium possible.
Symposium Program:
Friday, April 19, 2002
Registration - 9:30 am
Opening Session - 10:00 am
Dr. Abdul Aziz Said, Director, AU Center for Global Peace
HE Farid Abboud, Ambassador of Lebanon
Adonis, Arab Poet
Mr. James Zogby, President, Arab-American Institute
HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia,
Honorary Chair, International Advisory Board, Ameen Rihani Institute
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H.R.H. Prince Turki Bin Talal addressing the adudience
His Excellency, Ambassador Abboud and Dr. Abdul Aziz Said (sitting)
Standing Ovation for Prince Turki
1st Panel - 11:15 am: A Bridge Between the Arab World and the US: Rihani’s Role in Strengthening Arab-American Relations
Moderator: HE David Mack, Middle East Institute
Panelist:
HE Clovis Maksoud - American University, Washington, D.C.
Values and Policies of Arab-American Relations: Rihani’s Perspective
Audio-Visual Presentation: Ameen Rihani - Images and Quotations
2nd Panel - 2:00 pm: The Importance of Belonging and Universalism
Moderator: Dr. Hisham Sharabi, Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine
Panelists:
Dr. Halim Barakat - Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Ameen Rihani: Daring to Dream
Dr. Alice Birney - Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Rihani’s English Manuscripts and Universalism
Dr. Naji Oueijan - Notre Dame University, Lebanon
The Formation of a Universal Self: Rihani and Byron
Dr. Nuwar Diab - Lebanese American University, Lebanon
Ameen Rihani's Vision of Globalization: A Matrimony, Not Hegemony
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From left to right: Mr. Ossama Abi-Mershed representing Dr. Nuwar Diab, Dr. Alice Birney, Dr. Hisham Sharabi, Dr. Naji Oueijan, and Dr. Halim Barakat |
3rd Panel - 3:30 pm: The Pattern that Connects Rihani, Carlyle, Emerson, Thoreau, Tolstoy, and Monahan
Moderator: Dr. John D. Anthony, National Council on US-Arab Relations
Panelists:
Dr. Geoffrey Nash - University of Sunderland, England
Rihani and Carlyle
Dr. Walter Dunnavent - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Rihani, Emerson, and Thoreau
Dr. Mikhail Rodionov - Russian Academy for Scientific Research, Russia
Rihani and Tolstoy
Dr. Miles Bradbury - University of Maryland, Maryland
Rihani and Monahan
 Dr. John Duke Anthony, Moderator
 Dr. Mikhail Rodionov
Saturday, April 20, 2002
Registration - 9:30 am
New Initiatives - 10:00 am
Ameen Rihani Scholarship - Mr. Sarmad Rihani
Ameen Rihani Statue - Dr. Suheil Bushrui
Ameen Rihani International Awards - Mr. Jean AbiNader
4th Panel - 10:45 am: The Path of Reconciliation: The Expression of Tolerance in Rihani’s Thought
Moderator: Ms. Helen Samhan, Arab-American Institute Foundation
Panelists:
Dr. Christopher Vasillopulos - Eastern Connecticut State University, Connecticut
The Limits of Reconciliation
Dr. Suheil Bushrui - Universtiy of Maryland, Maryland
The Concept of Unity of Religion in Rihani’s Thought
Dr. Ameen A. Rihani - Notre Dame University, Lebanon
Reconciliation: The Case of Rihani and H.G.Wells
Dr. Nathan Funk - American University, Washington, D.C.
More than Tolerance: Rihani on Intercultural Reconciliation

From left to right: Dr. Nathan Funk, Dr. Ameen A. Rihani, Dr. Christopher Vasillopulos, and Dr. Suheil Bushrui
5th Panel - 1:30 pm:Understanding Peace within Oneself, with Others, and Among Nations
Moderator: Mr. Jean Abi-Nader, Arab-American Institute
Panelists:
Dr. Abdul Aziz Said - American University, Washington, D.C.
Understanding Peace through Spirituality
Dr. Terri DeYoung - University of Washington, Washington
The Search for Peace and East-West Reconciliation in Rihani’s Prose Poetry
Dr. Henry Melki - Notre Dame University, Lebanon
Rihani’s Understanding of Peace with Others and Among Nations
6th Panel - 3:00 pm: Arab Identity in Arab-American Thought
Moderator: Ms. Kathryn Abdel Baki, Author
Panelists:
Dr. Edmund Ghareeb - American University, Washington, D.C.
The Role of Rihani and the Arab-American Media
Dr. Nijmeh Hajjar - The Australian National University, Australia
Ameen Rihani: A Humanist Vision of Arab Nationalism
Mr. Hisham Milhem - Correspondent, Washington, D.C.
Rihani’s Contributions to Arab-American Relations

Prince Turki with the media
Read the speech of HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, presented by his son HRH Prince Turki Bin Talal:
Ameen Rihani: A Meeting Point Between Two Cultures
Read the opening remarks
by Dr. Abdul Aziz Said, Symposium Chair, and Adonis'
presentation.
Select a Panelist's Paper to read:
- Ameen Rihani: Daring To Dream by Dr. Halim Barakat
- Ameen F. Rihani: The English Manuscripts and Universalism by Dr. Alice Birney
- The Search for Peace and East-West Reconciliation in Rihani's Prose Poetry by Dr. Terri DeYoung
- Ameen Rihani's Vision of Globalization: A Matrimony, Not Hegemony by Dr. Nuwar Diab
- Rihani, Emerson, and Thoreau by Dr. Walter Dunnavent
- More Than Tolerance: Rihani on Intercultural Reconciliation by Dr. Nathan Funk
- Ameen Rihani’s Humanist Vision of Arab Nationalism by Dr. Nijmeh Hajjar
- Ameen F. Rihani's Peace by Dr. Henry Melki
- Rihani and Carlyle by Dr. Geoffrey P. Nash
- The Formation of a Universal Self: Rihani and Byron by Dr. Naji Oueijan
- Ameen Rihani and H. G. Wells by Dr. Ameen A. Rihani
- Leo Tolstoy and Ameen Rihani: The Interaction Between Two Creative Worlds by Dr. Mikhail Rodionov
- Understanding Peace through Rihani’s Spirituality by Dr. Abdul Aziz Said
- The Limits of Reconciliation: Rihani’s View of State-Zionism by Dr. Christopher Vasillopulos
Selected Media Coverage:
Washington Post article of April 22, 2002
Washington File (US Dept. of State) article of April 25, 2002
An-Nahar article (Arabic) of April 24, 2002
An-Nahar article (Arabic) of April 25, 2002
L'Orient Le Jour article (French) of May 1, 2002
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