Qatar Philharmonic at Kennedy Center

The new Qatar Philharmonic will perform at the Washington, D.C., Kennedy Center on February 24, 2009. They will perform in Arabesque, a 3-week series involving ensembles and performers from 22 Arab nations. The Qatar Philharmonic will perform Marcel Khalife's "Arabian Concerto" and Beethoven's 5th Symphony; the juxtaposition of these two pieces may be a subtle, or not so-subtle, statement of the importance of Arab world music and Khalife's prominence as a contemporary Arab musician.

The Qatar Foundation and Education City community are planning a send-off concert in conjunction with the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, a conference held in Doha just before the departure of the Philharmonic for its U.S. debut. The performance will be a statement of the importance of cultural diplomacy, an idea advocated by former Ambassador and current faculty member at Georgetown University, Dr. Cynthia Schneider.

The importance of Arabesque and the Qatar Philharmonic's role in fostering western and Arab world cultural interaction should not be underestimated. Both are akin to the 2008 North Korean tour of the New York Philharmonic where the boundaries and bonds of political isolation were bridged through sharing music of western and eastern culture. Who knows where the Qatar Philharmonic will go... Buy your tickets and make your plans.

Contemporary and Islamic art

When I was in the Swedish Architecture Museum, I browsed a book, I.M. Pei, his complete works. I've been aware of I.M. Pei for many years, including the first time I was aware of his style when the Center for Atmospheric Research was built in Boulder, Colorado, when I was a child. Later I was captivated by the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art when it opened while Diane and I lived in Maryland. To my great delight, the "complete works" includes Pei's latest and last contribution to the world of architecture, the Islamic Art Museum in Doha.

The description of the Islamic Art Museum is wonderful, including Pei's statement that the Islamic Art Museum is his most ambitious and complete work. Pei's selection as the architect resulted after a failed competition that did not yield a design satisfactory to Qatari visionaries. They went after Pei who demanded that the museum be built away from the Corniche on an island of its own so that other buildings on the Coniche would never be able to obscure its beauty. Pei painstakingly studied many Arab world and Islamic buildings for his inspiration. He also studied the intricate designs prevalent in textile, rugs, and tiles (one displayed in the new museum is to the left). The result of Pei's careful study and genius is a building where literally every centimeter is a reflection of the art and culture that defines the Persian, Arab, and Islamic cultures. And, in the most amazing artistic colision, Pei's life-long commitment to sharp, clean, expressive contemporary lines meshes with Islamic art in electrifying ways.

One of the most spell-binding colisions is in the center of the Museum where, when you look up, you see ascending and closing octagons (to right) with natural light at the top. In this picture, you also see the underneath of the huge arcing chandelier, covered with a beautiful surface of Arabic geometric patterns. The chandelier then becomes the connector between the height and floor of the Museum when you look down from one of the hanging staircases; there you see the amazing combination of geometric forms in the floor, punctuated by the sweep of the chandelier. In the picture below, you see the chandelier as it was intended to reflect the lamps that so often light the interiors of Mosques throughout the world of Islam.

Cultural encounters in Sweden

One of the great bargains of Stockholm is the Stockholm card, a purchase that allows free or reduced-cost access to all museums. I got one and then set out to make sure I got my money's worth for three days - and I did. One of the museums I visited was the Swedish National Museum, a collection of art and furnishings representative of Sweden's history. As I was browsing through the 17th-18th century gallery, I noticed several fabrics and carpets to the side of the room. I went over to look at them and immediately recognized them as Persian in origin. To my delight, the text by the samples noted that these fabrics began to pour into Europe as easier travel and active trade routes developed. It also noted that the intricate geometric and floral designs became so widely incorporated into elegant fabrics throughout Europe that they became uniquely reflective of European high culture, although they were actually inspired by the Persian world. A little bit of Arab pride swelled up inside me.

The last museum of my Stockholm visit was the Medelhausmuseet, a collection of artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean world. The exhibit was closed for renovation but I picked up a magazine by the same name from the gift shop. I assumed that the magazine would describe the museum although it actually described the European Union's focus on the Mediterranean and near Middle Eastern world. The 1995 Barcelona Declaration established a path to build understanding among the citizens of the EU and the broader Mediterranean as well as protect the treasured artifacts that have been discovered in (and many times taken from) the Arab world. One of the projects sponsored by the Barcelona Declaration is the creation of a virtual museum that will bring together the resources about the Mediterranean to display them with recognition of their context, "thus maximizing mutual enrichment between the place of origin and the place of exhibition of the artifacts." (Medelhausmuseet, 3.2005, p. 26) Besides the opportunity to see objects that are now spread throughout the world, the virtual collection is intended to reflect the different understandings and interpretations in the Muslim versus non-Muslim world of the same historical events and "enriching the visitors' experience and encouraging them to visit the countries where the objects came from."

It's so very odd that for decades westerners have traveled to Europe as a statement of cultural awareness and privilege. The "Grand Tour" was a sort of "coming of age" experience for the children of the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Mellons, Fricks and other wealthy Americans of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Only now have I begun to realize how much the Mediterranean and Middle East were exploited when their historical objects were taken to fill the galleries and museums of Europe. Some of the "acquisitions" of Europe were the spoils of war (i.e. Napolean). Regardless of how the objects got there, what would the Louvre, Pergamon, and even Topkapi museums be like without the many objects that were taken from the Mediterranean and Middle East? And just incidentally, the economic impact of museum collections isn't small; the Mediterranean region is the largest tourist draw in the world, a force for economic vitality taken away from those who were the descendants of the history we see in the galleries of Europe.

I was delighted to see the EU's initiative to help right the wrongs of artistic theft and incorporation. I was even more delighted to see reference to the fact that much of tourism "focuses on monumental forms of heritage, which more often than not commemorate war, conflict, conquest, and colonization - and say little about the people and how they got on with their day-to-day lives." Medelhausmuseet (3.2005, p. 32) refers to this as the valorization of war and conquest. No wonder that the people of the Mediterranean and Middle East are seen as always in conflict if that's all we see in our museums. The Mediterranean Voices initiative, a complement to the virtual museum, will bring to life the oral histories and natural cultural practices throughout this region, balancing the history of war and conflict with the nobility of everyday life.

The Medelhausmuseet is an important initiative, although a small voice in the broader museum industry. In addition, there are serious initiatives to bring the history of the Middle East, Arab, and Islamic world back to its origins. The new Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is one of the most serious examples. I returned to Doha ready to dig into understanding the art and artifacts that we now have at our doorstep.

Home of the Nobel Prizes and more

Because the academic semester concluded last week, allowing many of my colleagues to leave Qatar over the weekend, I was facing a pretty lonely time in Qatar during the Eid Al Adha break. I decided to use up some frequent flier miles to go someplace that might feel like the holidays. I landed on Stockholm, Sweden, as my destination - a great decision for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the beautiful Christmas Market to the right in Gamla Stan (the old city area of Stockholm).

Stockholm is an old city, serving throughout its history as the capital of Sweden and claiming rights as the unofficial capital of Scandinavia. Sweden became very prosperous during Europe's days of domination in shipping. It was one of the countries that prospered most; as a result, Sweden built many imposing buildings throughout the 16th and up and through the 19th century. The entire city of Stockholm is plotted on islands among waterways and canals. Like other cities of Europe where access by water was very important to their development (i.e. Amsterdam and Dresden), it claims to be the Venice of the north. I don't know which city has the most justified claim but water certainly plays prominently in Stockholm's history.

One of the most fascinating reminders of Sweden's history as a maritime power is a ship that sank on its maiden voyage from Stockholm in 1628. Because the ship sank twenty minutes after setting sail, and sunk in waters that protected it over the centuries, archaeologist were able to raise and restore it at the Vasa Museum. The ship that you see here is 95% complete with the original wood that shipbuilders used to construct it. The ornamentation is incredible, an assertion of the wealth and power of Sweden as it engaged in the "30 years war" that gripped Europe in the 17th century. I thought that the ships in "Pirates of the Caribbean" were impressive but they are dwarfed by the size of the Vasa. Standing by the side of this vast ship, I could just imagine what it must have been like to have the ship sail by, overwhelming everything in its path. The sinking of Vasa was the result of over-building with two decks of heavy canon and towering sails that capsized it when a strong wind tipped the ship, the balast rolled, and water gushed in through the canon portals. One can only imagine...

More impressive than the beautiful buildings and the amazing reconstruction of Vasa, the Nobel Prize overwhelms this city. I just happened to be here during preparations for December 10, which is the day on which the prizes are always awarded. It was awe-inspiring to say the least to see the Nobel winner museum and observe the preparation for the Nobel banquet at City Hall.

It's ironic that a city that built its wealth from domination by sea is the home to the recognition and celebration of people who have contributed most to the advancement of science, economics, and peace. The buzz of the city is palpable and a joy to observe. I have one more day left before I return to Qatar. My feet/legs are so tired I can hardly walk but I'll dive into several more museums tomorrow.

Making educational progress

In case it is not obvious, this blog frequently serves as a place where I note publications or reports that I've found of interest (and don't want to forget) as well as where I attempt to integrate different ideas across fields, culture, and time. Because the work at Qatar Foundation is essentially about educational progress in Qatar and the Arabian Gulf and because the educational models we are using are from the U.S.A. and Europe, it's important to watch for the links between the educational work in the Gulf and the western world. Two reports, one from the Arabian Gulf and compiled by the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute, Aligning Post-Secondary Education Choices to Societal Needs, and one from the U.S.A., Measuring Up 2008, have been the focus of my attention over the last couple of weeks.

The RAND-Qatar Policy Institute report advocates that Qatar's scholarship programs focus on five goals: 1) meet workforce needs; 2) develop language, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; 3) prepare future leaders; 4) build cultural awareness of and ties to other countries; and 5) meet civic and cultural needs. Further, authors of the report studied a number of scholarship programs throughout the world and concluded that five principles should guide the operation of Qatar's scholarship programs; 1) quality, 2) accountability, 3) efficiency, 4) flexibility, and 5) support. Prior to establishing the vision for, and directing the resources to establish, the new approach to K-12 and higher education in Qatar, a select number of young people attended universities in the UK and U.S.A. The majority of Qataris, especially women, did not have the opportunity to continue their educations. Now through enhanced opportunities provided through Qatar University, CNA-Q, and Education City, an increasing number of male and female students have a breadth of higher education opportunity that can be tailored to each of their backgrounds/preparation, their interests, and the needs of the country. Educational opportunity can now be found in Qatar or through select programs abroad.

Measuring Up 2008 critiques educational progress in the U.S.A., noting that the U.S.A. was successful in the past but is now slipping in comparison to a number of other countries around the world. The parallel elements between Measuring Up 2008 and the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute report are the importance of; 1) improving K-12 preparation so that students can attend university, 2) providing affordable access to higher education regardless of family socio-economic status, and 3) focusing on increasing and assessing the quality of learning so that young people are prepared for work that will serve their private interests and the public good.

While Qatar does not have the history and the numbers of students that the U.S.A. has had, it is very ambitious in its contemporary vision. A laser-like focus that incorporates the recommendations of the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute report is likely to achieve in a very short time a level of education that will be rivaled by few, if any, other nations. The key issue for Qatar is stimulating the imagination of its people to see the incredible potential ahead and to see that the hard work required to get there is justified. By contrast, the key issue that I'm growing to realize as important for the U.S.A. is that it must not abandon the commitments it made in the burgeoning days of higher education in the mid-20th century. Measuring Up 2008 documents that, unless the U.S.A. returns to the focus on education that it previously had, the baby-boomers will be the last generation to benefit from higher education in such significant ways - the future promise of the U.S.A. may suffer as a result.

Qatar and the U.S.A. - interesting partners in education and both able to learn from each others' experiences of yesterday and today... The U.S.A. has been in an enviable position because it committed so much to higher education after the depression of the 1930s and WWII. Things are tough again in 2008/09. Qatar is investing its resources in education. Where will the U.S.A. invest its resources?

Educating, engaging, and empowering our citizens at home and abroad...

A new Brookings Institution report, Voices of America: U.S. Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century, proposes a variety of initiatives that will help to reestablish the U.S.A. as a positive force in the world. Coupled with the appointment of Barack Obama's new National Security Team, a new day is dawning. On the National Security Team, the headline in the LA Times says it all, "Obama stresses diplomacy with new national security team." Portraying the team as a renewal of diplomacy is reinforced by the fact that two of the seven new Security Team members have a relationship to the Brookings Institution; Rice (new Ambassador to the U.N) is a former Brookings Institution affiliate and Jones (new National Security Advisor) served on the Advisory Board noted in the "Voices of America" report.

President Bush's admission that the thing he wasn't prepared for was going to war sheds more direct light on the problem that the U.S.A. now faces. In the interview with Charlie Gibson, Bush declined to express regret for the faulty intelligence information that led to the war in Iraq but expressed satisfaction in his, "Recognizing we're in a war against ideological thugs and keeping America safe." Constructing the world as a battle against the "axes of evil" and a "war against ideological thugs" will be difficult to undo. However, The Brookings Institution report and Obama's appointment of a diplomacy-oriented security team is the beginning of the long road back to the principles that world-citizens admire about the U.S.A. A period of deep listening is ahead and my hope is that this results in realigning the U.S.A. with the needs of the world. The admonition that the U.S.A. must move forward by "educating, engaging, and empowering our citizens at home and abroad..." tapped one of the most important resources the U.S.A. has. Those of us abroad can listen carefully and we can demonstrate the eagerness of the U.S.A. to be a force for peace and prosperity in the world.

Mumbai terrorism, Obama and Arab youth, and Thanksgiving

My journey in Qatar continues to include increasing depth of understanding about the political, religious, and other strife that seems to abound in the Middle East. The terrorism in Mumbai and the take-over of airports in Thailand represent the dynamics most often associated with the Middle East, only pushing them further into Asia. Why do these incidents continue to occur and what's the way out?

I'm not a political scientist nor an expert in Middle Eastern and/or Asian affairs. However, a letter that I received from a colleague reflected the hope that many young people around the world have as a result of the election of Barack Obama. The Center for Human Emergence Middle East issued An Open Letter on the Middle East to President-Elect Obama. Based on the enthusiasm of Arab youth, the letter proposes that one of the keys to possibility and peace is for the U.S.A. to take a more balanced role in relation to Israel and Palestine. In particular, the letter urges that the U.S.A. join with other countries (including Israel) to build the capacity of Palestine so that it can return to a position as a progessive, economically viable, and independent country. I encounter the angst over Palestine all the time in my casual interactions. Whether it's the black and white version of gotrah worn as a scarf by young Arabs or the music of activist artists, the message is unmistakable - stop privileging only one side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and recognize that there has been plenty of wrong-headedness and wrong-doing among all parties.

On Thanksgiving afternoon, the U.S.A. colleagues with whom I work decided to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for our Arab work colleagues, most of whom did not know much about the purpose and nature of Thanksgiving. I was asked to provide a little background while we feasted on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, candied yams, and pumpkin pie. I focused on the thanks given by religious refugees at the first Thanksgiving of 1621, refugees who had survived in the new world at least partially because native Americans had helped them. Then I offered thanks to our Arab colleagues that as a citizen of the U.S.A. I could worship as I wished in Qatar. In addition to this freedom, I and others have to be thankful for the Arab and other colleagues who have helped us survive a place that at times seemed exotic and strange. It's certainly not as hostile as the new world of 17th century times but I/we still need support.

Strife that surrounds us in a shrinking world... Obama and Arab youth... Thanksgiving for a year in Qatar... It's hard to say if there's a relationship. The core concept that ties them together for me is the importance of working to create peace and prosperity through reaching out to share ourselves and our bounty, even when it may seem that peace is only a distant hope.

Museum of Islamic Art - now open

After a long period of preparation, the new Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, is now open! The New York Times covered it and this is only the beginning. I plan to make this a regular destination on weekends when I have time.

The Museum of Islamic Art is complemented by the unfolding completion of Souk Waqif, the old market area of Doha, which is just a short walk from the Museum. By having both in sight of each other on the Doha Corniche, visitors can see ancient art and artifacts of the Islamic world and walk across the street to browse the alleyways and walking mall of the Souk. The only thing different about Souk Waqif compared with other souks throughout the Arabian Penninsula is that Doha's is cleaner, more artistic, has a variety of great restaurants, and you don't have to fight off the merchants who in many souks lurk around every corner attempting to drag you into their shops.

The Museum and Souk Waqif may seem trivial or commercial. They aren't - they are part of Qatar's statement of pride in its Arab origins and national heritage. A little country sticking out like a thumb off Saudi Arabia, originally inhabited primarily by Bedouin tribes... A progressive Islamic country trying to bring learning and prosperity to its people... A complex interplay of monarchy and empowerment of citizens to fuel the growing cultural, educational, business, and tourism initiatives that will assure Qatar's place as a future world player... In many ways, Qatar defies description because of its complexity and the rapidity of change that all who live here experience. One thing is sure. Even though Qatar may defy easy description, it is a place to watch.

Qatar's National Vision for 2030

The incredible energy and ambition of this little country, Qatar, continues to unfold in amazing ways. Last week the Qatar National Vision for 2030 emerged as a way to put the issues of development on the table and to call all Qatari and ex-patriot citizens in Qatar to the work of building a future. The Vision is well worth reading. I think you will see that it conveys a vision that many developing countries pronounce and that Qatar is deeply committed to achieving.

Joseph Needham -"The man departs - there remains his shadow"

This simple quote is inscribed in Chinese calligraphy to the side of the fireplace mantel of K-1 Caius College, Cambridge University – testament to the lifelong residence of Joseph Needham, brilliant British scientist turned Sinologist. A friend’s father lent me The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester (HarperCollins, 2008) for some unexplainable reason. I dove into it and found a love story coupled with deep and curious intellectual inquiry and political intrigue – all explaining the incredible array of scientific and technological contributions China has made throughout its history.

Joseph Needham started a brilliant academic career in the early 20^th century, contributing primarily through scientific discovery and publication of his findings which resulted in his invitation to join the Caius faculty as a young intellectual. He was eccentric to say the least and was supported by his wife, Dorothy, for over 70 years until her death, although he traveled extensively, had another lifetime lover, and many other encounters along the way. His love of Lu Gwei-djen (begun in 1937 and resulting in their eventual marriage in 1989) caused him to abandon the direct study of science to begin a journey of understanding how China had contributed so much across the ages. His series of books, Science and Civilization in China, are considered the essential documented record of Chinese innovation. In addition to documenting this history, Needham helped to preserve Chinese universities during the spread of Japanese dominance in the 1930s, he helped found UNESCO, and he created several Chinese-Western intellectual and friendship exchanges and partnerships.

Needham’s story is beautifully written and so enjoyable that it’s hard to put down. Aside from the biographical detail that drew me in, I was fascinated to have a first introduction to China, its past glories, and its growing role in our contemporary world. The “Needham question” that lingers throughout the book is how, after so many centuries of sustained contributions to scientific creativity, could China have fallen asleep in the 16^th century when the Western world began to rise? Ultimately, there is no answer to the question other than one speculated to simply be that China “stopped trying” (p. 260). Maybe it was the lack of a mercantile class, perhaps political and bureaucratic systems that thwarted individual effort, or the sheer size of the country and its people. Regardless, Needham lived to see the beginnings of what we now know will be one of the greatest economic and political forces of the 21^st century. Testament to China’s aspiration is a billboard posted on the outskirts of Jiuquan, the new city exploding at the border of the Gobi Desert and home to China’s space program. The billboard reads in both Chinese and English – Without Haste. Without Fear. We Conquer the World.

Chilling? Maybe… More than anything, Needham's testament and scholarship is a call for Westerners to understand and embrace the role that China is beginning to play in the 21st century. Needham’s story, and his lifelong mission of understanding China, provides a model seldom matched in academe but hopefully increasingly found in everyday life as we seek to understand the global community we are becoming.

Debut of the Qatar Philharmonic

Qatar has a symphonic orchestra - and a very, very good one. This weekend marked the beginning of a new artistic era for Qatar and the Arabian Gulf as a result of two concerts by the newly formed Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. The two concerts had the same program but different conductors. The first and official debut concert was conducted by Lorin Maazel, a conductor of monumental stature and current Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. The second concert was under the direction of Andreas Weiser, who assists Maazel in his duties with the New York Philharmonic and is the Managing Director of the Qatar Philharmonic.

The program included Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Ravel's Bolero, and the world premiere of Marcel Khalife's Arabian Concerto. The final piece was the shorter Salute also by Khalife. The musicians are young, energetic, and obviously prepared and committed to the vision of building a world-class orchestra. Lorin Maazel showed obvious enthusiasm and deep pleasure in bringing this new artistic powerhouse into being. Although the first couple of Beethoven movement were a bit restrained (which caused me to wonder for a moment), by the time the final movements were on their roll toward ecstasy, I could hardly contain myself.

It really is hard to describe how technically accurate this group of young musicians was. The ensemble playing was perfection with no instruments inappropriately sticking out. The pitch was impeccable. The solo performances were extraordinary; there was not one error among the many solo wind and brass solos in the Bolero. As an audience, we could see Maazel growing in his flair as he began to swing, dance, and thrust his baton into the air during the new and exciting sounds of the Khalife pieces. The Khalife Arabian Concerto and Salute are sure to make an international stir as pieces that can bring the exotic sounds of the Arab world to people around the globe. Whether the new Qatar Philharmonic takes these sounds to the world in tours or if other orchestras attempt to play them on their own, the message is coming... The Arab world has a new artistic voice and it is one that will delight and hopefully connect us in significant ways. I can't help but imagine what it would be like if President Obama were to choose to produce an inaugural concert of world music that might include this amazing new Qatar Philharmonic playing Khalife's Arabian Concert. Wouldn't it be fun!

For those who know of my love of the music, my artistic soul is being fed again. One of the things I regretted most when I left Ohio was interrupting our commitment to the annual Cincinnati Symphony season. With any luck, there will be a Qatar Philharmonic season that will soon be coming our way.

The next step in Qatar's rising prominence as the Arabian Gulf's artistic center will the the opening of the Islamic Art Museum in Doha in December. More to come...

Global perspectives creating a smaller world

Yesterday (Sunday, October 26, 2008) was a fascinating day of stumbling into global perspectives that continue to shrink my world. I got into the office and did my routine start-up of checking and responding to e-mail and then noticed an interesting meeting on my schedule - "Chinese Embassy Delegation re: exchanges." I ran off to the meeting wondering who would be there and what would unfold in the conversation. To my great surprise, I walked into the conference room only to find one of my Qatari colleagues finishing a presentation on Qatar Foundation and waiting to turn the meeting over to me. I've become increasingly comfortable in not knowing what to expect from moment to moment in my work but this one really threw me.

The Chinese delegation was guided by an under-secretary of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China and included four representatives from higher education and business in China. The programs represented were; Beijing International Studies University, Shanghai International Studies University, Northwest University for Nationalities, and the founder and president of "First Real-Name Blog Portal for Chinese Intellectuals." I asked if English would be acceptable for our meeting and was told, "yes." It didn't take but a minute for one of the Chinese participants to turn to my Qatari colleague to ask a question of him in perfect Arabic. Suddenly the communication shifted and I realized that the common language of the room was Arabic, not English or Chinese. Wow! Who would have thought... a meeting with Chinese intellectuals, conducted in Arabic, and translated by a Qatari for the English speaker who knew neither Chinese or Arabic (me). All in all, the meeting was a success and ended with an agreement that I would attempt to broker a meeting with my superiors so that the People's Republic Ambassador could begin to introduce the possibility of student and faculty exchanges between Education City and the institutions represented by our visitors.

Later in the evening I attended the Rand-Qatar Policy Institute celebration of five years in Doha and 60 years of the Rand Institute. Rand is a research and think-tank organization that has provided considerable assistance to Qatar in researching and proposing models for improvement of education, public policy, and capacity building. There were two panels of their researchers and other guests who explored questions about the status of the Gulf and the impact that the upcoming election in the U.S.A. will have on the area. The panels were interesting, although I was surprised at the off-handed references that reflected their ignorance or disdain for the Middle East - simple things like "I don't know what people over here think, but..." or inaccurate language such as using Arab, Persian, Muslim, Islamic, jihad, and other terms as simply colorful synonyms to depict the people "over here." Frankly, it was sad because these people are supposedly well informed about the Middle East but the imprecise and careless language was very telling.

The show-stopper for the Rand-Qatar Policy Institute celebration was when a Qatari in the audience asked the question of the panel, "What's holding us back from fulfilling the promise of our intellectual heritage? Why is the Arab world always subject to the advice and direction of the West?" I turned to a colleague beside me after the question was asked - "Breathtaking," I commented. This is a room with 90% Westerners and a precious few Qatari or other Arab people and this man was turning the microscope on himself. But, was he really? The panel offered platitudes like political will, visionary leadership, development that helps people understand the systems, and education. After considerable intellectual fumbling, the convener of the panel returned to the man who asked the question, "What do you think? What's the greatest impediment you see?" The room fell silent because we all knew that what this gentleman would say would eclipse the others' comments. "Empathy." A stunningly simple one word answer to what's holding the Arab world back. He developed the idea a bit but not so much to keep the word from hanging in my mind for the rest of the evening - empathy. But whose empathy for whom and what's not being understood?

I don't know for sure but the empathy that I see as holding us back is more about Westerners' lack of understanding than anything else. Lack of understanding for what it's been like to be at the epicenter of the world for centuries, first as a critical trade route and then as the custodian for the world's cheapest and most readily usable fuel source, and having others attempt to control you by political, military, or economic means. The best thing the panel convener said all night was that perhaps Barack Obama (yes, and the panel pretty well concluded that it's a done deal) should begin his Presidency with a "Listening Tour" that would travel across the globe to ask others what they think of the U.S.A. and the role it should play in the modern day. Yes, empathy may be what's holding us back more than anything and the question will be, how do we all foster the empathy for each other that will begin to take us to a new level? - global perspectives creating a smaller world.

If you want to understand Islam...

If you want to escape the pervasive ignorance about Islam in the western world, No god but God by Reza Aslan is a must!

Aslan's credentials set him apart as an authoritative source on Islam and other religions. His knowledge is complemented by a writing style that is more characteristic of a novel than a historic analysis of theologies. This is a story of real people in history who struggled with a pagan and idolatrous world that worshiped many gods. No god but God traces the evolution of Islam from its origins as one of the major monotheistic religions of the world (a monotheistic perspective that shares many stories, prophets, and martyrs with Judaism and Christianity) to the splintered perspectives that are the source of so much conflict in the contemporary world.

Aslan helps us see that Muslims are very diverse in their perspectives and that most are moderate, committed, and seek the same things that Jews, Christians, and other religious groups seek. Islam's prophet, Muhammad, created a tolerant and peaceful existence for these three groups in Medina and he would never have tolerated the schisms that now exist.

One of the primary reasons that Islam struggles with splinter groups is that no successor was named when Muhammad died in the middle of the 7th century. This resulted in almost immediate competition for the leadership of Islam, a contest that spawned Shi'ah, Sunni, Sufi, Kharijite, Wahhabi, and other sects of Islam. They all trace their beliefs to Muhammad but the beliefs about what one should do as a Muslim vary considerably. Aslan's final thesis is that how these groups work out their differing views is essentially the same process that occurred during the Crusades and later in the Protestant Reformation. While there are Muslims who would take offense at this proposal, how likely would it have been for Crusaders or Reformation figures to have seen their wars and struggles as evolution toward a differentiated but shared faith?

The differences that exacerbate Islam's emergence include 1) colonial occupations throughout the regions where Islam is now a force, 2) modern competition for oil/gas and other resources in these lands, and 3) media that have created a transparent and real time world. These dynamics have denied Islam the opportunity to work out its theology and practice without the intervention of nations with vested interests. And, because there is so much ignorance about the various forms of Islam, the U.S.A. and other nations have all too often supported sects of Islam about which they had very little, if any, accurate knowledge. The strangest of the western allies was the Taliban who were recruited and armed by the CIA in the insurrection against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Islam struggles today but this struggle is internal rather than external. Islam is not waging a war on democracy and the more the west behaves as if it is, the more power extremist Islam has in its competition with moderate Islam. Anti-Muslim sentiment and slogans only galvanize those who use this opposition to recruit more Muslims to fundamentalism.

If you're interested in watching a couple of videos that reflect Aslan's views, you could try the recent CNN interview related to Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia University or view his analysis of the "cosmic conflict" that he believes undermines the efforts to establish dialogue between the west and the emerging Muslim world of 1.5 billion people. His point is that the rhetoric of the "war on terror" has only enhanced the position of Islamic extremists as it has given them material with which to weave the tapestry of grievance of anti-imperialism. What the western world does not understand is that the seeds of Al Qaeda were planted during British colonial rule and have been fueled by the economic imperialism of the U.S.A. as it has drawn oil and gas from the Middle East. Unfortunately, ignorance and intolerance has given Al Qaeda a ready agenda to use in recruiting its followers.

Alive or living?

Eid break provided a phenomenal opportunity for Darbi and me to join a tour of the Moroccan Atlas mountains provided by the Intrepid organization. The tour was in the special "Intrepid Active" category which stimulated more than a little anxiety in me as I prepared for the trip. When our tour guide, Moha, informed me that I was the oldest participant in the active tours to date, I was more than a little relieved that I had completed the week of biking, hiking, and climbing without incident. Thus, the title of my post, "Alive or living?" I came to the realization that my work and personal life are more about living than I've ever had the chance to pursue. I'm not just alive. I am living a very active experience of exploring new cultures, new history, and new ways of being in the world - pretty amazing for this time in my life!

The Atlas mountains were a complete surprise. Having grown up in Colorado, I couldn't imagine mountains of any substance in Morocco. What I found was amazingly beautiful mountains and lush "oasis" valleys that are supporting a friendly and simple cultural group called Berberes. The Berbere people were originally distributed throughout North Africa prior to the colonial occupation by both Arab and French people at different times in history. The Berberes have been pushed more into the mountainous territories of Morocco, Algiers, Libya, and all the way over to Egypt. Moha was very clear that he was Berbere first, African second, and not at all Arab. There are many in Morocco who are actually of mixed cultural heritage but Moha was very proud of being Berbere and having grown up in a mountain village much like the scene to the left. Our exploration of the high Atlas included a 40 kilometer mountain biking excursion, a 16 kilometer hike/climb, and some of the most spectacular scenery I've seen for a while.

In addition to visiting the high Atlas, we visited the "little Sahara" which is a plateau valley between the high and "ante Atlas" range. This is where we found desert landscapes at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas range in the background. One particular village, Ait Binhaddou (pictured to lower right), was 700 years old and has been used as the backdrop movie set for many films including "Gladiator" and "Jesus of Nazareth."

It's hard to fully explain the insights I gained from this adventure to Morocco. I discovered, as is usual these days, that I'm missing much of the world's history and understanding of heritage and culture. Most of all, before trips like this, I've been afraid of other places that are strange, different, or have been in the news as politically troubled. Morocco has had its incidents but the people are very engaging and welcoming. I now understand that another culture, the Berberes, have a wonderful history that they seek to preserve and share with others. The Berberes are industrious, smart, and eager for the world to know of their contributions over centuries of productivity. And, they are attempting through tourism and new political activism to draw attention to their rights as people who inhabited this region of the world for thousands of years.

It appears in my posts that I've become a bit excessive in my travels - and, I probably have. But it is so fun and adds so much to my "living" to know about the world beyond the narrow North American perspective that I've had for so long.

Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit...

As summer comes to an end in the Gulf, so concludes what has become a fairly predictable pattern of my existence. Summers in the academic world provide opportunities to escape mandatory work-related reading in order to explore more personally-related topics. Each summer I try to dig into something new in my reading that broadens my view of life, work, or just the journey of being. This summer was no different (except that summers for me are now a bit longer and hotter) and I've had a phenomenal awakening that has been stimulated by four books - Gates of the Sun (Khoury), Einstein's Violin (Eger), Integral Spirituality (Wilber), and Synchronicity (Jaworski). I had no clue how these four books would relate when I picked them up thinking there was no relationship - what a fool! They turned out to be deeply related, creating what Jaworski refers to as a predictable miracle in my life experience.

Earlier posts commented on Gates of the Sun and Einstein's Violin. I never commented on Integral Spirituality because I couldn't figure out what to say without becoming so complex and unfocused that it would be distracting. Having finished rereading Synchronicity today (I read it several years ago and put it away afterward.), I now see the relationship and it has to do with the title of this post - Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit.

Khoury is Palestinian and wrote cogently of the wrongs perpetrated on Palestinians from 1951 forward. Eger is a Jewish American who was awakened to a new perspective of the world when he visited Israel, Jordan and Palestine in the 1970s. I'm not sure how to describe Wilber other than a person who is having an enormous influence on many around the world through his integral theory ideas. Ultimately, Integral Spirituality is about his views that the world's religions are holding humanity back from a transformation of the human condition. An "integral spirituality" could make a place for all faith perspectives, could allow each of us to find meaning in our own cultural contexts, and could transform the warring and devastation we presently experience.

Integral Spirituality is complex and difficult reading. There are many times that my understanding simply could not grasp all the details and the evidence that Wilber quoted. But, the meaning that I drew from Wilber's perspective is what Jaworski described in Synchronicity. In life's journey we can either stumble through oblivious to our surroundings or we can allow ourselves to awaken to what's going on around us, thus unleashing that part of everyone one of us that wants to make a difference. Once awakened, we act in ways that are initially timid but then become more and more present and courageous. When that deep sense of presence is embraced, the great synchronicity of our conviction begins to interact with others and creates possibilities we never dreamed achievable.

The point of discovering purpose is profoundly practical and, if you want proof, talk to someone who has discovered their deep calling. This kind of calling is unavoidable, concrete, and transformational. When this depth of knowing emerges, it then connects to what Jaworksi and Senge describe as the implicate order which is the interconnected world that unfolds to us when we are ready.

I am deeply indebted to Jaworski for many of his ideas. I have to admit that I'm more than a little embarrassed that many of the ideas I propose in Deeper Learning in Leadership are very related to those Jaworski introduces in Synchronicity. I don't know what happened but somehow the consciousness of the connections just wasn't there. I referenced Jaworski but not in the ways I wish I had. As I finished rereading Synchronicity this afternoon, I was brought to tears as I realized the power we have within us and as we connect with others who are similarly awakened to more integral, inclusive, and transformational ideas. I also realized that at certain times in my career I "woke up behind enemy lines" (a very powerful Jaworski analogy) when I lost sight of the goals that I held dear. I guess it doesn't really matter when we awaken to our deeper potential . In fact, if we're truly alive, the potential is constantly being awakened within us. In this place in Qatar and with the opportunity I've been given here, truly Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit - translated from its original Latin, "Invoked or not invoked, God is present."

Four more months - "To take back the nation we love..."

I can't help myself. I've been watching the beginning of the Democratic National Convention from afar. I always turn on CNN while I'm getting ready for work which allows me to see the 11 p.m. eastern U.S.A. news. This morning, following on yesterday morning (26 August), gave me great hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Michelle Obama's and Hillary Clinton's speeches were some of the most powerful I've seen on TV. Michelle's was particularly authentic, deep, and inspirational. Hillary followed with a clear and unequivocal message - how could those who supported her even consider not voting for Obama? It's not about Hillary! It's about the issues and the future of the U.S.A. and its role in the global community.

I will be voting absentee as we hope the nine million ex-patriots living abroad will do. I haven't traveled around the globe, although over the last year I've traveled to Canada, central Europe, and the Middle East. Hope is swelling throughout the rest of the world that the U.S.A. will return to its place as a democratic model rather than a military force. Citizens of other countries, even in places where they don't have the rights and privileges that Americans enjoy, are hoping for a return to a course of modeling the way and diplomacy that will improve the conditions of people throughout the world. I have not encountered anyone abroad who hasn't embraced the hope that Barack Obama brings.

Lest the world's enthusiasm be used against Obama in the upcoming campaigning by McCain, it is absolutely critical than citizens of the U.S.A. realize that globalization is about the shared needs and interdependence of all, rather than the "us against them" rhetoric of the "war on terrorism." Naive - I don't think so. When you live abroad, you see the needs, the struggles, and you see the disappointment when the U.S.A. falls short of its values. The fact that other nations are cheering for Obama is not cause for pause or suspicion, as I anticipate the Republican party will assert. The cheering from abroad is from a heart-felt yearning to see the U.S.A. return to the role of a guide for change in the knowledge-based society of the 21st century. With the rise of the economic dominance of Asia, South America, and the Middle East, it is clear that the U.S.A. is not the preeminent economy of the world - there's no way to reverse that flow. The U.S.A. has to find another way to influence the world other than its economic and military power.

The spontaneous cheering at last night's Democratic National Convention, "Four more months," and Hillary's introductory statement combine to say it all...

Big dreams will always outlive you...

Tuesday was a very profound day for me. I had routine stuff in the morning but I was able to have lunch with one of our Qatari colleagues who is leaving for the U.S.A. for English and graduate school study. I thought I was only going for lunch but he took me to his private tailor to have two thobes made for me. He absolutely refused to allow me to pay for them and I am not quite sure how to respond - other than be grateful. The result will be that soon I'll have two full Qatari national dress outfits. I can hardly wait to wear them. Another aspect of the parting lunch ritual was to ask him about his experience and what we might do to improve our effectiveness with students. It was a great conversation and bodes well for the work he will do in the U.S.A. I can only pray that he will be treated with respect...

The other thing that happened was that I spent 1.5 hours on the phone and computer with a webinar on Deeper Learning in Leadership. I'm not sure that webinars are my favorite form of communication but at least the webinar provided the opportunity to talk about the importance of deeper leadership across many miles and with a wide spectrum of participants. I assume I'll find out over the next several days if the webinar was satisfactory.

As I prepared for bed tonight, I went for a walk and listened to Dr. Craig Barnes' sermon on Joseph, son of Jacob, who was sold into servitude in Egypt when his brothers became so irritated with his dream stories and "favored son" mindset that they couldn't stand it any more. Dr. Barnes had, as usual, a very different twist on the story. He likened being taken into Egyptian exile to the isolation and separation that results in adolescence when our children begin to rebel against the precious, perfect, optimistic images we generally hold of them. Dr. Barnes said that all children have to break free of the confining, idealized roles to which we confine our children, even if it takes doing outrageous things to escape our grasp - a very interesting interpretation of adolescence. The bottom line was that Joseph's exile from his family was very critical and, indeed, it saved his family and his family's families during the famine that would follow many years later. Joseph's own brothers didn't even recognize him when they saw him in Egypt, perhaps because Joseph had grown out of his adolescent pride and narcissism. After growing up, he was able to serve his brothers who came to beg for wheat, even though they were the very ones who were responsible for his exile. He had become a different person because of the humility he acquired during his separation from family and loved ones. Kind of speaks to the collegiate experience, doesn't it.

The parting reflection by Dr. Barnes was that Joseph had many dreams, dreams that he literally had no idea what they meant. However, his dreams became so great that they outlived his egotism and his youthful bravado. He had great dreams that helped Egypt, his family, and ultimately perhaps saved an entire generation of his people. Big dreams will always outlive you.

I go to bed tonight knowing that somehow maturity has blessed me with an understanding that my big dreams will, and have, outlived me. A colleague off to study English and student affairs to return to the Arabian Gulf to make higher education work here. A webinar that I never imagined 30 years ago in terms of technology, reach, or interest of others. What we started at Maryland in 1976 has far outlived my time there and has become so much more than anything we had imagined. Amazing how big, big dreams can become.

ILA webinar on Deeper Learning in Leadership - August 19

I'm excited to welcome potential readers to my blog who are considering, or have signed up for, the August 19 ILA webinar, "Deeper Learning in Leadership." I thought it might help to provide this introductory post to explain the purpose of this blog over the last 2+ years I've maintained it.

I originally began the blog in preparation for a two-month teaching, research, and writing opportunity I had in November and December of 2005. I served as a Visiting Scholar at the Miami University Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) in Luxembourg during which I 1) taught an undergraduate seminar on global leadership, 2) researched the European Union's emerging approach to higher education, and 3) completed a substantial portion of the draft text for what would become Deeper Learning in Leadership. I had never blogged before but friends and family encouraged me to start the "Pursuing Leadership" blog in order to keep them informed about my work, travels, and emerging thoughts about leadership. If you go all the way back to the beginning of the blog in October 2005, you will see that I charted the anticipation and anxiety associated with the MUDEC time and then I reflected throughout the experience on my travels and what the travels and other encounters had to do, if anything, with questions of leadership.

Once I returned from Luxembourg in January 2006, I maintained "Pursuing Leadership" as more or less a public journal of my reflections on leadership, higher education, and general life questions. You will see that I post periodically on reading that I have found influential, I reflect on philosophical questions, and I even get into a bit of political commentary as well. You won't agree with all I post and that is only fair and right. The bottom line is that I am a life-long student of leadership and, even after studying it through reading and experience, I have lots of questions left. Sometimes I think I should "get over" these questions but the deeper I explore leadership, the more questions I have. I can find no other personally acceptable way to resolve the internal dialogue than to be honest about it and to share my own journey as I seek to understand leadership. I hope that, as a reader of the blog, and potential participant in the August 19 webinar, you will engage with me as a fellow traveler in this journey. It might be more comfortable to passively receive the wisdom of someone who has "figured it all out" but that just isn't authentic for me. If you're looking for an authority who has all the answers for you, you should probably seek another expert. On the other hand, if you're up for some exploration, we could have some fun.

A little bit about why Deeper Learning in Leadership... The book is a combination of a tribute to one of the greatest minds of higher education and student affairs in the 20th century - Esther Lloyd Jones (pictured at age 90 in 1991) and a commitment that I had avoided for almost a decade - updating and publishing a sequel to Student Leadership Programs in Higher Education (1981). I was blessed in my early career by the confidence of two colleagues, Dr. William L. Thomas and Dr. Drury Bagwell, who in 1976 decided that the University of Maryland should do something explicit about student leadership. Being young and ambitious, I took the challenge with literally no background or academic preparation. In a panic, I turned to the American College Personnel Association where I found a number of colleagues equally interested in student leadership. This group formed the base of what would become the beginning of the formal study and development of student leadership through primarily cocurricular means. And, the work of the ACPA team, as well as the shared work with my Maryland colleagues resulted in the publication of Student Leadership Programs...

I won't go into all the details of the early days of exploring leadership learning for that is in Deeper Learning in Leadership and other articles that have emerged in the literature in the last several years. Deeper Learning in Leadership celebrates the fact that the focus on leadership has grown to amazing proportions. However, what I do put candidly on the table is a concern that I presently have - that the explosion of interest in leadership in higher education (and in many other areas as well) has become so popular and trendy that its credibility is at risk. It is at risk because I fear that our work is sometimes not as substantial and deep as it needs to be. I do not criticize anyone (including myself) in this statement; I propose it as a perspective of my reality that pushes me to ask more questions. Deeper Learning in Leadership raises questions about how we understand leadership, models that have emerged to help us, and new theories or frameworks that might stimulate more effective work in this very important endeavor.

The combination of tribute to Esther Lloyd-Jones and the purpose of pushing the boundaries in understanding leadership learning is no accident, although my understanding of their symmetry continues to emerge. Esther Lloyd-Jones was deeply influenced by John Dewey's ideas of democratic education and she brought this perspective into the formation of student personnel work in the early 20th century. Many student affairs staff are unaware of these origins and therefore miss the critical and essential link of cocurricular and experiential learning with the purposes of individual development, the importance of community, and cultivating democratic capacity. Scott London summarizes as well as any piece I've ever read the philosophy of John Dewey and its relevance to higher education today. Organic Democracy: The Political Philosophy of John Dewey is essential reading that will help you see the connection between Esther Lloyd-Jones' contribution to education and the opportunities we face in leadership learning.

The most recent twist in my journey to understand leadership is that immediately after publishing Deeper Learning in Leadership through Jossey-Bass I left the U.S.A. I joined the Qatar Foundation in November 2007 and my world has changed again as a result of so many amazing encounters in this new work. My more recent posts reflect my struggles as I've sought to understand higher education and leadership in an international context. The experience thus far has been profound and my journey is far from over. In fact, my guess is that I'm no more than 10% down the path that I will eventually travel while in the Arabian Gulf. I hope you will see that I am struggling again and I hope you will embrace that with me.

Please browse some of my previous posts on this blog and pick up a copy of Deeper Learning in Leadership. Consider what I've written in the book and on the blog as my "take" which is intentionally designed to provoke your reflection. Then come back with your perspectives and questions so that we can push deeper leadership to a new level of understanding and practice.

Learning about early origins of culture in Istanbul

We've had a great opportunity to reunite our family over the last couple of weeks. Diane is visiting and will be in Qatar for another week. We've entertained staff colleagues, shopped, eaten great meals, and just enjoyed being with each other.

We took a four-day trip to Istanbul last weekend. I had earlier opportunities to visit Istanbul but never took the chance, mainly because I had no idea of the richness of its history and culture. Darbi, Diane, and I were there for only four days and packed every minute of it so that we could taste the contemporary culture as well as understand the history of this fascinating place. We did everything from visiting Topkapi to the Grand Bazaar to the Spice Bazaar to a boat outing up through the Bosphorous region (where the Sultans built their palaces after Topkapi no longer served its purpose) to the huge water storage Cistern under the ancient core of the city. We were welcomed by friendly and engaging people, tourists from all over the world, and absolutely beautiful weather!

The most fascinating thing about Istanbul is its history. It has been a crossroads for Europe and Asia for almost 5 millenia and the greatest jewel of all of Istanbul is the Istanbul Archeology Museum, a collection that covers the full 5,000 years. We were utterly amazed to see one of the most extensive collections of sculpture of anywhere in the world, including the Louvre in Paris. Most of this collection was drawn from the Ottoman Empire during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Ottoman Empire overlapped, and was a threat to, the Habsburg Empire. In fact, the prominence of the Habsburg family was probably largely the result of its ability to defend against Ottoman invasions of eastern Europe.

Besides the archeological collection, Topkapi also has the religious "relics" rooms (picture to right is of the entrance because I couldn't take pictures inside). We were utterly stunned to stand before relics like Moses' staff, Joseph's turban, Saint John's arm, and a number of other things. We were left wondering, "how could this be?" The sense of awe upon seeing such artifacts, reported to being the originals of the worlds greatest prophets, was utterly amazing.

One of the most important architectural wonders is the Hagia Sophia, reportedly one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built in the 5th century to replace the original Christian church built on the same site by Constantine when he established Constantinople as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire (establishing Christianity as its religion). Constantine built the first church on this site which was destroyed in two subsequent uprisings. Artifacts of the earlier churches are strewn around the Hagia Sophia in gardens and ongoing archaeological digs. The Hagia Sophia pictured below is now in dire need of repair, although its former splendor is obvious beneath layers of stucco/decorated coverings. The golden mosaics emerge when the stucco is taken off, revealing the original Christian images that previously graced its walls and vaulted domes. When Islam took the church and converted it to a Mosque, all references to Christianity were removed or covered over. It now stands as a tribute to both religions, without being dedicated to the use of either.

We left Istanbul wanting to learn more and believing that we had a wonderful (and hopefully first) exploratory visit. Upon arrival back in Qatar and while unpacking from our journey, CNN broke the news of the terrorist blasts that killed 17 people and wounded many more a mere few miles from where we stayed in Istanbul. A very sad, sad sign of the strife that still exists among religious groups in Istanbul. Ultimately the PKK (the Kurdistan Workers' Party) was identified as responsible by the pro-secularist Republic People's Party, a claim rejected by the PKK. Knowledge of this violence causes hesitation to return to a place that seemed so welcoming and so enjoyable. Until global divisions and idealogical differences are accepted as normal and embraced as a necessary and useful part of the human condition, Istanbul and many of our other communities throughout the world will continue to be vulnerable to violence.

Einstein's Violin and social transformation

This weekend has been pretty quiet for me, other than a couple of ex-pat 4th of July celebrations on Friday. Darbi is in Ghana on a Habitat for Humanity trip which I have no doubt will bring some incredible revelations. Check her blog for details once she gets back the middle of next week. Saturday (July 5) was absolutely spectacular - bright blue sky and warm (hot?) temperatures. I got out to wash cars, worked in the yard a little, and did a lot of reading.

I finished a book that Jon gave me, Einstein's Violin, by Joseph Eger. I didn't know what to expect because the sub-title was A Conductor's Notes on Music, Physics, and Social Change. Eger has concertized as a French Horn player and was the music director of the Symphony for United Nations and principle guest conductor of the Central Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing when he wrote the book. What I found in his writing was a very interesting combination of ruminations about music as the universal cross-cultural language, quantum physics and string theory, and deep political commentary. What I enjoyed most about it was Eger's stories of people with whom he'd work or had met. They include the likes of Leonard Bernstein, David Bohm, Queen Noor al Hussein, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and more.

Eger's proposal is that forces beyond our understanding are acting in our lives to bring social transformation, even among those nations that appear to be locked in unresolvable conflict. One of the most startling assertions Eger made related to the book I noted a couple of posts ago, Gate of the Sun. Eger is Jewish and his beliefs about Israel and Palestine were radically changed when he visited Palestine, Jordan, and Israel. During these visits, he was greeted with respect and appreciation by people from various religious and political perspectives, causing him to think that perhaps there actually could be a solution to the conflict between Israeli and Palestinian factions. Ultimately, he published his beliefs in an article in the September 15, 1980, Newsweek entitled "Is it Good for the Jews?"in which he espoused the belief that the welfare of Jewish people and the future of the state of Israel were tied to fair and compassionate treatment of the many Arabs who have been driven from Palestine.

The connections made possible by music operate in the same way that string theory proposes infinite relationships among all things throughout our ever-expanding universe. It is these connections, and the actions and reactions that echo across light years of space and time, that are bringing us together to recognize that our destinies and very survival are mutually linked.

This kind of world view may be a bit much to absorb but Eger's analysis, and particularly his citations of Einstein's views on science and social change, were pretty compelling. At a time when so many things are unsettled around the globe, and when so many of us are doing things to rectify the imbalances, our decisions are becoming so much more important. We shape our destiny and impact the future of others at every turn and we need world leadership who recognize that we are all one together rather than warring nations attempting to destroy each other.

Shining eyes - the result of "conviction in action" leadership

My passions for music and leadership are pretty transparent - at least I hope they are. As I've matured, I'm pulling them closer and closer together in my daily behavior. Perhaps (and probably), this is the quintessential convergence of "conviction in action," the definition I've chosen to adopt for deeper leadership in our world.

This morning I was browsing my Facebook profile when I found that one of my "friends" had discovered a video of Ben Zander that was recorded last February 2008, Classical Music with Shining Eyes. The piece is about Zander's belief in the universality of classical music and its connection to living our lives in ways that result in shining eyes in others. This is a pretty profound piece and I hope you'll take a quiet moment to view it.

Gate of the Sun - Elias Khoury

Summers are essential to my psyche because I'm usually able to read more than during the academic year. I continue to read during the other times but I just don't have the chance to concentrate. One of the books that I've been reading, and just finished, is Elias Khoury's Gate of the Sun. Khoury is a professor of Arabic literature at NYU and has written eleven novels. Gate of the Sun is the story of Yunis, a hypothetical Palestinian freedom fighter, who is nursed on his deathbed by a younger Palestinian who is the narrator of the story. The story is a compilation of many stories of Palestinians who left, or were driven out of, their homes and villages in 1948 and during the subsequent Israeli incursions into the land that was Palestine's.

Living in the Middle East has caused me to be much more curious and concerned about the circumstances of reestablishing the state of Israel and the international political controversy that rages over the unequivocal support of the U.S.A. for Israel's actions both in 1948 and today. The sense of being wronged is so deep and most Arabs believe that establishing an exclusive Jewish state was equivalent to the genocide and ethnic cleansing that was so abhorrent to all during the Holocaust. A quote from Gate of the Sun, speaking of Palestine:

"I believe, like you, that this country must belong to its people, and there is no moral, political, humanitarian or religious justification that would permit the expulsion of an entire people from its country and the transformation of what remained of them into second-class citizens; so, no - don't worry. This Palestine, no matter how many names they give it, will always be Palestine. But tell me, in the faces of those people being driven to slaughter, didn't you see something resembling your own?"

The point being made was that Palestinians were driven out of their land and were persecuted, denied their property and belongings, tortured, raped, and killed, in profoundly disturbing ways that mirrored the atrocities of the Nazis. I know that I'm going into significant political comment that may make some readers uncomfortable but the Arab world believes that the western world has never recognized the devastation that Palestinians have endured. Part of the controversy of the state of Israel is about this lack of acknowledgment and the rest is about the presumption of the rightness of a one-state solution of Israeli occupation when Arabs believe that a two-state solution is possible and is the only just thing to do.

I'm still absorbing information and trying to sort out what I think about the controversy of Israel and what solution may be conceivable. I realize that my own ignorance and inability to take a stand is part of the problem. I dare say that most westerners don't understand why the occupation of Israel has resulted in such sustained and deep intolerance throughout the Middle East. Rather than blindly and ignorantly accepting the present state is defensible, perhaps broader understanding would allow for acceptance and peace to emerge.

Help me here... What more do you know and how might a broader segment of global citizens become better informed and thereby become agents of resolution and peace in this part of the world?

Qatar in Time Magazine

If you didn't see it, Qatar is profiled in a recent Time Magazine article. This offers fascinating insights on the dynamics of change in Qatar and other Arabian Gulf countries. Incidentally, it reinforces the Miditerranean post below. Very interesting reading so don't miss it.

Miditerranean

No, I didn't misspell Mediterranean. I discovered the term Miditerranean through a conversation with a colleague today. Evidently, there are those who live in what they believe is the emerging center of global change who have coined this term. The geography includes southern Europe (the Mediterranean), northern Africa, the Middle East, and over to parts of Asia.

The point is related to what others have written or referenced when they talk about a flattened globe, emerging nations, or developing countries. Where are these emerging powerhouses located? - the Miditerranean. It feels a little strange being a citizen of the U.S.A. and realizing that there is already terminology that describes the decline in comparative importance of my country of origin. However, what it says to me is that it is very critical that I am (and others are as well) in Qatar, working with those who are building this area of the world, and creating partnerships that will allow the U.S.A. and Europe to continue to be prominent, instead of preeminent, in the global century that is upon us.

Think about it...

PBS piece on Education City

If you're interested in continuing to learn more about Education City and education in the Arabian Gulf, a PBS documentary does a great job with it. The documentary is balanced and provides insight on both the challenges and opportunities of this work. Enjoy...

European/U.S.A. exchange - realizations

It took a while for ideas to settle out in my head from the Student Affairs Practice in Europe tour. During our travels, I kept mulling over a number of issues and I couldn't determine which would be the 3-4 items that were most critical. After getting some distance, I arrived at three essential areas; the promise of the arts, balancing care and independence, and forming the dialectic that allows us all to learn.

The promise of the arts was very graphically demonstrated at the Universite du Luxembourg conference that pulled EU universities together. The universities who participated in the conference are attempting to implement the Bologna Declaration - the EU educational integration statement. One of our colleagues at Universite du Luxembourg, Francois Carbon, has a huge commitment to the arts and uses it as a way to involve students positively with each other. His description was most interesting because it focused solely on how it happened, as opposed to what difference it made. It became abundantly clear that Francois' use of the arts was involving students in cultural exploration that was very powerful. His students, along with faculty/staff and community members, prepared for and performed the play, "Three Penny Opera." Hearing how effective this was caused me to wonder why multicultural education is so difficult in the U.S.A. The sad reality in the U.S.A. is that universities try so hard to provide multicultural and diversity programs, only to have them poorly attended or accomplish little in lasting change. In the case of the Europeans, using the arts became a stimulus for multicultural dialogue, thus reducing the tension, engaging students with each other, and letting them learn naturally through their experience. I don't have evidence but my guess is that this strategy is far more effective in stimulating learning across and between student cultures.

Another confirming example of using arts to bridge cultural barriers is the recent New York Philharmonic trip to North Korea. If you haven't seen the CNN documentary on this, you should make a point of it. The documentary references the decades of antagonism and suspicion that preceded the tour, only to see it evaporate when exposed to the universal language of music. Wagner, Gershwin, Dvorak, and the North Korean and U.S.A. National Anthems all brought performers and listeners together in profound exploration of sameness as well as difference. Is this not multicultural education of a different, and perhaps more effective, sort?

The focus on care versus independence in European and U.S.A. higher education results in a very stark contrast. Europeans repeatedly expressed their confusion related to the degree of oversight institutions in the U.S.A. exercise in order to care for their students. There were so many examples where European students are expected to behave as adults, take adult responsibility, and suffer or learn from the consequence of their actions. The safety nets and care provided by student affairs and other staff/faculty seemed incongruous with the goal of fostering autonomy and self-sufficiency. There is another side to this question and that is which system is most successful in graduating students. Although most of our European colleagues were not able to provide figures, it seemed apparent that there is much less attention placed on student success as measured by graduation rates. But what is the best measure of student success - gaining a degree or being responsible for one's own learning and progressing through university at a pace that is balanced with family, work, and launching oneself as an adult? Probably there is a middle ground where Europeans could take more care but there is likely to be increased "success" of students in the U.S.A. if they were required to take more responsibility for their own learning and life.

The importance of dialectic is my final realization and it is the result of the other two. Whether it is multicultural learning or helping students become successful, it is respectful dialogue that helps us all progress toward the models that will allow us to achieve the most. Throughout the two weeks traveling with my colleagues, we consistently expected to go into European settings to help "them" learn how to implement student affairs principles and practices only to find out that what they were already doing had significant merit from which we could learn as well. This is mutual and appreciative inquiry, maximizing curiosity, and the evolution of practice that can help us all do our best in fostering student learning. We all hopefully learned a lot!

Charles University's global reach

Our last heavy day in the Czech Republic was spent at Charles University in Prague. We had a jam-packed and fascinating day looking at this very old, complex, and expanding institution.

Charles University was founded in 1348 by King Charles. They presently have over 40,000 students and maintain over 1,000 global partnerships with other universities around the world. Charles is very typical of old European universities in the autonomy that each academic department has over its affairs. The departments are so strong that institutional decisions have to be made at the separate college levels and coordination across the colleges may or may not be forthcoming. On the other hand, they foster innovative partnerships with universities that support student, faculty, and staff exchanges and even allow for joint degrees all the way up to, and including, the Ph.D.

Part of our experience at Charles was visiting the Carolinum, the most historic and central building of a campus spread throughout the city. The picture above is of the courtyard of the Carolinum. We also saw the graduation hall, the robes, and degrees for graduates (picture to right). The ominous picture is of King George and the rest of the diploma is beautiful.

We ate in a student dining hall where I had a fascinating conversation with a young woman studying theology who now works on the Charles staff. She is a Jewish student and is going to study both Judaism and Islam during her master's work. She is pursuing this as preparation to work with international students who number around 4,000 each year. I was amazed at the potential connection between theology and preparation to work with international students. Many of my experiences have revealed that one of the most difficult differences for students to negotiate is religion. The lack of understanding of faith and the stereotypes about the many perspectives that students hold are frequently divisive. This young woman's preparation in theology may be a perfect match for international education.

The European tour has been fascinating for so many reasons. One of the things that is so different about this trip is that I really had the chance to compare the various forms of education emerging through the Bologna process. European higher education is changing and will change even more in the coming years. These changes will impact higher education in the U.S.A., the far east, the Arabian Gulf, and elsewhere. Keeping an eye on all these changes will be essential for those institutions that seek to maintain global status.

This was my last picture from Prague - this was taken in the late evening in the old square in the center of the city. As I strolled through the square with so many others around me, I wished so much that my family had been with me. There will be other times...

Prague - saved from the devastation

Prague has stood for almost 800 years as one of the great capitols of Europe. At one time it was third only to Rome and Paris in size and it clearly had vast opportunity as one of the Hapsburg dynasty's most wealthy territories. It was spared major damage during the World and other wars because somehow it managed to avoid violent take-overs, even when various other armies, rulers, and dictators took it over from time to time.

We had a fascinating tour guide who considered himself Palestine, even though born and living in Prague. His parents were political refugees from Palestine from the 1940s and 1950s. He wasn't bitter about this but his status as a person whose identity is Palestinian definitely influenced comments that he made. One particular point that he made that startled me was that he said that the Czechs have always been willing to give in to others, thus saving their art and architecture, but perhaps sacrificing their principles and self-determination. This was a fascinating point that I will continue to explore.

The most prominent point in all of Prague is the Palace on the hill above the city, one that includes St. Vitus' Cathedral. The majority of the architecture in the city is either Baroque or Art Neuvo (in the case of St. Wenceslas' square). By contrast, St. Vitus Cathedral is Gothic (interior view to left) and contains many beautiful windows and historical elements. Included in the historical elements are the burial sarcophigi of all the former rulers of the area presently occupied by the Czech Republic and a special chapel where "Good King Wenceslas" is buried.

The last thing of the day included finding the music - again. There is lots of music offered in Prague but much of it is light classical music that tourists can attend and think they are actually listening to a substantive classical concert. It's a pretty sad statement that there are so many of these mini-concerts that allow people to go through the motions of attending more challenging concerts. We were lucky that we found a concert of a medium-size orchestra performing works of Smetana and Dvorak (busts pictured to right are of these two composers) that offered a little more creative substance.

Prague is now attracting seven million tourists a year and May is at the height of the season. The crowds were massive but manageable. It was great to discover another fascinating and historic European city. Thank goodness it was saved from destruction, no matter the means. I was able to go to the site of one of the Czech people's greatest moments in coping with and challenging the occupation of other governments. Wenceslas Square was the place where 300,000 people gathered day after day, rallying around Vaclav Havel who lead them in chants of "it's time to go." The result of this "velvet revolution" was the withdrawal of Soviet forces without one military encounter or lost life. This is an amazing story of courage and of positive change without violence.