contents
    Summer 2002,
vol. 44, No. 1/2
 
<
  
________________

Fawzi Melhem.
  Student Speech 2002:Fawzi Melhem    
  -     Well, I guess this is the day we've all been waiting for, especially our parents who are gathered here with so many emotions clearly visible on their faces: joy, excitement, hope, and pride.
     To my father, who could not join us today, I dedicate this speech, saying with love and affection: thank you for everything you have done.
      Mr. President, distinguished guests, deans, faculty and staff, the exhilarated graduating class of 2002, and most importantly, our beloved parents who transformed our dreams into reality.
      The journey we all started when we entered AUB has reached its first plateau and here we stand at the threshold, ready and eager, to embark upon the rest of our lives and this is the true meaning of our commencement.
      Whether our journey leads into academia, or the workplace, the challenges are equal! But one thing is for certain, the skills and experiences that AUB has bestowed upon us will remain as a cornerstone for us to build upon.
      We as a student body, very often complain about harsh grading, impossible teachers, not enough time to cram the material, overwhelming course load, and the list goes on and on. It is this environment coupled with the role of AUB in the region as an institution which has always prepared its students to be leaders.
      This has, of course, been achieved by AUB giving its students the skills and insight necessary to bridge the gap between East and West today, in a world where ignorance and misunderstanding are being veiled by a mask often termed as a clash of civilizations; where occupation, violence against civilians and expansionism are labeled self-defense, while resistance and protection of home and land is considered terrorism. We as graduates of this institution must act as cultural translators, using the Western skills we were taught: to spell out the sociopolitical reality we live in.
      This has never been as important as today, especially following the events of September 11th. It is our calling as educated and well rounded graduates to take on the responsibility of facing hypocrisy on one hand, and juggling a new and as yet, unclear world order on the other. It's a daunting task, but it is one that we are able to face head on!
      It was once said: "Facts are not as important as people's perception of those facts." It is with this that we must realize that the way to face our problems must be one that takes us out of the mundane and daily rhetoric that has been designed to only cater to the thirst of the Arab masses, and the political ambitions of their governments.
This new world order that we are stepping into is one where the perception of the fact is more important than the truth! As such it is time for us to reach within, and find the creativity necessary to tackle the issues which concern us, and the world at large! For the world village, and the speed at which it communicates, ladies and gentlemen, waits for no one, and we on the other hand can only move as fast as our slowest caravan!
      It is by participation, expression, placing the all before the one, democracy building, and openness, rather than isolation, which will enable us to bring in our distinctive color without which the world mosaic is not complete!
      We must be wary of parachute democracies. We are told to promote democracy--that of course is fine as long as the one we choose is approved of.
      We need to remember that democracy is a scale, and it's a process, which must take its due time. Also, we must be cautious, since democracy has a tendency to be like a strong medicine. If taken all at once, it will kill the patient and embarrass the doctor.
      We do this by not allowing obstacles to 		permanently hinder our way. We, in this region have a tendency to think we are powerless. This is the biggest façade of all; this very feeling has been nurtured by the ever growing gap that exists between us as citizens, or rather subjects, and those who govern us. It is not their fault though!
      It's ours! For if we really think about it, we would realize that the corrupt public administrator is only an accomplice to the citizen who bribes him. And as such we develop a dependent relationship made up of two parties equally responsible!
      In a country like ours, facing severe economic crisis, we no longer can afford to be idle and accept the political decay, administrative corruption, and sectarian partitioning as well as the foreign influenced status quo, from those countries near… and far… But then again, that also is our fault!
      What we truly need is a serious effort at nation building, and this could only happen if we take a critical look at what it really means to be Lebanese. In 2002, traitors for some, remain heroes to others. We cannot afford in the year 2002 to remain individuals with divided loyalty. The need for us to be cohesive and nationalistic is paramount. Unfortunately, the current situation is best described by the quote, "We all want Lebanon, but each in his own way". It is time that we start to self-criticize, for it is only then that we can concentrate on what our united vision of Lebanon should be! This new and more dangerous war that we must avert is in the hearts and minds of our people.
      It is about time that we, as a vibrant society, regardless of religion and political patronage, begin to deal with our country's ills. As Lebanese we have once too often looked outward instead of inward for help. Brain drain and immigration have plagued and exhausted Lebanon's most precious resource, its people! We have once too often chosen to leave this country in times of hardship instead of remaining and paving the road to stability and nationhood.
      If we were to take a moment and look at those nations which have succeeded, we would find that they had the courage to reflect on past mistakes and communicate future vision, and as such know their history, so that the same mistakes are not repeated.
      As a final note it is imperative that we congratulate ourselves for earning our degree; be under no illusion this degree was not given to us! We earned it and the University simply guided us through it and confirms it upon graduation. As we join the ranks of AUB's prestigious alumni I wonder whether I will be able to afford for my children the same experience I've had. With the ever increasing cost of tuition, which unfortunately filters out many who have great potential simply due to their financial capacity, and in doing so taking away the zeal of AUB, that acts as a mirror which reflects Lebanon as a society, politically, culturally, and economically!
      Our sense of responsibility towards future generations is illustrated by a humble contribution of $50,000 by the University Student and Faculty Council to the financial aid fund known as the Fingerprints Project. I urge all of you, dear colleagues, to collectively match this figure by donating $25.00 each to immortalize your name on the trail of honor, which will be constructed on a lovely spot on this beautiful campus.
      Dear Friends,
      Don't ever allow anyone to rob you of the belief that you have the ability to change, and as the great poet Dylan Thomas said: "do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light!"

  - These pages are subjected to AUB's General disclaimer and copyrights
- The AUB Bulletin is the official news publication of the American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- It is published monthly by the Office of Information and Public Relations, Diana Sabbagh Building, Room 111. Tel.: 01-353228, Fax: 01-363234 or AUB extension: 2670/1, e-mail: ifkhoury@aub.edu.lb or information@aub.edu.lb
- Responsible Editor, Dirctor of Information and Public Relations: Ibrahim Khoury - Deputy Editor and Layout Designer: Henry Matthews - Advisor Nabeel G. Ashkar - Associate Editor: Elain Larwood
- Web Design: iMAD Zeineddine — e-mail: imadsz@hotmail.com