European nations and the United States bear their share of responsibility for the problems of the modern Middle East, according to the president of Hickory's Lenoir Rhyne College, Dr. Ryan LaHurd. a frequent commentator on matters related to the politics, history and culture of that part of the world.
     It seems the Middle East is responsible for much more than its share of tension and conflict in today's world, but our response to what happens there is based more on ignorance of diplomatic history than on the real facts, said Dr. LaHurd.
     Two recent anniversaries — the Iran hostage crisis 20th and the Persian Gulf War 10th — and the heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians have crystallized the Middle East in our mind's eye. "We tend to see these as unrelated events except by geography," the Rotarian said. "We tend to view these countries as crazy or uncontrolled people who can't get their act together.
     "Our responses are based in ignorance," said the recipient of three Fulbright Fellowships, two of which were in Syria and Yemen. The cause of much of (he area's difficulty comes from several factors. They include "the Peace to End All Peace" after the "War to End All Wars" (World War 1), the fall of the Ottoman Empire based in Turkey and the creation of the modern Middle East by outsiders — Europeans and, to a lesser extent more recently, Americans.
     One goal of the British in the first war was to break up the Ottoman Empire established in 1514. Englishman T. E. Lawrence — Lawrence of Arabia — fought with Sharif Hussein to overthrow the Turks. Ottoman rule ended in 1918.
     The famous British Balfour Declaration (November 2, 1917) by Zionist Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, made in the name of the King, set things in motion: "Britain 'views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people ... it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done to prejudice the ... rights of the existing non-Jewish population in Palestine. . . .'"
     After the war, the League of Nations gave Britain a mandate over Arab lands. The French demanded their own mandate section and were given Syria and Lebanon. Sharif Hussein was rewarded for his cooperation. He was made Emir of Arabia.
     For Hussein's son, Abdallah, the British created Transjordan (today's Jordan), a new nation, and made him king. For son Faisal, the British created a new nation, Iraq, and made him King.
     To fulfill the Balfour declaration, the British attempted to create Israel and Palestine, said Lenoir Rhyne's leader since 1994. Both Zionists and Arabs resisted the move. Syria resisted the creation of the new nation Lebanon.
     Said the graduate of Mt. Carmel, the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin-Madison who did postgraduate work at Harvard, in the process of these creations "serious problems were created."
     Outsiders were established as "rulers over new nations." Lebanon ended up with a "crazy quilt of political-religious groups." Certain peoples — most notably the Palestinians — became "nationless peoples." And out of all of this grew to­day's Israeli-Arab conflict.
     Add to this myriad of conflicts and ill-conceived ideas our own country's policy concerns: access to cheap oil, the benefit of petrodollars, controlling the Soviet Union and assuring the security of the state of Israel.
     The United States, Dr. LaHurd said, did this in the past by collecting as many client states as possible, supporting powerful but compliant leaders, giving some states over to the Soviets and supporting and arming surrogates.
     The scholar said the future has some seemingly intractable problems. External powers continue to arm surrogates, leading to a proliferation of weapons. The U.S. is "the" major arms supplier.
     The State of Israel sits in the Middle East with nuclear weapons. The Palestinian-Israeli struggle seems to intensify daily while Palestinian refugees threaten stability in other Arab countries, especially Jordan.
     Rightwing Islamist (not Islamic) politics seems to be a threat to every Arab state, but most particularly the moderate ones. And water, or lack of it, grows as another source of conflict between the "haves" and "havenots."
     Dr. LaHurd brought greetings from Hickory Rotary Club, the largest and oldest of three in the Catawba city. He said he considered himself an unofficial representative of the presidents of North Carolina's 36 independent colleges and universities, bringing greetings and "thanks to you community leaders for your support of our institutions."
     "We know that our leaders understand the value added by private sector colleges who out of all proportion to our size supply leaders in the professions, education, business and the community," the father of two said.
     President Don introduced a new member, Monteic Antonio Sizer, executive director of Right Moves for Youth, Inc.
     Doug Booth introduced guests and visitors. Phil Van Hoy as usual pushed the line on jokes but did tell a great one about the inauguration reveler who got off the Metro after the evening's events at about 2 a.m. and was accosted by a man who demanded his money. The man explained to the would-be robber that he was a U.S. Congressman, to which the robber replied, "Then give me my money."
     Thomas Moore led the club in singing "God Bless America." Ray Killian introduced the president of his alma mater.
     Tom Robertson announced the "second coming" of the joint Rotary Habitat House project. Call him if you want to sign up. Kick-off and framing lake place February 22, 23 and 24.

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New Member

CYNTHIA BLYTHE MARSHALL

Joined 1993
Rejoined 2000
Youth Outreach

Communities In Schools Char-Meek, Inc.
500 E. Morehead St., Ste 218 (28202)
704-335-0601
FAX 704-335-0697
email: ciskids1@aol.com

     Cynthia Marshall is the executive director of Communities In Schools (CIS) of    Charlotte-Mecklenburg   (formerly Cities In Schools). She was hired by Jack Tate and the newly created board of directors in 1985. This non-profit organi­zation receives funding from the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, United Way of Central Carolinas, local foundations, corporations, churches, and individuals. CIS mobilizes resources from all sectors of the community, encouraging businesses and parents to participate in local public schools. Personal attention is given to critical needs such as health and dental care, food, clothing and housing — issues that present barriers to a child's education.

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