Connections - An Alumni and Friends Magazine by Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, IN
Pieces of Iraq
The Center for Global Perspectives and Campus Ministry hosted "Pieces of Iraq" - a three day event to promote knowledge and understanding of Iraqi culture.
Holy Cross College is involved in the Iraqi Student Project and is currently hosting two students, Omar Rasheed and Karam Salem. These two men assisted Jay Dunne, former Assistant Director of the Center for Global Perspectives, and Randa Al-Assadi, a Saint Mary's College Iraqi student in developing "Pieces of Iraq." The program included a guest speaker, a showing of the film "Iraq in Fragments," and personal presentations by Rasheed, Salem and Al-Assadi. "The goal was to present new information and new perspectives into the faith and culture of a nation to which United States citizens have bestowed many preconceived notions," said Dunne. "We wished to provide our community with a new way of understanding Iraq and the situation which involves our two nations. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear our Iraqi students share their lives with the College community in hope of promoting openness and cultural sensitivity," said Jay Dunne.
"Pieces of Iraq" began with an exciting presentation on Islam and Christianity by Professor Gabriel Said Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at Notre Dame University. A specialist in the Qur'an and on Muslim/Christian relations, Reynolds' dissertation won the Field Prize at Yale and is published as A Muslim Theologian in the Sectarian Milieu. In 2005, he organized the international conference at Notre Dame, "Towards a New Reading of the Qur'an?" which led to the book, The Qur'an in Its Historical Context. This presentation was followed by a discussion on the Sunni, Shia, and Christian relations in Iraq.
The second event was the showing of the acclaimed documentary "Iraq in Fragments". This film, shot shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein, offers some remarkable footage of everyday life in post-war Iraq. Both Rasheed and Salem agreed it was an accurate depiction of life in Iraq right now, though they would have liked to have seen a better sample of Iraqi citizens featured. They even suggested a movie called "Baghdad High" to those interested in seeing more of the Real Iraq.'
Karam Salem
"Pieces of Iraq" concluded with presentations by Rasheed, Salem and Al-Assadi. In front of an audience of students, faculty, community neighbors, and local news media, the three students spoke personally about the experiences that have shaped their lives and brought them to Notre Dame, IN. Salam, a talented, classically trained pianist, was anxious once he saw the size of the audience that turned out to hear him speak. "I was really excited, but I got a little nervous," Salem said, "Thank you, Holy Cross, for holding this event. I feel it really brought awareness to the Iraqi Student Project and Iraqi culture in general."