A Series on the Current

Crisis in the Middle East

Breaking Through the Wall is a series of presentations designed to help improve our understanding of key issues in the Middle East. Our goal is to support a more effective and peaceful US policy in the region.

Topics include Islam, Palestine, Afghanistan, and various cultural issues. We hope to offer other events in the future and we sincerely invite you to participate.

At present America faces a whole series  of major  problems in the Middle East:

·         There is still no clear solution to the various problems arising from our invasion of Iraq.

·         In Afghanistan, violence and US troop levels are both on the rise.

·         In Pakistan, the blowback from Afghanistan is seriously destabilizing the central government.

·         From Somalia, piracy poses an increasing threat to world shipping.

·         In The Sudan, the tragedy in Darfur rages on.

·         In Palestine, the failed Israeli policy denying the Palestinian people their own state continues to inflame the region.

·         Overall, a history of unquestioning US support for Israel continues to undermine America’s standing in the region and the world.

These problems are the result of many factors, but years of US policy based on serious misunderstandings of the various countries and cultures involved have made many of those problems much worse.

That this fact has lately been admitted by policy-makers across the political spectrum is of little comfort. Like most challenges in a Democratic society, these problems can only be solved if people at the grassroots level take an interest, inform themselves, and force their lawmakers to do the same. 

In short, a truly effective policy can only evolve if Americans begin to educate themselves more deeply on these issues.

Please join us in trying to make a difference.

Part 1:

Saturday, May 9               3:00  p.m.

      How America Sees the Middle East: A Cross-Cultural Perspective 

      Waldport Community Center

      Gilbert Schramm, a former Peace Corps volunteer with years of academic and personal experience with Middle East issues, will speak.

Friday, May 15                   7:00 p.m. 

     Movie: Occupation 101

      South Beach Community Center

      An award winning  recent documentary on Palestine that gives a clear history of the conflict and  brings the viewer up to date on  key issues.

Saturday, May 16               5:30 p.m.

An Arabian Night:  Readings of  Palestinian

and Arab  poets

Canyon Way Restaurant (Club 1216)

Local readers will present a variety of (primarily) Arab Poetry in English.

Sunday, May 17                  12:00-3:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Towards Peace in

Palestine-Where Things Stand Today

Newport, PUD Public Meeting Room

      From their unique first hand experience  three speakers will share their perspectives on issues central to achieving peace in Palestine/Israel.

      * Kamal Hassan: Life as a Refugee

      * Peter Miller (AUPHR): The Settlement issue

      *Ibrahim Hamide: Life Under Occupation

Saturday, May 23                  3:00-5:00 p.m.

What is Islam? 

Waldport Community Center

Speaker Penny Russell, a local resident, presents an objective and even-handed description of Islamic belief and practice based on her personal experiences as a member of an American Muslim community. An informative, non-sectarian presentation.

Saturday, May  30                 3:00-5:00 p.m. Afghanistan: Challenge and Tradition

Waldport Community Center

Speaker Mohamed Farhad is an Afghan student currently doing work at OSU and a former translator for the US army in Afghanistan. He will speak about Afghan life, the various challenges facing his country, and the American role there. A unique chance to get an Afghan perspective on events in this important nation.

*Later this year we hope to present

a tribute to Rachel Corrie, featuring a

local production of the play,

My Name is Rachel Corrie.

(Please watch for announcements)

(All Events Free/ Donations Gladly Accepted)

Presented by Lincoln County DFA

For information, contact:

D. Eckstein 867-3484 or G. Schramm 265-7302 

(All Events Free/ Donations Gladly Accepted)

Presented by Lincoln County DFA

For information, contact G. Schramm 265-7302 or D. Eckstein 867-3484