Arab-Chilean gave lecture in Tennessee

Al-Imad lectures history of Middle East conflict

By Jessica Mynatt

On Oct. 24, Professor Leila Al-Imad gave a summary of the long history of political conflicts in that area.

Her father was Lebanese and her mother was from Chile. She offered a unique perspective on the subject.

Professor Al-Imad explained how outside influences were causing changes in the Middle East.

“In the middle of the nineteenth century, nationalism hit the Middle East,” she said.

The idea of nationalism was coming from the west, and the idea of fundamentalism was coming from the east.

It became a cultural idea that problems were caused by people not living up to their religion, and this view encouraged the fundamentalist movement.

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From Tennessee: This was a few days ago.