448 • 21 THE WAR ON TERRORISMYou can go on learning about their cultures as well as your own—not with
a childish desire to prove that "We're right and you're wrong" but, rather,
with a mature hope of promoting true dialogue between Middle Eastern
and Western ways of life.
There is much that we can learn from them: hospitality, generosity,
strong family ties, and true empathy for the needs and feelings of others.
But we expect that clashes will continue. Do not expect to find easy solu¬
tions. Do heed the stated interests and concerns of the parties to the vari¬
ous disputes and conflicts of the area. Look for the unstated hopes and
fears. Work for comprehensive conflict transformation from war to dia¬
logue. Be subtle. Give generous credit to the parties involved for any quar¬
rels they resolve or at least contain.
You have learned that the Middle East is an area that has always been vul¬
nerable to invasion and exploitation, that could not escape from the ambi¬
tions of local and foreign rulers, and that has been prized for its natural
resources and its strategic location. It has produced more than its share of
scholars and poets, artists and architects, philosophers and prophets. We call
it the cradle of human civilization. Let us hope it will not become its grave.