Macquarie University's Centre for Middle East and North African Studies is a comprehensive faculty dedicated to a thorough and frank dissection of various countries in the world. Guest speakers, both provocative and timely, are a regular feature as is examination of Western involvement and complicity in the current region's troubles. Perhaps most importantly, emphasis is given to examining the wonder, beauty and problems of the countries, rather than the typical Orientalist perspective.
I've been asked to join the Centre's Board and will contribute occassional talks, assistance, advice and guest speaker organising. I'm honoured and I thank Director Andrew Vincent for the priviledge.
I've been asked to join the Centre's Board and will contribute occassional talks, assistance, advice and guest speaker organising. I'm honoured and I thank Director Andrew Vincent for the priviledge.
9 Comments:
Great stuff.
I'm a former student of Dr Vincent. The "Middle East Centre" as it was in my day is THE place to study the Middle East in Aus.
The centre always tries to vary its speakers and actually does produce some balanced scholarship (minus shaba's invisible inverted commas).
They've had speakers ranging from Chomsky, to Kurdish leaders, exec members of the NSW Jewish Board of deputies, former Palestinian prisoners, former diplomats (Pierre Hutton), Andrew Wilkie, Ron Weiser).
I must admit to being a fairly lost undergraduate who partied way too hard until I discovered Andrew Vincent's courses. A major turning point in my life.
Thanks all for the support.
We've got some imbalances to sort out...
Cool man. As sharing knowledge is against the creed of the sick far right I'm sure that they believe it in their interest to disparage any institution and it's members that does not goosestep to the ordered criteria.
Peace.
Does anybody hear that squeaking? Ah just ignore it.
The intent is not so much serious scholarship. After all, this is not a fact checking course. what is important is the point of view. In that regard, we want to hear what Arafat has to say, even it it merely proves his liniage to nazi germany.
We want to hear the opinions of scum like dirt and elf and umkahlil just to see what the screwed up people in the world are thinking.
Ibra,
I came through all of Vincent's courses and also had a voluntary role running the MEC for a few years too.
I came out of that and have taken down more Aus/Kiwi LIVING AND BREATHING Nazis than most.
Have you done the courses? Are you ex-club Mac? Have you downloaded every Vincent lecture and listened to them?
In, short - what do you actually know about them that you haven't allowed your innate prejudices to assume for you?
Darp, You misunderstand me. I have no complaints regarding MEC. In fact I applaud efforts such as that. All I am saying is that voices of ill reason such as Arafat and dirt should be heard if only to find out what lunatics think about.
Well done Antony, about time you got the recognition you deserve.
Keep up the good work!
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