U.S. Embassy Israel


Embassy News	U.S. Citizen Services	Visas to the U.S.	Contact Us	Resources

DR. MICHAEL KARAYANNI
15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ISRAELI-ARAB SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (IASP)

Ambassador Jones, Mrs. Jones, distinguished guests and fellow colleagues and friends:

It is once again a great honor to stand here before you and thank the American Embassy, indeed the American Government, in putting together this extraordinary scholarship program. If we were confident before, at the 10th anniversary, about how successful the program has been, today we happen to be even more confident. All you need to do is just look around you, and see the tens of graduates of the program. With more confidence I say today that each has made a difference, each has assumed a leading role in his and her vocational life and serves as a role model for many others.

Five years ago, speaking in a similar gathering, I cited in my remarks Martin Luther King who said that "only when it is dark that one can see the stars". Well, if things were dark then, they are certainly dark today. Human suffering and the loss of innocent lives is a daily repertoire. Peace seems today something that exists only in fairy tales, a dream and a sense of the unreal. So how is it that it has gotten darker and no stars have been seen? Was Martin Luther King wrong in his observation? I think not. The stars are there. It is our vision that is lacking. It is our capability to look up and be able to see the stars that are there that is missing. Mr. Ambassador, there is nothing more important to bring human beings to posses the kind of vision necessary to see the stars, or should I say the essence and need of individuals, groups and nations, than their ability to be knowledgeable. Their ability to understand the human beauty as it is exemplified in the arts, the human nature as it is documented in the social sciences and the laws of the universe that surrounds us as observed and developed by the natural sciences. True Knowledge is the true power. I think this was the essence of a remark made by another great American, Abraham Lincoln who said that essentially "you cannot fool all the people all the time". This is so, since there is something in the human nature that directs us towards the truth of our existence - this is our awareness, our knowledge and our humanity.

The Israeli-Arab Scholarship program has taken our Arab minority in Israel a major phase forward. It might be a small step for the American government, and maybe a great step in each of our own individual lives, but for sure it happens to be a great leap for our community. We are better able to be knowledgeable, and thus better able to look up, see things, observe nature and understand our existence.

We are here today in order to celebrate another IASP anniversary. Though the program has been a great success, it is still a teenager. It is only 15. Think of what it can become when it is a full grown up. But more importantly, let us join hands in order to make sure that it does become the grown up we all want it to be. We are all for the effort, and will do all at our disposal to make this happen.

Mr. Ambassador, it is always a pleasure to also have the opportunity to thank the staff of the Embassy that handles the program. Their support and enthusiasm is not just appreciated but is admirable as well. I would like to particularly thank the Counselor for Public Affairs, Dr. Helena Finn, the Cultural Attach Mr. Ehriam Cohen, and last but not least, Ms. Elena Mischel the program coordinator, who continues to bless us with her motherly care.

Thank You.