By KAREN GUTKE

karen@newsroom.byu.edu

Dr. Daniel C. Peterson, a BYU professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, spoke to BYU College Republicans Tuesday, Feb. 22 about how students can become more objective in learning to discern Middle Eastern politics.

Peterson answered students' questions about the Middle East that ranged from politics to religious issues.

"In order to judge the politics in the Middle East you need to be able to understand both sides of the story: both Israel's side and Islam's side," Peterson said.

Peterson said he thinks that Americans tend to side too much with Israel in disputes.

"Our commitment to Israel damns us in our relationship with Arabs and Muslims," he said.

Peterson said students should strive to understand not only the culture of Israel, but also Islamic culture.

"We share many common values with the Middle East," he said.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. Peterson told how he was able to host Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid's visit to BYU last summer.

"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland called me in August right after finals when all the professors flee from Provo. He told be that Wahid was coming and asked me to put together a luncheon and a tour of campus for him."

Wahid was in Salt Lake City to have eye surgery when he visited BYU.

During the tour of campus, another BYU faculty member told Peterson that Wahid could never be the President of Indonesia.

"He must feel really stupid now," Peterson said.

Wahid became president of Indonesia in October 1999. He is the grandson of a co-founder of the 34 million member Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama.

The organization represents the conservative wing of Indonesian Islam and is considered by some to be the most tolerant and accepting of Western culture and religions.

While Wahid was at BYU, Peterson presented him with some classic Islam books translated into English by BYU's Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies

LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dined with President Wahid on January 27, 2000, in the royal palace.

"I think that Wahid's visit to Utah helped to open the doors for President Hinckley to visit Indonesia last month," said Peterson.

A Deseret News article on January 27 said that President Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie, and President Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve and his wife, Donna, met with the Indonesian leader as part of their trip through Asia and the Pacific region.

President Hinckley presented copies of the Scriptures to Wahid during the dinner. President Hinckley first met the Indonesian president last year when he visited Salt Lake City for medical treatment on his eyes.

Dr. Peterson teaches Islamic studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at BYU. He received his Bachelor's degree in Greek and philosophy from BYU and a Ph.D. in Arabic and Persian from UCLA.



Copyright Brigham Young University 23 Feb 2000