Five years after the loss of his son, Dr. Judea Pearl spoke about the message of peace among humanity around the world during the Global Consortium, hosted by the Global History Society and webcasted in the Teleconference Center on Nov. 28. Pearl’s son Daniel was a journalist kidnaped and murdered by Islamic extremists in Karachi, Pakistan as he was investigating links between Al Qaeda and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.

Pearl said that despite the loss of his son he felt that there were two messages that were spotlighted.

“To those who are Muslim, we (the Americans) are not your enemy,” he said, “and to the Americans and Jews if there’s something to offer you must deliver.”

In addition, with the Middle East conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis, Pearl commented that there should be a building block that is meaningful.

“Religion deals with the absolute, that is the believer gets the power of the absolute,” Pearl said.

Furthermore, with regard to Islam, he said that the Islamic people believe that the U.S. has a phobia against them.

That is where the Daniel Pearl Foundation, founded after the murder of the journalist, comes in to help fight hatred.

The solution, according to Pearl, lies in journalism, music and dialogue.

“With journalism, it is about being fair and balanced. With music, it is about a dedication to tolerance and humanity itself because what it essentially does is create electricity and it is a protection of our civility.”

Following the discussion, students as well as faculty asked Pearl questions about the conflict in the Middle East and about ways to teach society about togetherness.

Waleed Nueirat, English and economics major, emotionally questioned the Palestenians and Israelis crisis.

Pearl said that there has been a condition placed upon both sides in regard to the fight over the occupation of the West Bank.

“I do believe that both Palestenians and Iraelis can end occupation tomorrow,” Pearl said, “but I’m just waiting for that moment.”

Pearl said that when both sides of the continued conflict say that there is a conflict between them, that one side is trying to take home away from the other, then that is when he will be able to say that both end their conflict.

Nueirat said that is what is important for him to have a better understanding of not only his legal status but the refugees who see conflict between both sides everyday.

“If I was doing what they were doing, that is taking away the home of the Israelis, I would be punished for doing that,” he said.

“If someone has kicked you out of where your home is that person (is) not a human being.”

In hearing the message of Pearl, students and faculty said that what struck them the most is how someone could take a tragic murder of their own son and turned it into something positive.

Dr. John Haas, political science instructor, said that he was impressed by the way Pearl spoke about his son and the fact that he was open about such a tragic event.

“Overall I was struck by his personality,” he said, “and he handled the question from the audience well.” He commented that for him to send the message to everyone around the world is amazing.

Roberto Baik, accounting major, said Pearl’s message of calling for peace was a noble cause.

“It was good that he was here to speak about what he’s doing,” he commented. “Being here at Cerritos talking to students is just the beginning (of keeping the message of his son’s life).”

For Board of Trustees Vice President Tom Jackson it was an enlightening experience because what Pearl did during the question and answer period helped to understand the situation in the Middle East and that there was a simple solution in how to end it.

Lissandra Perini, child development major, said that Pearl had brought forth important issues and that is was good to have a movement for a better world.

Holly Bogdanovich, director of student activities, said Pearl was moving, “toward communication and respect and that the overall message to everyone was that there should be open dialogue among everyone.”

“A person should be able to express his/her point of view,” Bogdanovich said. “(Someone) doesn’t necessarily have to agree with what that person has to say but the point is to listen to each other.”

Basically, for Pearl that is the simple solution to bringing everyone together.

For Mark Pizzo, president of the Global History Society, to have someone like Pearl come and talk to students at Cerritos, spoke volumes.

He said that what stood out was him and what he is trying to do for the world.

The same can be said for Haas because of the effort to make students aware of the important issues, Pizzo said.