AUB talk

I spoke at AUB last night. The first time I speak there since I graduated with a MA back in 1983. I was overcome with emotions when I first saw the crowd: and that was very unusual for me--to overcome with emotions before or during a talk. What people told me in person also made me a bit responsible: I always convinced myself that I write for myself, and not for anyone else, perhaps to protect myself from ego trips. I told comrade/friend Rami that I was overcome with emotions by seeing the crowd--mostly of young people. He comforted me and it got better once I started talking. I spoke in Arabic but said at first: that for those who don't speak Arabic, I strongly urge you to learn the language especially if you plan to study and write about the region, just as we learn your languages when we travel to your lands. A Palestinian married to an Irish woman wrote to me that my words were harsh: that she left the talk in protest for what I said. I did not think that my words were harsh at all. I spoke in Arabic and then in the session for Q & A there was a bit of a commotion. Supporters of Arafat started to yell and scream at me because I had criticized in a recent article the PA and described them as counterparts to Antoine Lahd. ANd when people start to yell and scream, I get quiet and I actually tune out. So I mostly tuned out and the Q & A was not to my liking. AlJazeera Arabic taped most of the talk, and New TV taped some of it. I saw at least one man in the audience who video taped the whole thing but I don't know who he is. Several audio taped it. I will post what I receive.