Turkish Journalist Headlines Cross-Cultural Dinner

Signage of the Overton Hotel and Conference Center off of Mac Davis Lane, which can be seen from the stadiumWhile sipping from their warm cups, dinner guests bonded using the traditional Turkish custom of sharing a cup of coffee with friends while listening to cross-cultural and interfaith discussion.

Lubbock’s Overton Hotel played host to Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol during the 10th annual Dialogue Institute of the Southwest Friendship Dinner and Award Ceremony on Tuesday night, which honored several prominent people in Lubbock.

Atilla Hafizoglu, the Lubbock representative of the Dialogue Institute, said the dinner’s aim is to bring prominent figures together in hopes of leaving with a greater sense of cultural unity among Islamic, Christian and Jewish traditions. Cultural understanding, he said, better allows people to coexist and society to function, where misunderstandings might otherwise cause stereotypes and preconceptions.

From the meal to the music, Turkish culture and tradition served as the night’s predominant theme. Hafizoglu said Turkey bridges the gap between the western world and the eastern world.

Dialogue Institute of the Southwest Banner at the 2013 Friendship Dinner

Dialogue Institute of the Southwest Banner at the 2013 Friendship Dinner

Hafizoglu  used a personal example to highlight not only stereotypes of Turkey but stereotypes of Texas. While living in New York City, Hafizoglu said his mother urged him not go to Texas and attend Tech.

“She told me people are like cowboys,” Hafizoglu said. “They are like killing each other with rifles and all. There is a conception there in society. In every society there are like bad people and good people.”

Due to terrorism, he said there has been a misunderstanding of Muslim culture in the world.

Turkish Journalist Mustafa Akyol speaking to Lubbock's "Mr. Conservative" Donald May during the book signing

Turkish Journalist Mustafa Akyol speaking to Lubbock’s “Mr. Conservative” Donald May during the book signing

Mustafa Akyol, who acted as keynote speaker, talked about different views of Islamic practice.

“I think in the U.S., unfortunately, some fanatic extremists Muslims were a minority, they shape the image of Islam since 9/11,” Akyol said, “whereas the great majority of Muslims don’t agree with them, that don’t condone what they do, and they are against acts of their extremism.”

Akyol said the Turkish Muslims in Lubbock are ready to be heard and spread the message of moderate Muslims, which make up the majority of the religion.

Akyol also made a guest lecture appearance in Regents Professor Kent Wilkinson’s graduate seminar earlier that day.

Donald May, who blogs in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal as “Mr. Conservative” and congressional hopeful, told Akyol that people like him had the ability to change the world.

The Raindrop Turkish House and the Turkish Student Association at Texas Tech University also helped out with the event, and the Tech College of Media and Communication was one of the financial supporters.

Tech President Duane Nellis speaking at the Frienship Dinner

Tech President Duane Nellis speaking at the Frienship Dinner. The Tech College of Media and Communication was among the event sponsors.

Robert Giovannetti, the managing director for public broadcasting at Tech, served as the event’s master of ceremonies. Award announcers during the ceremony included Tech President Duane Nellis and College of Media and Communication Dean David Perlmutter.

The institute gave the community service award to Tibor Nagy, the Tech vice provost for international affairs and former U.S. ambassador to Guinea and to Ethiopia.

Aydin Cayir's Live Calligraphy Show

Aydin Cayir’s Live Calligraphy Show

The institute also honored Tech Interim Provost Lawrence Schovanec for outstanding contribution to education, and Stephen Beasley, publisher of A-J Media, for outstanding contribution to media.

The event also included a professional calligraphy session and concluded with a book signing by Akyol.

 

About Abbie Arroyos and Alicia Keene