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As we were preparing this issue to go to print, two events occurred that reminded us that, despite our individual differences, we are all united as humans. First, U.S. President Barack Obama gave his famous speech from Cairo. Everyone was hooked. People put aside their work and obligations to listen to this highly anticipated speech. At AUC, lounges were filled with students, faculty, staff and custodians watching and listening attentively to the words of this new president as he extended a hand of friendship to the Arab and Muslim world. In his speech, Obama noted that the “interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.” Whether we agree or disagree with the details of the speech, this core message of peace and unity should continue to resonate with us, especially in times of adversity. In this issue’s Akher Kalam (page 20), a graduate of the 1940s recalls his personal memories with Martin Luther King, Jr., who spoke at AUC during that time. In many ways, Obama represents the dream for which Martin Luther King fought. In addition, we examine another part of Obama’s visit to Cairo: the tour that he took with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Sultan Hassan mosque. Iman Abdulfattah (MA ’04), a distinguished alumna who guided Obama and Clinton on their tour, speaks about her experience that day ("Unforgettable Tour"). The second significant event was the initial discovery of two cases of swine flu among AUC students residing at the Zamalek dorms, followed by five similar cases. The university was closed for three days, and the Zamalek dormitory was quarantined for a week. We didn’t know what to expect. People were not sure whether to go out or just stay at home. At those defining moments, our futures were united because we felt at risk. When the World Health Organization announced H1N1 a global pandemic, again, it was a reminder of our interdependence and commonality, rather than our differences and conflicts. In "Quarantine Connection," we look at what it was like at the Zamalek dorms during this period and how everyone worked together to pass through those difficult times. Events like the spread of H1N1 and the global financial crisis ("National Implications of an International Crisis") are, of course, problems that need to solved. However, such hardships can also bring out the best in people. Let us remember that we all share a common purpose based on human dignity, individual worth, respect for diversity and a value for life. We are more similar than different.  
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