Through American Eyes

Cancer Hits Home

2007-03-04T13:47:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers,

I'd like to thank all of you who have recently prayed for my father.
A few weeks ago I went to the emergency room, only to be told that my dad has terminal cancer and less than a year to live. He is still young, and our family considered the doctors' analysis as very devastating.
During these stressful days I have searched for a cure. They do exist, and we have spoken with the survivors.
Those of you who read my blog know that I am a Christian. My faith, wavering and perhaps doubtful at times has been surely tested. Cancer, that hateful, dreaded word, has become not uncommon in my mind and home. Science is wonderful, but a doctor's ability to heal is limited. Survivors--sent home to die--continue to fight and exist. They have prepared homemade vegetable juices, had traditional chemo, eaten raw clams daily, and found Oriental herbs.
What I have come to know is this, the human spirit is strong, and with faith, it is indomitable.

Nazareth Christian Center

2007-02-08T14:04:00.000-05:00

A new Christian center has just been opened in Nazareth --the Nazareth Center for Christian Studies.
Native Nazarenes will recognize the YMCA building in the photo.

From Come and See:
A new Christian publication that intends to write theology on current
and relevant issues was recently launched in Nazareth under the title
"Al-Kalima" meaning "the Word" in Arabic.

The publication is aimed at the level of church members as the
intention is to produce a theology for the people. It is published by
the Nazareth Center for Christian Studies (NCCS), the newly launched
center of learning in Nazareth. NCCS is an initiative of the
Association of Baptist Churches in Israel (ABC). The ABC is the single
largest evangelical group in Israel.

To read more about this or see a PDF version of Al-Kalima, cut and paste this link - http://www.comeandsee.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=784

Strange Words

2007-02-05T07:39:00.000-05:00

Strange words have entered our vocabulary, borrowed from Arabic: Jihad, Wahabi, Salafi, Akbar, Dhimmi, Kuffar, Fatwa, Islam, Dar, Shia, Sunni.
Until the last few years, most of us were rather clueless about the Middle East. I would expect that the majority of us Americans still are, although a minority have tried to educate ourselves.

The first chapter of Future Jihad, by Dr. Walid Phares outlines the Historical Roots of Jihad. I have to say, unless you're a Middle Eastern scholar or a history buff, it may be rather intense, but necessary reading. Without the knowledge of Islamic history, we cannot comprehend the reasons for the war today.

Chapter one is summed up in three parts:
"....three currents emerged from the ashes of the world official boy of jihad: one that rejected it and adhered to international law; another one that ignored the debate while adhering practically to the new international community; and a third, the jihadists, which resuscitated it, reshaped its doctrines, and wages wars and conflicts in its name." p. 45

My understanding is that the third group are those who mean to harm others and also, it is different sociologically and psychologically from the other two branches of Islam.
Chapter 2 "Who Are The Jihadists?"

Dr. Walid Phares

2007-02-03T15:46:00.000-05:00

I received a new email today, highlighting Dr. Phares in tonight's special about Radical Islam on Fox News. The following is an excerpt:

"Islamism and Jihadism"

Terrorism expert Walid Phares will appear on Fox News special on "Radical Islamists" on Saturday at 9 PM and at midnight. The documentary, moderated by ED Hill, will feature a number of experts on radicalism and Jihadism and will air on Monday as well. Dr Phares is a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the director of its "Future Terrorism Project."

Dr. Walid Phares

2007-02-01T07:34:00.000-05:00

I just received an email, Dr. Walid Phares will appear at 10:35AM EST on Fox News today--2/1/07.

A Death

2007-01-31T07:58:00.000-05:00

This week someone in our family passed away, a patriarch, well loved by us all.

His grown son, long a man, is abroad. The question--how do we tell him?
But first, find out if it's true.

We Americans hear facts..a family member is sick or has died.

Middle Easterners sometimes handle these details a little differently.
Part of this is due to the separation of living on opposite ends of the world.

The Phone Calls:
So...what to do? I've known some immigrants here who become deathly ill, but will not call home. They do not want to upset their old mother overseas. Problems made in America, are pretty much kept in America.

On two other occasions, I remember anonymous phone calls made deceitfully to a family member about a loved one's death. These are a type of revenge for a wrong made against the caller. As an American, I find this extremely shocking, especially if it occurs within extended family.

What Happens:
Traditionally, the deceased is buried in our family crypt within 24 hours. Funeral homes and embalming do not exist in the community. Family members assist with preparation of the body. Sometimes in smaller villages, a bell is rung, signifying a death and imminent burial.

Occasionally the deceased is held from burial an extra day, allowing for those abroad to possibly return. (This is nearly impossible though.)

Most often, a phone call arrives, explaining that someone back home is ill. A short while later, another call comes in, stating that the loved one is critical. Finally, the death nell is rung, posthumously of course.

I used to find this type of behavior condescending, but after twenty years, I certainly do understand its purpose. For the immigrant, who lives far from his family, it prevents an immediate shock.
Overseas, loved ones will come to the immediate family's home every day, for at least a week. They will sit together and try to comfort the grieving spouse and children. Extended family is the support structure during extremely stressful times.

Unfortunately, the immigrant abroad rarely has the same support. Depression and guilt are significant issues.

Life in the United States

Walid Phares: Intro to Future Jihad

2007-01-22T07:42:00.000-05:00

It's 9/11. Americans are asking poignant questions.
Dr. Phares reiterates these thoughts through the introduction of Future Jihad.

We all remember where we were on that ominous day, what we did, what we thought.

Dr. Phares was with his students. While most of us were in the Twilight Zone, Dr. Phares, because he'd studied the jihad phenomenon for a lifetime and had been analyzing it for twenty-five years, saw what was happening and knew who the enemy was.

That night as Americans sat glued to tv news networks, questions formed in their minds. I might add that these questions are still ongoing, as citizens attempt to resolve some issues they don't really understand.

From the Introduction, Dr. Phares lists those key questions:

"Why do they hate us?"
"Who are they?"
"What did they want to happen?"
"Why did they launch the attacks of 9/11?"
"Are they at war with us?"
"What did they want to achieve?"
"Why didn't we know about it?"
"Who obstructed our knowledge of it?"
"Are they planning on future wars?"
"Have these wars already started?"
"What can we do about them?"

Hindsight is 20/20, but I would say that Future Jihad is also 20/20. Though 9/11 is behind us, Dr. Phares's Future Jihad allows us to possibly view what's coming.

Walid Phares: Email

2007-01-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

Before beginning this commentary on "Future Jihad", I wrote to Dr. Phares.
His book, just out this month in an international paperback version is different from the original hardcover in that it includes a new chapter titled FUTURE JIHAD: TERRORIST STRATEGIES AGAINST THE WEST. It summarizes the inclusivity of global jihad around the world.

The international paperback version also is printed under the title "Terrorist Strategies Against the West".
You can find reviews of "Future Jihad" in both English and Arabic at: Future Jihad.

For further reading regarding Dr. Phares and his work go to:
Family Security Matters Org.: Contributing Editor
World Defense Review : Columnist
Defend Democracy Org. : Senior Fellow

Here is a piece of the email, emphasizing what a year's difference has made between the 2005 hardcover and the 2006 softcover:

The new title is “Terrorist Strategies against the West. The following are adapted excerpts: WALID PHARES EXPLAINS… "During the year Future Jihad was published in America, significant developments further proved true the conclusions of the initial book. In one single year, before and after its publication a series of declarations by the Jihadists, by international leaders and by intellectuals on all sides of the conflict, signaled that the “War on Terrorism" was after all an all-out confrontation between a worldwide Web of Islamist movements and regimes on the one hand and a dispersed international community, some of which was engaged in this world war while, on the other hand, parts of it weren’t.

My first objective was to explain basic facts to the international public community: that there was an ideological current out there, aiming at world domination, which is defined as “Jihadism." The whole of Jihadism comes from two trees, one is Salafi the other is Khomeinist.
The Salafists, formed in the Sunni environment, are inspired by doctrines of the Middle Ages and have emerged in modern times as Wahhabis, the Muslim Brotherhood, Takfiris, Deobandis, Tablighi and others. They want the reestablishment of a modern day Caliphate. They feel they are the heirs of 14 centuries of history, and they reject modern international law.
The Khomeinists are the Jihadists who emerged in the Shiia community. They aim at establishing an Imamate to reunify all Muslims under their guidance in pursuit of Jihad. The books’ second objective was to show how Jihadists view the world, its modern history, its international relations, its wars, the various civilizations and how they adapt their strategies to modernity.

Chapters three, seven, eight and nine were dedicated to show the readers how the Jihadists viewed the 20th century, WWII, the Cold War, the choices they made and the different options they developed as Salafists, Wahhabis, Khumeinists, regarding the Soviets, Israel, the West, and the Muslim regions.
The bottom line was to show that there were no sheer emotional and simplistic reactions to crisis, but rather focused, integrated, and complex policies and strategic objectives. This assertion goes against the dominant theories of the past, which never went away yet, that in essence Islamist attitudes are created by Western policies.*
*Also published at World Defense Review

Walid Phares : FUTURE JIHAD

2007-01-16T07:49:00.000-05:00

Before I read a book, I'd like to know if it's worth my time. What will I get out of it? And how can I relate to the content?

First, I look at the author. Who is he or she? What is the background of the author and why is he writing the book? This information gives me a little perspective. I suppose that's why I've always enjoyed a great biography.

Next, I open to the contents, skim for a section I might like and turn to it. Briefly reading two to three pages, I let this determine whether or not I'll actually read the entire book.

Because I'd been researching the problem of Muslim extremist proselytizing in U.S. prisons, I opened to Future Jihad to America: Jihad's Second Generation and read pp. 214-215. (See my post-- Wake Up America! ) These two pages helped confirm in my eyes the growing problem with Islamic extremism within our own country.

At home I returned to the Introduction of the book starting with Praise for Walid Phares and Future Jihad. Listed are such notable names and their remarks as Rick Hahn,Former FBI Terrorism Expert and Col. Rick Francona, Retired Intelligence Officer, among others.

A section often skipped by readers, Acknowledgments, tells readers that Dr. Phares values his family, mentioning his brother, mother, sister, and his late father. Dr. Phares writes, "...beyond the frontiers of life, I owe to my late father my constant desire to bring truth to people. He taught and conviced me that truth brings justice; he used to say: 'Bring knowledge around you, that's your mission.' "
A true life's mission statement for the purpose of assisting us readers, who so desperately need to understand the Jihadist world. For us Future Jihad is a prerequisite.

Next post--Dr. Phares, his works, some background. See links in right column.

Part 3: Marriage Comes Out of the Closet

2007-01-12T12:54:00.000-05:00

Part 3
For convenience?

Last night I was thinking about all the interesting types of people I have met through my husband; people of different races, religions, and nationalities.

One such person is a dear friend of ours that I have known for probably twenty years.
I've seen him through his engagement, his marriage, and his divorce. Today he is crushed and only just beginning to regain himself.

My friend, Basil, married a lovely young woman whom his mother had introduced to him. Runneen was a resident in the U.S. and had a promising career ready to go.

Their engagement had been short, the marriage in a church with a small reception at a nearby Middle Eastern restaurant.

After three years of marriage, their older son was born. Three years later, they welcomed a second son. Then the marriage came "out of the closet".

Appearances had been kept up on both sides until this point, but my husband, Ra'uf and I had noticed inconsistencies throughout the marriage. Marriage is a two-way street; both husband and wife must contribute to the glue which binds it.

Although Basil and Runneen began their union in a church, it was after the eruption of their relationship that we were told about Runneen wishing to continue in the Bahai faith. Her father was a Christian and her mother Bahai. (Runna's grandfather emigrated to Israel from Iran during a time of persecution against the Bahai. The Bahai Temple continues to stand in Haifa, Israel.) Runna and her siblings were raised as Bahai and were even taught to read, write, and speak Farsi (the Persian language).

Runneen wished to place a picture of her prophet, Bahaullah on the wall. Baptism of the children was not a scheduled event on her calendar. The list goes on.

Basil pushed for baptism of the children. He asserted that he was a Christian and was not about to accept this "change" in his wife.
Schisms in the relationship opened and the fights began.

Ra'uf and I saw the divorce coming and gave a warning to Basil. He had hoped, against high odds, to keep the union sanctified, at the very least, for the sake of the children.

The divorce was finalized two years ago. Basil writes cathartic poetry today, which he recites aloud (uncomfortably embarrassing from an American viewpoint).
Secrets, long held inside, have seeped out of him. They are scandalous, but not unknown. The Arab grapevine is long and stretches from one side of the world to the other. Ha! If his exwife only knew!

What started as a convenient marriage to someone from a similar background ended without a key--to the house, the children, the soul.

What I'm Reading

2007-01-11T15:33:00.000-05:00

Recently I've been reading a non-fiction book by Dr. Walid Phares titled "Future Jihad".
I suggest you pick up a copy, you'll find information inside that you haven't even thought about.

Part 2: Marriage With the Middle Eastern Man/Clan

2007-01-10T08:29:00.000-05:00

Part 2 Marriage to a Foreigner
For love?

I married my husband close to twenty years ago. Our cultures couldn't be farther apart, but in some ways are very close. We've seen many other marriages fall by the wayside. Two matters of substance have kept us connected--commitment and Christianity. Or rather the reverse.

There is little divorce in the Christian Middle East. Marriage is a choice made in most minds--forever. The close knit community in the Middle East helps to ironout marital discord when it arises. Families show their support for this arrangement when the engagement is given. A priest is called, a dinner held, gold and cash are pulled out. Later, literally hundreds will attend the actual wedding reception.
When a man agrees to take a wife, he does so knowlingly with a full commitment.

In the Middle East, one does not marry an individual, but an entire clan.
Recently, my poor brother-in-law discovered this. Before marrying my sister-in-law, he jumped through hoops as each immediate family member came and spoke with him about his engagement and what was expected. No mistakes after marriage would be accepted. Because I was asked to, even I spoke with him briefly.

A romance and wedding are the dream of almost every woman. At times, love is blind. It doesn't see possible problems associated with marrying into another family, culture, or religion. And to a degree, the success of the marriage relies upon the dynamics of the give and take, compromise, and personalities of the spouses.

After viewing many foreign marriages over the years, I must say this--it is not so much culture which causes problems in a marriage, as it is religion. One's beliefs, celebrations, child-rearing practices, etc..all return to the religious foundation of the family. This difficulty shows itself most when children are born. Arguments begin and comments come out.

Religious holidays are brought to the forefront as harbingers of future discord. Shall we all fast for Ramadan? Will the Christmas tree be put up? Will children be baptized?
How shall children view these occasions? As wonderful family get-togethers or rather as contentious events? Does each spouse truly respect the other, or is there a subtle wrestling match undercutting the relationship?

Part 3 Next Post: The marriage comes out of the closet when truthful openness reveals itself.

Sacrifices for the American Dream (Part 2)

2007-01-06T20:31:00.000-05:00

My husband is an immigrant. He comes from a nation of immigrants. Unlike Americans, they (Middle Eastern Christians) are a people who are still looking for permanency. A country of their own, they have not.

Can you imagine leaving your parents, sisters, brothers, all extended family, to travel to a country you've never visited, cannot understand, and with nothing but a suitcase in the hand?

Can you imagine being unable to make enough money to eat?
Or going without medical or dental care?

Can you imagine not being able to communicate with those around you?

For some of these reasons, most immigrants move to areas of the country where they will have a smoother transition into American life, or to keep some identification with their original culture. Good examples are Miami, Florida where Cubans reside and Flint, Michigan--home of one of the largest Palestinian populations outside of the Middle East. Here a new arrival can get advice on where to find employment, how to register for a driver's license, and which university to apply to.

Usually ESOL (English as a Second Language) classes are available in these geographic areas as well, sometimes free, and subsidized by the government.

Many immigrants, especially the women, marry within their own sub-culture. Thus keeping tradition, religion, and cultural affinity alive. Homemade foods from "back home" continue to be prepared on a daily basis. The native tongue will still endure as the first language in the household and the church. Communication with those in the Old World will persist, grandparents will not be forgotten.

Unlike past generations, ties have not been completely severed with the Old World. Today's immigrants have Western Union and bank accounts, for sending home funds. Cell phones work worldwide and many residences have video capable internet connections. For the majority, the duty of being an American immigrant means sending money back to those who are still struggling financially. The American Dream is not selfish, but rather inclusive.

Unlike the majority of Christians from the Middle East, to the detriment of nervous relatives, my husband married me, the American. To the average American this doesn't seem like such a sacrifice, but it really is. Typically of a mixed marriage, my children are not fluent in my husband's family language, nor do they understand the culture. Their relationship with their paternal grandparents is quite limited as neither comprehends the other.

As well, I understand the culture more than the language.
Although some wives have managed the everyday vernacular, few read and write it.

My husband is a different breed of man; I'd say he's easy-going. To gain financial independence and personal freedom, he has sacrificed his culture, his church, his language, and in some ways, his family. It is not a simple process. But if you ask him, "Was it worth it?" He'd say, "Most, definitely."

The American Dream

2007-01-03T18:02:00.000-05:00

The elusive American Dream. What is it really?

Our ancestors came to the New World, the Colonies, and the United States of America for their own reasons--religious freedom, a chance to start over, abundant land, etc.. They braved treacherous ocean voyages, disease, food shortages, unchartered lands, and fear of the unknown. Each person had his own reason and desire or dream which pulled him away from the Old World and forced the ties to family and homeland to be stretched and later cut.

They were the Pilgrims, the Puritans, the Irish, the Chinese, the Italians, the Germans, the Assyrians, the Mexicans, and the list continues. Newcomers arrived as individuals and families.

Today, immigrants still arrive daily. Why? Why do people continue to cross the Rio Grande or wait in line for visas? What is it that makes the United States so desirable?

Recently I spoke with a young man named Schlomo who sells Dead Sea products from a kiosk in my local mall. From his accent and products, I correctly deduced the fact that he is a young entreprenurial Israeli, here to make his fortune. True, he and his fellow salesmen are aggressive. They aren't afraid to approach mall customers strolling by and I know firsthand that these young people know how to bargain. Schlomo cannot understand why so many Americans aren't willing to work. He views the United States as the land of opportunity.

I'd say, it's his dream. Just as it was my great grandfather's. Schlomo, like so many other immigrants, believes that he will fulfill his future here in the United States, and he's willing to do what it takes. Perhaps he'll start in a menial position, work many hours, share a rented room, maybe even skip meals. But he'll eventually work forward.

Immigrants just aren't complacent. They'll learn another language or two. Money will be put aside and later a business opened. The American Dream belongs to the individual who is willing to sacrifice in order to gain.

Next Post--Sacrifices Made (Pt. 2)

America--My Country? Foreigners in the US Army

2006-12-26T11:53:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Bryan Bender of the Boston Globe wrote an article about the proposed expansion of the U.S. military. Apparently, the Pentagon is considering hiring foreign recruits while dangling the carrot of United States citizenship.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/12/26/military_considers_recruiting_foreigners/

Critics abound, but this subject is not taboo. It is well remembered from elementary texts, how Hessian soldiers were hired to fill out British ranks during the Revolutionary War.

For years my circle of friends have heard me expound the fact that Middle Eastern Christians, more than any other group can be of the greatest service during this war.

First, their allegiance is not to a religion, but adheres to the values of justice, democracy, education, and freedom.

Second, the indigenous backgrounds of Middle Eastern Christians allows for a complete knowledge of culture, religion, language nuances, etc..

For example, during this past summer, my family and I visited a Christian church in the Galilee. Upon entering the gate, my attention was immediately drawn to some "tough" looking young men lounging against the wall. In my usual manner, I said, "As-salam 'Alaykum," or "Peace to you," the common greeting.
One of the fellows stepped toward me and replied in English, "There's no As-salam 'Alaykum here."
My husband has lived so long in the United States, that even he wasn't familiar with this change. Perhaps the greeting has been hijacked.
However, this minor detail highlights the flowing Arab street in the Middle East.

Third, Middle Eastern Christians live under persecution. They are minorities within various countries who would be excellent service resources.

Fourth, the young men and women who fit this description are struggling for survival. It is not always easy to find gainful employment in the sometimes depressed economies where they reside.

The military or any other government agency which could guarantee a fast-track to citizenship in the United States would be greatly enhanced with Middle Eastern Christians, because their goals are one and the same, FREEDOM.

Go to Col. Rick Francona's blog to see what he has to say about recruiting foreigners: www.francona.blogspot.com/ Look at the video "Recruiting Overseas" from MSNBC dated Dec. 26.

2006-12-24T12:19:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Kul Aam wa Anti Be Khair!

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/804919.html

American Women Who Marry Conservative Muslim Men

2006-12-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

My marriage is almost two decades long. But before it all began, there was the plan. The wedding plan. My mother wasn't thrilled with the idea of me marrying an Arab man.
Around that time, the book and movie "Not Without My Daughter" by Betty Mahmoody, appeared in the media. Jumping at the chance to speak with her, my mother attended a business women's luncheon where Mrs. Mahmoody was to be the keynote speaker.
At the conclusion of the lunch, my mother approached Mrs. M and explained that her daughter was to marry an Arab. And what did she think?
Without knowing the entire circumstances, Mrs. Mahmoody replied that this wouldn't be a good idea. Those people she said, are worse than Iranians, because they are tied to their land.

Ha! And I received a signed copy of Mrs. M's book!

The difference between Mrs. M and myself can be summed up with one word--RELIGION.
I married a Christian and Mrs Mahmoody married a conservative Muslim.

I have known many women married to conservative Muslim Arab men--a Chilean, a Quebecer, a Chinese, and several Americans. You get the idea. But why? Why would an American woman, who has grown up in a society with unlimited freedoms, choose to marry outside her own culture?

For commitment?

American men are great people. But let's face it--women are tired of "Mama's Boys", alcoholics,druggies, homosexuals, lazy guys who don't want to work, men who won't commit, fellows who don't want kids, males who are too afraid to stand up when the going gets tough, and those who insist that the wife work outside the house to share half the financial burden.

Women wish to be treated well. Not all of us wish to draw attention with fake breast implants and tummy tucks. What most of us want is attention through respect.

So, what does the Middle Eastern man offer? He usually offers a home, safety, kids, stay-at-homeness, basically the "white picket fence". In essence, he will respect a woman's traditional role. That's the upside.

Here it comes....
The
Down
Side......

Marriage with the Conservative Muslim:

To be respectful of your husband and his family, perhaps you will learn to speak his language and live within his culture.
Not so bad you think. It could be fun!

This may include covering your hair, body, and maybe even your face.
Hold on now.

That wonderful man may already be married and just needs a green card. This fact may not even bother him. Muslim men are allowed four wives.

That terrific guy may change after he's been married awhile. Betty Mahmoody found this out the hard way after she traveled to her husband's homeland--Iran. (Read "Not Without My Daughter" or watch the movie starring Sally Field.)

There may be a catch. You may be required to convert to Islam.

Your children will automatically be Muslim. Children of a Muslim father are self-enrolled in Islam at birth.

Storms of marriage will arrive. If you live abroad, outside the US, there go your rights. Your husband has the power to divorce you by just saying, "I divorce you," three times.

Of course there are worse situations--passport taken,abuse, servitude, citizenship given up, children taken from you. I hope the picture is vivid now.

Women of the West, know for yourself who and what you are. Think long and hard before making a commitment to marriage with a conservative Muslim.

Nazareth--Behind the Scene

2006-12-20T13:29:00.000-05:00

This is a continuation of my interview with the Comedian, Nazareth. He tells me about a mission program that is close to his heart.

LD: Nazareth, how are you involved with the Gaza Baptist Mission?
Naz: Previously, I told you about how and where I met my wife--in Gaza.

LD: Yes, I remember.
Naz: Dr. Hanna Masaad was my wife's pastor from the Gaza Baptist Church. My future wife told me that he was in the United States as a student. She sent me on a mission to locate him.

Not an easy job! So, I sent out an email to another Middle Eastern pastor, and within a day or so, found Dr. Masaad. At the time he was a student at Fuller Theological Seminary. We connected, and Dr. Masaad came to visit. From there we built a friendship.

After six years abroad as a student, Dr. Masaad returned to the pastor position at Gaza Baptist Church. Originally, along with other prominent Christian men, I came to be President of the board which oversaw the allocation of the funds collected for the mission in Gaza. Today, I am still involved as the board Secretary.

Recently, a new six story building was opened for the mission which includes a public library and a free women's clinic.

Ninety percent of the money raised for this project came from donations by Christians in Colorado.
Dr. Joyce Meyer donated the mammography machine.
There is also a mission run bookstore in downtown Gaza which offers computer training.

Our goal is to meet the physical and spiritual needs of all people.
For example, when school supplies are handed out, they are given to anyone who needs them.

It is a rough situation in Gaza today. You can see this from the news. Gaza is the most densely populated place on earth. There are approximately 1.6 million people living there. But, Dr. Masaad and his family have prevailed there for six years.

As Christians, we must love justice, mercy, and peace.

LD: Thank you Nazareth for your time.

As a note to my readers, Gaza today has approximately 2000 Christians. Americans may ask, "What are they doing there? Why don't they just leave?"
I'd reply, that this is their home. Most would leave if they could. Many have.

Think about it...could you pack a small suitcase and walk out of your town and country?

Interview With Nazareth, the Comedian

2006-12-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

Born in the Holy Land and raised in the Middle East--Nazareth is the only Middle Eastern Christian comedian in the USA. And he is PROUD 2B American!

Yesterday I spoke with Nazareth while he was relaxing at home with his children and dog. Here's what he had to say:

LD: Nazareth, Middle Eastern people back home and here in the States,as well as mainstream America are reading my site. I think they'd like to see an example of a Middle Eastern American who is successful.
So, tell me, how do you define yourself?
Naz: First, I'm an American, but I'm also a Middle Eastern American.

LD: Where are you originally from?
Naz: I was born in the Holy Land, and grew up in Kuwait. Dad had a construction company there. Most of my family are engineers.

LD: Why did you emigrate to the USA?
Naz: I came to the United States to attend college, in Toledo.

LD: How did you meet your wife? And is it true that you two are doubly blessed?
Naz: I went to Gaza on family business for my Dad. While there I met the sister of my cousin's fiancee. We realized that we're both born again Christians.
After 5 days of getting to know her, I asked my wife to marry me. I claim it was an arranged marriage because she arranged for the flowers and the cake. Ha! Ha! We married in Gaza in a Greek Orthodox church. Later in the US, my pastor conducted a second American ceremony in my home church.

LD: How did you get into Christian comedy?
Naz: I was a comedian before I became a Christian. In class I wasn't considered the class clown, but I always encouraged class clowns to do better. Ha!
I have a humorous outlook on the USA; I comment on life, with a moral filter.
I am the only conservative, evangelical, Middle Eastern comedian in the US.

LD: What is the purpose of your comedy, considering the fact that you refer to your heritage throughout the act?
Naz: Currently, I'm promoting my tour "Proud 2B American".
http://www.thinkbigusa.net/

I aim to honor our military and their families--whether you agree with the situation or not, these are our kids overseas.
This is a Middle Eastern comedian saying THANK YOU to troops and families for their sacrifice.

From a Christian viewpoint, I also want to tell high school boys and girls to practice abstinence, and live moral lives.
Women should be treated well. A girl should be able to look forward to being the bride in a white gown one day. Our media is failing us here--it is demoralizing women.

Where's the knight in shining armor? I'd like to tell women that a man should be able to give his life to her in front of both God and man.

Part of me is comedy, but I also choose to moralize; I want to change people's lives.

LD: How do today's audiences receive you?
Naz: Very well--When I go to conservative areas like Mississippi, Kentucky, and Indiana, I explain that I'm a believer. 75% of my audience is church-going; I usually overcome their stereotypes of Middle Eastern people.

LD: What would you like the West to know about Middle Eastern Americans?
Naz: We are a diverse group. We don't all think or feel the same way. Middle Eastern people are conservative Republicans, liberal Muslims, Christians, secularists, ect.. We cannot be stereotyped into a mold, but need to be differentiated between and treated as individuals. Build your own opinions afterward.

LD: For fun, what is your favorite Middle Eastern dish and who makes it for you?
Naz: Tabbouli--my sister-in-law, chops the parsley by hand, and takes her time.
LD: That's a popular salad; it seems to be well known now.

Please see the You Tube link below for a current promo of Nazareth.

Nazareth--the Comedian, Proud 2B American Tour

2006-12-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ7IMT_LF9s

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO WATCH NAZARETH
FOR TOUR INFORMATION GO TO: http://www.thinkbigusa.net/

"Is Jesus Still a Palestinian?"--Bradley Burston

2006-12-15T21:41:00.000-05:00

BETHLEHEM

Bradley Burston of Haaretz asks, "Is Jesus still a Palestinian?".http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/800092.html
Jesus was born in a cave, a cave used for keeping goats and sheep safe from the elements. That night, probably in the spring, they were out in the fields, with the shepherds.
The cave was a borrowed place, lent to Joseph and Mary by an innkeeper.

Ironically, Jesus, a Jew, was born in Palestine, a Roman province. The town of his birth, Bethlehem means, "The House of Bread." Jesus, by lineage came from Boaz and Ruth. Boaz had taken in the widowed Moabitess Ruth and married her after she and her mother-in-law, Naomi had gleaned Boaz's fields for grains of barley.

Jesus, the Bible asserts, is, "The Bread of Life."

Mr. Burston states that in 1948, 80% of Bethlehem was Christian, and today it is 85%Muslim.

A few years ago, my husband and I ate dinner in a Palestinian restaurant in Flint, Michigan. It was Christian owned. The proprietor, learning that we were visitors from his homeland, came out to sit with us. After coffee, at the conclusion of our meal, my husband asked for the check. It had already been paid. Who had covered our bill, we asked?
Another Palestinian, a Muslim, someone we didn't even know, had paid. A regular, he had been sitting in the rear. His hospitality reminded us of the old values from "back home."
Yes Mr. Burston. Jesus is still a Palestinian. But He lives in our hearts around the world. We thank Him when we, "break bread." It's Christmas 2006.

Who Cares About the Christians Anyway?

2006-12-13T12:37:00.000-05:00

Inscription at the Church of St. Gabriel, Nazareth

It is Christmas season, a celebration of Christ's birth and later resurrection. It is also a time of persecution for Christians around the globe.

This week an Islamic group in Iraq placed threatening flyers around a university center, warning Christian Assyrian students, "in cases where non Muslims do not conform to wearing the Hijab {head cover for women} and are not conservative with their attire in accordance with the Islamic way, the violators will have the Sharia and the Islamic Law applied to them." http://www.aina.org/news/20061212104712.htm

Just a few weeks prior,a young Christian teenage boy was found crucified in Albasra, Iraq. http://www.aina.org/guesteds/20061025113734.htm

Persecution of Middle East Christians is nothing new. Around the turn of the century, the Ottoman Empire was fighting WWI. The frontline of this war was Christians from outlying, Ottoman-ruled provinces. It was called, Safar Barlik--the exile. Those Christian men who did not want to fight for the Turks ran to the desert to stay with Bedouin. My husband's grandfather was one of these men. Jiddo spent the latter years of his life recounting to his grandchildren those treacherous days.

The Armenians understood the situation. During WWI (1915-1923) their Christian population was systematically marched and starved right out of Turkey. Of 2.5 million Armenians, 1.5 million perished. http://www.umd.umich.edu/dept/armenian/facts/genocide.html

The Egyptian Christians continue to suffer under the oppression of the Islamic Brotherhood. "The Jamaah al-Islamiyyah and other Islamic revivalist forces claim they want to rid Egypt of foreign, and therefore in their view anti-Islamic influences, and attack Coptic Christians (...Copts are about 10% of the population)...." Issue Brief to Congress by Clyde R. Mark, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division. http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/14814.pdf

A past Copts publication states,"Almost one century ago, in the year 1900, the average Christian minority in the countries of the Middle East with a church was almost 20%. Today, this percentage has dropped to a mere 7%." (The Copts: Christians of Egypt, Vol. 23 No.1 and 2, Jan-June, 1996).

In the Middle East, much has changed and yet nothing has changed. During this Christmas season, let us not forget, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men."*

*"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" Longfellow

Gaza

2006-12-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

Recently, a friend asked me if there are any Christians left in the Gaza Strip. Yes, there are. Of the 1.3 million Palestinians there, approximately 2,000 are Christian. Most of them are ready to leave. Lately, news of the Holy Land has been about war.
It is a welcoming bulletin to read about the opening of the Christian Public Library in Gaza. It is housed on the lower two floors of the newly constructed six floor Gaza Baptist Church. The third floor is a women's health clinic, which includes a mammography machine. The upper three floors will be reserved for church related activities.

The Gaza Baptist Church is supported in part by:
Open Doors, an organization devoted to assisting the persecuted church worldwide. www.opendoorsusa.org

Baptist World Alliance, an organization which unites Baptists worldwide--80 million strong. www.bwanet.org

Awana, a Biblical children's club run through churches around the world. www.awana.org/donate

Wake Up America!

2006-12-04T08:58:00.000-05:00

My husband and I arrived late to a Saturday evening dinner at an aunt's home in old Nazareth. We'd just returned from a six hour tour into the Golan and parts of occupied territory that have since been given back to Lebanon. I was exhausted and it was 10PM! Dinner and our hosts had been waiting at least three hours.

Our family gathered around a sumptuous feast of kibbe ni (like steak tartare) and stuffed grape leaves. Besides Ra'uf, my husband and I, invitations had been extended to my husband's parents, an older aunt, and some teenage cousins.

A conversation about school and friends was brought up by one of the youth, a young lady named Suha. It turned into a discussion regarding Islamic students in the Christian schools in Nazareth, which today is 20-30%. (Thirty years ago, only one or two Muslim students accounted for each class.)

Suha had become great friends with another student who had encouraged her to believe that Christianity is no different from Islam. Having never studied a Koran, and being an easily influenced youth, she was inclined to believe this.

My husband, having been through a similar situation in the United States, asked that a Koran be brought out. A dusty copy was found. Our surprised hosts listened while he read various sections aloud. Then Ra'uf called for a Bible and handed it to Suha, indicating verbally which verses to find and read orally.

Suha found the truth and returned to church the next day.

I have said that Nazareth is a barometer for the West. It is a place where Christianity is being encroached upon by Islam, accomplished through both militancy and influence. There is a trend within elements of the Muslim community to convert others to Islam. This is happening in the United States and around the world as well.

Some churches, ignorant of Islam, have openly invited Islamic guests to speak. American women are marrying Muslim men, converting, and raising their children as Muslims--setting a precedent for normalcy. Foreign imams (religious Islamic leaders) are entering our prisons and converting the most dangerous part of our population to radical Islam.*

Whether some like it or not, the United States is perceived abroad as a Christian nation. Who we are, what we do, and what we believe draws the attention of the rest of the world.

As Americans, we must know what we believe and why.

Are we still a Christian nation?

*Congressional Testimony by Donald Van Duyn, Deputy Assistant Director--Counter Terror Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Related Agencies, 9/19/06. http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress06/vanduyn091906.htm

The "Real" Wife?

2006-12-03T11:28:00.000-05:00

It is common knowledge that some immigrants attain U.S. citizenship through marriage. Many times, a landed immigrant will return to his homeland to marry and then will receive permission to bring his wife to the United States.

The tradition of marrying within Christian Arab culture is expected, but doesn't always occur.

A few years ago, my husband's distant Aunt Claudette visited our home from Ishfamer, Israel. Even though she was an older woman, and a grandmother, she'd never been outside of Israel. Her hometown is a small rural Arabic village of mixed Christian, Druze, and Muslim believers. The quiet town recently has exploded in growth and has become famous for its bouza (ice cream). It is situated on the main road running through the valley between Nazareth and Haifa in the North.

Aunt Claudette arrived at my door with her son, my husband's distant cousin, and her American-born, Christian Arab daughter-in-law. I believe my country was a culture shock to her--the tremendous space, large cars, numerous amount of people, etc.. Wanting to warmly welcome our relatives, I went out on the sidewalk to greet our guests with my usual, "Ah-alane" (Welcome!) and a smile. Without thinking, Aunt Claudette asked Ra'uf, my husband, if I was his REAL wife!
Embarrassed, her son hoped I hadn't heard and understood the question.
No, I wasn't angry, but, I had a great chuckle! I comprehended that the critical difference between the daugher-in-law and myself was the language. I realized that the "REAL" wife, was completely fluent.

The men from my husband's family, with one lone exception, have been the immigrants to the West. Women are considered to be the gentler sex and are asked to stay home, for safety's sake. This is not chauvinism though. Unmarried men in the Middle East also live in their parents' homes until they marry.

When Christian men go abroad, some choose to take foreign wives. Most don't however.

There is some prejudice against the foreign union from the Arab community. Women left at home outnumber marriageable men. Jealously, they see Western born wives as competition.

In many families, it is common to find an unmarried adult daughter in her parents' home. On occasion, a son, who cannot afford to marry will continue to coexist with his parents too.

The push is on, to marry daughters before the "old age" of 25 or to educate them instead. This social dilemma is a result of more than one variable.

First, the exodus of Christian men over the last two to three generations.
Second, Christians emphasize more time spent in educational preparation.
Third, men wait until they are older than the women to be financially solvent.
Last, Christians have fewer children than Muslims or Druz.
(Alisa Lewin of the University of Haifa (2003)"Marriage Patterns Among Israeli Palestinians")

In my husband's family, I know of men who emigrated from Israel during the last three generations. The highest number of emigrants has been during the last thirty years. In other instances, whole families have permanently departed their homeland.
Also, now we are seeing women arriving abroad, a few living alone for employment or education, but most are wives of landed immigrants.

Christians generally have fewer children than Moslem families. An education is considered to be a ticket to a better life. Our family is typically engineers, businessmen, and doctors. They speak several languages and have studied abroad as well as in country. I visited a friend in Nazareth not long ago who told me that she'd only had three children, in order to give them the world.

Because the price of a home in Israel is significantly higher than other parts of the world, Christian Arabs are marrying later. A bride expects her husband to have available upon marriage, a home, a good job, financial stability, and usually a car. This is a struggle for some Arab men, who cannot always find work, thus delaying marriage.

I would also add that Christian men are not disinclined with taking a foreign wife. Western women, whether Anglo-Saxon or Arab American, already have similar religious beliefs as Christian Arab men. Having become accustomed to life in the West, they find a wife from back home will not adjust easily to Western culture and language.

This combination of variables has led to the shortage of eligible husbands for Christian women in Israel. In a nutshell, it is a conundrum.