The Syrian Lebanese star ( April 1, 2002 )

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STHE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR
AN INDEPENDENT MONTHLY

SERVING AMERICANS OF ARABIC HERITAGE


$15.00 SUBSCRIPTION


Celebrating 40 Years ofService
MEMBER ARAB-AMERICAN PRESS GUILD
ESTABLISHED IN 1963
www.syrianlebanesestar.com


In- an account of his
travels to. Syria in 1987,
Scott C. Davis not only
introduces us to
contemporary Syria,
which, at the.. time of his
initial journey, had just
been named a "terrorist


state" by the U.S.
government, but also to
the Syria of tradition, the
crossroads of Western
culture. The book is a
gold mine of history and
colorful snapshots of
people and places. As a
subject, Syria would
stagger even the most
intrepid reporter. Since
colonial times in the Arab
world, parochial
nationalisms have been
consolidated at the
expense of more universal
ones; in Davis' narrative,
this tension is palpable in

(continued on page 6)


Turkey Wins New IMF Funds


It may have been
widely anticipated, but the
IMF executive board's
approval of US $12bn of.
new funds for Turkey on
February 4 still came as a
relief in Ankara. The new
stand-by agreement for
20022004 has been billed-
as a direct response to the
impact of September I I
and disbursement is
heavily front-loaded, with


up to US $9bn available
immediately. Though
welcome, the funds will
not be sufficient on their
own to revitalise Turkey's
ailing economy and there
are justifiable fears that
government will be
unable to meet the tough
targets for growth and
inflation that it has set
itself.
(continued on page 10)


Family Ties' Star Michael Gross
joins Sting as Celebrity Presenter
at Arab American Awards


Gibran "Spirit of
Humanity" Gala
Promotes Understanding
and Inclusion
WASHINGTON The
Arab American Institute
Foundation (AAIF) is
pleased to announce that
Michael Gross, star of the
hit sitcom "Family Ties"
and frequent guest on


"ER" and "Law &
Order", will present a
special award for
"Outstanding Public
Service" to Starz Encore
Group, Ltd. and Brokaw,
Inc. at the 2002 Kahlil
Gibran "Spirit of
Humanity" Awards Gala
on April 10 at the
(continued on page 13)


An Odyssey in Syria
The road from Damascus:
A journey Through Syria


Coming to America:

Documenting Early Lebanese
Immigrants


Political Risk -
Clinton
Praises UAE
Policy
In what is a major
boost for the UAE's
international profile,
former US president Bill
Clinton praised the
diplomatic and peace-
keeping efforts of the
government in the
aftermath of September
11. Though Clinton has
little impact over -.the
Bush administration, his
word still carries weight
in Congress and this
could presage yet closer
relations between the US
and UAE.

Victims of
Hate Crimes
Receive
Compensation
Families and
community centers in
California, Ohio,
Washington, D.C.,
Illinois, Maryland and
Tennessee received
checks from the
(continued on page 12)

President

Clinton Holds
Forum on Islam
and America;
AAI Speaks Out
The William J. Clinton
Presidential Foundation
hosted a conference
entitled, "Islam and
America in a Global
World," co-sponsored by
the New York University
School of Law and the
(continued on page 12


Muslims
Outraged by
Government
Raids
On Thursday, March 21,
leaders of major national
American Muslim
organizations held a news
conference in Washington,
D.C., to express their
outrage over law
enforcement raids on a
number of Muslim offices
and homes in Virginia and
Georgia that the groups say
amounted to a "violation"
of their community. Targets
of the raids included some
of the most respected
leaders and organizations
(continued on page 8)

Arab Delegations
Visit Washington
to "Set the
Record Straight"
While attending the
World Economic Forum
meetings in New York,
several Arab delegations
are making time to come
to Washington, D.C. to
meet with the
Administration, Congress,
media, policy groups and
Arab Americans to discuss
the current climate of their
countries' relations with
the United States. H.E.
Mohammad Al-Sager,
Chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee of
Kuwait's Parliament is
leading a delegation of
more than 10 Kuwaiti men
and women. The
delegation has been
criticized by some of the
Islamic press in Kuwait as
being too secular and
being too friendly with the
(continued on page 12)


My Vision by.Reza Pahlavi
years ago.
S When American bombs
were raining down on what
(continued on page 15)


Increasingly
disenchanted with the ruling
regime of hard-line clerics,
support for Reza Pahlavi -
the man who advocates
secular democracy is
growing inside Iran. Prince
Reza talks about his hopes
for the homeland he was
forced to flee moie than 20


w I

0 01 !


iU
..


W ", r
.. O <
0' C0 C -


(5 ~cc C


Moses' affection and
admiration for resolve,
nerve, courage and
strength of first Lebanese
immigrants evident
throughout his book.
To understand the
history of the United
States fully, we must learn
tile story of immigration:
how various nationalities
- all Americans now -
contributed to the
building of this nation,
while their ethnic
backgrounds refract the
multifaceted features of
the-nation. John Moses,
inI'his recent book "The
Lebanese in America,"
makes, in important
contribution to the
history of immigration in
this country. In
chronicling the Lebanese
immigration to the
United States over the
past 100 years, Moses
plays his part in fulfilling


XXXX #4 APRIL 2002


the Arnoldian mandate for
"...men of culture..." to
"...have -a passion for
diffusing, for making
prevail, for carrying from
one end of society to the
other, the best ideas of'
their time." He has
collected, compiled,
preserved, and made
available archival,
statistical, and other
(continued on page 8)






Page 2 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002


Antonio Mahfoud, who
was recently named
president and CEO of
Eisman and Russo in
Jacksonville, has been
fixing things since he was
a teenager.
"If I would see a
broken radio, I'd look into
it and see if I could fix it,"
he said. "If there was a
curve in the road, I'd
wonder why it curved and
if it should be fixed."
This tendency led him
to a career in civil
engineering.
Born in Venezuela,
Mahfoud moved with his
family to Lebanon when
he was 7. He attended
high school at the College


can fix it
des Freres Catholic
Missionaries in Beirut and
moved to Florida in 1982.
Four years later, he
earned a bachelor's in
civil engineering from the
University of Central
Florida in Orlando.
After college, Mahfoud
worked as a design
engineer with Reynolds
Smith and Hills, then
joined Eisman and Russo
as project manager He
was promoted to design
production manager and
senior vice president.
Mahfoud is a member
of the Mandarin Rotary
Club, the American
Public Works
Association, the Institute
of Transportation
Engineers and the board
of directors of the
American Society of
Highway Engineers.
Mahfoud is certified in
highway capacity
analysis, advanced work
zone traffic control,

(continued on page. 21)_


Youssef Chahine's Latest Film
Takes New, Romantic Turn


7 3
- ,.


Like many of his
previous films, Youssef
Chahine's most recent,
"Sukkout Hansawwar"
(Silence, We're Shooting),
has been the subject of
much discussion and
speculation, particularly
about his apparent
abandonment of realism,
the autobiographical, the
political, and the
intellectual. Because of
this, critics wonder if he
has favored the
sensational and purely
entertaining, but the 74-
year-old Chahine
dismisses most criticisms
and has a new take on his
latest film.


"Silence, We're
Shooting," Chahine's
38th film, received a
generous allotment of
publicity during its
twoyear production. The
publicity stemmed from
Chahine's heart problems,
which sent him to the
hospital several times for
critical medical
procedures.
Although some critics
see "Silence, We're
Shooting" as a complete
departure from
autobiography, one of the
film's characters, a
director played by Zaki
Fatin Abd: al Wahhab, is
(continued on page 21)





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Pae THE SYRIr-L;EraA&ISikSTR k ----- --- -- --- --


The Goodness

of God
Psalm 18:1 I will love
thee, 0 LORD, my
strength. The LORD is
my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; my
God, my strength, in
whom I will trust; my
buckler, and the horn of
my salvation, and my
high tower. I will call
upon the LORD, who is
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and cried unto my God:
he heard my voice out of
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into his ears. Then the
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the foundations also of
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wroth. There went up a
smoke out of his nostrils,
and fire out of his mouth
devoured: coals were


Rev. Fred Massabni
kindled by it. He bowed
the heavens also, and
came down: and darkness
was under his feet.
Chapter 19: The heavens
declare the glory of God;
and the firmament
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Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto
night sheweth knowledge.
The law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the
soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making
wise the simple. The
statutes of the LORD are
right, rejoicing the heart:
(continued on page 23)


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The Melkite

Icons
Though fie did not
deviate radically from the
traditional Byzantine
approach to icons, Nemeh
preferred a stylized
naturalism. His angels
and women have more
pronounced oval heads
than in Byzantine
painting. His young
people have rounded
faces; and his men
possess large heads with
bulging foreheads,
prominent cheekbones
and hollow cheeks. While
the noses retain the
Byzantine slenderness,
Nemeh's saints have tile
fine almond-shaped and
heavily-lashed eyes found
among Arabic people.
Moreover, he
personalized his icons
with alternating green and
red borders covered with
gold decoration.
The influence of the
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Meekness, or
Living In

Peace
Arabic word 'Hudna'
or 'Haun' is translated in
English as
Meekness. As of its
Arabic root, it means 'to
refrain from inflicting
bodily harm to another
person.' And
consequently, establishing
conditions of 'peace on
earth.' Living in, as well
as establishing 'peace on
earth' is no doubt a high
moral quality and, as
such, indispensable for
mankind. Being 'meek,'
that is 'to live peacefully,'
then is a blessing for
humanity. And must be
cherished for the great
good that proceeds from
it. The natural impulse,
corresponding to this
moral quality, the
regulation of which


By Dr. Qazi Muhammad
Barkatullah
converts it into a moral
condition, is witnessed in
an infant in the form of
affection and attachment.
It is evident that devoid of
wisdom, a man or a
woman cannot
comprehend the essence
of 'peace and war.' So the
attachment that a child
exhibits is in fact the
quality of peacefulness
that is deep rooted in
mankind. Inasmuch as the
quality of peace in a child
is not deliberate, that is
acquired by choice or
wisdom, it cannot be
classified as a moral
quality. In other words the
(continued on page 25)


By Brother John
Samaha, S.M.
until the late eighteenth
century with an
astonishing continuity
and abundance.
Shukrallah ibn Yuwakim
of Aleppo, Kyrillos al-
Dimashki, and some
anonymous painters of
the Basilian order of
monks followed Nemeh's
facial types, ornamental
(continued on page 24)

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Page 4 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002 .


Labels and
Despite President
Bush's admonitions not to
single out Arabs and
Muslims in the wake of
September 11, this type of
targeting continues to
occur. When the Census
Bureau recently published
its report estimating the
number of immigrants
who are out of status, some
anti-immigrant groups and
several newspapers saw fit
to focus attention on those
from the Middle East
despite the fact that they
were less than I percent of
the overall total. The
Center for Immigration
Studies made news this
week when it used the
Census report to promote
fear about illegal
immigrants and national
security. The CIS is
convinced that failures in
immigration control


Suspicions
contributed to theterr6fist
attacks of September 11.
We disagree. One could
argue that better
intelligence could have
thwarted the hijackers'
plan, or better security in
the aircraft, but the
criminals of September I I
had a systematic and
deliberate plan that took
advantage of our system.
That does not mean the
system is broken. To
confuse the need to
prevent terrorist acts with
the challenge of limiting
illegal immigration is a
conflation of the worst
sort. It is also bad policy.
The tools needed to fight
terrorism are many. For
those tools to work, they
must be focused on those
who pose a real threat, not
on all persons in or
(continued on page 26)


Ashcroft Fails to Address Arab
American Concerns Response


Only Further
Washington The
Assistant Attorney
General for Civil Rights
Ralph Boyd has now
responded to Arab
American concerns
regarding comments
attributed to Attorney
General John Ashcroft. In
his letter, Mr. Boyd said, -
'We- can assure you that
the remarks ... do not
accurately reflect the
Attorney General's
views." The letter goes on
to Correctly note the
many significant outreach
efforts. that the
Department of Justice's
Civil Rights division has
engaged in since
September 11. While we
have always recognized
and lauded the
constructive efforts made


Confuses Issue
by the C11711 Rights
division, we are
concerned that the letter
does not constitute a
response by the Attorney
General. The letter neither
clarifies the issue nor
does it include a clear
repudiation of the
remarks attributed to
Attorney General
Ashcroft. Since the
Attorney General himself
has yet to address, the
issue, either publicly or
through private
correspondence, we
cannot be certain as to the
Intent of his remarks to
syndicated columnist and
radio personality Cal
Thomas
As the remarks
attributed to the Attorney
(continued on page 28)


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Pi Page 5 -THE SvYRI -LEBANEESETAh --------- --- ------- ------- Aprrir2002-


The Star is published once per month by A.M. Coplan. The Star is an independent
monthly serving Americans of Syrian and Lebanese heritage for over 35 years.
MEMBER ARAB-AMERICAN PRESS GUILD
The Syrian-Lebanese Star
Publisher and Editor...A. M. Coplan
For Advertising Information Write P.O.Box 5545
Jacksonville, Florida 32247 Phone (904) 737-6996
Postmaster-send change of address to the above address
Please send your letters, news stories, pictures and club activities to
The Editor's Desk.
4251 University Blvd. S., Suite 201, Jacksonville, Florida 32216
Subscription Rate: $15.00 per year

Laila Shawa, Still shaking people up


Born the daughter of a
wealthy family in Gaza,
Laila Shawa was eight
years old when the state
of Israel. was declared.
Gaza's population
quadrupled virtually
overnight. Cramped
refugee camps were
established which
eventually became
permanent fixtures.
Farmers lost access to
grazing lands in the
Negev. Gaza's new
Egyptian rulers imposed
martial law, and deposed


Laila's Cambridge-
educated uncle as. mayor.
Her father, Rashad, an
active nationalist .and
former deputy high
commissioner for Haifa,
was jailed for 'high


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treason' because of his
ties with Jordan, while
Egypt's President Nasser
exacerbated tensions
between the prel948 elite
and the impoverished
masses.
Now based in London,
Laila Shawa is one of
only a few Arab artists to
successfully break
through barriers in the
West, according to Dr.
Venetia Porter, curator for
(continued on page 28)


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(continued on page 34)


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Page 6 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002


Odyssey
(continued from page 1)
the omnipresence of the
secret police and the gut-
wrenching effect their
sudden appearance
always has on him (and
on a variety of Syrians, it
seems). An American
lugging a huge backpack,


Davis must respond often
to their arbitrary and
sometimes unsettling
demands. Though he
renders these scenes as
comedy, the episodes only
reinforce the feeling that
contemporary Syrians live
on a knife-edge of history.
Davis' profound


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determination to meet all
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tomorrow." His. bitterness
is profound, for he has
almost reached his goal
but has lost his vision. He
spends the night vomiting
into a basin filled with the
remnants of his hopes and
plans. Davis concludes: "I
had come to Syria for
many high-minded
reasons, yet in there
somewhere was the hope
that travel in Syria would
prove to me that I was still
young. Only now was I
forced to accept the
opposite conclusion. I was
no longer young. I was
not immortal."
It seems a long way to
go to discover a home
truth. In fact, Davis'
simplicity and the
sincerity of his style are
something of a fabrication
part of the fabric of the
book. We recall this is the
book of a builder, a man
of action, but what we see
is a sort of fool, dimly
aware that he is an actor in
his own play, a play he is
writing day by day.
Indeed, this is not so
much an account of Scott
Davis in Syria as an
account of Scott Davis
trying to write a book
about himself in Syria:
himself as intrepid
traveler, cultural
connoisseur, hopeful
American and as nothing
like that at all a self
stripped naked and
howling at the moon.
Like most good travel
writers, Davis reveals as
much about his own
culture as about Syrian life
Take for example an
evening spent in Dreykish,
"famous for its pure,
sweet water," where he
met an Alawite woman
named Fatima, "dark-
haired, fairskinned,
buxom," with whom he
has an awkward reunion
in 2001. Fatima and her
family "I liked these
gentle,. lively people and
allowed myself to think
that I was one of them" -
provide him a sort of
epiphany, a revelation of
what it is he has been
seeking. The movement of
(continued on page 7)


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- Page 7 .. .... .-. ... THE-SYRJAN-LEBANESE STAR -, ... ..... .. ....... April.2002 "


Odyssey
(continued from page 6)
the passage from
sociology to the realm of
cultural values and,
finally, to personal style is
compelling. "This evening
was possible because,
Syria, in 1987, was a place
where people held jobs
that ended each day and
allowed them to come
home from work and talk
to one another. It was a
quiet place where
conversation, wit, and
repartee were celebrated,
where present company
did its best to represent the
world instead of referring
all questions to specialists,
where electronic
entertainment canned
music or video was Dot
allowed to diminish living
voices and gestures, where
all attention turned to
insight, humor, and
offhand eloquence."
We find "insight,
humor, and offhand
eloquence" on every page
of this book. Flashbacks
and flashforwards
frequently break into -the
narrative, often in the
words of Syrian friends
who comment on the
inadequacies of Davis'
mind and art. Davis often


plays the straight man,
and these interludes are
sources of wisdom and
humor. Indeed, the prose
style, generally plain and
occasionally stiff (as if in
parody of American
ingenuousness), gains
luminosity and flexibility
from ironic
selfrepresentation. Text-
book historical
thumbnails yield to
eyewitness reporting of
charm and insight. The
pace, at times as wavering
as the traveler's sense of
purpose, gradually picks
up. as the pattern of
interwoven themes
becomes clearer. What
distinguishes the writing
is, the author's double
awareness of his own
simplicity and his
capacity for transcending
himself to skillfully
represent his own spiritual
education. If Scott Davis'
trio is a kind of descent


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(continued on page 8)


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Page 8 .-A.. .... T AESY RIES STAR ------- April-2002 .

CENTRAL FLORIDA


Odyssey
(continued from page 7)
temple festival. Plastic-
covered photographs of
Khomeini hang from
buttons on their shirt
pockets. Davis compares


Muslims Outraged
(continued from page 1)
in the American Muslim
community, including the
International Institute of
Islamic Thought, the
Graduate School of Islamic
Social Sciences, the
Muslim World League and
the Fiqh Council of North
America.
Media reports indicate
that law enforcement


Immigrants
(continued from page 1)
published resources on
the origins, assimilation,
and cultural integration of
the Lebanese community
into American society. For
Lebanese Americans and,
indeed, for all Americans
who are interested in the
Lebanese past and their


these pictures to his Silva
compass, his Lowe
expedition pack, his
Goretex cagoule: "I
hoped, a little foolishly,
that these pieces of matter
would help me ascend a


agencies served 14 search
warrants in northern
Virginia and one in
Georgia. No one was
arrested. The raids
involved 150 law
enforcement officers from
a group created by the
Treasury Department after
the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. Agencies involved,
in the raids included
Customs, Secret Service,


contributions, this little
book presents a wealth of
information.
Moses focuses
specifically on Lebanese -
rather than Arab-
Americans. "The
Lebanese in America" is
about the. tides of
Lebanese who left Mount
Lebanon during the


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summit of soul and
spirit." Ascend it he does -
but during the process it
seems more like a
descent. Davis triumphs
ironically as a writer of
this curiously wrought


Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms,
FBI, the Immigration and
Naturalization Service and
U.S. Postal Service.
Groups sponsoring the
near news conference say.
harassment of respected
Islamic institutions and
families sends a hostile
and chilling message to
the American Muslim
community and


repressive Ottoman
Empire before World War
I and crossed borders and
oceans for lands
unknown. They- were
escaping persecution and


and ultimately convincing
voyage of the spirit down
and out and eventually
back to his own world
where he will feel,
thankfully, forever after a
little bit Syrian.


contradicts President
Bush's repeated assertions
that the war against
terrorism is not a conflict
with Islam, They also say
the targets of these raids
deserve the presumption
of innocence and have the
right to learn what
allegations, if any, the
government used as the
basis for their search
warrants..


desperate conditions,
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hope and faith. They fled
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(continued on page 9)


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Page 9 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

FLORIDA'S GOLD COAST


Immigrants
(continued from page 8)
filled with the prospect of
a new life of plenty' in
freedom. Many of them
began as door-to-door
peddlers, traveling the
country, hawking their
wares from-Manhattan to
the dirt roads of Iowa and
beyond, selling clothes
and other necessities to
remote farms. It was
strenuous work and
required long hours of
walking, carrying a heavy
suitcase of merchandise,
usually bedspreads, shirts,
combs, and brushes. It
was as hard as the work
they had left behind, but
in America they
discovered a robust sense
of challenge and
fulfillment in boundless
opportunity. An early
Lebanese immigrant once
proposed that a statue be
erected to the dauntless
Lebanese peddler. Moses
records many legends
about the Lebanese
peddler, but I would be
most interested to find out
how he became renowned
for his ability to "make a
wine cellar out of one
grape," Paul Bunyan,


move over!
There is a lot of
information in these 87
pages 100 years of
anecdotes, analyses, and
archival material. Moses
shares with us many
stories of successful
Lebanese in all walks of
life, including tales of his
own family. It is a valiant
effort at "transmitting the
past to future
generations," and it is
helpful for quick
references. Who among
LIS has not felt the special
thrill of discovering
original documents and
frayed photographs
portraying the lives Of our
ancestors? The chance to
touch something they
touched, to see what they
saw or, perhaps, how they
were seen has a unique
power and immediacy,
even intimacy. Reading
Moses' book has some of
that thrill about it. In some
respects, it is reminiscent
of conversations with our
collective Jiddis about the
entrepreneurial Feats of
our ancestors who came to
this land in search of a
better life. The faces in the
photographs speak to us.


We begin to appreciate the
obstacles our parents
faced as new immigrants:
learning a foreign
language, coping with
solitude and pangs of
nostalgia for tile
homeland they knew and
loved, braving tile new
environment and, perhaps,
worst of all, suffering
hurtful stereotypes and
discri mi nation. However,
we are left craving details
about these early
Lebanese interesting
characters all, their mores,
routes, clashes and
communions with tile
American buyer, learning
English in their illimitable
way, and their final
settlements.off tile road.
Was the Lebanese
immigrant really unique?


The portrait that emerges
from these pages is that of
a good, proud, fiercely
independent yet
gregarious, affable family
person struggling to make
the most of opportunities.
They maintained
awareness of ancestral
origins through the
institution of the family,
preserving ties to the "old
country" by sending
financial support or
sponsoring relatives to
join them. Moses'
affection and admiration
for the resolve, the nerve,
the courage and the
strength of the first
Lebanese immigrants is
evident throughout the
book. It is possible to

(continued on page 10)


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Page 10 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

FLORIDA'S GULF COAST


Immigrants
(continued from page 9)
book. It is possible to
sense, though, a fear
lurking beneath (lie
plethora of facts, images,
and stories: that all this
"real" history may
dissolve in the mists of
time. Moses has kept tile
torch flaming,
challenging us to carry on.
Today, of the 3.5 million
Americans with Arab


IMF Funds
(continued from page 1)
External shocks
combined with domestic
political and 'economic
mismanagement have
conspired to make Turkey
the IMF's largest ever
borrower.- The US $12bn
of new funding awarded
in early-February is in
addition to US $17bn that
has been disbursed since
1999 and a further US
$4bn that is still available.
The sums involved attest
to the IMF's
determination to avert any


heritage, four in five were
bom in the United States and
about 75% are Christian,
compared with only 5% of
Arabs in the Middle East.
Most of these Americans
trace their origins to the
waves of Lebanese
Christians who came at the
turn of the 20th century.
They assimilated with
relative ease into American
society mainly because of
the general similarity in


further emerging markets
crisis and should provide
the government with the
reserves required to meet
its financial requirements,
enabling it to reassure the
capital markets and
prevent a further dip into
recession. However,
BMI's optimism is
tempered by continued
poor economic data.
Turkey enjoyed a bumper
year for tourism in 2001,
with 11.2mn foreign
visitors by November- up
12.0% y-o-y but other
external indicators are


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religious outlook.
Unlike the early
immigrants in Moses' book,
the recent groups of
Lebanese have come here
already educated or
specifically for the purpose
of obtaining higher.
education, and they conic
from all religious
backgrounds and all parts
of Lebanon. It would be
fascinating to document
their progress. Thus far, it


poor, and many are set to
deteriorate in the first half
of 2002.
Economic Prospects
Have Deteriorated Since
September 11 The
external shocks that have
hit Turkey in the
aftermath of the terrorist
attacks on New York and
Washington have been
cited as justification for
new IMF funds. In the
first instance, the presence
of a strong domestic
Islamic. opposition and the
country's proximity to
Iran and Iraq hav&'e


appears that the new
Lebanese are a chip off the
old block, marketing their
learning instead of peddling
their wares, but committed
to successful and seamless
integration into American
society, their new home.
Surely, most Lebanese will
continue to consider
themselves very rich, rich
in the heritage they brought
with them, and rich in new
possibilities.
increased risk perceptions
of Turkey, exacerbating
the dropoff in tourism
seen globally visitor
numbers fell 13.5% y-o-y
in November and
tarnishing the country's
image as a safe destination
for inward investment.
Moreover, the expectation
of lower global expansion
in 2002 will hit hopes of
export growth in 2002 a
core element of the
government's economic
programme and there is
now a downside risk to
(continued on page 11)


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Page 11 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

FLORIDA


IMF Funds
(continued from page 10)
BMI's forecasts of US
$31bn exports. The
outlook for direct and
portfolio investment in an
already competitive
international environment
is equally daunting.
Notwithstanding these
concerns, the government
is projecting end-2002
consumer price inflation
of 35% y-o-y, real GNP
growth of 3.0%, and a
primary central
government budget
balance of 5.4% of GNP.
Admittedly, some of these
targets appear quite
conservative. Given the
estimated 8% contraction
of the economy in 2001, it
would be surprising if real


growth of some kind did
not materialise in 2002.
This is especially true as
most indicators improved
in Q4. Industrial
production rose 3.8% m-
o-m in October and total
manufacturing capacity
utilisation was at its
highest level for twelve
months in December at
74.6%. Also, despite its
recent appreciation, the
lira has stabilised at a level
that is competitive for
most exporters, and the
additional IMF finance
will limit government
borrowing from domestic
institutions which,
together with a stronger
balance sheets among
state-owned banks, should
enable the private sector to
benefit from greater


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liquidity.
Meeting Inflation And
Budget Targets Will Be
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targets, however, are those
for inflation and the state
budget. Turkey has never
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- to 40%. Complicating
matters still further is that
moderating inflation will
depend at least in part on
uncertain exchange rate


movements. The target for
the public sector primary
surplus (balance
excluding debt
repayment) is similarly
dependent on the
implementation of new,
untried measures, many of
which are likely to arouse
strong opposition. These
include an increase in the
petrol -consumption tax,
the closure of regional
administrations and
'greater efficiency' in the
procurement process.
Overall, BMI broadly
concurs with the IMF's
optimism. However, we
are concerned that full
implementation of the
new programme is reliant
upon a political consensus
(continued on page 12)


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Page 12 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

FLORIDA


IMF Funds
(continued from page 11)
that remains fragile at
best. Should the external
environment improve
more slowly than
Compensation
(continued from page 1)
AmeriDream Foundation
as partial compensation
for damages they suffered
after September 11
Delegations
(continued from page 1)
United States. HRH Prince
Turki Al Faisal, former
head of the Department of
Intelligence in Saudi
Arabia, spoke to the
Council on Foreign
Relations on Januaiy 31 on
the US-Saudi relationship


AAI Speaks Out
(continued from page 1)
Georgetown University
Center for Muslim-
Christian Understanding.
Featured panels included:
perceptions of America in
the Islamic world, Islam
in the modem world, the
changing role of women,
and future relations
between the U.S. and the


expected due to adverse
economic or political
events associated with the
'war against terrorism' -
then the targets will be
appear tougher still.
because of alleged
"Middle Eastern" hate
crimes. The $25,000 fund
was set up in coordination
with the Arab American
Institute (AAI), which


with particular attention to
remarks made by
President Bush in the state
of the union address.
Prince Turki will return
Sunday to Washington for
an address at his alma
mater, Georgetown
University. A Saudi
delegation headed by HH


Islamic world. James
Zogby, president of AAI,
spoke on the challenges
faced by Islam in
projecting a consistent
and accurate image in the
United States. Dr. Zogby
later spoke to the National
Immigration Forum on
civil rights issues facing
the Arab American
community as a result of


However, if success is to
be measured in terms of
renewed economic
stability and an improved
business environment -
rather than full
distributed information on
the fund and sent
applications to the
Foundation for their
review and decision.
Compensation is to


Prince Abdullah bin Faisal
bin Turki Al Saud,
Governor of the Saudi
Arabian General
Investment Authority and
Abdullah Zainal Alireza,
Chairman of the Council
of Saudi Chambers of
Commerce will be busy
during the first week of


the tragic events of 9/11
and related federal law
enforcement efforts. The


implementation of the
programme then the
chances are certainly
better than they have been
since the lira was forced
from its peg last February.
partially cover various
kinds of property
damaged sustained by
victims as a result of 9/11
backlash.


February with briefings at
think tanks, policy centers,
Congressional offices and
with members of the


Administration.


Other


Saudi delegations will be
traveling to other cities in
the United States.


panel was carried on C-
SPAN.


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AAIF Awards award acknowledges the
(continued from page 1) Cleveland-based creative
Washington Capital services agency Brokaw,
Hilton. Inc. for its quick response
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I






Page 14 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

NORTH CAROLINA/TENNESEE


AAIF Awards
(continued from page 13)
Brokaw later developed
the print ad into a striking
video PSA narrated by
Michael Gross, In
December, 2001 Starz
Encore Group, the leading
provider of cable and
satellite-delivered
premium movie channels
in the U.S., put together
an unprecedented
coalition of the six top
cable operators and two
largest DBS operators in
the U.S. to ensure that the
Brokaw-produced PSA,
as well as one produced
independently by Starz
Encore Group, would


both be broadcast to over
76 million households.
In accepting the
invitation, Michael Gross
asserted that "as we
confront our enemies, we
must not" forget our
friends, The Kahlil Gibran
Spirit of Humanity
Awards help to-
demonstrate the enduring
ArabAmerican
contribution to our
common good,"
"Because his voice is
recognized by millions of
Americans, Michael
Gross's generous
donation of his time and
talent to the narration of
our PSA made it that


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much more compelling.
We are .delighted that he
will be joining us and
welcome the opportunity
to recognize his valuable
contribution towards the
promotion of greater
understanding," said Arab
American Institute
President James Zogby,
This year's Kahlil
Gibran "Spirit of
Humanity" Awards will
also recognize Her
Majesty Queen Noor al
Hussein of Jordan for her
dedication to global
humanitarian efforts
including her


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eradication of landmines,
Reebok International for
its support of .human
rights activists throughout
the world, ExxonMobil
for its longstanding
commitment to furthering
the understanding of Arab
and. Islamic culture in the
U.S, Sting will present
HM Queen Noor with her
Gibran Award. Young
rising. star Taleen will
deliver a special musical
performance,


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Page 15 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

MARYLAND/VIRGINIA


Reza Pahlavi
(continued from page 1)
is left of Afghanistan last
November, fellow Muslims
in the neighboring Islamic
republic of Iran took to the
streets. Contrary to the
expectations of many in the
West, they did not rally to
denounce 'the Great Satan,'
the name given to America
by the late Ayatollah
Khomeini. Instead, ordinary
Iranians, in one of the most
extraordinary shifts in the
geopolitical landscape since
11 September, challenged
their own hard-line Islamic
clerics, the very group that
swept Shah Mohammed
Reza Pahlavi into exile in
1979.
Tens of thousands of
Iranian men and women


also demonstrated in several
cities after World Cup
qualifying soccer matches.
Amid expressions of
support for the national
football team, the protesters
could be heard chanting,
"We love you, America."
After smashing up banks,
public telephones, street
lighting and bus stops,
hundreds were arrested.
The man emerging as an
important figurehead for the
nascent rebellion is none
other than the late shah's
son, 41 year-old former
fighter pilot, Reza Pahlavi,
who has spent the last two
decades in exile.
When he was 14 years
old, his father was
diagnosed with lymphoma.
As a result, the teenage


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his peers and thrust into a
monarchical apprenticeship,
which included state visits
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* father died in Egypt. Reza
Pahlavi struggled to fight
back tears, as distressed
Iranian nationalists gathered
in Cairo to witness him
taking the oath as legal
claimant of the Iranian
throne.
In 1980, when the Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein
tore up the treaty he had
signed with his father five
years earlier, Prince Reza
sent a telegram to General


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Commander of the Iranian
armed forces, offering to
serve in the Iranian air force
as a fighter pilot to defend
his nation. The ayatollahs
turned down his offer,
believing his presence
would contradict their
(continued on page 16)



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Page 16 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

MARYLAND/VIRGINIA


Reza Pahlavi
(continued from page 15)
version of Iran's history.
Twenty two years later,
Prince Reza Pahlavi,
looking more and more like
his late father, still offers his
service to his nation. He
looks A little more tired than
on the last occasion we met,
early last year, in the same
modest central London
hotel. The staff there clearly
adore him and welcome the
growing number of
supporters, from among
London's Iranian
community, who have come
to pay their respects.
Despite his cold-
generated cough, the prince
spoke enthusiastically for
almost two hours about his
vision of Iran and the
progress of his campaign for
democracy, which he
discussed in an interview
with The Middle East last
year.
Commenting on what his
mother Empress Farah
Pahlavi, told London's
Arabic daily Asharq Al-
Awsat two days earlier that
her son wants to return and
serve his country like any
ordinary citizen the Shah
in, exile says the important


thing is that the people of
Iran are given the right to
choose how they wish to be
governed. Whether the
future for Iran involves a
republic or a constitutional
monarchy, is not the issue at
this time' he says. The first
aim should be for the wishes
of the Iranian people to be
recorded in a free and fair
election. "My mission in
life, from the day I started
21 years ago, remains the
same," said the man whom
most Iranian liberals in
exile, as well as an
increasing number of,
Iranians at home, consider
to be Iran's hope of
salvation from what many
describe as its current
nightmare.
He outlines his vision for
a comprehensive strategy to
give the Iranian people
freedom of choice and real.
democracy, in his ,book,
Winds of Change: the
Future of Democracy in
Iran, published last month
(Feb 2002) in Washington
by Regency Publishing Inc.,
which he dedicates to the
memory of all Iran's fallen
heroes and patriots.
"My goal is to reach a
stage where the Iranian


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people can go to a national
referendum and vote with
their conscience for their
future. That day, the day the
Iranians go to the polls, is
the end of my mission in
life. What they want to do
afterwards is entirely up to
them. I stand ready to serve
them in whatever capacity
they see fit. It is simply
important that believers in
'secular democracy come
together to achieve that
goal." -
Prince Reza's opinions
are shared by growing
numbers of people inside
the Islamic Republic,


where, increasingly, the
rallying cry is for secular
democracy. In 1997, when
the voters elected
philosopher Mohammed
Khatami, thought by the
West to be the most liberal
candidate the ayatollahs
could stomach, the idea of
an Islamic democracy -
although unworkable in
practice held great
promise. With talk of a
dialogue of civilisations'
Khatami caught the
imagination of the Iranian
public and western
journalists. John Lancaster
(continued on page 17)


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Page 17 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

MARYLAND/WASHINGTON, D.C.


Reza Pahlavi kind of appeasement," he
(continued from page 16) adds.
of The Washington Post He dismisses the idea of
described him as 'Ayatollah a moderate Khatami intent
Gorbachev,' prompting upon bringing about real
debate as to whether he was change. Any change at this
just a reformer, or a stage would be superficial
revolutionary who would and made with the purpose
usher in Iranian Perestroika. of helping lift US sanctions
Many Middle East or improving trade to serve
specialists now say he is the interests of the ruling
neither; Khatami was, after elite, and not for the benefit
all, trained in the of millions of impoverished
conservative seminaries of Iranians.
Qom, and is part of the "There is no such thing
regime, a point Reza as a moderate in this
Pahlavi capitalises on to (theological Islamic
warn us western Republic) system," Prince
journalists and governments Reza observes, illustrating
- against a trap we might fall his point by taking a leaf
into and consequently from Europe's own painful
"betray the Iranian people, history book: "We saw it
who deserve better. They with the Nazis; some people
themselves have scratched were arguing that
the surface of Khatami's Ribbentrop was more
reforms and uncovered the moderate than Himmler, but
truth," Prince Reza notes, they were [both] Nazis at
"This good cop, bad cop the end."
game was a carefully In that sense, says Reza
designed tactic by the Pahlavi, Mr. Khatami's
Islamic regime to confuse loyalty is to the regime, his
the outside world into some allegiance is to the

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Page 18 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

MARYLAND


Reza Pahlavi
(continued from page 17)
this so-called moderate
system and its reformist
president, parliamentary
members being
incarcerated; most of the
Iranian newspapers shut
down "and their employees
made political prisoners.
The popular rhetoric is
aimed at confusing the
outside world. The struggle
in Iran today is not about the
moderate camp versus the
radical camp," he went on,
"rather it pits the forces of
state despotism and
religious fundamentalism
against a nation that
demands democracy, rejects
militant domination and
repudiates the concept of a
supreme leader who rules
over the others by divine
law. In evaluating the
progress of his year of cam
paigning and calling
upon his people to use 11
non-violent means and


'a.


general civil disobedience
to force change", Reza
Pahlavi cited a few
examples of unrest from
inside Iran, in addition to
last November's
demonstrations.
The candle-lit vigil held
by many Iranians, men and
women of all ages and from
all walks of life, on the night
of 11 September, was a
liberal phenomenon using
western Christian symbols,
like candles, in defiance of
the regime; those who
participated certainly risked
arrest by the revolutionary
guard.
"Iran," commented the
prince, "is the only country
in the area where the
majority of the people show
sympathy to the West but
the regime is hostile to it. It
is important for the world,"
he said, "to .separate the
Iranian people from their
unpopular ruling regime."
He cited several


examples, such as Iraq and
Afghanistan: "When the
Taliban left Kabul, we
immediately saw women
taking off their burqas, the
radio began broadcasting
music and songs. Similarly,
when the East German
government fell and the
Soviet system fell, there was
great rejoicing. What does
this say about the true
sentiment of these nations
before the changes took
place?" he asked. 'This is
exactly what you would see
in Iran... as a matter of fact
we see it today."
He says 11 September
was, and should be, an eye-
opener for the West and
particularly for America.
'The tragedy caused
decision-making circles in
the West to evaluate western
short-termism and begin
considering long term
interests.
"Who in the West, before
11 September, gave any


thought to the suffering of
the Afghani people?
Afghanistan was not on any
list of western priorities, let
alone a concern for western
public opinion.
"The events of 11
September were a painful
lesson to be digested by the
West," he added.
Eradicating terrorism needs
a detailed long-term
strategy and continued
effort. "Terrorism will not
disappear by jailing people
such as Carlos the Jackal, or
killing Bin Laden and
destroying the bases of Al
Qaeda and Hizbullah. It is
essential to deal with the
root causes, confronting
regimes that support
terrorism and addressing the
factors that create the
culture, including those
exploited by twisted-
minded clergy and the likes
of Bin Laden, who
brainwash the young into
(continued on page 19)


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Page 19 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

ALABAMA


Reza Pahlavi
(continued from page 18)
becoming suicide
bombers."
Interestingly, he
reminded historians that the
Islamic suicide-bomber
phenomenon, only emerged
with Ayatollah Khomeini's
revolutionary doctrine.
Prince Reza believes that
the painful lessons of
history show that true
democracy is.the only basis
for any lasting political
solution. "By spreading
democracy and ending
social, political and
economic injustice, by.
encouraging religious
tolerance, social justice and
fighting poverty in our
Muslim countries, we can
secure our societies and
protect them against the
threat of fundamentalism
and terrorism recruitment


movements," he explained,
while listing the ingredients
of his long-term recipe for
eradicating terrorism from
the Islamic world.
The Iranian regime
responded to 11 September
with typical ambivalence;
condemning the terrorists,
after vigils were held by the
people, but saying that the
United Nations, not the
United States, should lead
any war on terrorism. Yet
the truth, which is
recognized by Reza Pahlavi,
is that ordinary Iranians
aren't much bothered by
events in Afghanistan, even
though Iran's hard-line
media plays up reports of
civilian casualties.
His contacts inside Iran,
which he claims have
continued since the family
left the country in 1978, are
growing in size, providing


him with news of what is
going on there. His website,
Prince Reza confirmed, had
scored several million hits,
mainly from inside Iran,
during the 10 months since
we last met, and he has also
received hundreds of
thousands of personal e-
mails from inside the'
country.
"The people of Iran
could use a muchneeded
boost of support from the
free world," Reza Pahlavi
said in a speech at Yale
University, just five days
before the demonstrations in
which participants chanted
his name in Iran last
November. "They
especially lobk to America
as a beacon of hope,
expecting her not to let them
down by cutting a deal with
the rulers of Iran for short-
term gains."


A report in the Wall
Street Journal last
November indicated that
young Iranians, who form
the majority of the
population, were curious
and somewhat intrigued by
the man whose father died
in exile years before they
were born, and of whom
they have only recently
learned details
"He [Reza Pahlavi] says
we need freedom. He says
we'll be like Europe," 17
yearold Afshin Sadeqi, a
Tehran teenager, told Wall
Street Journal writers. The
young student had never
heard of Reza Pahlavi until
last October, when he saw
him-speaking on videotape.
"We didn't know who he
was," Mr Sadeqi says. "But
as soon as we heard him, we
felt it was our own feelings
(continued on page 20)


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Page 20 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

MISSISSIPPIALOUISIANA


Reza Pahlavi
(continued from page 19)
described in words we
couldn't say. He said them
beautifully."
The protesters' taunts
directed at Iran's clerical
leadership were astonishing,
the Wall Street journal
report continues,
particularly the use of
phrases such as: 'We love
you, America' and 'We love
you, Reza Pahlavi.'
"Until a month ago,
nobody knew who
Reza Pahlavi was," says
Mr Havaji, a 38 yearold
civil engineer. "We Iranians
want to be players in the
global village, and his
[westemised] character fits
this picture very well. When
he says we just want to be
normal again, this touches
everybody. Our society has
decided it wants to become
a secular democracy."
Reza Pahlavi described
to me how the ruling
Regime, after these reports
were published, sent police
around the houses
confiscating satellite dishes.
His advice to his fellow
Iranians, on his website and.
Svia his broadcasts; is to
smash their dishes in order
to stop the corrupt elements
of the regime selling them
their own 'confiscated'
dishes back, a few months
from now, at inflated prices.
Such advice rang true with


local people and revealed
Prince Reza not only as a
man who cares, but one
who also knows exactly
what goes on in Iran, despite
living in exile.
Taking a few sheets of
paper from the inside pocket
of his smart suit, where he
had many scribbled notes in
Farsi, Prince Reza's eyes lit
up and he grinned from ear
to ear as he translated a
selection of the slogans used
by demonstrators against
the regime in several
demonstrations held in late
January one of which
coincided with a .visit by
UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan and others chanted
by students demonstrating
in support of their teachers.
"Leave Palestine alone and
attend to our needs," said
one. "Your media is not
saying enough about us,"
criticised another. Yet more,
including: "The
*incompetent must resign"
and "Enough, we are tired
of 20 years of betrayal,"
could hardly have been
more direct in their
criticism."
Prince Reza will be
looking to a variety of
Iranian groups for support
to bring about democratic
change; they include the
intelligentsia, the
professional classes, an
increasingly alienated
section of the clergy,


including many Islamic
scholars, weary of the
theological autocratic elite
who, they believe, have
isolated them from the
people. Last but not least, he
will be looking for the
support of the bazaaris or
merchant class, whose.
desertion of his father they
believe dealt a fatal blow to


his ruling regime.
Mr. Pahlavi, says
Franklin Foer in the New
Republic, has carefully
crafted his appeal to Iranian
youth, by far the country's
most dynamic political
force. His comments are
laced with references to
their frustration, which he
(continued on page 21)


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Page 21 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

MISSISSIPPI/LOUISIANA


Mahfoud
(continued from page 2)
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(continued from page 2)
most likely based Chahine


He lives in Mandarin
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He plans to let his
daughter make up her own


himself. For this film,
Chahine relinquished his
role as just a director to


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mind about what shell be
when she grows up.
"I'm going to give my
daughter the options to do
whatever she wants in
life. I would love for her


leave time for other
aspects of production. He
even wrote the music for


to be an engineer to make
things better for people,
but the final decision is up
to her. I'm not going to
twist her arm, but I might
pinch it a little."


one of the film's songs
performed by the Tunisian
(continued on page 22)


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Reza Pahlavi
(continued from page 20)
seems to have adroitly
adopted as his own'
Reza Pahlavi said that
"the message from [Iran's]
50 million young is that an
investment in the people of
Iran and their rightful
struggle for secularism and
popular sovereignty, is the
best guarantee against
continued regional
instability and radicalism
emanating from Tehran."
He also championed
women's rights, regarded as
the Islamic regime's
Achilles' heel. When asked
about women's rights by a
caller from Iran in a recent
two-hour interview on
satellite television, he
responded: "Women's
rights are human rights...
Under the clerics, however,
Iranian women have
suffered the most by having
been subjected to the most
humiliating social
restrictions and laws."
- Several reporters who
have visited Tehran in


recent months cited another
sign of Reza Pahlavi's
resurgence. The Islamic
government fears him. His
recent statements
condemning the regime's
human rights record have
evoked apoplectic
responses from ayatollahs in
the government-run
newspapers. The mullahs
have even vigorously
protested former King Zahir
Shah's return toAfghanistan
because, Iran watchers
argue, they worry it might
set a precedent for Pahlavi.
While there are several
other opposition figures,
according to analysts, many
people have started
perceiving Reza Pahlavi as
the only credible alternative
to the ruling regime.
Cyrus Kadivar, a
London-based Iranian
businessman, says that the
young Iranians of today
hear their parents talk about
the days of the late Shah,
about the prosperity and the
choices they had, choices
which no longer exist.


"They simply tell their
children that the older
generation made a terrible
mistake by getting rid of the
Shah, which they now
regret."
Mr Kadivar heard from
his father how, in 1960, the
Shah was very close to his
people, his 'white
revolution' giving the
Iranians hope of progress,
prosperity and generous
welfare. There was no sign
on the horizon, at that point,
of the flood that would
drown the nation 17 years
later. Distinguished
journalist and historian, Dr
Ali Nouri Zadeh, says the
years of Reza's growing up
were associated, in the
minds of most Iranians,
with years of prosperity and
progress.
He recalls how, in
November 1960, thousands
of Iranians flooded the
streets around the Mother
and Child Maternity
Hospital, within minutes of
Tehran radio announcing
that Empress Farah, the


third wife of the Shah, had
given birth to a healthy male
child inside, who would be
known as Prince Reza.
"The late Shah separated
from his first wife, Princess
Fawziyah of Egypt, after
she gave birth to only one
child, a daughter, Shahenaz.
He then divorced his second
wife, Soraya, who was
discovered to be unable to
have children. The people of
Iran had waited for many
years, pinning their hopes
on Empress Farah giving
birth to a son and securing
the continuity of the
monarchy. Prince Reza's
birth was greeted by much
rejoicing."
Four decades later,
Iranians are again gathering
in the streets, calling out the
name of Prince Reza. Could
the people be awaiting the
rebirth of the house of
Pahlavi to start another
white revolution, this time,
one based on full
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Page 22 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

HOUSTON, TX


Chahine Film
(continued from page 21)
singer Latifa, who plays
one of the film's heroines.
Some critics theorize
that the film is about all
things beautiful -
happiness, joy, love of
cinema, as well as the
appreciation of great
masters in other arts all
in relationship to Chahine
and what they have meant
to him.
Certainly, this film
distinguishes itself from
Chahine's "The Land"
(1969), "The Immigrant"
(1994), "The Destiny"
(1997), "The Other"
(1999) and even
"Alexandria Trilogy"
(1979-1989). It falls
within a category the
critics refer to as
romantic-musical-comedy
and which Chahine
himself categorizes as
dramatic musical comedy.
The plot of the film is
quite simple and
represents life in Egypt
today, following a tale of
romance, deceit, and
exploitation. The story
centers around three main
characters: the astute and
wealthy bourgeois


grandmother (played by
Majida al-Khatib); the
mother, Malak (played by
the Tunisian singer
Latifa); and the
granddaughter, Paula
(played by a new face,
Ruby).
As the film begins, the
mother is married to a
lawyer (Ahmed Mehrez)
who is quite busy, overly
conscious of his
bourgeois roots, and has
little time for his wife. He
subsequently leaves
Malak for another
woman, an event that
strikes at the mother's
womanhood and self-
esteem. After the divorce,
Malak lives in a constant
state of anxiety over
whether people truly love
her or want her only for
her fame and wealth. This
fragile state of mind
allows her to fall in love
with a swindler and
gigolo named Lami
(played by Ahmed Wafic).
He is the product of
globalism, a materialist
who seeks nothing but fun
and his own personal
interest with a goal of
getting rich quickly
through deceit. As the


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film continues, Malak's
friend Alfi, a scriptwriter
(played by Ahmed Badir),
attempts to rescue her
from Lami. Alfi lies to
Lami by saying that the
grandmother has left
everything to Paula,
prompting Lami to pursue
the granddaughter, using
the same methods he used
earlier on her mother.
Finally, he is discovered
and exposed. In the
meantime, Paula has
become involved with the
son of the family's driver,
Nasser (played by
Mustafa Shabaan), a
representative extension
of Gamal Abd Nasser's
generation and its great
pan-Arabist dreams.
Chahine was
immediately put on the
stand by critics who
wanted to know why he
would make a romantic or
any non-intellectual -
film, a discussion that
extended to the question
of why romantic filrim,
have been absent for some-
time in Arab cinema. As
Chahine explains in an
interview with the
Lebanese newspaper As
Safir, a corrupt or


decadent climate negates
romanticism; it is difficult
to have romantic films in
a morally corrupt
environment where
"beauty" is directly
related to how much
money one has. He did
not shy away from
mentioning cost, citing
"Silence, We're
Shooting" as an example.
When critics asked him if
he was seeking a
reconciliation between
classes derived from this
attempt to romantically
bring together members
of different social
backgrounds .in "Silence,
We're Shooting," Chahine
answered negatively,
repeating an earlier
observation that the laws
in Egypt still make the
rich richer and the poor
poorer.
Chahine also seems to
dismiss the notion that
"Silence, We're
Shooting" aims at making
people laugh. Sheer
"gross jokes," he says,
cannot make people
laugh, because, in order to
laugh, one must have
inner happiness,
(continued on page 23)


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Page 23 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

DALLAS, TX


Chahine Film
(continued from page 22)
something apparently
missing in a "decadent
climate."
The role of the
grandmother, played by
Majida al-Khatib,


Goodness of God
(continued from page 3)
the commandment of the
LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes. The
fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring for ever: the
judgments of the LORD
are true and righteous
altogether. More to be
desired are they than gold,
yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey
and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy
servant warned: and in
keeping of them there is
great reward. Keep back
thy servant also from
presumptuous sins; let
them not have dominion
over me: then shall I be
upright, and I shall. be


received unanimous
praise; some critics have
called it her greatest role
ever. Latifa, as the mother,
did not impress with her
acting skills, although she
received kudos for her
singing.


innocent from *the great
transgression. Let the
words of my mouth, and
the meditation of my
heart, be acceptable in thy
sight, 0 LORD, my
strength, and my
redeemer. Psalm of David
"1: The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures: he
leadeth me beside the still
waters. He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for
his name's sake. Yea,
though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy
rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou


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Questions about this
new venture into
producing a film that
combines music and
dance surround Chahine
wherever he goes. During
a premiere of his film in
Lebanon, An Nahar


prepares a table before
me in the presence of
mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with
oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I
will dwell in the house of
the LORD for ever. Is He


newspaper asked him if
"Silence, We're
Shooting" is a tribute or a
farewell to musical
cinema. Chahine's answer
was that it is neither: "It is
a tribute to my cinematic
craft."


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Page 24 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

DALLAS, TX


Melkite Icons
_(continued from page 3)
style, and the
characteristic' green and
red borders that mark the
Aleppo School of
iconographers.
Although anonymity
prevailed -in general
among the icon painters
not of the Aleppo School,
several independent
Melkite artists do appear
on the scene. Hanna al-
Kudsi, an eighteenth-
century painter, did
mostly restorations and
reproductions of earlier
works, including some of
Nemeh's. Hanna's own
works are more traditional
icon painting.
Mikhail al-Dimashki
worked in Damascus at
the time Hanna al-Kudsi
did in Jerusalem. Mikhail
painted traditional -icons
of a popular nature with
.-element'.; learned from
western artists.
Sylvester, the
Orthodox Patriarch of
Antioch, though working
in the Near East, painted
strictly in the Byzantine
form. His works attest to
the controversy between
the Eastern Church and
the Church of Rome.
Sylvester spent much of
his life fighting Cyrillus
V, the Patriarch of Aleppo
and some of Cyrillus'
bishops. Through the


influence of Jesuit and
Capuchin missionaries
from Europe, Cyrillus and
his followers left the
Greek Orthodox Church
and reunited with the
Roman Catholic Church.
Sylvester's paintings are
formally Byzantine
because he was
countering the spread of
what he considered non-
Eastern religious
teachings.
With the arrival of the
nineteenth century, the
demand for smaller,
popular icons and
increased generally
prosperity made possible
the personal possession of
icons. But individuals did
not have money to use on
the ornamentation of an
icon. Instead of portraying
their subjects on gold, the
artists began painting
directly on the wood.
With the increased
demand for icons,
especially from the newly
formed Melkite-Greek
Catholic Church, the
artists had less time for
the production or their
decoration. By the mid-
nineteenth century
decoration disappeared.
Simple clusters of flowers
replaced the intricate
designs which smother
the surface and borders of
the works of the Aleppo
School. Stylized bodies


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and faces were no more.
The painters broke
completely with early
artistic canons and
restraints.
Prominent in these
later Melkite icons are
Near Eastern villagers and
peasants, particularly in
the works of Butros
Agaimy. This Lebanese
priest painted during the
opening of the nineteenth
century near Deir al-
Kamar, Lebanon. His icon
of St. John Climacus
depicts the saint with a
large fleshy face, a wide
nose, big eyes, and rough
workman's hands. St.
John Climacus could just
as easily be a Lebanese
laborer as the sixth-
century priest who lived
in Sinai, where he wrote a
famous book about
Christian virtues. No gold


was used in this icon, and
the colors are earthy
browns and grays.
Another Melkite
painter who favored the
simple style in the mid-
nineteenth century is
Nemeh Nasser of Homs,
Syria. His works are
characterized by
roughness. This artist
worked directly on wet
plaster, and the grooves
are visible even through
several layers of paint.
As the influence of the
Aleppo School declined
in the nineteenth century,
another school A Melkite
iconography developed in
Jerusalem by- the middle
of the century -the
Kudsi. Three Melkite
painters of this period
may have used some mass
production techniques
(continued on page 25)


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Page 25 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

SAN ANTONIO, TX
d "


(continued from page 24)
because of their .prolific
output of so many icons
of the same subject done
in the same manner. They
are Mikhail Mahanna,
Yuhanna Saliba, and
Nicolas Theodorus. Large
brush strokes and
simplicity characterize
their works. Their saints
have heads as round as
oranges and faces touched
with serenity.
The strongest influence
of Melkite painters of the
nineteenth century was the
work of Michael
Polychronis, or Michael
the Cretan. Michael lived


Holy Quran
(continued from page 3)
quality of peacefulness is
not acquired by a child
but it is a Gift of Allah
deep-rooted in human
beings. However, unless a
deliberate attempt is made
to acquire peace, it can
not be labelled as moral
qtiality or moral condition


anu wUI.ked in -Da.i ascus
from 1809 to 1821. Most
churches of significance
in the Near East have an
icon produced by Michael.
His icons, done in oil,
reflect Byzantine and
Italianate elements, but
are classified as-Melkite in
style. The reason:
decorative themes from
Damascus woodwork
panels ornament the robes
draping the saints
portrayed. The draperies
of his subjects' robes are
magnificently molded,
and the significance of this
painter is not confined to
his artistic achievements,
but extends to his


in mankind.
As such being
peaceful, or being gifted
with meekness is a moral
quality for which a
deliberate is made not to
harm other human beings.
Further he or she should
consciously avoid to
inflict ant pain or harm,
bodily or otherwise to


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influence un many arUists
of his day and locale.
Aside from the primitive
stylists like Butros
Agaimy, Melkite painters
attempted to imitate
Michael's occidental style.
With the turn of the
century came the attraction
of things western. This
interest led to the
abandonment of the
characteristic, local, Arabic
style. For decades the
knowledge and
appreciation of Melkite
icons lay generally
dormant. These special
works of iconography were
the privileged information
and enjoyment of only a


fellow humanbeings.
Meekness, or 'living in
peace' will, then emerge
as a moral condition and
moral quality in an
individual for the greater


few Lebanese andu ynan
collectors.
Prior to the current
upheaval in Lebanon,
some of the finest
specimens of Melkite
icons were found in the
Sursock Museum, Beirut;
the Henri Pharaon
Collection; Holy Savior
Monastery, Joun.
From their rediscovery
and the renewal of interest
in. them has resulted a
valuable contribution to
art and religion. Scholars
are hoping that the study
of Melkite icons will
generate new insights into
the lives of Arabic
Christians.


good of mankind.
(Islami Asool Ki
Philosophy Urdu
Translated in English and
Adapted PP. 55-56 .) All
(continued on page 26)


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Page 26 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

TEXAS


Holy Quran
-,ontinued from page 25)
Muslims should therefore,
work to establish 'peace' at
individual domestic and
international level. The
Vluslims in 'authority' as
well should pay attention to
otherr people's view in
orderr to curb the cause of
irritation and violation.
Fhis will result in
establishing peace in one's
)wn life as well as in the
labelss
continued from page 4)
fishing to come to the
Jnited States from the
ame country or religious
aith as a handful of
extremists The


lives of other human
beings. Meekness or 'love
for living in peace,' in fact,
should be deep rooted in all
the Muslims And they
should make a deliberate
choice for 'peace' because
it is a Gift of Allah to
mankind. Holy Prophet of
Islam himself eKhibited
the moral quality of
meekness in dealings with
others. He never placed
himself higher than the


overwhelming majority of
people who come to
America, whether from the
Middle East, Europe, Asia
or Latin America, are
looking for a better life and
future, not to terrorize the


person who came to seek
his advice. Holy Prophet of
Islam, being an 'excellent
examplar' set personal
examples in almost all
walks of life. He has set up
personal examples of
tolerance and the
excessiveness of the enemy
without any sort of
retaliation. It is an
established fact in the life
of the Holy Prophet of
Islam that entering Macca


population. And contrary
to the CIS assertion that


victoriously, a
Proclamation was made,
'no harm will come to any
one this day.' Even though,
the Maccans had
persecuted the Holy
Prophet of Islam and forced
him to migrate him to
Madina, a safe place. But
the Holy Prophet of Islam
signifying the moral quality
of 'meekness,' forgave all
his enemies to establish
'peace' in that territory.


"the terrorist threat comes
(continued on page 27)


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Page 27 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

TEXAS


Labels
(continued from page 26)
almost exclusively from
foreign-born individuals,"
terrorists have and will
continue to come in all
colors and nationalities,
including home-grown
ones like Timothy
McVeigh. The CIS claims
that "we cannot protect
ourselves from terrorism
without dealing with
illegal immigration." But
the numbers in the Census
report tell us simply that
millions of persons are
living in the United States
are either out of status or
on some form of
transitional status, like
refugees, asylees and those
with applications pending.
We agree that our
immigration laws must be
enforced and that resources
are needed to do that, but
the message sent by CIS is
taking advantage of a
tragedy to further their
preSeptember I I anti-


immigrant agenda.
Another misconception is
that the Census Bureau
report was motivated by
the same anti-immigrant
agenda as espoused by the
CIS. The report, itself was
part of an effort by the
bureau to address estimates
of the "residual foreign
born" for purposes of
apportionment. Because
the report released data on
country of origin, the CIS
seized the opportunity to
draw attention to the small
percentage (less than I
percent) of this estimated
population that originates
in the Middle East.
Statistically, this is hardly
newsworthy. But in the
current climate, it is
dangerously easy to use
racism and fear-mongering
to make policy
recommendations. Such
policies are neither sound
nor, will they' benefit the
legitimate efforts of law
enforcement to prevent


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future acts of, terrorism.
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September I I' attacks
acknowledge that the pool
of actual suspects is
extremely small. The
overwhelming majority of
persons detained (and
being prioritized for
deportation) have no
connection with the
terrorists who attacked our
country. While those who
violate their visas (from
any country) need to be
dealt with, diverting
valuable FBI resources
from the criminal
investigation for otherwise
procedural INS business
does not make sense, and it
will not help prevent
terrorism. By conflating
visa violators with terrorist
suspects and failing to
distinguish between the.
two, the impression has
been created that they may
be one and the same. What
is especially troubling is
that after the early weeks


of telling Americans that
they should not treat all
Arabs and Muslims as
suspects, the
administration's practices
of profiling and massive
detentions are sending the
exact opposite message.
The politics of terrorism
have only reinforced
decades of negative
stereotypes in American
culture about Arabs and
Muslims. Policies of
profiling based on Middle
Eastern ethnicity rather
than on suspicious conduct
only deepen those popular
misconceptions and widen
the fear. Responsible
policies distinguish
between stereotypes and
real threats. We agree with
the urgency of
strengthening our security
to prevent future terrorism,
regardless of- where it
originates. To focus that
spotlight on immigration
policy is a dead end.


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Page 28 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

TEXAS


Ashcroft
continueded from page 4)
General have circulated
on the web, AAl has seen
an increase in hate mail.
Many of the inflammatory
remarks include
statements of support for
the views attributed to
Attorney General
Ashcroft. Some of the
individuals even note that
they are "good
Christian[s] like the
,attorney General. It is
therefore more urgent that
the Attorney General
publicly repudiate these
comments.
Speaking about Islam
in an interview with
syndicated columnist and
radio commentator Cal
Thomas, Attorney
General Ashcroft


Laila Shawa
(continued from page 5)
74e Oriental Department
of the British Museum,
who has purchased
several of Laila's
creations for the
museum's collection.
"Good art should really
shake people up. When I
first saw Laila's work, it
jumped straight out at
me", she says.


reportedly said, 'Islam is a
religion in which God
requires YOU to send
your son to die for him.
Christianity is a faith in
which God sends his son
to die for you." Since the -
Muslim Public Affairs
Council first raised this
issue and other Arab
American and American
Muslim organizations
requested clarification,
we have yet to see a clear
response from the Justice
Department.
On February 8, AAI
wrote to President George
W. Bush asking that he
urge the Attorney General
to clarify the situation. "If
the Attorney General did
not make the remarks, he
should clarify the
situation and repudiate the


Young and rebellious,
Laila strove to find her
own path. Six weeks after
enrolling to study
philosophy and sociology
at the American
University of Cairo, she
returned home
disconsolate and
disillusioned. Luckily, she
found an advocate in
Victor Delborgo, an
Egyptian of Italian Jewish


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comments. If the.
Attorney General made
the comments, fie should
publicly apologize and
meet with Arab and
Muslim American leaders
to discuss measures he
could take to make
amends to the Muslim
community and to all
Americans. Should he fall
to do so., we request that
you seek Attorney"
General Ashcroft's
immediate removal or
resignation from office,"
AAI stated in the letter.
Given the insufficient
response by the Justice
Department, AAI stands
by its original position.
"Clearly the
Department of Justice's
response is a non-response.
Once more, it has been


extraction, an architect
and close family friend.
He had noticed Laila's
creative talent, and
strongly recommended to
her father that she study aet
the Leonardo da Vinci


'interesting to watch the
Administration, including
the White House and State
Department, distance itself
from the type of views
attributed to the Attorney
General while he remains
silent. The Administration,
and particularly the DOJ's
Civil Rights division, has
done an exemplary job
encouraging Americans to
remain -united and fight
intolerance of any kind.,
But the words attributed to
the Attorney General
threaten to detail the
progress and healing that
has begun and could send a
signal to some that
discrimination against
Muslims is okay. We urge
the President to deal with
this situation,"' said AAI
President Dr. James Zogby.


School of Art, in Cairo.
It was an unusual
choice for a girl raised in a
traditional Muslim
society. But her father was
(continued on page 29)


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Page 29 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

ARIZONA/NEVADA


Laila Shawa
(continued from page 28)
persuaded, and in 1957
Laila began her new life.
"I had a ball", she recalls.
"I loved the teachers and
enjoyed being with such a
variety of people from
different nationalities:
Swiss, Italian, Greek and
Egyptian."
After a year she
transferred to the
Academia de Belle Arte in
Rome, in 1958. For six
years she studied under


Renato Guttuso, gaining a
BA with honours in fine
arts, and a further
Diploma in Plastic and
Decorative Arts from the
Academia St Giacomo.
Between 1960 and 1963
she also frequently
travelled to .Salzburg,
Austria, where she
collaborated with the
famously fiery
Expressionist, Oskar
Kokoschka.
At the time Laila fell
under the spell of the


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was the 16th century
Flemish master,- Pieter
Breughel. "He knew how
to depict the human
condition within the
dimensions of the
universe. And, while he
was critical of people, he
always maintained a sense


of humour," says Laila. In
time Laila would put her
burgeoning artistic career
on hold to render service
to those less fortunate.
Between 1965 and 1967
she worked as a
supervisor for arts and
crafts in UNRWA refugee
(continued on page 30)


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Laila Shawa
(continued from page 29)
schools. For another year
she instructed art teachers
at the UNESCO Institute
of Education
Returning to Gaza in
1965, she began to
incorporate indigenous
elements into her work
Passionate abstractions


gave way to a more
narrative style. She held
her first solo exhibition at
Marna House in Gaza,
and visited Jerusalem,
which left a great impact.
"The walls and
architecture of the Old
City have influenced my
work ever since. For
years, I painted nothing
.but cityscapes. I am
fascinated by form, and
what people leave behind


as a sign of their
presence."
In early 1967- she left
Gaza and UNRWA to set
up anew in Beirut, her
mother's birthplace. She
revelled in the city's
cosmopolitan atmosphere,
enjoyed four solo
exhibitions, and found
work as an illustrator of
children's books. But
another great change was
just around the corner.
Over six days in June,
Israel conquered the Sinai
Desert, Golan Heights,
West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
For Palestinians, defeat
came as a second nakba
,( c a t as tro p h e ) .
Paradoxically, though,
occupation allowed West
Bankers and Gazans to
revisit their lost land. Says
Laila: "I had no real
recollection of physical
Palestine. It was a shock
going back to a place that
you have. only heard of"
Increasingly, Laila
translated that sense of
shock into more overtly
political work. Her
paintings now sought to
reclaim, preserve and
reinterpret a distinctively
Palestinian identity. They
depicted new themes, like
the inequities of
occupation, and the
injustice of the


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on women.
On other occasions, she
employs humour, as in
"Impossible Dream," her
1988 portrait of women in
full hijab trying to eat ice-
cream. To Laila the work
symbolises an Arab world
that clings to distorte6I
interpretations of Islam,
.yet still desperately wants
to enter the modem world.
"We seem unable to
achieve this balance," she
muses. "Or rather, we are
'westernising' in only the
most superficial aspects."
Evidently not everyone
got the joke: 40 furious
female protesters assailed


Laila when the painting
was exhibited in Jordan
some years ago.
When civil war erupted
in Lebanon in 1975, she
returned to Gaza and then
relocated to London. In
1977 she met Sa'ad
Mohaffel, a talented
Syrian architect, and the
pair collaborated on a
giant mural project in
.Yemen. Then, for the next
decade they devoted
themselves to a truly
grand enterprise: the
Rashad Shawa Cultural
Centre, the largest aits
and conference facility
named for Laila's father
in Gaza. Laila created its
(continued on page 31)


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Page 31 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA


Laila Shawa
(continued from page 30)
massive stained glass
windows. The centre
consumed all their time,
and also cemented their
personal union. Before
long they married.
"Maybe it was a way of
compensating for my
desire to be an architect"
she jokes.
Sadly, Laila's father
Rashad Shawa died in
1988, the very year his
centre was inaugurated.
The previous two decades
had been extraordinarily
eventful. Rashad :had
endorsed the PLO,'s
foundation in 1964, and,
though the organisation
subsequently tried to
assassinate him, he
successfully steered a
middle path between
Arafat's Gazan minions


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and Israel's military
occupiers. After
becoming mayor in 1971,
Rashad revived the local
citrus industry; and his
Benevolent Society for
Gaza provided essential
social and medical
services to Gaza's needy.
Laila still bridles when
she recalls how the
Palestine Authority
peremptorily
'confiscated' his Centre
and dissolved his charity
in 1998.
The year also marked
the intensification of the
Intifada, the first
concerted revolt against
Israeli rule. "I become
much more involved with
my work, and started
photographing writing on
the walls of Gaza. I then
incorporated those photos
(continued on page 32)


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Page 32 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA


Laila Shawa
(continued from page 31)
into colour lithographs.
Children would crowd
around, bemused that I
was shooting bare walls.
Over time we developed
an understanding, and
they would insist on
posing. Ironically, walls
had become a method of
communication for a
traumatised society, one
of the few forms of self-
expression left to them."
One poignant montage
shows a boy with a
superimposed red 'target'.
Another, "Children of
War, Children of Peace",
taken in Gaza's Sheikh
Radwan refugee camp, is
now displayed in London
London's British
Museum. It shows
multiple Warhollike
monochromatic images of


a boy mustering a metal
pole like a rifle. He was
three years old.
"War deprives children
of their childhood",
argues Laila. "Toys
become arms. The games
they play are all war
games. They have no
places to play and their
pysches are all screwed
up. Often they grow up
damaged, believing
violence is the only way
to resolve problems."
Lamentably, this has now
become a universal
scourge, she says. "Just
think of child soldiers in
Sudan, Sierra Leone or
Afghanistan."
Ideally, says Laila, "art
should be a dialogue
between civilisations."
But dialogue can also be
aggressive, fragmentary,
confusing. Gaza's walls,


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for instance, carried a
strange discourse between
the occupier and
occupied. Israeli soldiers
'replied' to graffiti by
covering it with purple
paint or dollar signs. Laila
superimposed US flags,
reinforcing the suggested
message.
The dollar imagery
reappeared in 2000, when
Laila was commissioned
by the Ashmolean
Museum in Oxford to
portray the figure of
Christ for the Millennium,
from a Muslim woman's
perspective. One canvas
shows the crucified Jesus
covered in dollar bills a
stark comment indeed on
the ravages of
materialism.
Laila Shawa is
committed to a just accord
between Israel and


Palestine, and participates
in dialogue groups like
Salaam-Shalom. At the
same time, she condemns
what she depicts as
Israel's disgraceful
treatment of Palestinians.
In her view, matters have
worsened since the Oslo
Accords of 1993.
However, she does not
pull her punches
regarding corruption
within the Palestine
Authority, which she
believes is widespread.
All the more reason,
then, to cherish chinks of
humanity amidst the
gloom. Palestinian voices
are crying out to be heard.
"Take prison artists: their
style may be emotional
and untutored, forged in
isolation from the world.
Yet their works are
(continued on page 33)


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Page 33 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA


Laila Shawa
(continued from page 32)
powerfully document
milestones in a people's
history," says Laila. "By
contrast, Palestinian
artists in the Diaspora
have exploited new
encounters to produce
daring, sophisticated
creations". Many talented
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always a blend of
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Greek, Arab, Ottoman
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Country Inn & Resort
on 53 Secluded Acres in Julian, CA
(in the mountains just 1 hour east of San Diego)


1-888-253-7747
www.angelresort.com
Romantic Getaways Family Packages Gift
Certificates Secluded Suites Two-Bedroom
Suites for Groups/Families Weddings
Receptions Retreats
Special Events

Ask about our special Sunday Thursday
Discounts! Rates!


TI VEL
CRUISES TOURS AIR RAIL

Professional Travel Service Since 1948
Competitive Cruise Prices
GROUP TRAVEL
Hours: Weekdays 9-5, Sat 9-12
* 50 years
* Eagle Creek Travel Gear

1348 COMMERCE LANE NEXT TO CEDAR ST.
PARKING DECK SANTA CRUZ, CA


Certified Nannies CPR Trained
Long or Short-Term Placement


On Call Nannies Well Or Sick Childcare
Corporate & Event Care & Activities


(831) 469-4095


www.anniesanniesagency.com
549 Frederick Santa Cruz, CA 95062


that particularly excites
Laila. "Arab art was
romantic and nostalgic.
Here, any issue is grist to
the mill. There is the
freedom to experiment,
exposure to so many
influences, and real
reverence for art in books,
magazines and television
documentaries. If art in
the west is informed by
advanced technology,
then we must use that
too."
These days Laila
Shawa's myriad works
can be found in





Page 34 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
iL


Scholarships
continued from page 5)
Syra-Meric Club,
Alexandria, La Texas A
4 M University The
Kahlil Gibran
Scholarship in Memory
Lf Past President Charles
Mousa
:~... JiBi.M....


I

~x ~$~i


Matthew D. Meide
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Meide
Salaam Club of Florida,
iacksonville, FL Florida
3tate University
American Lebanon
Association Scholarship


Daniel Milton
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas
Milton Cedars Phoenician
Club, Birmingham, Al
Auburn University
Southern Federation
Membership Scholarship


Matthew Sayour
Mr. & Mrs. Victor Sayour
Cedar Club, Atlanta, GA
Georgia Perimeter
College Louis & Mary
Helen Bosby Memorial
Scholarship


Jay Zainey, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Jay Zainey
Syrian Lebanese
American Club, New
. Orleans, La University of
Mississippi A. J. Droubi
& Family Scholarship


Thank you for supporting
the advertisers of the
Syrian Lebanese Star


SIMMEN WHOLESALE LUMBER

REDWOOD AT WHOLESALE PRICES
CALL US FOR YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS

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(916) 689-9112
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Sacramento's Only Wine &
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5528 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento


Best Wishes to our Syrian & Lebanese Friends
HOSPICE BY THE BAY
A Special Way Of Caring
For The Terminally III

Specializing In The Care
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Full Service Hospice For Adults & Children
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FOR INFORMATION CALL
1540 Market Street, Suite 350
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GIVERS

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4330 CLAYTON RD. CONCORD, CA SUITE K

SLODI SICKROOM
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800-339-3641
340 S. Fairmont Lodi, CA
--


Michael Thomas
& Company
23 Years Employment With The IRS
Calfornia Society of CPA's
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650-522-9180
E-mail: archer2194@aol.com
847 Arcturus Foster City, CA 94404





Page 35 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002

CALIFORNIA


SASSO'S TOTAL

IMAGE HAIR

SALON


A full-service Salon
Hair Waxing
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in Zinfandel Square


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Licensing No. 360910718



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www.sundialodge.com
Monte Verde & Seventh Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
SVIMANDA K4 P4AN CENT~M
* 34 Years in LA
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* Courses & Workshops
Call For Free Brochure
(310) 822-9642
e-mail: losangeles@sivananda.org
www.SIVANANDA.ORG/LA
1746 Abbot Kinney Blvd/Venice, CA 90291


If you need help locating one
that meets your needs and
budget, give us a call. We can 5 G to?' ?
save you time and effort by F 0 j
providing you with a select try
list of referrals at no charge: %
* Retirement Homes and Life Care
* Residential Care Homes (Board & Care)
* Assisted Living Residences
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800-777-7575
A Free Public Service Licensed by Cal. Dept. of Health Services

S.H.A.P.E. -.
Dancewear

CAPEZIO, BLOCH
DANSKIN
Specializing in Dance Supplies
Jazz Tap *Ballet Pointe
Leotards Tights- many more accessories


(562) 425-4555


5535 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA
(Corner of Bellflower & Spring)
East access from the 605 or 405 Fwy

Look Good and Feel Great
* Nutritional Counseling & *Vera Hance
Menu included Protein Drink
*AM PM Medications Crave Away
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LOSE WEIGHT-I GHS II e
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Open: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM
4844 N. First #101 Fresno, CA 93726
Between Shaw & Santa Ana


REDWOOD VLTTA


Studios & One Bedroom Apartments

Planned & Designed For Those

Who Would Enjoy The Company Of

Others, Total Services & A Well-

Rounded Program Of Activities.



650-965-8633

1981 Montecito Ave. Mountain View, CA

HANSEL RV CENTER

LAdlis'T RV DEALER
NO. OF BAY ON HWY 101
Sales Service Repairs
Huge Pre-owned Inventory
AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR
Southwind Flair
Storm Mallard
Jamboree Discovery Bounder
Wilderness Pace-Arrow
Savanna
"QUOTES BY PHONE"

800 585-7848
1215 Auto Center Dr. Petaluma, CA


Best Wishes To Our Many
Syrian & Lebanese Friends & Customers
from


Charles Safity


ESTATE PLANNING
INVESTMENTS
FINANCIAL & INSURANCE
SERVICES


(310) 324-8577
Torrence, CA





Page 36 THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE STAR April 2002
RECOMMENDED BUSINESSES


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Network T D
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BATTERIES & TRACK LIGHTING
405-755-2852
629 W. Hefner Rd. Oklahoma City, OK

BETHANY Beauty College
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P I T 1


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800-604-9404
420 W. Broadway Jackson, WY 83001


Wishing You A Happy New Year

B
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Social Activities Transportation Grocery Shopping
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Bonded & Insured Live-ins Available
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2901 Juan Tabo, NE #12 Albuquerque,'NM


Best Wishes from



Hulett-Winsted

FUNERAL HOME


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601-582-1571


P.O. Box 1687 Hattiesburg, MS


M.A.M. & Associates
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* You Can Choose your Doctor and Hospital
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Apply online from the privacy of your
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Call Mike Merhi Today (248) 592-0080
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RESTORING ART SINCE 1976
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INQUIRE ABOUT OUR
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THE FERRIS ANGELS

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2909 Pelham Dr. Oklahoma City, OK

TWO MILLION PER YEAR
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Best Wishes From

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Discounts to Senior Citizens
Contractors & Realtors

215-688-6065
982 Upper Gulph Rd. Wayne, Pennsylvania

Seattle's largest specialty glass studio


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(206) 633-2040
2510 North 45th St., Seattle, WA


Owner