An Arab-American New Year's Wish
This year, Arabs around the world celebrated their religious holidays together. Here in the United States, we wished each other Happy Ramadan and Merry Christmas, and felt strongly that bond which unites us all -- our pride in our Arab heritage.
This holiday season, and the coming new year, has got me thinking about what we, as Arab-Americans, hope to see in the near future. As we enter into the new year, I am thinking, wishing and hoping for many things in the year 2000 and beyond. However, rather than simply state all of my wishes here, I thought it would be more interesting to hear what Arab-Americans from my home state, and across the United States, have on their minds. What follows is their Arab-American New Year's Wish.....
(Melissa, 35, Mid-America) "My wish for the New Year? That my children can grow up in a world where peace and tolerance is an ideal for all people. That people see the beauty within all of us. That my children will not ever be made to feel as outsiders in a country where we have lived, worked and defended for 4 generations. That we will all be inspired by what is possible instead of defeated by what is impossible."
(Zahra, 20, California) "My one hope would be that the media would portray all Arabs as correctly and fairly as possible. While the media deals with many political issues, it fails to recognize the accomplishments and positive aspects of Arabs around the world. So, for the future, I hope that the media can portray Arabs in a new light, so that the rest of America and the world can view us as wonderful human beings, and not 'terrorists'."
(Feras, 30, North Carolina) "I wish to see all the Arabs in the states united, having good jobs, playing part in the political life in the USA.....we have the money, we are educated, so we should have some kind of power in this country."
(Nadeen, 17, California) "My wish is that the Arabic culture will finally be accepted and embraced by Americans. I'd like to see Arabic music blasting on American radio stations all around the U.S. and Arab American actors as some of the top celebrities. The Arabic culture and its people have so much to give and I hope the future will finally allow us to be noticed. That is my hope for the new year and the new century!"
(Ribhi, 20's, New Jersey)
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