Let Us Share Our Commonality, but also Celebrate Our Differences

posted on: Jul 31, 2019

“Let Us Share Our Commonality, but also Celebrate Our Differences.”

That was my opening remark in a speech back in 2007 to an assemblage of Arab-Americans, both Christian and Muslim, at the inaugural Unity Dinner of the Arab-American Religious Leaders of Greater Chicago (ARC).

Still today, some people say that Christians and Muslims who emigrated from the Middle East have nothing in common. They are wrong, we have a lot in common.

Do we not share a rigorous work ethic? Do we insist that our children get a college education in order to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, scientist, teachers, and entrepreneurs?  Do we gather our families around the table to share hummus, labneh, baba-ghanoush, tabbouleh, foul, falafel, lahem meshwi,  kafta, stuffed grape leaves, koussa, mansaf, hashweh, za’atar, and on and on—as only our mothers could master?

And what about our mothers?

Those who stereotype our women as subservient and deprived haven’t met our women—who enforce the strict golden rule of loyalty, hard work, education, generosity and faith in God, not to speak of our women’s current contributions to the professions of law, medicine, and science in this present generation.  It’s all there to see—in any one of our homes.

So, we Arab-Americans, both Christians and Muslims do “share our commonality”.

But also, we “celebrate our differences”. We worship differently. Our countless dialects range from Arabic to Aramaic, along with a rich array of cultural distinctions which make us so different. Our weddings, our religious services, even our politics back home—are all distinct, different, and worthy of celebration.

Arab-Americans, both Muslims, and Christians, have joined together to form many organizations right here in Chicago for example, such as the Arab-American Bar Association, the Arab-American Business, and Professional Association, the Arab-American Medical Association, and the Arab-American Association of Engineers and Architects. Also, in 2014 we proudly established AMVOTE, the American Middle East Voters Alliance. AMVOTE is the first Arab-American political action committee in Illinois history. AMVOTE  is where we share political power to “get a seat at the table” of government.

So, we are realizing that a broad base of Americans of Middle Eastern Heritage can join forces to share common goals in business and politics, while still able to proudly “celebrate our differences.”

Judge William J. Haddad is the Chair of the American Middle East Voters Alliance (amvote.org)