On this Father's Day: My Living Legend, My Role Model, My Father

posted on: Jun 14, 2017

By Mike Enayah/Arab America Ambassador Blogger

This is a tribute to my father Mohammad Jalal Enayah a writer, poet, artist, visionary and a living testimony to persevering spirit. He always thought that there is a better way to do things, and he thought that cultural should be fluid and dynamic, thus we should always examine the tradition and refuse the‏ status quo. The flip side of the coin is a man who was steadfast in his opinion, thus a true artist suffering for his art.

The following are some of the circumstances that shaped the man and the man who was able to carve his way out of his harsh circumstances:

My Father was born in 1934 in Majdal Asqalan, Palestine. His family was a well to do family that had farm land and a few fabric looms. Al Majdal was an agricultural and semi- industrial society that was famous for its textile manufacturing.

Upon the attack of the Jewish armed forces on Al Majdal in 1948 the people of Al Majdal as many Palestinians were displaced from their homes and towns. Many of the people fled with the clothes on their back, and the few they could carry with them as they were avoiding death and atrocities.

My father’s family headed towards Gaza as most of the Majadla (people from Majdal) did. I couldn’t begin to imagine the shock and despair of being uprooted from your home and becoming a refugee overnight. In Gaza my grandfather fell ill and whatever money they brought with them was being depleted. My father, who was a teenager then, faced the challenge of survival in a new setting. Being the oldest son to his mom he had to take the responsibility of providing for his 4 siblings and mother with almost no skills or tools. As most Palestinians went through over and over again, the children in the family were the quickest to adapt to the new setting and take over the family responsibilities.

My father, who was a teenager then, faced the challenge of survival in a new setting. Being the oldest son to his mom he had to take the responsibility of providing for his 4 siblings and mother with almost no skills or tools. As most Palestinians went through over and over again, the children in the family were the quickest to adapt to the new setting and take over the family responsibilities.

My father was an avid reader and an amateur writer, poet and an artist. He was on a mission to hone and employ these skills to help with the immediate needs of his family. He also needed to figure a way to join the resistance of occupation. My father found a job during the day as a tutor/teacher with The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that was established to assist the Palestinian refugees. In the afternoon he continued his education and at night he was writing political articles trying to help formulate and organize a new resistance movement.

In the afternoon he continued his education and at night he was writing political articles trying to help formulate and organize a new resistance movement. By 1954 my father helped established and became the chief editor of the Al Mostaqbal, a modest newspaper, which was published in Gaza.

His second transmission happened through necessity. In 1956 my father’s financial responsibilities were increasing as his siblings were getting older. He turned down a full scholarship in film making school abroad in favor of taking a job of teaching in Kuwait. As Kuwait at the time would provide a better financial opportunity and a less restorations on publications.

In Kuwait my father thrived in a new and budding writing and journalism community. Doing better financially allowed him to get married in 1958. His marriage was as passionate and strategic as was most of his life decisions. He picked the beautiful daughter of a prominent revolutionary who gave his life to the liberation of Palestine. My mom was definitely equally passionate to the cause. His choice was also based on my mom’s

My mom was definitely equally passionate to the cause. His choice was also based on my mom’s independence . As his concern for the future he wanted a wife that could provide for her children and also be practical to run a household in case of his demise or another displacement. He also bucked the tradition by only having two children and insisting that my mom drives a car and have a career, which was not the norm for women then. His marriage to my mother continued to provide him the freedom to continue in his craft as she was a partner and a supporter.

He also bucked the tradition by only having two children and insisting that my mom drives a car and have a career, which was not the norm for women then. His marriage to my mother continued to provide him the freedom to continue in his craft as she was a partner and a supporter.

In Kuwait my father was one of the most prominent newspaper columnists and a known activist. He was also a world traveler, as among the many adventures and trips was the one in 1976, where he took the family by car from Kuwait across the Middle East through Turkey, the Baltic States, and all the way to Western Europe.

In 1981 he sent me off as a 17 year old to the USA to start my college studies. His advice was to “avoid illegal drugs and to stay away from gambling, as these were the things that would cause a person to sell his sole”. He urged me to enjoy the America life and to experience all it has to offer. I don’t recall he ever mentioned which school or major. He definitely was not a truadional parent.

In 1990 my parents and sister were visiting me in the USA as I chose to live with my young family. My father’s third displacement occurred. Kuwait was invaded by Iraq and the Palestinians were not allowed to go back to Kuwait. Overnight he turned from a tourist traveling in luxury to a refugee again.

As usual he turned a setback to an opportunity. He went back to school and worked to assume the role of provider at night he would write to establish himself again. In no time he was a well known columnist again. He also found the time to author several books. He continued to write his column until the age of 80, but his hand is still holding a pen and writing his poetic thoughts about love and harmony.

My father is my role model not for his brilliancy and perseverance only, but for his utmost respect for humanity, his love and embrace of the other cultures and religions, his kindness to those who are less fortunate. My father’s generosity was through devoting his time and wisdom in giving council to those who are troubled and confused.

He always kissed the hands of the weak and young and instilled in us to leave a memory of love with anyone we encounter. I am glad that I have this opportunity to write about my living legend, my role model, my father.