A proud people plan for the future

[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 6/18/02 ]

A proud people plan for the future

By TANYA C. HSU

Earlier this month at a hotel near the Pentagon, a convention drew to a close. Tables were folded up, linens were tossed and displays were dismounted.

Yet this was no ordinary gathering. This was the ADC convention -- the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee -- the largest annual get-together of Arabs and Arab-Americans in the United States. They had flown to the nation's capital from all over the world for four days of meetings, handshaking, negotiations, dinners, speeches, presentations and dancing until the early hours.

Had you not been there you might have been puzzled over the exuberance and merriment, openness and laughter, and warmth and hospitality. After all, the West seems to believe that Arab women are covered and protected and the men are robed and remote. It is assumed too often that conversations are vitriolic and angry diatribes of warfare.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Three thousand men and women came together for this gathering of the Arab-American community, a 50 percent increase in the estimated attendance. Women were perfectly coiffed and dressed in the latest and tightest fashions, and the men wore their Armani suits.

Dancing at the Hafleh party at night brought strangers together in traditional and enthusiastic revelry.

Let it be clear, however, that the theme of the ADC convention this year was very serious indeed. "Arab-Americans Mobilizing for Empowerment" was the overriding theme, with a strong emphasis upon action and the announcement that Arab-Americans are ready to be heard. And heard they were.

Well-known scholars, a Nobel Prize winner and congressmen spoke. Bianca Jagger, human rights activist, described the atrocities she recently witnessed in Ramallah and Jenin; former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole accepted a $90,000 check from the Arab-American community to help the families of the September 11th tragedies, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield thanked the audience for continually sending out a message of tolerance.

Secretary of State Colin Powell met with officials of the ADC, the second time in its 19-year history that a secretary of state personally attended the conference. Powell briefed the board on the recent White House Middle East discussions between President Bush and leaders Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Ariel Sharon of Israel.

In addition to plenary workshops on media and political activism issues there were lectures such as "Flying While Brown" and "Engaging Electoral Officials." Arab-Americans lobbied Congress on Capitol Hill and honored Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Rep. John Dingle (D-Mich.) for their support of the Arab-American community, presenting Dingle with the "Legislator of the Year Award."

Ambassador Hasan Abdul Rahman, well-recognized representative of the Palestinian Authority on American television, presented his views on the situation in the Middle East. Israel, he said, "does not believe in an independent national existence for the Palestinian people and is doing everything within its possibility to destroy the infrastructure of Palestinian society."

Rahman added that Israel "wants to break the will of the Palestinian people and make them surrender to the plans of Mr. Sharon, which deny the very existence of a Palestinian people as a nation. We are proud people. We are not going to disappear."

The convention's keynote speaker was Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi, who has the potential to one day be Palestinian leader. Democracy in Palestine was much needed, she said, and the Palestinians knew this. "We will get it," stated Ashrawi, "but first we must end the occupation. Get the army out and we will elect freely."

Members of the audience leapt to their feet upon hearing Ashrawi state firmly the pervasive feeling among Syrians, Egyptians, Iraqis, Lebanese, Jordanians and Palestinians in the audience that "Arab voices are not being heard. We are not guilty. We do not have to explain."

Ashrawi continued: "We will not negotiate the [U.N.] resolutions [calling for withdrawal from the occupied territories]. We will negotiate the implementation of the resolutions."

Palestinian "tenacity will not be broken," Ashrawi concluded. "We still have a sense of pride and dignity. This is where we belong."

It was clear that the idea of empowerment and action resonated with the attendees of the ADC convention and that the time to act is now. As people gathered up their luggage on Sunday morning, their energy was palpable.

Despite four full days of talks and programs, Arab-Americans were mobilized and prepared for their efforts in the coming year. They left ready to lobby Congress, and prepared to commit time and money to disseminate the message that they are now a united voice that will be heard.

Tanya C. Hsu of Atlanta is a writer on PalestinianIsraeli affairs and is writing a book on the people of Palestine.