Traveling Exhibit Honors Arab Americans in Military, Peace Corps, Diplomatic Corps
Arab Americans have been an integral part of the United States of America since its inception, contributing to our society in myriad ways, including representing and defending American ideals through public service. Long the target of negative stereotypes, Arab Americans even found themselves dubbed “guilty by association” following the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
A new exhibition created by the Arab American National Museum (AANM) – Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country – tells true stories of heroism and self-sacrifice that reaffirm the important role Arab Americans have played in our country throughout its history. The exhibition comes to the Student Center of the University of California, Irvine, 401 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine, California, Jan. 5-26, 2013. Admission is free and the public is welcome; hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
The public is invited to attend an opening reception for the exhibition 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at the Doheny Beach Ballroom in the UCI Student Center. Tickets may be purchased at www.arabamericanmuseum.org/patriots.and.peacemakers.socal.
Patriots & Peacemakers makes a second stop in southern California Feb. 16-March 16, 2013, at the Japanese American National Museum , 100 N. Central Ave. in Los Angeles. Gallery hours there are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; noon-8 p.m. Thursday. Further information about this stop will be released in the near future.
Patriots & Peacemakers features a number of Arab American servicemen and women with California roots, among them:
Hatem Abdine, California National Guard (1993-2003)
Gen. John P. Abizaid, U.S. Army (1973–2007)
Omar Albrak, U.S. Army (killed in Iraq, May 2009)
Henry Bisharat, Foreign Service (1986-present)
Don Bustany, U.S. Army Infantry and Signal Corps (Korean War 1952-1954)
Elias Dudum, U.S. War Production Drive Headquarters (World War II)
Edmonde A. Haddad, U.S. Air Force (1951-1954); Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (1987-1988)
Michael Monsoor, U.S. Navy (killed in Iraq, September 2006)
Aref J. Orfalea, Jr., U.S. Army (World War II)
Anthony Saidy, M.D., Peace Corps (Public Health Service) in Puerto Rico and Jamaica (1963-65)
Laila Shereen Sakr, Peace Corps (Morocco, 1993-1995)
Fred Samia, U.S. Marine Corps (Vietnam War)
George Shibley, U.S. Army (World War II)
As part of the effort to bring the exhibition to southern California audiences, the Southern California Friends of the Arab American National Museum, a support group that maintains and grows the relationship between the AANM and the California Arab American community, assembled the following host committee (*indicates member of AANM National Advisory Board):
Mr. Malek Akkad*
Dr. Nazeeh Aranki*
Mr. Akram A. Awad, Esq.
Mr. Talal S. Beydoun, co-chair
Mrs. Salma Chehabi
Mr. Mahfouz and Mrs. Juliet Doss
Dr. Charles Elachi
Mr. Jamie Farr*
Mrs. Barbara Hanna
Mr. Nabil and Mrs. Bana Hilal
Mrs. Carole Sfeir Kawkabani
Ms. Nahla Kayali
Mr. Assad Kelada*
Ms. Amira Matar
Ms. Florence Mattar, co-chair
Ms. Rima Nashashibi*, co-chair
Mr. Greg Orfalea
Dr. Najwa Shammas*, co-chair
Dr. Faiza W. Shereen
Dr. Souhail Toubia, co-chair
Mr. Emery Younes
Dr. Shawki and Mrs. Vincenza Zuabi
Financial support for the southern California presentation of Patriots & Peacemakers comes from Wells Fargo Bank; EH National Bank; Dr. Mohamed El-Arian; Applied Medical; TMX Engineering.
Patriots & Peacemakers highlights three specific areas of service: the U.S. Armed Forces, the Peace Corps and diplomatic service. Personal narratives highlight Arab American men and women of different national and religious backgrounds. The exhibition also encourages visitors to consider how commitment to public service impacts their daily lives.
“Whether serving in the military, joining the Peace Corps or speaking out as conscientious objectors, Arab Americans are committed to the core values of democracy and freedom that are dear to us all,” says AANM Director Dr. Anan Ameri. “While this exhibit focuses on Arab American public service in only three areas, Arab Americans have long been present in every facet of public life.”
Produced by the AANM Curatorial Department with guest curator Joan Mandell, Patriots & Peacemakers presents the stories of 170 individuals from 39 states and Washington, D.C. More than 100 Arab Americans in the military, and about 35 each in Peace Corps and the diplomatic corps, shared their service experiences for the exhibition.
The service stories begin with the Revolutionary War and touch upon nearly every conflict up to the present day. The earliest diplomats profiled date from the late 1940s/early 1950s. The Peace Corps was founded in 1961; Patriots & Peacemakers includes a profile from the 1962 class up through volunteers who are currently serving.
“Together with AANM staff and volunteers, books and archival lists were scoured for Arab surnames, consulted with historians and national organizations,” says Mandell. “Over the last two years, I visited and interviewed hundreds of Arab Americans across the country, and phoned diplomats and active-duty military around the world.”
“Humble people were sometimes reticent to talk, while others were elated to finally be heard. I learned to work with combat veterans to safely push through the fear and shame that has kept their heartfelt stories secret, even for decades,” Mandell says.
Following its 2011-2012 run at the AANM, Patriots & Peacemakers went on the road as a major traveling exhibition; small and large versions of the exhibition are available for bookings. Inquiries may be directed to Curatorial Department Manager Elizabeth Chilton at 313.624.0227 or echilton@accesscommunity.org.
Guest curator Joan Mandell is a Detroit-based journalist, documentary filmmaker and educator. Among her documentary titles are Tales from Arab Detroit; Voices in Exile: Immigrants and the First Amendment; Gaza Ghetto: Portrait of a Palestinian Family; I, Too, Sing America; One Million Postcards; and Arab American Road Movie, the short film that is part of the AANM’s “Living in America” permanent exhibit. Her 9-11 Moments can be viewed HERE.
Mandell has taught documentary film production/film studies and ESL at University of California at Irvine, Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, Birzeit University in Palestine and most recently, aboard ship with the University of Virginia’s Semester-at-Sea program. She was a Fulbright scholar, a Felton Scholar in Media Literacy and an affiliated fellow at UCLA’s von Grunebaum Center for Near East Studies.
The creation of Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country was made possible in part by The Ford Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Chevron.