Often times, we find ourselves thinking that people and places half-way around the world have so little to do
with our lives here in America. The fact is, however, the vast contributions of Middle Eastern Culture, the
accomplishments of countless Middle Eastern Americans, and the effects of US policy in the Middle East touch
our lives every day.
Consider the following:
Numerous developments in the fields of mathematics, geometry, medicine and philosophy have origins in the Middle East.
Watermelons, artichokes, rice and cotton are just a few of the many crops that Arabs introduced to the West.
You probably use Arabic words or derivatives thereof every day - alcohol, coffee, sofa, algebra, sugar, zero and banana, for example.
The American Economy has many indisputably important ties to the Middle East, particularly in the trade of oil and arms.
Peace is good for all of us - we have contributed to the destabilization of the Middle East, let us now contribute to a peaceful and prosperous Middle East.
Aside from our connections to the Middle East in general, immigrants from the Middle East and their descendants
have become very successful examples of the American dream. Even here in the Carolinas, it isn't difficult to
discover the Middle Eastern backgrounds of some of our most successful business people, doctors, lawyers, educators
and more.
Here are some Middle Eastern Americans that you might recognize:
Queen Noor of Jordan (born Lisa Halaby)
Paul Anka
Michael DeBakey (inventor of the heart pump)
Ralph Nader
Congressman Ray Lahood
Congressman Darrell Issa
Congressman Nick Rahall
John Sununu
Spencer Abraham
Doug Flutie
Marlo Thomas
Tony Shalhoub
Salma Hayek
And many more…
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