ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY
Cross Cultural Services
V O L U M E
OFFICE:
BH105C
2 ,
I S S U E
6
A P R I L
2 0 1 5
IMPORTANT DATES
ON CAMPUS
Movie and exhibit:
Stoning of Soraya
M. @ 11:30 in
Campus Commons
in partnership with
the Health and
Wellness Center
and ASAPP.
Bust that Stress!
Belly Dance @ 7:00
pm in Private Dining
on April 29
Arab American Heritage Month is for Arab Americans and Americans of Middle Eastern
heritage. They have a long history in the United States. They are U.S. military heroes,
entertainers, politicians and scientists. They are Lebanese, Egyptian, Iraqi and more.
Yet the representation of Arab Americans in the mainstream media tends to be quite
limited. Arabs are typically featured on the news when Islam, hate crimes or terrorism
are the topics at hand. Arab American Heritage Month, observed in April, marks a time
to reflect on the contributions Arab Americans have made to the U.S. and the diverse
group of people who make up the nation’s Middle Eastern population.
Nittle, N. K. Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from http://racerelations.about.com/od/
We would like to highlight Arab American Veterans. Thank you to all the men and women
who served and continue to serve.
Arab Americans, both Muslim and Christian, are veterans of wars from the American
Revolution and the Civil War to the present. For some, enlistment was a bridge to
citizenship or a way to express gratitude for their adopted homeland. In draft years, Arab
Americans served in record numbers. The Arab American National Museum (AANM)
documented stories of privates and generals, veterans and active-duty service members.
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Most survived war, some did not. Many found it painful to tell their stories of combat, 20,
Brief history of
Arab American
Veterans
1
Important Dates
1
Did You Know
2
Quotes of the
Month
2
Staff
2
40, or even 60 years later. Others chose to remain silent.
A 1924 study by Princeton professor Philip Hitti found that 13,965 Arab Americans served
in World War I. Most of these soldiers were from what was then called Greater Syria. Hitti
claims that a higher percentage of Syrians served in WWI than any other ethnic community
in the U.S. Many scholars claim about 15,000 Arab Americans served in World War II.
According to the Association for Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military, there are around
3,500 Arab Americans in the military today.
Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, some Arab American soldiers have found
their loyalties called into question or have come under special scrutiny. The Association of
Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military (APAAM) developed as one response. It was
founded as the first formal organization for active and veteran Arab American service
members.
Arab American National Museum (2012). Patriots and Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country.
Dearborn, MI: A Program of ACCESS. Accessed 10/27/2014 from http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/
umages/PandP_brochure_for_dl.pdf
Did you know...
On October 25, 2014, the Muslim world celebrated the
new Islamic year which is number 1436H.
The Islamic calendar, Muslim calendar or Hijri calendar
(AH), is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year
of 354 days.
The first Islamic year began in AD 622 during which the
emigration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad occurred
from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra. Muslims
typically call their calendar the Hijri calendar.
The 12 months of the Islamic Calendar, in order are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Muharram
Safar
Rabi' al-awwal
Rabi' al-thani
Jumada al-awwal
Jumada al-thani
Rajab
8. Sha'ban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhu al-Qi'dah
12. Dhu al-Hijjah
The Islamic Calendar. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from http://
www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/religions/
islamiccalendar.htm
Quotes of the Month
‫ةد عم وي اد نو لا عم نإ‬
“There’s always tomorrow.”
َ َّ‫وت‬
‫ص والتحاد قاإ‬
ُ ‫ك ْلنا عنه على‬
ٍّ ‫خ‬
“Unity is power.”
‫لن وي اقع عند وي دش‬
“Lack of intelligence is the greatest poverty.”
‫ْه‬
َ ‫وجتنب عصاحبع ويكذوب فإد وضطررت ةي ه فال ُت‬
ُ ‫نق‬
ٍّ ‫ص‬
“Avoid the company of liars, but if you can’t, don’t believe them.”
‫واف اا ملغ عأ واقاوا‬
“Actions speak louder than words.”
88 Arabic Proverbs. Accessed on October 27, 2014 from https://blog.udemy.com/arabic-proverbs/
Cross-Cultural Staff
Wanda Copeland, Director
[email protected]
(610)796-8437
Bernadine Hall 105C
Jullie Searfoss, GA
[email protected]
(610) 796-8412
Bernadine Hall 105