During the funeral of an american-palestinian activist, Alex Obeidah, murdered by ultra-zionists :
«even during the church service, reporters swam through the crowds in front of the church. Asked as to the significance of Alex's death, a rabbi responded with the question, «who will I speak to now ?» »
P. 119
After the first election of George W Bush, for whom arab-americans had massively voted :
«Weeks later, Spence stuck his head in Randa's office. They had been granted a meeting with the president to discuss (arab) community matters. He told Randa to do a prep memo for him detailing all the issues in a format that could be passed on to the president if it were requested during the meeting.
Randa was exuberant.
The meeting had been set for 3:30 p.m. At the
White House on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.»
P.225 ( Only reality can be that ironic really ...)
As usual my quotes don't really represent the book, because it's too hard to sum up a book so full of nuances and stories and details with a few quotes. but it is wonderful book for anyone who wants to know more about what it is to be an arab-american. It relates personnal stories that covers the span of the arab immigration to the United States, all kinds of stories, incredible, sad, marvelous ones, with all sort of people of all political leanings, all kinds of beliefs, all having in common to be of arab descent. A book that will surely catch the interest of anyone who wants to know more about US history and immigration, with a lesser known side of this history (alongside the better known hispanic and african ones).
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