The Middle Eastern American Convention for Freedom and Democracy
DATE: October 1, 2004
PLACE: Wardman Park Marriott
The Executive Committee of the Middle Eastern American Convention cordially extend to you an invitation to the Forum-Dinner put together by a group of organizations representing American communities of Middle Eastern ancestry.
For the first time in the United States, American Citizens of Middle Eastern origins and descent will gather to convey their patriotic stance. At these dangerous and critical times in the history of this country we were prompted to act against the false claims of some entities alleging that their anti-American stand represents the mainstream opinion of their communities. It is our purpose to demonstrate that the vast majority of Middle Eastern Americans unconditionally support the United States in its war against terror and applaud the fact that the Middle East has one less tyrant after the fall of Saddam.
As primary victims of the prevailing intolerance in the Middle East we support the effort to democratize its nations. The terrorists who delivered a taste of their barbaric designs on 9/11 are still allowed to thrive in some totalitarian countries of the region. We believe that the Middle East peoples' long struggle against the same virulent enemy incites us to fully support the war to free the world from terrorism. The Middle Eastern communities whom we represent are natural allies of the United States and stand at the forward frontlines of this war.
This convention should be of the utmost importance to every American decision maker. It will offer a unique opportunity to exchange views and ideas with the real veterans of the struggle against fundamentalism and religious tyranny. Despite their diversified origins, the expected participants share a historic and deeply motivated allegiance for the United States and aspire to see a free and peaceful Middle East.
We are hereby inviting you to be a speaker at this unprecedented event. It promises to be a moving and enlightening patriotic experience. We hope your office will provide us with an answer as soon as possible.
The Convention was initiated by the American Lebanese Coalition, the Assyrian American National Federation, and U.S Copts. The convention includes Americans from various Mideast backgrounds: Arab, Kurd, Chaldo-Assyrian, Druze, Sunni, Shia, Christian, Iranian, Turk, Sudanese, Mauritanian, Berber, Aramaic, and others who share our passion for freedom and democracy.
http://middleeastfreedom.org
مابين الواقع والاسطورة
Myth: Democracy in the Middle East is a foreign imposition on the peoples of the region by the West.
Reality: Many indigenous peoples of the Middle East and North Africa have struggled for internal reforms affecting positive change for human rights. The Center for Freedom in the Middle East believes it is all people’s duty to support reform, freedom, and democracy around the world.
Myth: The Palestinian-Israeli issue must be resolved before the region’s other problems are to be dealt with.
Reality: While the Palestinian-Israeli crisis vitally affects regional stability, diverse religious and cultural minorities in the Middle East and North Africa have suffered human rights violations for centuries; their plight has been overshadowed and their suffering overlooked. Freedom deficits have harmed all peoples of the region.
Myth: Most Arabs or Arabic-speakers residing in the United States are Muslim.
Reality: According to a recent study in The Economist, approximately 77% of Arab-Americans are Christian.
http://www.middleeastfreedom.org/reality/index.htm