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For your kind and all too generous words, for your support and for your guidance and friendship for these past twenty-five to thirty years.
When I first met Governor Sununu in his office when he was governor of New Hampshire during the 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign, he commented favorably about the fact that I was in a senior campaign capacity and openly declaring the fact that I am a Palestinian-American. I’ve often told the story how in the 1984 campaign, I was asked by the campaign when I first arrived to say that I was Lebanese. It was easier for people, I was told. I very politely explained that I am not Lebanese. In fact, I am Palestinian, and the principle purpose of my service at the campaign is for people like them to get accustomed to dealing with people like us. This vignette summarizes the approach that I have taken with my ethnicity all of my life. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, and I quote, “As life is action and passion it is required of man to share the actions and passions of his time at the risk of being judged not to have lived.”
The stereotype of Palestinians in the 1980s was not particularly good, and the negative images and stereotypes of Palestinians continue until today. IT has been a lifelong challenge of mine using role models like Governor Sununu to achieve professional stature while openly declaring my ethnicity, and in the words of Justice Holmes, to live life filled with action and passion. When I was nominated by President Regan in ’85 for the position of solicitor, and subsequently confirmed by the Senate, as Governor Sununu noted, I was the first and only Palestinian-American presidential appointee who had been confirmed by the United States Senate. Unfortunately that remains the case today. Hopefully, that will not be the case forever. With an election upon us, hopefully the next administration will make it at least two. Each election and campaign bring greater hope. The dual challenges of the pursuing empowerment of the Arab-American community and working with many people in this room, a just and lasting peace in the Middle East remain unmet. However, I am optimistic.
When Randa and I moved to Washington in 1980, you could count the number of Arab-American attorney activists on the fingers of one hand. Today there are hundreds in Washington alone and thousands across the country. When we established United Palestinian Appeal in 1980, few would contribute because we insisted on keeping the name “Palestinian” in it. As of this year, UPA has raised and distributed over 30 million dollars, almost all from average American contributors, to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians and has granted over fourteen hundred four-year scholarships, and sponsored over seventeen hundred children and orphanages throughout the West Bank and Gaza.
These are all hopeful signs. For those of you here this evening who have the privilege of serving our nation in public service, you have our respect and you have our admiration. My years of public service will always be among the most fulfilling professionally and personally. The Palestinian cause has remained a passion throughout both my public and my private careers. Having Prime Minister Fayyad with us here this evening demonstrates how effective, transparent, and clear leadership can make such a huge difference in the daily lives of Palestinians. We thank him for his presence, his leadership, and his service.
Finally, my family is here with me this evening. My mother, Maggie, who emigrated in 1950 from Ramallah. My beloved wife and partner in life Randa, and our four children: James, Jihan, Laila, and Sarah. I would like to thank this opportunity to thank them for their support and unconditional love. I would also like to thank the Ramallah Federation leadership who have traveled from Florida and Michigan to be with us, and the leadership of the Palestinian Business Committee on Peace and Reform, who’ve come from Athens, the West Bank, and Gaza here in the pursuit of our periodic meetings to advance our pro-peace economic agenda for Palestine. And gratitude and great acknowledgement are also due my dear colleagues from DLA Piper sitting right here. The largest and most prestigious law firm in the world, with whom I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working and who have traveled from far states, many states to join us here this evening. Their support for me and my cause-related activities and efforts is only exceeded by my appreciation. And my final thanks go to the ATFP board, to Ziad and the Naila, and the leadership of ATFP for this honor.
I look forward to working together with them and all of you, for many years to come, as we rise to meet the challenges presented by our region and our world. Much remains to be done, but our commitment to improve the daily lives of Palestinians, and to pursue a viable, peaceful resolution of this conflict, only strengthens as the challenges increase.
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