September & October 1998 List

REFERRING TO THE LAST FEW ENTRIES THAT WERE WRITTEN.....I AGREE WITH L. JABER FROM CALIFORNIA......I AM A 22 YEAR OLD ARAB-AMERICAN FEMALE. THIS PAST SUMMER I HAD WANTED TO JOIN THE "PROJECT HOPE" GROUP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO.. I SPOKE TO SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS THAT WERE INVOLOVED, AND THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME TOURING AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND CLENAING UP THE STREETS. AS I READ THE COMMENTS FROM L. JABER IT MAKES ME THINK....WHY IS IT THAT THE PROJECT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE YOUNG GENERATION LIVING IN RAMALLAH?? OUR WHOLE LIFE REVOLVES AROUND UNITY, BUT YET THIS PROJECT DOESN'T REPRESENT IT. AS FOR A COMMENT SALIM M. FROM CALIFORNIA MADE ABOUT OUR RAMALLAH PEOPLE BEING GREATFUL FOR THE SACRIFICE WE MAKE FOR THEM....I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT COMMENT. WHAT SACRIFICE ARE YOU POSSIBLY MAKING??? LIVING IN AMERICA, WHERE YOU ARE TOTALLY FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU MAY CHOSE, AND TAKING OUT A MONTH FROM YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO GO INTO THEIR COUNTRY AND CLEAN THE STREETS....I DON'T UNDERTAND THAT..THEY ARE THE ONES SACRIFICING IN MY OPINION....AS FOR EMEEL AJLUNI...I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU WENT AND YOU FEEL YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE..I AGREE WITH YOU THAT YOU HAVE......I'VE DONE PLENTY OF VOLUNTEER WORK THROUGHOUT MY CITY....AND IT IS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL......BUT I DO AGREE THAT THE PROJECT HOPE EXPERIENCE WILL BE EVEN MORE REWARDING IF IT INVOLOVED UNITY WITH OUR YOUNG GENERATION LIVING IN RAMALLAH...IT WILL HELP BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE YOUNG RAMALLAH GENERATION....
M. KHAWAJA <MSTAR76@AOL.COM>
SUGARLAND, TX USA - Saturday, October 31, 1998 at 14:36:58 (PST)

After reading the previous exchanges from the two ladies in MI and CA, I would have to agree with the 39yr old from MI and say to our youth: Gain experience and work in your American "soup kitchens" and donate your time also to St. Anthony's Dining Room during the up-comming holidays. Another good way to gain more charity experience would be to ring bells this Christmas on street corners for the Salvation Army. After you have gained sufficient experience, and have your "vision" of the future intact, then make your plans to participate during your summer vacation in project hope in Ramallah. With all your new found experience and well qualified "visions" of the future, you will be able to make that "necessary" difference for our people in Ramallah. Your vast experience in America's "soup kitchens" will surely be appreciated and well received. Lets just hope and pray that our family in Ramallah appreciate the sacrifice we make for them.
Salim M.
San Francisco, CA USA - Friday, October 30, 1998 at 17:46:17 (PST)

As for the young lady from California, I attribute her comments more to her lack of experience with the volunteer spirit (how many soup kitchens has she worked at in America) and no imagination as to what the vision on the future might be. In regards to the previous comment, I do not think it is an issue of the volunteering spirit that I have NOR MY imagination as to what the future will look like. I don't think any person is in the position to assume anything about another person, which they do not know personally. When reading these comments, I advise people to be open-minded and take into consideration where the other person comes from, and astray from judegemental comments. I was simply trying to present the attitudes of OUR PEOPLE back home and how they felt about the Federation and it's efforts. I think that we need to take into consideration what the YOUTH and the coming generations NEED from the Federation, and do our best to accomodate in the future. An example would be, instead of having HALFAT for everyone in the group and making them feel special and welcome, I think it would be nice to encorporate some of the other youth who LIVE there, put something together for THEM, make THEM feel comfortable, instead of having them say that they will not attend due to embarrassment (because they don't know anybody & are not a part of the group). Did any of the Arab-Americans intermingle with the other youth who belonged to Ramallah? Were any programs set up to make a JOINT committee and joint efforts to arrange a YOUTH movement in Ramallah? Or was it simply a ONE-SIDED activity for the people who paid to participate? More should be done to unite our Ramallah natives with the American born youth, that way we can create a YEAR-ROUND effort (rather than annual).
L Jaber
CA USA - Thursday, October 29, 1998 at 00:07:04 (PST)

I confess that I was disappointed with the remarks the young lady from California gave on "Project Hope". I too participated in Project Hope this past summer in Ramallah. The experience with the kids (I'm 39) and the interaction was extremenly positive. My personal opinion is that it is the most important program the Federation has to offer our youth born in the United States. We need to expand it by focusing more resources on the program. As for the young lady from California, I attribute her comments more to her lack of experience with the volunteer spirit (how many soup kitchens has she worked at in America) and no imagination as to what the vision on the future might be. I wish her luck. As for the rest of our youth I encourage you all to see for yourselves. Together we can make a difference.
Emeel S. Ajluni <ajlunie@aol.com>
Farmington Hills, MI USA - Wednesday, October 28, 1998 at 20:34:20 (PST)

Fellow Brothers and Sisters, Having been born in USA, I take pride in the fact that my parents had taken me back to our beloved homeland as a child every several years so I could learn and appreciate my roots. I now spend a few months every year there. I go not as a tourist, but rather a citizen living as those who reside there year round. I have carried on my parents teachings and have taken my children to spend time in Ramallah also. I urge all decendants of Ramallah to do the same.
Abu Yousef
CA USA - Tuesday, October 27, 1998 at 22:55:14 (PST)

I would like to take this opportunity to state something, which should have been said a long time ago, but I am a little late. First of all, joining Project Hope in Ramallah this summer was a good experience. It was fun to see everybody helping and actually getting involved in our hometown, but one cannot look at this "project" from the American side. They must also consider the attitudes and opinions of the natives, who actually are living there, present-day. Among the Arab-Americans, it looks like a great opportunity to "mend" and improve our society, but on the inside, it is looked down upon by most of the people (whom I interacted on a daily basis with) who live there. Going to Ramallah every summer enables me to gain friendships which last year-to-year, and have been ongoing ever since I left. When I participated in Project hope, I did it because I was already there, and had a curiosity to see what the program was all about. I admit, it is good and fun, but really, to me and most others, it seems like people coming in, pretending like they are "big-shots", donating some money, using this also as an excuse to take a vacation, while trying to make a simple effort in improving the city. One of my friends that came said she didn't want to plant or clean because "she didn't bring the right shoes". Now what kind of comment is that? At the moment, it seems exciting and like a starting point to recovery, but once a year is not going to improve anything, in my opinion. People have to deal with the reality of the situation. One can be humble and say that it is a starting place, blah blah blah, but the situation is deeper than that. Having been to Ramallah since I was 13 and going continuously makes me feel like one of the natives, and I have begun to adopt the same feelings the others had about the group. I became a little disgusted with the whole thing and later dropped out. Maybe this was bad on my part, but I sincerely felt that it was not right for me to be participating in something which I felt was wrong. The image which comes to mind, is all of the Arab-Americans who made it as immigrants in the United States, coming back to prove that they are above the people who are still struggling, taking tours around the country while they are there, planting a few trees and flowers, cleaning up ONE or TWO areas of garbage in comparison to the SIXTY or more other areas (in Ramallah alone), and PLACING IT AS AN EXCUSE TO "REBUILD THEIR HOMELAND". My cousin, Nassif Harb (30), told me that instead of calling this "Project Hope", it should be called "Project Buy Back Ramallah". He said that the 10 days these people are here is not going to do anything, and believes this whole thing to be completely as an excuse for people to come back and act like they have a claim on their land, when they sold their heritage to the highest bidder and turned their backs on the city, while they now try to reestablish roots that they willingly gave up. This highlights the fact that people living there cannot even enter the nearby JERUSALEM to pray, while the "Arab-American TOURISTS" are enjoying the sites. I pose this question, how many project hope participants go back to their homeland outside of these scheduled projects and outside of their HATHIHE RAMALLAH fame, to merely help in whatever way they can? People need to stop touring and enjoying luxuries they would have never had without an AMERICAN passport, & rather spend the money on buying back the land that our "fellow" Arabs sold to "out-of-towners"! Other friends of mine laughed at the whole thing, just in amazement that "these guys think they are all that!" One may think that these people are ungrateful or unappreciative of what the federation is trying to do, but this is their honest opinion. When you live there for a while, you begin to understand exactly what the people are talking about. Therefore, this is the underlying truth about the feelings of the people of Ramallah. I don't even live there on a daily basis, but I could see completely where they all were coming from, and it made me feel bad for what the federation was doing.
Lorie Jaber <ljaber0716@hotmail.com>
CA USA - Monday, October 26, 1998 at 21:29:43 (PST)

Sorry folks, but the last few entries were deleted, since they are viewed to be inappropriate for this web site and for our youth, young adults, and visitors to read (specially the language). We respect all your opinions, and hope you understand our actions. Thanks for your understanding. AFRP, Webmaster
AFRP <afrp@afrp.org>
USA - Monday, October 26, 1998 at 17:47:59 (PST)

On Saturday October 24th, I placed a posting regarding my opinion on Arab Morals. I do not appreciate the editor removing my posting without my consent. What kind of society have we come to when one cannot express his/her own opinions. I feel that my posting should be reinstated onto the guestbook postings. Thank You
Hanna Mashi <CamelNutzz@aol.com>
San Diego, CA USA - Monday, October 26, 1998 at 15:43:54 (PST)

Hello from Cleveland! On behalf of the Ramallah Club of Cleveland..I would like to extend our warmest welcome to the 1999 Cleveland Convention. We have many exciting events scheduled for everyone to enjoy. One in particular i would like to mention is our NATIONAL DABKE CONTEST..rules and guidelines for the contest have been mailed to all local clubs. if your club did not receive info . on this event please contact me.I ask that ALL CLUBS participating in this even to also PLEASE CONTACT ME. I need to enroll all cities taking part in this event. A.S.A.P!!! SEE YOU IN CLEVELAND 1999!!!! Fax# 216 - 671-3651 address: Ramallah club of cleveland...P O Box 110266 Cleveland Ohio 44111 or Email me
Joann Harb <Juwanna@aol.com>
Cleveland, OH USA - Saturday, October 24, 1998 at 18:34:27 (PDT)

Hello everyone, chicago is looking forward to the cleveland convention. I hope to see you all there!
Nader Mufarreh <laternader@hotmail.com>
Chicago, Il USA - Saturday, October 24, 1998 at 14:35:02 (PDT)

I am looking for the best way to obtain the new novel by Ibrahim Fawal: "On the Hills of God"
Nick Zaybak <Alibaba322@AOL>
Hauppauge, NY USA - Saturday, October 24, 1998 at 08:45:54 (PDT)

You know you guys got a problem, I told you that you needed to make an e-mail address book, but you still have not done it yet .What are you waiting for huh
Gee <Suprphreac@aol.com>
over there, ca USA - Thursday, October 22, 1998 at 23:59:54 (PDT)

Oh yeah, The page can be found at: http://www.umich.edu/~rzaid/adc/
Robert R. Zaid <rzaid@umich.edu>
West Bloomfield, MI USA - Thursday, October 22, 1998 at 14:06:19 (PDT)

Marhaba, I am a student at the University of Michigan. We are trying to consolidate the arab population across the country through the university level. Next year we are going to have a convention for all the arab groups at US universities. If your university has an arab group, e-mail me the URL of a homepage and an e-mail of someone who is in charge of the group. We are assembling a page on the web that is going to connect all of the groups. If your university does not have an arabic group then what are you waiting for- start one!
Robert R. Zaid <rzaid@umich.edu>
West Bloomfield, MI USA - Thursday, October 22, 1998 at 14:05:01 (PDT)

Dear Friends, As you are aware by now, ADC has launched a National Campaign to Stop the Demolition of Palestinian Homes by Israeli occupation authorities. To help with this campaign, PLEASE NOTE: You can read, sign and submit an electronic petition concerning home demolitions at http://www.salam.org/activism/protest.html. Please inform your members. You may also wish to make a link to the petition from your excellent site on the Web. I have been informed that, so far, about 450 people have signed the petition which is sent automatically to President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Albright and your personal Senator and Reprensentative. We can do better! In solidarity, Zahi Damuni, Ph.D. President, ADC-Central PA
Zahi Damuni, Ph.D. <zdamuni@msn.com>
Hershey, PA USA - Sunday, October 18, 1998 at 12:27:05 (PDT)

Hello everyone ! Just a promotional blurb here: We need people to sign up for the Federation Cruise. It is January 9th for 7 days. I am going and I know people in need of a cabin roommate. Please Email me or Victor Jibran for more details. Also, the trip to Ramallah, (I heard) will take place in March. Please let me know if you or anyone is going to that. I'm thinking about it. Anyway cousins, keep up the good work on this web page and I look forward to hearing from you ! Also, my work Email address is (Mufarred@mercyhealth.com)
Diane Mufarreh <Hilwa1972@hotmail.com>
Livonia, MI USA - Thursday, October 15, 1998 at 08:17:57 (PDT)

I was in Ramallah this summer and it has changed a lot from the last time I visited five years ago. Ramallah is a great city. I think that we all need to do our part to improve Ramallah and let it reach its full potential as one of the greatest cities in the Middle East. Peace and Love. Hala Diab-rockford
Hala Diab
Rockford, il USA - Monday, October 12, 1998 at 21:37:07 (PDT)

Hello to all. It's great to see all the activity between the Ramallah people on the Web. Keep up the good work. One of my cousins and I are working on a proposal to the Federation to create a directory for the Ramallah people, whereby we would list name, age, location, schooling, major, work experience. With this resource, the Ramallah people could rely on each other for academic, business, social and professional purposes. We are open to all suggestions, ideas, comments. Please respond either to myself (antont865@aol,com) or to James Jaber (jjaber@ix.netcom.com). We look forward to hearing from everybody. Thanks.
Tony Totah <antont865@aol.com>
Huntington Beach, CA USA - Monday, October 12, 1998 at 21:11:31 (PDT)

HI EVERYONE! Thank you for keeping this website an exciting place to visit. I love our heritage and e-mail!
Michele George <mlg822@aol.com>
Manassas, VA USA - Friday, October 09, 1998 at 15:57:33 (PDT)

Marhaba to all of you! I hope you are all well. All the best Salam Elkom from Australia
Michail Tawasha
Sydney, N Australia - Wednesday, October 07, 1998 at 22:23:25 (PDT)

This is my personal response to the message posted a few days ago:

To the Concerned Ramallah-American: First, I wish you revealed you identity. There is nothing to fear. We are all one family and are all entitled to our own opinions. Your reasons stated for not having the Convention in Ramallah are not true. The Federation is planning a second Convention in Ramallah in the year 2000. The Federation's main concern for not having the primary Convention in Ramallah was due to the lack of accommodations, and second, due to the concern of the continuing political instability. The Federation cannot afford to cancel the Convention due to political unrest and of closures imposed by the Israelis. It takes over a full year to plan a Convention, and in an event of a last minute cancellation we will have to go without one. When the idea of having a Convention in Ramallah in the year 2000 was surfaced, the Federation was all for it. Once they looked into more details they discovered that it was not a wise thing to do at this time and was not in the best interest of its members. There were other less important factors in making this decision too. I am afraid your conclusions are ill founded. The Federation plans a Ramallah trip every year and over 100 persons go on the trip each year. We all love Ramallah and love to have a Convention there real soon (In Sha' Allah).

Another concerned Ramallah-American.
Jim Ajlouny <ajlouny9@idt.net>
MI USA - Wednesday, October 07, 1998 at 19:41:29 (PDT)

Hello everyone! I would just like to give a couple shout-outs. I would like to send my sincere love to my wonderful family. Hello mom, dad, tata, and my beautiful sister, Michele. I would also like to respond to a lady, Melissa Ayoub. I love you, too. Hope New Orleans is great, and I will see you for Mardi Gras. I would also like to say hello to my Uncle Victor and his family. Hope all is well. God bless everybody else, as well. I would definitely like pen pals from anywhere ecspecially, Ramallah, I would really enjoy that:) I love this site, it keeps me close to my roots!
Laura George <lgeorge@runet.edu>
Radford, VA USA - Tuesday, October 06, 1998 at 18:30:18 (PDT)

As an educated Palestinian born in the US, I strongly hope that the Ramallah convention during the year 2000 will be held in Ramallah, as opposed to the new proposed Orlando site. I think that so many decisions are made by a small group of people and that all Ramallah people in the US should have a say in it. It would be a great event if indeed it was held in Ramallah. I think that the misguided people that are against it are the people that would rather live in the US, regardless of whether there was peace or war over there. They seem to consider living here as much better than life there. Maybe today it's that way, but nothing will improve over there until the people living here get up off their butts and invest their time and money into improving Palestine's economy and infrastructure. It is very regrettable, in my opinion, to hear certain Ramallah people, living in the US, advocating for the 2000 convention to be held in the US. Many Ramallah people that I have spoken with would love to go to Ramallah in 2000 for such a tremendous event. There would no doubt be a lot of people from all over the world, and originally from Ramallah, in Ramallah during such a convention. Also one with sense would know that the West Bank economy would skyrocket with such a large influx of people visiting and spending money as in the case of the OASIS Casino and Resort that just recently opened in Jericho. Hopefully, many Ramallah people living in the US will come to their sense and reverse this very unwise and unpatriotic decision.
Concerned Ramallah-American
washington, DC USA - Monday, October 05, 1998 at 07:56:14 (PDT)

Wonderful web page, a very useful tool for our people. This embarks a step towards our modernization of the Federation, keep it up.
Mr. & Mrs. David Audi <audi5001@yahoo.com>
Centreville, VA USA - Sunday, October 04, 1998 at 20:24:19 (PDT)

Ever since we came on-line in February 1997, we have been averaging over 15,000 hits a month. This website has been a great success and we would like to keep on improving the site. We plan to add a chat room and other new features soon. Please write us and let us know what you think and share with us any new ideas. Many Thanks, AFRP Internet Committee.
AFRP Internet Committee <afrp@afrp.org>
Westland, MI USA - Sunday, October 04, 1998 at 18:58:37 (PDT)

Hey all! Come take a look at our Website: Ramallah Club of Jax. Please fill out our survey and sign our guestbook. We are also working on the Convention for 2000. If you have any ideas, please feel free to let us know. See YALL soon!!!!
Randy Elias <RandyElias@juno.com>
Jacksonville, FL USA - Saturday, October 03, 1998 at 07:43:08 (PDT)

I liked your home page alot. Thanks to you all and keep on the great work.
Fatma Ali <fatma1975@hotmail.com>
Ajman, UAE - Thursday, October 01, 1998 at 10:34:05 (PDT)

HELLO EVERYONE, THIS WEBSITE HAS IMPROVED TONS LATELY. ANYWAY, MY NAME IS EMILY, I LIVE IN UTAH, USA. THIS PAST SUMMER I TOOK AN ARABIC COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY, I AM ABLE TO WRITE AND READ ARABIC, BUT I HAVE NO VOCABULARY. I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO FLUENTLY SPEAKS COLLOQUIAL PALESTINIAN ARABIC TO TUTOR ME. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A WAY FOR ME TO FIND A TUTOR PLEASE EMAIL ME. ALSO I WOULD LOVE TO MEET A PEN PAL FROM RAMALLAH THAT I CAN ASK QUESTIONS. WE WILL BE VISITING IN JANUARY, I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION ON RAMALLAH. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, EMILY ANN
EMILY AZAR <EMILYANNAZAR@LYCOSMAIL.COM>
AMERICAN FORK, UT USA - Wednesday, September 30, 1998 at 19:44:12 (PDT)

Hi all from Detroit Michigan. How's everything.
Nadim Ajlouny <pja3724>
Orchard Lake, Mi USA - Tuesday, September 29, 1998 at 18:17:09 (PDT)

It's Great To have such a site for all of us from Ramallah
Issa Baba <ibaba@rocketmail.com>
Houston, TX USA - Sunday, September 27, 1998 at 22:06:56 (PDT)

Dear fellow Ramallites... I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 41st annual Ramallah Convention in Cleveland Ohio 1999. We have been hard at work to ensure a successful convention..and we want YOU to be a part of it. DONT miss out on all the great activities we have put together!!! We are proud to announce that we have created a new and exciting event that has NEVER taken place at any other convention..".NATIONAL DABKE CONTEST" We invite all local clubs to participate in this event and send your talent to Cleveland to compete . There is a $2000.00 Grand prize for the winning troup.also the winning troup will be asked to perform Banquet night... I ask that anyone interested in this event to please contact myself at JUWANNA@AOL.COM or fax at (216) 671-3651 or send a letter to Ramallah Club of Cleveland P.O BOX 110266 Cleveland Ohio 44111 SEE YOU IN CLEVELAND 1999!
Joann <Juwanna@aol.com>
Cleveland, OH USA - Sunday, September 27, 1998 at 17:34:03 (PDT)

I just took the Cleveland survey and realized that I'm ready to have the convention back in Detroit....how does 2003 grab anybody. If there are any Detroiters out there that think the same send me a note.
Emeel S. Ajluni <emeel.ajluni@gte.net>
Detroit, MI USA - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 20:28:49 (PDT)

hi to all my arab freinds and all eadeh families
Nadeem Atalla Tannous <neemnoose5>
lansdale, pa USA - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 20:17:56 (PDT)

San Francisco Ramallah Club Presents 21st Annual Palestine Cultural and food Festival Day at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco Sunday Sept. 27,1998 so if any of you feel like taking a plane and comming down for a day, we make sure the falafel humus shish kabab and argeeleh are worth it. This site is out of site and it makes me proud to be who I am even more. Thank you to whoever the webmaster is. Nader Musleh
Nader Musleh <petproduct@aol.com>
San Francisco, ca USA - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 01:10:23 (PDT)

Just want to say Hello to all, it's always nice to come and visit this site, read some of the comments and messages. Ramallah is the glue and the bond for all the Ramallah people no matter how long we stay away, will alway say we are from Ramallah.
Harb Ahwal <harba@inreach.com>
Tracy, CA USA - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 00:58:46 (PDT)

Hello everyone, Here in Houston we have set up a Cultural, Educational, & Social Committee, and the ideas have already begun flowing. One of the things that has been tossed around was the youth finding the meaning of his or her name. We fell it is a wonderful idea to understand our culture, but it does not hurt to start with an understanding of ones name at the outset. So it happened. I had mentioned this idea to one of our youth, Amal Zaid, at a local hafla, and expecting nothing of it at the time, I surprisingly received an e-mail with the meaning of her name, and she led to me to the particular web site that gave the meaning of her name. www.kabalarians.com. It was interesting reading, and it was nice to see how an exchange of an idea led to one of our youth finding the meaning of her name. However, this is only one path, I am sure there are many other ways of retrieving the meaning of ones name. To go even further, it will be great to see other aspects regarding the name, such as where the name originated from, what country, what era, the various spellings, and the various ways to annunciate ones name. I hope you enjoy what you find. If anyone has ideas to share, please e-mail me at Masad3@aol.com. Thanks to the Federation for a web site allowing a free flow of information.
Masad A. Baba <Masad3@aol.com>
Houston, TX USA - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 23:32:38 (PDT)

Hello to all from San Jose. Isn't great that we are able to comunicate via the internet. We are preparing to invite you all to our city, the heart of silicon valley, were all your computers were made, to spend the 2001 Ramallah convention with us. We have a young and vibrant community, and would love to host the coming 2001 convention. 1999 - Cleveland Ohio. 2000 - Orlando Florida. 2001 - San Jose California SUPPORT US
David Salah <dsalah@sprynet.com>
San Jose, Ca. USA - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 23:31:45 (PDT)

Hello, all! The web is a great place for the people of Ramallah to meet and discuss issues! Please keep contacts alive, as they are the key to our future friendships! Anyone interested in finding a penpal should come to my web page and sign my guestbook!
Jamie Taweel <j.taweel@wayne.edu>
Northville, MI USA - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 14:55:56 (PDT)

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MARHABA TO ALL ARAB PEOPLE NOT ONLY IN THE USA, BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. I THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD USE THIS SITE TO VOICE MY OPINION ON SEVERAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ARABS. WE ARABS MUST WORK TOGETHER ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE POSITION OF THE ARAB NATION AND TO COUNTER VARIOUS EXTERNAL THREATS THAT AFFECT US. AS ARABS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER AND TO WORK TOWARDS THE IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL REMOVAL OF CRIMINAL EMBARGOS AGAINST VARIOUS AREAS OF THE ARAB NATION INCLUDING IRAQ, LIBYA, AND SUDAN. WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL CLOUT AS WELL AS THE MORAL RIGHT TO PURSUE THESE GOALS UNTIL THEY ARE ACHIEVED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS SO-CALLED ARAB LEADERS THAT ARE ACTIVELY WORKING AGAINST THE ARAB PEOPLES' INTERESTS AND THESE LEADERS (NO NAMES WILL BE MENTIONED) MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR US TO ADVANCE AND PROGRESS. ANYWAY, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOUR GREAT BACKGROUND!
CONCERNED RAMALLAH-AMERICAN
WASHINGTON, USA - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 10:06:55 (PDT)

Hello fellow Palestinians. It is nice that we have our own website. Keep up the good work. We have to continue to fight for our Palestinian Rights. It nice to meet young energtic Ramallah people. Our roots are still alive. Take care everyone. See you in Cleveland.
Nidal Ghanim <Nghanim@aol.com>
Middlesex, NJ USA - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 19:44:22 (PDT)

IT IS GREAT TO STILL HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE FROM YOUR OWN CULTURE AND OTHER CULTURES AS WELL.
MAMOON QASIM <MAMOUNQ@HOTMAIL.COM>
NORFOLK, VA USA - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 17:20:42 (PDT)

hello everyone. some of you have said that you want to go on the january 9 cruise to the caribean. if you are still interested,this week is the week to sign up or forget about it. the cruise line has asked for the space back that we have not used. so far they they have taken back 75 % of the space we had set aside. we can not hold the rest until the last minute as many have said you want to do. if you want to go the time is now. if you wish to go let me know immediately by sending me an e-maik or call our office as identified on the federation home page ad ask for myself or one of our travel agents DANA. don't let the ship sail without you. victor joubran
victor joubran <joubran@aol.com>
falls church, va USA - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 11:00:09 (PDT)

Hello to all of my relatives out there ! I look forward to seeing everyone at the convention in Cleveland. I'm debating about going on the trip to Ramallah in June. I would go just to see all "TEEN" trees (fig trees) that our parents keep talking about. I love hearing them talk about the history don't you? Hey all, let me know if your going.
Diane Mufarreh <Hilwa11>
Livonia, MI USA - Saturday, September 19, 1998 at 18:35:41 (PDT)

I could not help to respond to a message put on this site by Laura George (from VA) on July 30, 1998. Laura, if you are really looking for "a good arab man" you know, to make your dad happy......I could introduce you to a few people...so email me. I think this site is really creative and it is nice to see so many people from Michigan on it (Hi to all my little teens at St. Mary's. I miss our field trips & retreats!!) Keep up the interest!!!
Melissa Ayoub <mayoub@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu>
Plymouth, MI USA - Friday, September 18, 1998 at 10:41:00 (PDT)

I could not help to respond to a message put on this site by Laura George (from VA) on July 30, 1998. Laura, if you are really looking for "a good arab man" you know, to make your dad happy......I could introduce you to a few people...so email me. I think this site is really creative and it is nice to see so many people from Michigan on it (Hi to all my little teens at St. Mary's. I miss our field trips & retreats!!) Keep up the interest!!! Melissa Ayoub
Melissa Ayoub <mayoub@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu>
Plymouth, MI USA - Friday, September 18, 1998 at 10:39:32 (PDT)

Hi! I'm a Canadian currently living and working in Ramallah. I was wondering if anybody could pass on some tips, ie places to eat, socialize, workout, must see attractions in and around Ramallah, any other helpful hints you might think of. Please reply either through this site or my e-mail: dittcp@hotmail.com Thanks, Chris
Chris Dittmann <dittcp@hotmail.com>
Ramallah, Palestine - Monday, September 14, 1998 at 06:06:06 (PDT)

HEY EVERYONE! I JUST FOUND THIS PAGE, AND I LOVE IT. WELL, JUST WANTED TO SAY HI TOO ALL THE OTHER ARABS THAT VISIT THIS SITE, HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT TIME AT OUR CONVENTION THIS YEAR IN HOUSTON!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO E-MAIL ME FEEL FREE TO. JEHANN--GURL--WHATS UP?!! I DIDNT KNOW U WROTE IN THIS TOO. TALK TO U LATER GURL, AND TO ALL U OTHER ARABS-LUV :)
Amal Zaid <AZZIE25@AOL.COM>
HOUSTON, TX USA - Saturday, September 12, 1998 at 17:42:55 (PDT)

Hi everyone!!! I just found this page, and I think it's pretty nice. I couldn't get to Houston this year, but I was remembering you all when I was in Falasteen for 3 months. It is something you will never forget... so try to get there ASAP. Project Hope is pretty cool too, I recommend it :) Well... I love to see all this unity among the PROUD RAMALLAH PEOPLE!! :)
Bint Bint Ziadeh Shamieh <ljaber0716@hotmail.com>
Alameda, CA USA - Monday, September 07, 1998 at 00:48:17 (PDT)

hi. if you are thinking of going on the cruise on january 9 you are running out of time. the cruise line has taken back 60 of the cabins we had originaly set aside. if you wish to go and have a wonderfull time with fellow ramallah friends and cousins book your space now or