Integration of Immigrants: A peaceful quest to fulfill the promise of democracy.

Everyone is a citizen of the earth. The rest is politics.

Altruistic, you may say. Why not consider it spiritual? Here is a revelation: Winning the American visa, in 1989, was like receiving a voucher to enter His earthly kingdom for me.

Not sold yet? Maybe foreigners dilute your sense of patriotism? Maybe you need to reconsider chanting the "Land of the Free" and "Home of the Brave" next time you do.

You see! Some of us come from countries where governments failed to provide security for all, unconditionally. We were deprived from the chance to exercise our individuality, while protecting the freedom of others. We fled regimes that won elections by force and/or destroyed their opponents after victory. Some of us lived trapped in the open. I did!

I assure you, we are motivated by a humane basic need, to live peacefully. Don't put us at arm's length. Or assume we are bacteria bearing creatures, like that Immigration and Naturalization Service lady, who put on medical gloves to handle my documents in 1996. Otherwise, those of us treated as foreign bodies will inadvertently find solace only in each other. Therefore, the ingredients in the melting pot will remain raw, if not hardened. There goes that metaphor.

Maybe you are thinking we suck your economy dry depleting benefits available to the previous generations of immigrants. I am talking to you of course! Have you considered that we bring value to the economy?

Immigrants start businesses at a higher rate than the native-born. 620 out of 100,00 compared to 280 out of 100,00 businesses are formed by immigrants in comparison to native-born citizens. )Source: Current Population Survey (2010), and U.S. Small Business Administration Analysis (2012)).

Free of the daily struggles for survival, immigrants bring the power of risk taking in form of entrepreneurship. We are blessed or cursed, depending how you look at it. Our mentality goes something like this: "We've had it worse. At least I have my arms and eyes to start over and take more risks." 

Chant not about America being the "land of the free" when some of us -- me included and I know for fact that I am more patriotic than thousands of Americans I meet-- are intent on erecting demographic walls and laying down political barbwire to keep defenseless immigrants. Bravery in the "home of the brave" here means to embrace human beings, who look and act unlike you.  That is brave. 

Tearing down barriers to explore ways to assimilate with your brothers and sisters in humanity with civic ideals for a democracy that works is courage.

Keep politics out! Stay human! Fulfill the promise of democracy. 

METEOROLOGISTS & WAR LORDS. 10 TIPS TO ENJOY SNOWMAGEDDON.

By: Sam Wazan
2:00 p.m. EST, February 15, 2014

Look! I live in Charlotte, NC, and I am still coping with nature’s wrath. I know how you feel. Your sanity is eroding in a new and temporary normal. Let us cut a deal! I will trade you five days of a snow-cabin fever for a few moments, which I endured in a fetid underground garage depot dodging bombs! I am sorry. Never mind the trade! I wouldn't do that to anyone, not even those who harbored the thugs with the rocket launchers during the Lebanese civil war from 1975-1990, where I grew up. But please, snap out of it. Count your blessings. Not convinced? Here are ten contrasts that might change your mind, and potentially nourish your compassion.

After Boston, will we make peace or holy patriots?

On the evening of the Boston bombings, my cousin called to deliberately inject me with a dose of fear. I'm a Muslim and was traveling to give a speech on "Ending Religious Violence: The Journey to Peace." He warned, “Go home! Hug your kids! This is a Christian nation!”

My nerves were frayed.

I called the organizers and requested security. They conceded. My worries subsided.
Moments later, I received an email from John Poage, an American Christian and audience member who had attended a prior speech I had given.
Poage wrote, “Before we know what happened...when my mind turns to vengeance rather than healing, your perspective is a powerful example. Thank you very much for giving me some tools to deal with this ...”

My fears vanished.

Poage exemplified what bejewels most Westerners - civility.

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Leadership independent of religion.

"Can you tell me if Obama is not a Muslim?" A well meaning lady asked me after my book talk and before the elections. She continued, "He must be. I believe he is. I have proof." Her tone suggested disenchantment with that reality, had Obama been one.

The next morning, I received an email from her. "... we were mesmerized by your program..." She also embedded a link of a video "proving" that Obama is a Muslim. I saw the video, and responded to her email.

Below is my modified response.

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An encounter with a Syrian rebel and regime informant!

Last May, I arrived to Damascus, Syria, four hours after an explosion went off. I took a taxi from Beirut and sat between my sister and a rebel. A regime supporter rode in the passenger seat. Never mind the chatty and obnoxious driver for now. I will dedicate a blog to him for helping me identify exactly who surrounded my sister and I.

After clearing make-shift regime checkpoints, we arrived to Damascus around noon. I pleaded with Mr. X -- the rebel begged me not to mention his name -- to talk with me at a nearby coffee shop. 

"Sure. I am not scared. But you have to tell the Americans everything. Either way, if I get caught, I will kill myself before they torture me," the twenty-one year old rebel said. 

There was no drama in his response. I grew up in the Middle East. I know! But, I saw no danger in a conversation.

While sitting down, the waiter returned, twice, to verify the order. We only ordered coffee and water. Then, I saw his image on the screen of my iPad enabled by the front camera. I told the rebel, "The waiter is making me nervous."

"He should," he replied in a calm voice. "The government broadcasts radio announcements around the clock. They are offering rewards for anyone who reports suspicious activities." 

I froze. He smiled nervously. He continued, "iPhones and such are prohibited. That is how we congregate. I think we should--"

I instantly got up, threw my stuff in the backpack, and flung a large bill on the table. I cared less where it landed. I demanded the rebel scramble in the opposite direction. 

More on this trip, talks with more rebels, a former intelligence officer, and a Syrian cleric later.

Subliminal Sorrows: 6,138 miles away and thirty-seven years later.

I was around ten years old, when I last saw Muhammad, my best friend in fifth grade. Smart, but not nerdy, he had a magnetic presence, and an endearing personality. During recess, I orbited around him while he read novels. Muhammad was, who I now identify, a youth destined for big things in life.

A year after the Lebanese civil war—triggered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict— broke out in 1975, Muhammad died. Deeper in West Beirut, on the Muslim side, a stray bullet struck his head. He had never fired a round in his life.

The surround of Muhammad’s death haunted me. Fifteen years later, I immigrated to the USA. He popped in my head frequently. Eventually, I resolved to attend to the gripping feeling of sorrow.

I called my family in Lebanon, sent emails, and Facebooked old friends searching for his family. Finally, I reached his older brother, Maher. Last year, around noon on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, he answered his cell phone.

To rebuild a destroyed nation, end corruption first.

I keep hearing our Afghanistan and Iraq war executives downgrade corruption well below other security concerns in the quest to win the wars. I like to make the motion that corruption should be a top priority. For as long as there is corruption, there will never be stability or sustainable peace. To cut the supply of corrupt leaders, we need to combat corruption starting in the classroom.

In 1992 and after realizing that my degree from Lebanon didn't amount for anything in the USA, I pursued an MBA degree. The material I learned in graduate school re-ignited my enthusiasm for education. For example, I learned about the future value of money. My new precepts produced two life changing connections: The golden era didn't conclude with prophet Mohammad’s life. I mean, tools existed to plan a prosperous future spanning from Finance, Organization Management , and ehm … ehm … Communications; therefore, things can get better. The second and more profound connection presented itself in class during an exam.

U.S. in Afghanistan: Smart bombs & donkeys.

I wish the MC had selected me when I raised my hand on Wednesday. I wanted to ask General Petraeus a question. Perhaps my hand, which to me, towered over like a lighthouse, in effect didn't clear my head. Maybe I cowered.

With a Ph.D. from Princeton, Time magazine Person of the Year in 2007, and named by Newsweek as the 16th most powerful person in the world in its December 20, 2008, it puzzled me why a brilliant man is losing to those who never finished college. It takes a brilliant man to command the sophisticated US military. I told myself.

The room was packed with retired military personnel and veterans. General commenced his speech. He simplified the complexities of war for public consumption. You know! The Sunni Triangle, the four pieces of the puzzle--No really! He showed us some--the Insurgencies and Counterinsurgency in simple geometric figures. Keep it simple for the stupid kind of thing. OK. I am on board, I guess!