Polling Arab American voters demonstrates that despite the internal diversity of the community, there is an emerging consensus on several issues of importance.  Whether born in the U.S. or an immigrant, and regardless of country of origin or religious affiliation, strong majorities in all of these subgroups agree on a wide range of domestic and foreign policy concerns

The scenes playing out in Gaza are reminiscent of those we’ve seen too many times before. The pictures are so common, in fact, that they have come to define the Palestinian reality in the West: masked young men ducking behind walls firing semi-automatic weapons, emptying their clips into distant buildings or at other young armed men behind other walls. These are matched by pictures of women and children running for shelter from the deadly thugs. This time, of course, is different because the shooting is all part of a blind and pointless fratricidal war.

Circumstances beyond one’s control may shape life options and limit possibilities, but one need never be a helpless victim of fate. I make this observation, in part, in reaction to the horrific scenes of violence playing out in Lebanon and Gaza. Both can be seen as a consequence of the lack of peace and realization of justice, and the failure to resolve the region’s long-festering problems

This week I returned to North Carolina to reconvene a televised dialogue that began four years ago between students at Davidson College and the University of Baghdad. Produced by Abu Dhabi TV, this was the third conversation bringing together the two campuses.

We are, make no mistake about it, a good people. We are a caring nation, demonstrated by countless acts of good works our citizens perform every day, touching the lives of millions all over the globe. Our charity is exemplary, as is our commitment to fair play.