Arabian Dream Review by Leila Diab
Middle East online
First Published 2005-10-05
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14702
Review of ‘The Arabian Dream’ documentary
The Arabian Dream was the new wave of immigrants who arrived from many Arab countries and landed on the shores of America and Ellis Island in the early 1800’s. They came seeking freedom from social, economic and political turmoil and persecution and they found and lived the American dream, says Leila Diab.
Throughout world history, in the then and now, people from a rainbow of colours and cultures have dreamed of a life in America as one of acceptance, love not hate, freedom of expression, tolerance and honest choices to make a difference. Neal AbuNab, an Arab American of Palestinian descent is one such person whose encumbrances are to keep the Arab traditions and culture alive while being connected to the cultural mosaic of America.
While on a recent visit to Chicago to promote the screening of his first awarding winning documentary, The Arabian Dream, which was filmed in Dearborn, Michigan, and home to more than 100,000 Arab Americans, the Southwest Arab Coalition of Orland Park and its host, Ray Hanania, set the stage for Arabs and non Arabs alike to unmask and trace the reality of life for Arab Americans before and after September 11, 2001.
AbuNab’s documentary, the Arabian Dream, starts out as an eight Act dramatic story similar to the likes of a modern day Shakespearian play, filled with the Arab people’s struggles of love and tragedy throughout history and on the shores of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Act upon Act, we are witness to an Arab American paradise lost and then found again, as Arab Americans demonstrate their determination to reclaim their legitimate rights as citizens of America, as well as their ancestral homeland. Arabian Dream is a film that replays the essential message of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, ‘I Have a Dream.’ And Abunab presents the reflections of Arab Americans, both Christians and Muslims, and African Americans as one people who have ventured down the same abysmal and rocky road of discrimination and racism, and together they reverberate with affirmation their will to reclaim their civil rights, freedom, equality, and dignity for all in America.
“We are the United States of Arabians,” declares Neil AbuNab. However, after 911, that dream was shattered.
Throughout the movie we see and hear Arab Americans stand up for what they believe is right in a country they call home, in a country that they have lived and died for, and in a country where they are free to expression their First Amendment right against injustice. And they sing, ‘God Bless America and I’m Proud to be an American.’
After 911, this film zooms in on the images of the trials and tribulations of Arab American life due to deportations, imprisonment without trial or charges, profiling of Asian and Middle Eastern people and new inhibiting laws such as the Patriot I and II which places infringements upon the basic rights and freedoms of American citizens.
The Arabian Dream was the new wave of immigrants who arrived from many Arab countries and landed on the shores of America and Ellis Island in the early 1800’s. They came seeking freedom from social, economic and political turmoil and persecution and they found and lived the American dream. The sons and daughters of the new generation of Arab Americans in this film are still hoping that the love and fondness for the America their parents experienced will one day be their Arabian Dream.
Act upon Act, Arabian Dreams, portrays Arab Americans as people who love life, freedom and their quest for social, economic and political justice. As Arab Americans, they continue to blend into the American way of life, as they exert their fundamental constitutional rights and freedoms. This is a story of how Arab Americans won their place in American society and how Arab destiny and fate contributed to the rich mosaic of the American cultural heritage. The Arabian dream will never die. Why? Because that dream is a dream of love of country and people.
“This is a serious movie about my life as a young man, an activist and a businessman in America. It is my hope that this film will help heal any anti-Arab sentiment and hatred tin America, with renewed attitudes of hope, tolerance and optimism,” says Neil AbuNab.
Arabian Dream is a never ending journey and a thousand and one Arabian nights.
The film is available for purchase online..just click the link below.
http://www.filmbaby.com/product_info.php?products_id=425
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14702
Review of ‘The Arabian Dream’ documentary
The Arabian Dream was the new wave of immigrants who arrived from many Arab countries and landed on the shores of America and Ellis Island in the early 1800’s. They came seeking freedom from social, economic and political turmoil and persecution and they found and lived the American dream, says Leila Diab.
Throughout world history, in the then and now, people from a rainbow of colours and cultures have dreamed of a life in America as one of acceptance, love not hate, freedom of expression, tolerance and honest choices to make a difference. Neal AbuNab, an Arab American of Palestinian descent is one such person whose encumbrances are to keep the Arab traditions and culture alive while being connected to the cultural mosaic of America.
While on a recent visit to Chicago to promote the screening of his first awarding winning documentary, The Arabian Dream, which was filmed in Dearborn, Michigan, and home to more than 100,000 Arab Americans, the Southwest Arab Coalition of Orland Park and its host, Ray Hanania, set the stage for Arabs and non Arabs alike to unmask and trace the reality of life for Arab Americans before and after September 11, 2001.
AbuNab’s documentary, the Arabian Dream, starts out as an eight Act dramatic story similar to the likes of a modern day Shakespearian play, filled with the Arab people’s struggles of love and tragedy throughout history and on the shores of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Act upon Act, we are witness to an Arab American paradise lost and then found again, as Arab Americans demonstrate their determination to reclaim their legitimate rights as citizens of America, as well as their ancestral homeland. Arabian Dream is a film that replays the essential message of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, ‘I Have a Dream.’ And Abunab presents the reflections of Arab Americans, both Christians and Muslims, and African Americans as one people who have ventured down the same abysmal and rocky road of discrimination and racism, and together they reverberate with affirmation their will to reclaim their civil rights, freedom, equality, and dignity for all in America.
“We are the United States of Arabians,” declares Neil AbuNab. However, after 911, that dream was shattered.
Throughout the movie we see and hear Arab Americans stand up for what they believe is right in a country they call home, in a country that they have lived and died for, and in a country where they are free to expression their First Amendment right against injustice. And they sing, ‘God Bless America and I’m Proud to be an American.’
After 911, this film zooms in on the images of the trials and tribulations of Arab American life due to deportations, imprisonment without trial or charges, profiling of Asian and Middle Eastern people and new inhibiting laws such as the Patriot I and II which places infringements upon the basic rights and freedoms of American citizens.
The Arabian Dream was the new wave of immigrants who arrived from many Arab countries and landed on the shores of America and Ellis Island in the early 1800’s. They came seeking freedom from social, economic and political turmoil and persecution and they found and lived the American dream. The sons and daughters of the new generation of Arab Americans in this film are still hoping that the love and fondness for the America their parents experienced will one day be their Arabian Dream.
Act upon Act, Arabian Dreams, portrays Arab Americans as people who love life, freedom and their quest for social, economic and political justice. As Arab Americans, they continue to blend into the American way of life, as they exert their fundamental constitutional rights and freedoms. This is a story of how Arab Americans won their place in American society and how Arab destiny and fate contributed to the rich mosaic of the American cultural heritage. The Arabian dream will never die. Why? Because that dream is a dream of love of country and people.
“This is a serious movie about my life as a young man, an activist and a businessman in America. It is my hope that this film will help heal any anti-Arab sentiment and hatred tin America, with renewed attitudes of hope, tolerance and optimism,” says Neil AbuNab.
Arabian Dream is a never ending journey and a thousand and one Arabian nights.
The film is available for purchase online..just click the link below.
http://www.filmbaby.com/product_info.php?products_id=425
posted by Neal AbuNab at 12:05 PM
