Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, February 1992, Page 65, 66

Arab-American Activism

ADC Protests Racist Christmas Film

By Catherine M. Willford

IN DECEMBER,Detroit Staff Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Zana Macki alerted the national office to Arab-American community complaints that local station WJBK-Channel 2 had aired and was planning a second showing of the popular Christmas animated film "The Little Drummer Boy." The film, produced in 1968, has been the subject of criticism from viewers and media critics since the 1970s for its depiction of Arabs as money-grubbing, ugly, hook-nosed villains who kidnap children.

The film tells the story of two Arabs who kidnap a young Jewish boy and force him to make money for them by performing on his drum in the marketplace. "We are particularly concerned that this film feeds the wrong message about Arabs to children," said Macki in a New York Times article. "How would this look if you had a little Arab drummer and the bad guys were money-grubbing Jewish men?"

Following the complaints, Detroit station WKBK agreed to cancel the second showing of the program. "I think that this is a case where, in the years since this show was made, we have become more aware of some things we didn't see before," said station programming director Caroline Worford.

ADC President Albert Mokhiber, in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight," stated ADC's objections to the Viacom Corporation's continued distribution of the film in its present form, and offered to meet with company officials to present suggestions for reformatting the film to "conform to the spirit of good will, brotherhood and reconciliation that characterizes the Christmas holiday season."

National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce Trade Programs

A delegation from Saudi Arabia representing 30 medical firms will tour the US in February under the auspices of the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce. The Saudi trade mission will meet with US medical companies to discuss joint venture partnerships and manufacturing and production licensing. The delegation will hold meetings in New Brunswick, NJ, Minneapolis, MN, Denver, CO and San Diego, CA.

Also in February, the Chamber will attend the Made in the USA Show in Dubai, UAE to provide business counseling and sponsor information seminars with Arab chambers of commerce on conducting business in the Gulf countries. The Chamber will work with the participating state representatives to coordinate leads and contacts generated at the Feb. 16-20 show.

For more information on either of these programs contact the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce at 1825 K St. NW, Suite 1107, Washington, DC 20006 or call (202) 331-8010.

ADC Metro Campaign Focuses on Peace Talks

ADC carried out a poster campaign in the metropolitan Washington, DC subway system (Metro) from Dec. 16 to Jan. 7 to focus public attention on the Middle East peace talks. The poster-size ads depict a traditional etching of the Holy Family and the three Wise Men, with the message "Peace in the Land of Peace: Let Palestine be Free." Metro riders were urged to call the White House to voice their support for Palestinian national rights.

The posters were designed by a Cleveland, OH artist. The same design was adapted to five billboards placed along major interstates and thoroughfares in the Cleveland area.

ADC chose the design and message to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians seeking self-determination and statehood, and to support the ongoing Middle East peace talks, being held at that time in Washington, DC.

Since the beginning of the peace talks in Madrid last October, ADC pointed out, at least three new settlements have been built in the occupied territories, restrictive curfews were imposed, and more Palestinians have been killed and detained by the Israeli occupation forces. "During this holiday season, we must remember that the little town of Bethlehem, which so many people associate with the Christmas season, is currently under military occupation," said ADC President Albert Mokhiber, commenting on these events. "It is deplorable that the Israeli government continues to act with impunity against the Palestinian people."

For copies of the poster, contact ADC at 4201 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20008 or call (202) 244-2990.

Congressman Rahall First to Visit Lebanon

The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) reports that Rep. Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV) became the first elected American official to travel to Lebanon since the final release of the hostages. His mid-December trip to the Middle East also included stops in Jordan and Syria.

Missing his connection with his Lebanese escorts at the Syrian-Lebanese border, Rahall ventured into Lebanon without them and spent several hours on his own in the Bekaa Valley border town of Shtawrah. Rahall later commented that his time there was without incident, and provided evidence of how much security in Lebanon has improved recently.

In Beirut, Rahall met with US Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Foreign Minister Faris Boueiz and President Elias Hrawi. In one meetin Boueiz alleged that Israel was allowing the rearming of Hezbollah because it gave Israel an excuse to stay in south Lebanon.

In a press conference with Lebanese journalists, Rahall stated that the lifting of the US travel ban for Lebanon, resumption of US consular services in Beirut, and unequivocal US support for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 425 all would be important steps that the US could and should take for Lebanon. He also expressed faith in President Bush's sincerity and intentions to stick with the peace process. This, the congressman said, would encourage the growing sentiment in the US Congress against granting foreign aid, specifically the $10 billion in housing loan guarantees requested by Israel, unless Israel halts all Jewish settlement activities in the occupied territories.

Catherine M. Willford is the circulation director of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.