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Arab Like Me? How 40 Years of Campus McCarthyism Led to Hatred of Israel
Newsweek ^ | December 12, 2023 | Lee Habeeb

Posted on 12/12/2023 2:43:06 PM PST by rightwingintelligentsia

I'll never forget the day in 1983 when white people on my college campus accused me of not being a "real" Arab. And, worse, of acting and thinking like a white person. It was a surreal moment because it was white people doing the accusing.

I'd been a dark-skinned person all my life, with a quintessential Arabic last name, but never considered myself white. I'm also Italian on my mother's side, and in the summers, my skin gets darker than Barack Obama's.

I was raised in a New Jersey suburban town of 20,000 and was the only person with an Arabic last name. I was heckled and teased a bit—the usual teenage stupidity. Luckily, my parents didn't intercede. To take such claims seriously, they explained, would give power to the offender. Moreover, I might lose sight of all the good white people who didn't care that I had an Arabic last name or dark skin.

The truth is, the vast majority of white people I met were exceedingly good to me. Many were rooting for me because I was different.

I focused instead on the things I could control. Things that mattered to me and my parents. My grades. My conduct. And my future, which would be determined by my choices. My attitude. And the people I surrounded myself with.

Personal responsibility and agency were a big deal to my Lebanese and Italian family. So too was hard work. It was all taught to me without ever being taught—it was that fundamental.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: academia; arab; israel
Very good read - surprised this is in Newsweek.
1 posted on 12/12/2023 2:43:06 PM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Good to hear from Lee Habeeb. He was at one time the producer of Laura Ingraham’s radio show.


2 posted on 12/12/2023 2:51:58 PM PST by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I’ve noticed Newsweek surprisingly runs some good articles and actual news, at times.


3 posted on 12/12/2023 2:57:44 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Do not assume that the author is from an Arab Muslim background. He seems to be (father) from an Arab Christian background. His mother is of Italian extraction.

My bet is Christian Arab.


4 posted on 12/12/2023 2:58:32 PM PST by dennisw (Be positive. Every day is another day.)
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To: Rummyfan

Lee Habeeb is doing a radio thing called Our American Stories. I stumbled on to it recently.


5 posted on 12/12/2023 3:00:04 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

“Campus McCarthyism”? Shucks, that term is indecipherable.
Would be far better if he were to reference Mao’s Cultural Revolution.


6 posted on 12/12/2023 3:05:09 PM PST by Honest Nigerian
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To: ifinnegan

Yes I’ve noticed that Newsweek is making an attempt to be more balanced.


7 posted on 12/12/2023 3:25:15 PM PST by jimwatx
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To: Honest Nigerian
The phrase is a bit awkward. But within the cesspool of right think that most of academia has become using the name McCarthy against them will sting. And I'm sure they view Christian Arabs in much the same way as Black Republicans and Conservatives. Not "real".
8 posted on 12/12/2023 3:26:27 PM PST by katana
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To: jimwatx

Great read.........but I feel a little dumber knowing I didn’t read much of of what Lee read.


9 posted on 12/12/2023 3:38:03 PM PST by SteelPSUGOP
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

People don’t often think of Christian Lebanese as Arabs because… they are civilized.


10 posted on 12/12/2023 3:38:53 PM PST by marron
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
John Prudden, the first commentator gives away not only why he hates Israel, but why the Left hate you and all USA, too:

" I dislike Israel because it is an illiberal, post colonist, occupying, oppressive, apartheid state. "

The problem is that after he 'redistributes' (squanders) all of your and my wealth, no one will have any wealth. That's what happens to all Muslim countries that don't have any oil left.

11 posted on 12/12/2023 3:49:57 PM PST by norwaypinesavage (The power of the press is not in what it includes, rather, it's in that which is omitted.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

STOP WITH THE NONSENCE, MCCARTHY IS A FREAKING AMERICAN HERO!


12 posted on 12/12/2023 4:17:54 PM PST by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA! DEATH TO MARXISM AND LEFTISM! AMERICA, COWBOY UP!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
accused me of not being a "real" Arab.

It is the same old Leftist playbook. Anyone who is not ideologically far-left is "not authentic".

It is how they link everything to their ideology, and not any other reality.

It is how they claim the very dark, and brilliant, Clarence Thomas is not a "real" black man.

13 posted on 12/12/2023 4:30:02 PM PST by marktwain
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To: Honest Nigerian

I agree that the term “McCarthyism” has nothing to do with the issue Habeeb is raising. It’s a very poor and misleading choice of words.


14 posted on 12/12/2023 4:47:39 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

That’s the problem ... not enough Americans. Just a bunch of globalists and unassimilated foreigners that carry their tribal baggage with them.


15 posted on 12/12/2023 5:17:36 PM PST by RetiredTexasVet (Biden not only suffers fools and criminals, he appoints them to positions of responsibility. )
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To: dennisw

Excellent self-examination and of academia in order to “see” the truth.

Should be reprinted in every moderate to conservative publication out there because it makes you think about how the MARXISTS have penetrated and subverted ever section of America’s being.

Also read about what Hezbollah and the PLO did to Lebanese Christians especially in Beirut, Tyre, etc. over the past 40 years.

Then you will understand.


16 posted on 12/13/2023 4:47:22 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper (Figures a)
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To: dennisw

https://www.nationalreview.com/2012/12/letter-christian-nation-lee-habeeb/

Host of Our American Stories radio show nationwide.


17 posted on 12/13/2023 4:55:55 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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