WASHINGTON, 7 May 2006 — There are many amazing people in the world one rarely hears about. These are individuals who endeavored to help humanity and make the world a better place. One simply needs to be made aware of who they are and their achievements.
One such an opportunity is the “Khalil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards,” hosted in Washington each year by the Arab-American Institute Foundation. This year’s ceremony, the eighth, brought together an impressive assortment of talent — including politicians, diplomats, comedians, and even a former queen — who honored the exemplary members of the Arab-American community.
The awards are named after the author of “The Prophet,” Khalil Gibran. It was Gibran, the Arab-American poet philosopher who said: “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
The gala evening honored the best of those Arab-Americans who have given so much to enhance the lives of others.
The star-studded evening included Queen Noor of Jordan, who now resides in the US. She presented the Najeeb Halaby Award for Public Service, in honor of her late father. (Najeeb Halaby, CEO of Pan American World Airways in the late 1960s and early 1970s, headed the Federal Aviation Administration under President John F. Kennedy.)
This year, the Halaby honoree was John H. Sununu, a former New Hampshire governor who later served as chief of staff to President George H. W. Bush.
The award, said Queen Noor, “was established to honor men and women of Arab heritage who have served their country honorably and exceptionally and who are a role model for others in our community and throughout the United States.”
“Governor Sununu is both honorable and exceptional,” Noor added. “And I can speak from first hand knowledge of his devotion to the United States and its friends in the Arab world.”
In accepting the award, Sununu said Halaby “was a wonderful American who never forgot he was Arab-American.”
“The pressure of the times has created a negative impact,” Sununu said “And, as Arab-Americans, we must never allow our emotions to overwhelm our intellect.”
James Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute, continued this thought, saying in his address, “It is our capacity to do both good and evil that defines our humanity.”
Cong. John D. Dingell, D-Michigan, received a special recognition in honor of his five decades of public service to his country and to many of his constituents, the large Arab-American community in the Detroit area.
Gen. Wesley Clark, former general in the US Army and Democratic presidential candidate, presented the Spirit of Humanity Award to former President of Poland Lech Walesa.
“Walesa describes himself as a ‘Polish worker from the Gdansk shipyard.’ He was, of course, so much more,” said Clark. “As a courageous fighter for freedom, he, together with Pope John Paul the 2nd, inspired a nation to freedom.”
“I accept this award with an obligation to cooperate with you, and to remove the maximum number of barriers (against Arabs) in the new century.” Walesa said through a translator.
Karen Hughes, the US State Department’s under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, introduced the award for international achievement to Zainab Salbi, CEO of Women for Women International.
Hughes praised the organization’s tireless efforts to improve the lives of women in war-torn countries. To date, Women for Women International has assisted more than 24,000 women and distributed nearly $14 million in direct aid and micro-credit loans, which help thousands of women start their own small businesses.
