Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, September 2003, pages 68-72

Arab-American Activism

ADC CONFERENCE

This year's national American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) conference was held June 12 to15 at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. The group's 20th annual conference was a mixture of educational panels, group discussions and speeches by prominent public figures, marred by lackluster attendance and concerns over the future of Arabs in America and abroad. While a select few attendees participated in an afternoon of congressional lobbying on Thursday, June 12, most ADC members—along with quite a few relatives—arrived the following day, just in time for an enlightening series of panels on domestic issues.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

Friday's panels focused on domestic issues of special importance to Arab Americans, including the role of Arab-American women in U.S. society, perceptions of the mainstream media's coverage of the war on Iraq, questions of constitutional rights in the face of trumped up security measures, and U.S. immigration policy.

Women Stress Outspokenness, Coalition-Building

In the day's first panel, four prominent female speakers discussed the role of Arab-American women and approaches to improving their position in the United States. Author Diana Abu-Jaber proclaimed the need for Arab-American women to voice their opinions in order to break stereotypes: "When women stand in the public eye and show intelligence and passion, it changes the thinking about Arab women," she said. "We must be brave enough to educate loud-mouthed daughters."

Randa Fahmy-Hudome, associate deputy secretary of energy, said being a vocal advocate for Arab-American issues earned her the respect of those on Capitol Hill. "I wore my identity on my sleeve," she said. "Many congressmen and senators remembered me for that."

Lexington, Kentucky Mayor Teresa Ann Isaac agreed that Arab-American women should become more involved in politics. She regarded political participation as "the only way to make our issues heard and to affect policy."

Zainab Salbi, president and founder of Women for Women International, suggested that Arab-American women should advocate for non-Arab issues as well, in order to integrate themselves into the larger community and to learn from the experiences of other women. "There are similarities between what all Arabs go through," she acknowledged, "but we must go beyond that. We have to connect with the others. That's how we get support for our issues."

—Lisa Viscidi

Journalists Butt Heads Over "Covering Conflict"

ADC Communications Director Hussein Ibish opened the day's second panel, which sought to examine U.S. media coverage of the war on Iraq, with a blunt question: Did the U.S. media allow itself to be "suckered" by Bush administration claims of weapons of mass destruction? While investigative journalist Jason Vest of The Nation lamented that most analysts "have sort of given up on this," UPI editor-in-chief John O'Sullivan argued that his American peers accepted that, given Iraq's history, "something was there."

Mary Beth Sheridan, a Washington Post reporter embedded with U.S. forces during the invasion, offered her theory that wartime coverage is often "a question of scale." She recalled being at the Iraqi National Museum immediately after looters ransacked the building: "[The museum's] deputy director was absolutely shattered, devastated," she recalled. "Many of the pieces were okay, but for someone who loved antiques, it was a disaster." She was surprised at how much attention the museum story received, Sheridan added, since "the whole city [of Baghdad] was burning."

Ibish then turned to another embedded journalist, The Boston Herald's Jules Crittenden, asking him to explain a controversial article in which the journalist related his encounter with what may or may not have been Iraqi troops. According to the article, while riding under fire with a company of the U.S. 4th Battalion, Crittenden spotted "silhouettes in the distance" and pointed them out to the soldiers in his convoy. The piece depicts unashamedly the terminology Crittenden used to identify what he assumed were Iraqi troops—"There are the f***s"—and goes into a gory description of their bodies being "torn" by the Americans' bullets.

"You almost joined the team to some extent," Ibish remarked to Crittenden after reading the aforementioned piece to the audience. Countering that in intense combat there is "no such thing as a neutral observer," Crittenden insisted that although "the image of those men dying is not something [he would] ever forget," he was riding with American troops at the time and would not apologize.

Independent journalist Frank Smyth responded to Crittenden's explanation with one remark: "I think the word in Arabic is haram [shame]." Citing the need to remain neutral and "protect the press corps at large," Smyth argued that "it is permissible in an emergency situation to cross the line, for defense, but to participate in a military operation is too much." He went on to note that, in his reading of U.S. media both during and after the war, "most of the alleged foreign stories weren't about foreign people. They were about Americans…[the audience had] no idea of what people in the region were thinking."

The talk at this point devolved into broad accusations and statements of allegiance, with O'Sullivan and Crittenden taking an explicitly pro-war stance and alleging that any other stance was tantamount to supporting Saddam Hussain. To this, Smyth noted simply that "no one here hates Saddam Hussain more than I do, having spent 18 days in Abu Ghraib prison, but opposition to the war is opposition to the war."

—Nizar Wattad

U.S. Security Measures Damaging to Constitution, Country

Another June 13 panel, entitled "Life in America Today: Security, Liberty or Neither," addressed the Bush administration's so-called "counterterrorism" initiative and its implications for civil liberties in the U.S.

Lebanese American Aziz Baroody opened the discussion by relating his experience as a pilot for BankAir Inc. Interrogated after Sept. 11, 2001 solely on the basis of his ethnicity, Baroody denied that he or his family were involved in terrorism. Despite a complete lack of evidence against him, Baroody was demoted, his insurance benefits revoked, and he eventually was terminated, allegedly for damaging an aircraft, an offense for which no other BankAir pilot had ever been penalized to such a degree.

Panelist Jonathan Turley of the George Washington University Law School attributed cases such as Baroody's to the climate of fear engulfing this nation. "We [as a nation] inflict harm upon ourselves," he said, "because we are afraid. We believe we have a faceless enemy." In Turley's view, recent violations of civil liberties, justified as security measures, are a threat to U.S. democracy. "Within every republic there is the seed of its own destruction," he warned. Turley described the constitution as a covenant which its framers intended not to be broken, regardless of domestice circumstances. "Our duty is to remain faithful to the constitution," he emphasized. "We must refuse people who say they need special powers, that they face something no one has faced before." He called Attorney General John Ashcroft's intent to strip U.S. citizens of their rights a "frightening abuse of power."

According to Turley, the government's constitutional violations convey the message to employers and private citizens that it is acceptable to discriminate against individuals based on ethnicity and national origin. Panelist Preetmohan Singh of the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force confirmed this, noting that discrimination and hate crimes against Sikhs, Muslims, Arabs and South Asians, which rose sharply after Sept. 11, continue to occur.

—Lisa Viscidi

War on Terrorism a "War on Immigrants and Refugees"

"The war on terrorism has become a war on immigrants and refugees," asserted Jeanne Butterfield of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who moderated an afternoon panel on the impact of new U.S. immigration policies. Providing an overview of the general situation, Butterfield noted that local law enforcement and vigilantes are taking it upon themselves to track border immigration, as "our government continues to refuse to open the doors of the courtrooms…[and] a lawless Justice Department has continued to implement policies that defy common sense."

First to speak was William Yates of the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. While insisting that "we haven't taken away the welcome mat," Yates acknowledged that "there is a lot of fear" surrounding the government's restrictive post-9/11 immigration policies.

Yates' brief remarks did little to assuage those fears, which seemed only more justified following a presentation by Lucas Guttentag of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Citing a recent report by the Department of Justice's inspector general, Guttentag noted that the report not only "confirms every criticism ADC, the ACLU and others made" of the Bush administration's policies, but that it "only addresses a tiny fraction of the people affected" by those laws.

Guttentag described how hundreds have been arrested and held on immigration charges "but treated much, much worse," including "horrific" detention conditions and the active blocking by law enforcement officials of the prisoners' right to counsel. Since the only way these prisoners can get out of detention is if the FBI decides to let them out, some have been held for months after their case was closed because the FBI "just lost interest." Because of de facto gag orders issued on all such proceedings, which prevent even defendants' lawyers from discussing their clients' cases, Guttentag argued, "policy is shrouded in secrecy that deprives the press, the public, and Congress of the right to review what's been going on post-9/11."

The panel's next speaker, Prof. David Cole of Georgetown Law School, noted that, contrary to popular rhetoric, "9/11 has not changed everything." As far back as 1919, he pointed out, acts of domestic terrorism were met with harsh U.S. immigration laws, sweeps of thousands of foreign nationals, and the deportation of hundreds, based not on the actual bombings at the time, "but on politics." The reason foreign nationals were (and are) targeted, Cole explained, is that "it's the course of least resistance. Foreign nationals don't vote, so they're an easy target."

But government targeting of Arabs and Muslims "didn't begin on 9/11" either, Cole added, citing the case of the L.A. 8, who Cole represented 16 years ago after they were arrested by the FBI for distributing political literature. When no evidence of criminal activity by the L.A. 8 was found, the group of mostly Arab immigrants was turned over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. "No other [ethnic] group in this country has been targeted for their political activities," Cole noted, adding that secret evidence has thus far been used exclusively in cases dealing with Arabs and Muslims.

This pattern of anti-immigrant bias has created a wide rift between Arab Americans and the government, Cole observed, "which is why, post-9/11, the government cast such a wide net…their intelligence was so poor to begin with." He urged the audience to speak out on these issues, but to further understand that fear keeps immigrants quiet, "so it is especially important that those of us who are citizens speak out on behalf of immigrants."

Last to speak was Cecilia Mu–oz of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest American Latino civil rights organization, who explained that NCLR focused on immigration law as "a barometer for civil rights in the country." Speaking directly to members of the audience, she asserted that "the Arab-American community, the Muslim community, the South Asian community is not alone, nor should you think you are."

Of the issues common to both Latino and Arab immigrant communities, racial profiling has emerged at the forefront of post-9/11 immigration policy. Mu–oz related that although local police have no legal right to interfere with immigration enforcement absent a clear criminal conviction, police in some places are known to stop Spanish-speakers based solely on their language with questions like, "Where are you from?"

"That question is offensive," Mu–oz stated, "and it affects the relationship between entire communities and the civil authorities." Urging audience members to connect with other immigrant groups, the Latina activist asserted that the policies of Attorney General John Ashcroft "dramatically undermine civil rights in this country." To thundering applause, she concluded by stating firmly that racial profiling is "not okay when it's us, and it's not okay when it's anybody else."

—Nizar Wattad

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

Saturday's focus was on international issues—first and foremost the U.S.-led war on Iraq—with the day capped by a banquet featuring speeches by Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

Panel Addresses the "Impact of War" on Iraq

ADC's Saturday morning panel on the impact of war on Iraq, which included a journalist and two professors, provided an alternative assessment of the tactics employed by both the United Nations and the United States to control Iraq.

Barbara Nimri-Aziz, who holds degrees in both journalism and anthropology, described the U.N.-imposed sanctions against Iraq as "13 years of silent war," and a tactic akin to weapons of mass destruction. Nimri-Aziz also noted that the U.N. employees who were stationed in Iraq lived an elegant lifestyle, while corruption, which was exacerbated by sanctions, continued to thrive.

Ayad Al Qazzaz, an expert on Islam and professor of sociology at California State University, presented what he considered the two primary U.S. objectives in Iraq: obtaining continuous access to oil and ensuring that Israel maintains its status as a regional power. In addition to these goals, Qazzaz stated, Washington also wants to weaken OPEC and reduce U.S. dependence on Saudi Arabian oil.

Stephen Zunes, associate professor and chair of the Peace and Justice Studies Program at the University of San Francisco, discussed the mistrust that many Iraqis feel toward the United States as a result of its actions in their country. He highlighted America's previous support of Saddam Hussain's oppressive regime and the lack of protection against both post-war looting and chaos as factors that have helped to destroy U.S. credibility. Stating that "the more the U.S. militarizes the Middle East, the less secure the U.S. becomes," Zunes alluded to the growing resentment other Middle Eastern countries have for U.S. actions in the region. Zunes concluded by citing America's hypocrisy when dealing with nations that possess weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The U.S. simultaneously claims to support curbing WMDs, he noted, while financing Israel's own WMD program.

—Paola Rizzuto

Powell Headlines ADC Banquet

Later that evening, several hundred ADC conventiongoers crowded the hall outside the banquet room for almost two hours, as metal detectors and police enforced strict security measures in anticipation of Secretary of State Colin Powell's appearance. When the audience finally was inside and seated, ADC founder and former Sen. James Abourezk first adjured the audience to remember Arab hospitality, and not to boo Secretary Powell, even if they disagreed with what he had to say. Powell then was introduced by Abourezk as a defender of values cherished by Arab Americans, such as preferring diplomatic solutions to military ones, working with the U.N., multilateralism, and working on the latest Middle East peace plan for a viable Palestinian state. After a somewhat cautious reception, Powell took the podium.

Secretary Powell began his remarks by stating that he "knew about discrimination as a black man in his own country." However, he commented, "all [were] privileged to be citizens in a country that was always moving forward on the issue of discrimination." Recalling that the banquet was being held on Flag Day, June 14, Powell pointed out that Alamo Flag Company—the largest flag manufacturer in the U.S.—was founded by an Arab American, Fawaz Ismail. Powell mentioned several other prominent Arab Americans, including former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, and current Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham.

In the body of his speech, Powell called for open borders, cautioning that they must be kept "open in a way not to compromise our own security." Powell described the Department of Homeland Security's NSEERS (National Security Entry and Exit Registration System) program as not a way to "keep Arabs and Muslims out of our country," but "an interim approach while working out a better solution."

"America has always been seen as a welcoming country," according to Powell, who asserted that a new system known as USVISIT (United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology System) would replace NSEERS as "immigration policy meant to preserve the American way of life." Moreover, Powell promised the new program would "respect Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, and all God's children." Though Powell did not give specifics on USVISIT in his talk, a Department of Homeland Security press release explains that the program would use such technology as fingerprinting and possibly digital photography of a person's iris to track all visitors to the U.S., not just those of specified (mainly Arab and Muslim) countries, as is the case under NSEERS.

Powell then saluted Arab Americans for speaking out for peace in the Middle East and against intolerance in the U.S., citing ADC's condemnation of the May 12, 2003 attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "Terrorist murderers must be stopped," Powell said, and the U.S. would "search them out, smash their weapons, and freeze their finances," and there would be no rest until they "were wiped out." Powell added, "But like President Bush said, we must also make the world better."

The Middle East had been sidelined too long, the secretary of state acknowledged, and Arabs had been "victimized by the Arab-Israeli conflict." Now, he claimed, the "Iraqis have been liberated, saved from a brutal dictator…and are now free to build a better future."

"The oil will flow again," he added.

Powell told the audience that the Palestinians' new prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, and Bush both were committed to peace, with a "powerful vision" for two states. On the Red Sea the week previous, Powell stated, Abbas had renounced terror and pledged support for the road map, while [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon had accepted the idea of a viable Palestinian state and pledged to normalize Palestinian life, starting with the dismantling of "illegal outposts." Additionally, Powell pointed out that Arab leaders had pledged their support of the road map, and to fight terror. "Israel must meet Sharon's commitments on settlements and the normalization of Palestinian life, and work with Abu Mazen [Abbas]," Powell said, and in turn Abu Mazen must fight terror.

Calling Hamas and Islamic Jihad obstacles to peace, Powell also said that Israel must defend itself. If peace were to prevail, he added, the process would need support, and ADC "strongly supported the Bush vision," for which he thanked them. Pledging to "expand free trade," "close the freedom gap," and "bridge the knowledge gap," Powell said there was a "new Middle East being born before our eyes," and that "nobody knows more than I do how hard it is."

—Sara Powell

Ralph Nader Takes Center Stage

Following his remarks Secretary Powell quickly left the banquet, and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, an Arab American and longtime consumer advocate, entered. There was no appeal from Abourezk not to boo Nader, who was greeted with a standing ovation, which evolved into several minutes of rhythmic clapping. Calling him "my candidate for president," Abourezk started a chant of "Run, Ralph, Run." Nader, who, seeming to prefer his own issues of consumer safety and the environment, has been somewhat reluctant in the past to speak extensively on foreign policy, abandoned his normal stance and immediately outlined his talk's three main points: the assault on civil liberties following 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan, and, finally, Israel and Palestine.

Regarding civil liberties, Nader stated that "security was transmuted into insecurity when too much reliance was placed on it." Naming names, he lauded Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) for casting the only opposing vote to the PATRIOT Act, and chastised Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) for voting for it, saying it hurt Arabs and Muslims especially and was the "greatest assault on civil liberties in our history." Just because the "people taking the brunt of these techniques"—which he termed an "unprecedented penetration of constitutional privacy"—had "funny-sounding names," Nader added, did not mean that all Americans were not affected by the PATRIOT Act. PATRIOT II, he warned, would be even worse. Nader praised Arabs and Muslims for defending themselves against discrimination and expanding the civil liberties of all Americans, urged people to have the courage to speak out, and rebuked the American and state bar associations for not doing so.

Addressing the issues of Iraq and Afghanistan, Nader pointed out that they were easier to get into than to get out of: "we are good as a military force at destroying opposition, but not good at what comes after," he added. Calling them each illegal wars, Nader listed the five reasons Bush gave for waging war on Iraq:

Weapons of mass destruction—"which have not been found, though we knew Iraq had them once, because we hold the receipts for their sale;"

The false tie with al-Qaeda;

The alleged threat to the U.S.;

The alleged threat to Iraq's neighbors—which led Nader to ask, had Saddam Hussain been a real threat, "would Israel have observed diplomatic niceties rather than moving in?";

And, finally, regime change. Now, Nader said, we do "have a responsibility to the people of Iraq. Let's see if the aftermath reflects that 'touching concern' of Bush and [Vice President Richard] Cheney to the people of Iraq."

Finally, Nader discussed Israel and Palestine, saying "What more can be said than what [Edward] Said and Abourezk have said for so many years?" Citing the frequent complaint that criticism of Israeli actions in occupied Palestinian territory was labeled anti-Semitism, Nader noted the term was used to generate sympathy and grief when used after the horrors of WWII. Now, however, its cavalier use has cheapened the term, he said, and turned it into a tool for suppressing dissent, stifling people in government, business, and universities.

Nader said it was time to start calling the vicious discrimination against Arab Americans anti-Semitism. Moreover, he called the "idea of equivalence in violence anathema." The rationalization of violence had been carried to such extremes, he said, that it affected the sanity of those who did so, exclaiming that some people had even gone so far as to blame Rachel Corrie for her own death at the hands of an Israeli soldier.

He had heard Powell say there was no military answer to the problem, Nader said, responding that some people there did not know that—that there was "no greater imbalance of power than between Palestine and Israel," between "pre-historic stones and a few rifles vs. F-16s, tanks, helicopters, etc." A viable Palestinian state included control of their water and more, he added, and the principle of the right of return must be fleshed out.

Offering his ideas for a (non-military) solution, Nader called on Arab Americans to embrace both the Jewish American and the Israeli peace movements. To emphasize their importance, Nader quoted a number of Israeli politicians, including Ehud Barak, David Ben-Gurion, and Moshe Dayan, as saying they would resist Israeli occupation if they were Palestinian. In conclusion, Nader cautioned the audience that they "must never flag from the denunciation of violence, or from demanding that our government practice justice." Following another standing ovation, Abourezk quipped, "You don't hear that kind of talk on 19th Century Fox."

—Sara Powell

SUNDAY, JUNE 15

For many attendees, the highlight of the conference was a talk given on its final day by noted Columbia University Professor of Comparative Literature, and leading expert on the question of Palestine, Edward Said.

Said Addresses Convention With "Dignity and Solidarity"

The ADC's 20th national conference Sunday Luncheon featured Prof. Edward Said as its keynote speaker. In his speech "On Dignity and Solidarity," Said called attention to issues such as Palestinian resilience, the peace process, and the lack of Arab leaders who truly represent the will of their people.

Said's opening words were for the parents of Rachel Corrie, who was murdered March 16 when an Israeli bulldozer ran her over in Rafah, Gaza. Said described how the Israeli lobby induced senators to retreat from conducting an investigation of Corrie's death.

Emphasizing Palestinian perseverance in the face of adversity and occupation, Said stated, "There is indeed power in Palestinian resistance, despite its mistakes and failings." He also drew attention to the dearth of news coverage depicting Palestinian hardship. "Since Palestinian suffering is rarely mentioned, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many Americans are uninformed," he noted.

When addressing the ongoing peace process, he attributed one of its fundamental flaws to American and Israeli negation and denial of the plight of the Palestinian people. Going into further detail about the road map, Said observed that it says nothing about "justice" or the "historical punishment that has been dealt out to Palestinians."

After describing the consequences of Orientalist arrogance and America's misguided desire to liberate Iraq and "show them the way," he segued into a critique of Arab leadership. According to Said, one of the many problems with Arab leaders is that they tend to be "fearful of angering the U.S." Indeed, he said, "not a single Arab leader had the dignity to say something [to the U.S.] about the bombing and pillaging of Iraq." Alluding to the tendency to pander to the desires of both the U.S. and Israel, Said described Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen as a man who has been "picked by Israel because he has no backbone and no constituency," and as one who has "forgotten that he is a bearer of his people's fate."

Said concluded his speech on a more optimistic note. He expressed his hope in new generations of activists who are taking an effective stand against occupation, and who are working to provide much-needed social services to the Palestinian people.

—Paola Rizzuto

Workshop Aims to Expel Negative Images of Arabs

"Images and Perceptions of Arab Americans" was the focus of a cultural education workshop held at the University of Michigan's Dearborn campus on June 5. The event, co-hosted by the United American Lebanese Federation and DTE Energy, aimed to raise awareness of issues that impact Arab Americans, including negative stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims prevalent in U.S. media.

Because Dearborn, Michigan is home to one of the largest visible concentrations of Arabs living outside the Middle East, the event had an overwhelming community response. More than 150 attendees included representatives from local human resource organizations and corporate America, educators and community leaders.

The event's featured speaker was Jack Shaheen, professor emeritus of mass communications at Southern Illinois University. For several decades the author and media critic has been battling the defamation of Arabs in American television and Hollywood films.

"Movies live forever—they don't fade away," Shaheen insisted. Unfortunately, this is also true of the negative depictions of Arabs in U.S. media. Since film began, Shaheen said, Hollywood has portrayed Arabs as bombers, belly dancers and billionaires.

"The media curriculum is spreading a gospel of hate," he continued, with Hollywood vilifying "anything and everything Arab." Despite the government's claim that Americans should not equate the 9/11 hijackers with the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, Shaheen said, mainstream U.S. media have done just the opposite.

Other speakers included Skip McWilliams, co-executive producer and president of Teacher's Discovery, who presented a 42-minute video intended to aid educators in teaching their students about Muslims and Islam, and Ambassador Clovis Maksoud, who was keynote speaker at the seminar's luncheon. Professor of international relations and director of the Center for the Global South at American University in Washington, DC, the former Arab League ambassador to the U.S. addressed the current relationship between Arab countries and the United States following the war in Iraq.

Speaking to an eager audience, Maksoud emphasized the importance for Americans to learn—and unlearn—about Arab Americans. Following Shaheen's lead, the ambassador affirmed that many negative opinions of Arabs in America stem from media deception and people's general misunderstanding and ignorance of a culture that is becoming increasingly visible in the U.S. Maksoud, who strongly believes the U.S. is on the threshold of becoming a genuinely multicultural society, emphasized that "diversity reinforces unity."

The seminar proved both enlightening and, for some, an affirmation of the long journey ahead. Warren David, president of the United American Lebanese Federation, stated that he was happy with the turnout for the day's event, calling the seminar "timely, especially after 9/11." Originally scheduled for March, in fact, the seminar was postponed because of the war on Iraq. After the war, David felt that it was even more important to hold the seminar, to promote a more positive image of Arab Americans.

Shaheen also considered the seminar a success. "I think we shattered some stereotypes," he commented, "leading to awareness and more tolerance."

—Ashley McGovern

ADC Turns Upside Down to Raise Funds

The District of Columbia chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (DC-ADC) held a fund-raising dinner May 31 in Arlington, VA. This was no ordinary dinner, however: DC-ADC turned the dinner upside down with the traditional Palestinian dish, makluba.

With many varieties favored by different people, makluba has some common denominators. The dish always has some kind of meat and/or vegetables, covered with rice, which are then turned upside down to serve, resulting in a beautiful mountain of rice capped with a savory stew. To add to the fun, all the maklubas were unveiled in a row, and numbered for a blind taste test to determine the best. This reporter shamelessly voted for both the first- (lamb) and second-place (chicken) dishes, but all were noteworthy—and eaten with gusto. Salad and various Middle Eastern desserts added to the feast, followed by music and dancing. There may be no tastier way to contribute to a good cause.

—Sara Powell