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State Arab commission gets support
Asbury Park Press, 1/20/2005
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HARTRIONO B. SASTROWARDOYO/Staff Writer
LONG BEACH Township showed its support for promoting education about
Muslims and Arabs in schools by passing a resolution supporting the
establishment of a New Jersey Arab Heritage Commission through the
state's Department of Education.
Aref Assaf, president of American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee,
New Jersey chapter based in West Caldwell, was the initiator for such a
commission and in May petitioned then-Gov. James E. McGreevey for its
establishment.
"I sit on the state Ethnic Advisory Council," Assaf said. "I felt it
was time to correct information about Arabs, especially after (Sept.
11), with regards to our community image and safety."
Assaf sent a letter to McGreevey which he said was acknowledged and was
told would be reviewed.
"No action was taken by the governor" before his resignation, he
said.
Assaf has not reached out to acting Gov. Codey, preferring to wait until
after the November 2005 election! s to bring it again to the attention
of the governor, he said.
Assaf said he feels that educating the public would be the best
approach.
"We want the commission to be acknowledged and sanctioned by the state
in order to work with the different departments within the state,
especially education," he said. "The curriculum needs to be improved and
made more accurate about the history and culture of the Arab people, and
promote tolerance and understanding.
"We're like the rest of American citizens," Assaf said. "We're good
and care about the country and don't approve of terrorist actions."
Assaf notes that the proposed New Jersey Arab Heritage Commission would
be no different than other state ethnic commissions already established.
"We're not asking for anything unusual," he said, adding that other
ethnic commissions were funded by the state but that the Arab Heritage
Commission would not be asking for money.
"We feel that a state Arab ! Heritage Commission is very timely and
urgent and should be dealt with a seriousness that it deserves," Assaf
said.
Hartriono B. Sastrowardoyo: (609) 978-4581 or harts@app.com
Copyright (c) Asbury Park Press. All rights reserved. Reproduced with
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