Coalition Examines
Important, Positive Steps

Arab And Chaldean
Responses Differ

MAIM FLIER JEWISH NEWS INTERN

PHIL JAC013S EDITOR

Robert Brown: Ways to stem white flight

R

obert Brown some-
times likes to refer to
the northern Virginia
town of Reston when
he thinks of relations be-
tween differing cultures, re-
ligions and races.
"There," the Southfield res-
ident said, "nobody looks at
you as if you are white, black,
Christian or Jewish. People
are neighbors; they play Lit-
tle League baseball together;
2 they go to school together."
If there is a model, it's
towns and cities like these
that Mr. Brown and others

will have in mind when they
meet Oct. 14 for the second
Southfield/Lathrup Multi-
cultural Coalition communi-
ty forum. The panel is
scheduled for 7 p.m. in the
north commons of Southfield-
Lathrup High School.
The meeting is a follow-up
to a similar April conference
that drew 250 people. At that
original get-together, dis-
cussed were issues of how
multi-cultural diversity is im-
portant in the areas of city,
government, schools and
neighborhoods. At this up-

coming meeting, according to
Mr. Brown, who is co-chair-
ing the coalition with
Sharkey Haddad, executive
director of the Chaldean Fed-
eration of America, solutions
and suggestions pertaining
to these issues will be offered.
"In April, the people talked
about what they liked about
our community and what
they did not like," said Mr.
Brown. "At this forum, we
want ideas and suggestions.
We just don't want to throw
things on the back of the
schools and the city. There
are ways people can get in-
volved, individual things peo-
ple can do as well as groups.
"The idea that people of dif-
fering cultures can talk with-
in their neighborhoods, that
they maintain a dialogue,
showing people that they can
be part of something good, is
important.
"We'll talk about ways we
can stem white flight and
have an area where many
cultures will feel comfort-
able," he continued. "We
want whites to feel that they
don't have to run because we
know that many do based on
misconceptions."
Terrie Perdue, the co-di-
rector of the Oakland Coun-
ty Center For Open Housing,
said the forum will focus on
ways to bring the Southfield
community together.
"We want to make change
occur," she said. "There are
so many wonderful, possible
solutions. The bottom line is
hopefully a diverse commu-
nity that changes the nega-
tive perceptions to positive
ideas."
The Rev. James Lyons, di-
rector of the Ecumenical In-
stitute for Jewish - Christian
Studies, will serve as keynote
speaker. Following a panel
discussion, attendees will di-
vide into small working
groups with trained facilita-
tors to develop ideas and rec-
ommendations.
The coalition, which was
established in 1991 by the
Jewish Community Council
and the Neighborhood Pro-
ject, is a grass-roots group
made up of representatives
from Southfield-area schools,
government, churches, syna-
gogues and the broad spec-
trum of ethnic groups that
populate the community. ❑

A

rab and Chaldean lead- be more reluctance among re-
ers differed in their re- cent Arab immigrants to relate
actions to a survey in to Jews because they bring the
which Jewish respon- problems they faced in the Mid-
dents said they tend to have dle East to America.
negative feelings toward them
"The reluctance depends on
and feel Arabs and Chaldeans whom you are dealing with,"
tend to have those same nega- Mr. Turfe said. "For first-
tive feelings toward Jews.
through-third-generation
Hassan Jaber, assistant di- Arabs, there is a tendency to
rector of the Arab Community meet with Jews with less re-
Center for Economic and Social luctance?
Se/vices (ACCESS), and
Tallal Turfe, chairman of
the Arab-American and
Chaldean Council, are not
surprised.
"It only reinforces my
beliefs that this is going
on," Mr. Jaber said. "It
also reinforces my sad-
ness for this state of rela-
tionship between com-
munities, especially at a
time when we see racial
tension is increasing and
we really need to have
more understanding and
a higher level of coopera-
tion of the races that have
been most affected by dis-
crimination."
Terry Ahwal, president Terry Ahwal: Jews blinded by Israel,
of the American Arab
Anti-Discrimination Commit-
Mr. Turfe said if the same
tee, Detroit Chapter does not survey were conducted in the
agree with all of the findings. Arab community, results would
"I think it's inaccurate to say probably be the same if not
Arabs and Chaldeans have neg- slightly more negative.
ative feeling toward Jews," Ms.
Mr. Haddad believes that if
Ahwal said. "We have our the survey were conducted in
stereotypes of Jews as highly the Chaldean community,
motivated, brilliant and very Chaldea.ns would respond more
influential individuals. The only positively toward Jews.
time I hear anything negative
Ms. Ahwal said the overall
about the Jewish community is findings are consistent with so-
on Israel. We feel the Jewish ciety because Jews and Arabs
community is blinded by its loy- have a difference of opinion on
alty to Israel."
the State of Israel.
Sharkey Haddad, executive
"This is one issue that may
director of the Chaldean Fed- misguide the judgment of those
eration, said he was shocked by who view the Arab communi-
the survey results.
ty," she said.
"I thought we had a more
"We're not reaching out to
positive relationship with the each other enough," Ms. Ahw-
Jewish community," he said.
al said. "We get busy with our
Mr. Haddad said because own lives and building bridges
there are cultural differences becomes the responsibility of
between Arabs and Chaldeans, someone else."
it might have been unfair to in-
Mr. Turfe said organizations,
clude them in the same catego- like the American Arab Jewish
ry.
Friends group of which he is
While the Arab community a member,
ti
are essential.
leaders say tension generally
"We're trying to build sound
does exist between Arabs and relationships that will hopeful-
Jews, their thoughts on the sur- ly trickle through the rest of the
vey results differ slightly.
country. We can't teach older
"It tells us just how much people new tricks -- they have
work we need to do here to pro- their biases — but hopefully
mote understanding and re- with younger ones, particular-
spect between the two different ly the American-born, we can
groups," Mr. Jaber said.
break down any biases they
Mr. Turfe thinks there may have." U