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California Muslim And Arab Radio Station Indication Of Awareness
by Sarah Kassaimah for IslamOnline
ORANGE COUNTY, California (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Six months ago, Syrian-Americans Belal Delati and Ali Rayes started a radio station in order to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America, and to encourage political and social activism among Muslims.
The Arab American Broadcasting Company runs out of Dalati's insurance sales office in Orange County.
After pouring $60,000 into equipment and airtime, the two businessmen take to the airways for three hours every Sunday - on KMNY/106.3 FM - to reach out the Middle Eastern Arab community in Orange County and Southern California.
An estimate on the number of people of Arab background in Southern California nears somewhat around 250,000.
"We are trying to teach people how to approach Americans from the American point of view," said Rayes. "We are planting the seeds at this time; hopefully it is going to grow up and be fruitful in 10 years from now."
The station also brings in guests from mayors and police officers, to state and federal elected officials.
Dalati, 34, and Rayes, 40, estimate the program reaches about 3,000 listeners a week.
Nearly 40 years ago, immigrant Arab interests almost entirely was focused on building mosques in order to protect their religion, which they feared could be lost in America given distractions related to the “American dream”.
Over the years, the direction of their interests changed into more outreach and public affairs issues, including reshaping one of America's most stereotypical views of Arabs and Muslims, that as them being terrorists.
As Muslims acclimated to American society, they learned more comprehensive methods to respond to anti-Muslim bias the media, most of which they believe is biased in favor of Israel.
“As Muslims and Christians Arabs, we are understanding our [Palestinian] cause better than ever because of what is going on in Palestine and the various organizations here,” said the vice president of the 600-family strong Palestinian Arab American Club.
One result of willingness for more social and political activity has resulted in - for the first time, and with a goal of increasing political awareness - seven local and national Muslim- and Arab-American groups joining together to form "Coalition 2000", an alliance formed in order to present a united front among Southern California Muslims and Arabs protesting Israeli violence in Palestine.
With recent vocal protests in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties against Israeli aggression in the Middle East, community members believe the community has taken more steps forward in its continuing evolution, and believe it will continue to do so.
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