Are two cultures better than one?
If two minds are better than one, are two cultures better than one? And, in the haze of trying to figure out where we fall in the spectrum of Arab to American, is there some optimal point we should be seeking?
We have all heard the cliché – take the good and leave the bad. But, in issues of identity, is that too simplistic a view? What is “good” to one person is “bad” to another. Love of community can be tribalism; commitment to family can be the loss of individuality; and rooted beliefs become obstacles to an ordinary life.
And when you are surrounded by peers who do not have these concerns, can it not be seen more as a source of confusion than pride?
Despite these difficulties, I believe there are advantages to having a hyphen in your identity. For one thing, it gives you a wider view of life. You understand that the world can be seen in many different ways. It can also ground you; give you a sense of belonging.
But, what we take from each culture? Well, that is a question with answers as individual as each of us.
I want to hear from you want what you’ve kept and left in each culture.
Let's start with Maxime Chaya, the first Lebanese to climb Mount Everest. Max Chaya became a Lebanese Hero when he raised, for the first time in history, the Lebanese flag to the highest point on earth - Mount Everest. Max Chaya was officially nominated a Seven “Summiteer” on May 15, 2006, after having conquered the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each Continent. 
Bring you a little closer to home, we had another incredible accomplishment last week. The corners of Franklin and River Street in Cambridge, MA have now been officially named Sami J. Herbawi Square. For those of you that don't know, Sami is a long-time resident and supporter of Cambridge, as well as the owner of our beloved Andala Square. 
