living in america these days

[boxfox]

i am addressing for all fellow americans in this thread,
i had this dream since my youth to live in america but looking to what i am hearing about it is not very encouraging these days, i am working in the gulf and many americans (native or arab origin) are literally escaping from the taxes and high cost of living in america to the gulf ( a free of taxes zone) america now is totally different from what it was before , plus life here is a lot easier and less complicated,

i know it's a very off topic subject but it's a very important issue to me and maybe i am wrong about america

plus, are arabs suffering persecution in america the land of freedom and justice

[Mario]

America is a big country and you will certainly find places that do not live up to the ideals of the founders of this Nation.

Many in America would say exactly the same thing about their country and would never trade places with you. Others, would disagree with them and would curse their country and burn the flag. And I am sure there are those in your neck of the woods who would resent you for having reached that point where you do, in fact, experience a bit of Heaven on Earth.

Life needs to be complicated somewhere and some of the time so that other places flourish... and vice versa. Nothing is created nor destroyed, it is simply transformed.

So the Gulf is booming. Excellent.

America is perhaps still in the process of adjusting to the new world dynamic. For example, a lot of jobs are being lost due to outsourcing. People are being forced to go back to school and learn new skills.

But do not underestimate the American Spirit. You have to remember that those who landed on this continent first braved unimaginable odds and managed to build a great nation that is (in my view) still growing emotionally as well as spiritually.

It is easy to point at America and points out its flaws because when anything is large enough and influential enough it becomes a natural target for criticism, cynicism, jealousy, etc.

However, for every flaw you might notice you would also see a force trying to fight that flaw.

Ask yourself why you were drawn to America. If the answer has anything to do with making money and the "American Dream," then allow me to tell you that you've missed the point of America.

America is the land of process more so than product.

In other words, when push comes to shove, a true American (and anyone, whether naturally born here or not CAN be a TRUE American) will forsake his or her worldly possessions in order to fight for their right to be free.

Yes, there are many "Americans" who are not educated nor enlightened and who are afraid of Arabs, may they be (themselves) American or not.

I do not consider those people TRUE AMERICANS and I feel they should be deported for their actions nullifies everything this great nation endured for the sake of upholding the ideals many nations are still trying to copy.

But, this is America... We can't deport idiots... Maybe countries in the Gulf do... But, here, we have to fight ignorance with education and patience.

Incidentally, Myself, I am part Arab and part Armenian.
Since I've landed here (1979), I can safely say that any "persecution" that I personally have endured was at the hands of Arabs... Oh, the irony...

And it wasn't the Americans who forsake Doctor Dahesh on American soil.
It wasn't Americans who went on record denying the existence of Daheshism.

Those who lied to protect themselves, may have become naturalized Americans as far as their passports were concerned, but they had nothing of the American Spirit that had always attracted the Beloved Guiding Prophet.

Incidentally, and in case you have not heard, the Dahesh Museum closed its doors to the public this month... For the next two years (at least) it will exist ONLY as an online web site...

Incidentally, a year ago, I made a reference here in Daheshville to the fact that the Museum was looking for a new home and then I wrote that the Jews who worshiped the gold calf were forced to wander the desert for 40 years...

As it turned out, the Museum — since that time — was not able to find a new home...

When an organization carrying the name of Dahesh allows Peter Trippi (former director) to publicly state (and I paraphrase) "why should I care who Dahesh was..." (on top of Kaplan's remarks on behalf of the Trustees (who are Daheshists), denying that Doctor Dahesh was a prophet)... what do you expect?

Pray for and pity this organization that has forsaken its founder, his true vision, the hardship, the sacrifices, and the death of Ali Ombargi.

And how about all those people who poured their hard earned money, believing they were supporting a DAHESHIST institution?

Eventually, there was NOTHING remotely Daheshist about what ended up becoming "The Dahesh" (it MAY have started out as a Daheshist institution... back when... but once the comments on Behalf of the Trustees were published, that dream — for many — became an illusion and a nightmarish one at that.)

Personally, I think the future of Daheshism is in the hands of those who carry within them the true American Spirit. They MAY be Armenian, Arab, Afghani, ... Klingon... whatever you want... but anyone who is afraid of publicly and proudly declaring what he or she believes in is a walking-dead as far as I am concerned.

OK, America has problems... Don't worry... We'll fix'em...

[Johnson]

Very powerful and poignant post, Mario. I agree with you entirely and you said everything so well I don't think there is very much I could add to the sentiments of your post.

I was born here in the US and my parents were of Swedish/English descent. I don't think there is a particularily "anti-Arab" mentality here in the US... although the US is a very big country with rather distinct regions... there are, however, laws and rights in place that protect all individuals (citizen or not)...

In the end, rascism and discrimination occurs on a person by person basis... and in the end no one can know what is carried in the heart of another. People are people and the foibles of the human mentality and spirit can exist here in the similar capacities as they could anywhere else. No one can ever accurately summarize that "America is like this..." any more than one could summarize that "Arabs are like this..." or as Mario likes to say, "Klingons are like this..." One cannot view individuals or the world this way. And while our laws are not perfect, they are continually tested and modified and adjusted so that in the end, they can be something close... and this is very much a part of what Mario refers to as the "Spirit of America".

It is unbelievably sad to read that the Dahesh Museum is closing in New York City and will now only have a web site presence. It says on their site that they are closing for at least two years' time. I trust there is real estate available somewhere in New York City to house another museum. And while there is lament that the collections of Dr. Dahesh will only be seen via web access or travelling exhibits, maybe the new chapter of the Dahesh Museum that bears the name of Dr. Dahesh will do more to embrace the reality of who and what Dr. Dahesh truly was and is... as they continue their "role as a catalyst of change and a nexus of information".

[Johnson]

...and finally, yes, Box, we pay taxes here... no real way around that... as is often said here... "There are no certainties in life but death and taxes..." I heard a Daheshist state once that that they have "chosen" not to live here (so they say) or move monies here, because of "the taxes..."

Well, fine, whatever... yet, in the same breath, they would say that moving to the US has always been "a dream" for them, or citing how Dr. Dahesh used to say often how much he "loved America"... Well, nothing comes with out a price...whatever one's decision is...

It sounds as if you are fortunate that you can choose what is best for you. That is great.

I have a friend here that is trying very hard to immigrate from a Central American country. His life there was getting more and more unsafe and what he went through to come in to the US would make for a great Hollywood movie... (and what he went through we can give thanks that we would never have to go through). He truly loves America. Even as an immigrant he has more rights than he ever had back "home".

He actually wants the "privilege" to pay taxes (and is!) He said to me once, "David, do you know what is beautiful about America? Little me has potentially the same legal rights as George Bush." The guy works hard 7 days a week supporting his family and building a better way for himself day by day... and paying taxes. I have made him an honorary US citizen...

[boxfox]

i thank you mario and johnson for these very helpfull responses, well i am just stating what the others said about the states, i can't judge cause i never been there, and beleive me when i hear bad reviews abou america i feel really sad, i know someday i'll go there, and the reason of this little problem in america is mainly war according to econmists, hoping it will end to see miss america shining again, and you're right mario it's a land of process ,

anyway let me tell you when you wnat to talk about dreams and ambitions, i can't any place else to achieve them but in America


and about the museum do anyone here know why they closed it, what is the reason, it must a damn good reason

[Mario]

about the museum do anyone here know why they closed it, what is the reason, it must a damn good reason

My pleasure Boxfox.

As far as the museum: technically speaking, and in the big cosmic scheme of things, there is always a "damn good reason."

But let's look at things from a human perspective:

You have this organization that, suddenly, out of nowhere, appears and quite literally tries to force-feed the notion that the kind of Art they are exhibiting is to be cherished.

"OK... Why should it be?" asked the public.

The answer, or answers, the public got back — in my opinion — proved insufficient to maintain interest.

The Zahids worked very hard to promote the art and nothing but the art.

In the process, they practically lied or buried the history behind the art and by their doing so, they essentially stripped the art of its mythology.

People do not care about objects alone. They care about the history behind the objects—sometimes more so than the object itself.

Imagine the following scenario: The Dahesh Museum, right from the start, comes clean with its ties to Daheshism and the founder of Daheshim.

OK, so people, at first, might be cautious. But, as Daheshville has proven, it is better to be honest than not.

People fear that which they don't understand.

If the Museum, right from the start made it clear that, yes, there is a link between Daheshism and the art collected by the Beloved Guiding Prophet, and that the Museum will only focus on the collection, THEN things might have been different.

ESPECIALLY... especially, if they sponsored a project such as a Filmed Documentary (in the style of Ken Burns' awesome work!) showing the brave history of Daheshism and how the art fits into all of it...

I assure you, people would have had a whole different and higher level of respect when looking at artwork they may or may not have liked at face value.

The value of the art collected by Doctor Dahesh cannot be disassociated from the history of Daheshism.

But that's what happened. And it is the Museum's apparent lack of understanding of this fundamental concept and/or fear and utter refusal to be associated with Daheshism that was/were the reason(s) for its demise.

I am sure the museum will say (maybe): "No, we were forced to close our doors because people like you didn't send donations."

My answer would be:

"You destroy the image of the Prophet and rob the collection of its spiritual heritage and expect the organization you founded in his name not to go under? What part of 'Beloved Guiding Prophet' didn't you geniuses get?!"

This organization has become pretentious at best, offering for sale Martini Glasses that are ... "so Noel Coward" and...neckties that supposed to make men "irresistible"... (to whom, we still don't know!)

Lastly... the Doctor wanted his books sold inside the museum. Check this out if you haven't yet done so.

Like I said... "Land of process versus product."