BOOKLETS SHOW AMERICA'S TRUE POWER.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
It sits on the front counter next to the cash register at King Arthur King Arthur: see Arthurian legend. Liquor in Northridge - a document more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction weapon of mass destruction (WMD) Weapon with the capacity to inflict death and destruction indiscriminately and on a massive scale. The term has been in currency since at least 1937, when it was used to describe massed formations of bomber aircraft. . The old Liberty Collection - free to any customer who wants one. The U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence, the Monroe Doctrine Monroe Doctrine, principle of American foreign policy enunciated in President James Monroe's message to Congress, Dec. 2, 1823. It initially called for an end to European intervention in the Americas, but it was later extended to justify U.S. , the Gettysburg Address Gettysburg Address, speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln on Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of the national cemetery on the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg, Pa. It is one of the most famous and most quoted of modern speeches. , ``The Star- Spangled span·gle n. 1. A small, often circular piece of sparkling metal or plastic sewn especially on garments for decoration. 2. A small sparkling object, drop, or spot: spangles of sunlight. Banner'' and the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. - all under one cover. The heart and soul of this country being given away by a family from Syria that wants to show its appreciation for what this country has given it, and to remind us all of one of the forgotten cornerstones of America: Tolerance. It hasn't been easy being a family from the Middle East living in America today, even one that has been here for 25 years, like the Khzam family. Hate and fear are killing tolerance, brothers Richard, 43, and Rabie Khzam, 41, say. Making a lot of people forget the words in that old Liberty Collection on the front counter. ``America has always been a melting pot of people from all over the world co-existing,'' Rabie says. ``But now it's become that Mexican guy, or that Middle Eastern guy. ``That's not what this country is all about,'' he says. ``Just because we're from the Middle East doesn't mean we're terrorists. There are white terrorists, too.'' ``What we are, first and foremost, is Americans,'' Richard said. It's a conversation the brothers have been having with customers like Bill Soma soma (sō`mə), psychotropic plant, the juice of which was sometimes drunk as part of the Vedic sacrifice (see Veda). Many hymns in the Rig-Veda are in praise of soma. for years now. ``These are good, beautiful people, who love this country, and want people to know it,'' Soma said Friday. But after 9-11 and with all the turmoil in the Middle East this past year, it's been tough to get some people to see that, he added. ``About a year ago I ran across an old copy of the Liberty Collection I had received more than 40 years ago,'' Soma said. ``I brought it into the store for Rabie and Richard to see.'' ``They loved it, and wound up having 1,500 copies printed to give away to their customers.'' The Liberty Collection is a booklet that was printed for schoolchildren schoolchildren school npl → écoliers mpl; (at secondary school) → collégiens mpl; lycéens mpl schoolchildren school and patriotic organizations more than 30 years ago by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Founded in 1949, the Freedoms Foundation is located adjacent to the Valley Forge NHP and sits on ground that was once part of General Washington's encampment. Bill of Responsibilities . It's back again at King Arthur Liquor, and the Khzams' other store in Simi Valley, Friendly Spirits Liquor. ``A lot of customers didn't know what it was,'' Richard said. ``When we told them, they wanted a copy for their kids. The next time they came in, they wanted one for their neighbors, too. ``A few of the old-timers knew what it was, and were glad we were making them available again for people to see what this country is all about,'' Rabie added. They put 1,500 copies on the counter a month ago, and already they're down to only a few hundred left, with plans to print some more. The positive reaction from customers has been incredible, the brothers say. Incredible and gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. , because no words they could find to temper the hate and fear of the times could match the eloquence and power of the words in that old Liberty Collection on the counter. ``There is not a country in the world that offers the opportunities this country offers if you are willing to work hard,'' Rabie says. Along with their father, Ramez, 72, the brothers bought the Northridge liquor store for $240,000 in 1980 with $20,000 up front. ``We slept in the store at night for years to save money so we could pay off the debts to the people we owed,'' Richard said. Within years, they had opened the second store in Simi Valley. ``We came to this country from Syria in 1978 to find a better opportunity in life, and we've found it,'' Richard said. ``We're grateful for what this country has given us, and we want people to know it.'' What better way than to hand them a copy of the Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution with their Marlboros and gin? Dennis McCarthy, (818) 713-3749 dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Liquor store owners Ramez Khzam, standing center, and his sons Richard, left, and Rabie, right, hand out free copies of The Liberty Collection to customers after Bill Soma, seated, gave them the collection of historical doctrines. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion