|
Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute is a non-profit, membership organization and advocacy group based in Washington D.C. that focuses on the issues and interests of Arab Americans nationwide. James Zogby, brother of John Zogby, is founder and president of the AAI. James (Jim) J. Zogby is the founder and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Arab American Institute, which conducts policy research and engages in political advocacy for the Arab American community. ...
John Zogby (born 1948) is a noted American political pollster. ...
The organization seeks to increase the visibility of Arab American involvement and candidates in the American political system. They issue "Action Alerts" to their members much like the Anti-defamation League when issues of particular concern arise. According to their website they encourage their members to contact members of congress and they develop policy initiatives much in the manner of a think tank. This article is in need of attention. ...
This article is about the institution. ...
Stated Goals
The AAI has stated on their website,
"Our domestic agenda includes promoting immigrant rights, community-based social services, educational materials and programming that accurately reflect our community and our heritage, and the full benefits of citizenship for our community. Internationally, we believe that the US should enhance its ties with Arab countries in all fields: cultural, educational, diplomatic, economic, and security. We support a viable Palestinian state, the integrity of Lebanon, US assistance to advance economic and political development in the region, and a balanced US role in promoting regional peace and prosperity."
Constituency & Role in Census Taking As stated above the organization represents the views of Arab-Americans. According to their own statistics, there are 3.5 million Arab-Americans. The Census Bureau has designated the AAI as the only Census Information Center for compiling data on Arab-Americans. The AAI has has stated on their websites that Arabs were underrepresented in the 2000 National Census. The organization alleges, Arab Americans are Americans of Arab ancestry and constitute an ethnicity made up of several waves of immigrants from 22 Arab countries, stretching from Morocco in the west to Oman in the east. ...
The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ...
"Like other ethnic, minority, and immigrant populations, Arab Americans are undercounted in the U.S. census. Some simply do not understand the relevance of the census, its confidentiality, or did not respond to the question on the sample "long form" that measures ethnic ancestry."
Controversies In 2001, the Coalition of American Assyrians and Maronites rebuked the Arab American Institute in a letter for categorizing Maronite Christians and Assyrians as Arabs. The organization has criticized the Arab American Institute repeatedly for representing Maronite Christians and Assyrians as Arabs. It should be stated that the ethnic identity of Maronites is a matter of some uncertainty (See article). It should also be noted that the Coalition also takes stances on issues that might be described as Islamophobic. Maronites (Marunoye ܡܪܘܢÜÜܶ; in Syriac, Mâruniyya مارونية in Arabic) are members of an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ...
It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ...
Maronites (Marunoye ܡܪܘܢÜÜܶ; in Syriac, Mâruniyya مارونية in Arabic) are members of an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ...
Islamophobia is term used by Islamic advocates to discredit proponents of criticisms of Islam and Islamic culture. ...
External links
See also | 
Feeds |
Contact