Michael Suleiman: A Man from Palestine and Kansas

Abstract

Mike Suleiman was born in 1934 in Tiberias, Palestine. He was appointed to the Kansas State University Political Science faculty in 1965. First and foremost, he was a gentleman. He was a relaxed guy but never casual in attire. I often told him I imagined him cutting his lawn in a suit and tie! He would reel back and laugh his unique laugh - the kind of can't catch my breath laugh that conveyed deep appreciation for the humor of the image. It was as though he was making up for the struggles of his earlier life by recreating a world of friends and community in America and enjoying every minute to the fullest. His patient and persistent manner - perhaps a result of the wisdom he gained in overcoming the biggest challenge of his life - displacement and dispossession by the Zionist conquest of Palestine - served as a calming effect on himself and the frustrated activists who emerged after the 1967 war.He was a deep core Palestinian. He loved his Arab culture and community. I recall he was in Boston for some meeting one year, and it coincided with a performance by Fairuz, the famous honey-voiced Lebanese songstress. He called me and invited me to attend her performance. This was Mike the Arab. He was transformed as he watched her performance. Fairuz sang songs of love and songs for Arab, particularly Palestinian, causes. Her famous song about Jerusalem, Al Quds, stirred the hearts of all Arabs. Suddenly, Mike the affable man, turned into Mike the Palestinian remembering the lost past, transported and stirred by Fairuz 's moving rendition which filled the theatre with intense emotion.Mike was a fun-loving guy. I recall during my 1976 Association of Arab American University Graduates (AAUG) presidential term, I found myself in Los Angeles for a Board meeting and to address the local Chapter. Ayad al-Qazzaz was a member of the Board and Mike's close friend. Mike was somehow there, and I think it was because we were about to nominate him for the 1 977 presidential term. In any case, there was a short break between meetings, and Mike insisted we visit Disneyland! Ayad was game for the idea and agreed we should go for a bit of levity. I was not sure about leaving the meeting area. But off we went. We got to Disneyland - no small feat in Los Angeles traffic - and roamed about. Mike and Ayad were in constant banter, joking about everything. I got so caught up in the fun of it that I temporarily forgot time. Suddenly, I realized we needed to get back for the Chapter meeting. We were already late. Mike and Ayad refused to be upset, continuing as they did with frivolous exchanges and riotous laughter. In a moment of guilt and frustration, I asked them both how we could explain this affront of tardiness to the Chapter members. Ayad chirped up tell them the taxi had a flat tire. Well this was really comical since there were hundreds of taxis all around. We got back, and as I tried to offer this excuse to the Chapter members - whose faces were questioning why we went to Disneyland in the first place - Mike and Ayad sat in back doubled over with laughter at my embarrassing attempt at fibbing!!!All of these images were Mike, but his most influential identity was productive scholar in Arab and Arab- American studies. Part and parcel of this identity was Mike the great friend, mentor and colleague. These qualities became evident over the years of our organizational work.I met Mike in the context of the work of AAUG. I was already aware of him, having read his important 1967 book Political Parties in Lebanon (Cornell University Press). AAUG was founded in the Fall of 1967. It held its first convention in 1 968 in Washington, DC. theme of the convention was The Arab American Community: Its Contribution and Role. Given the newness of AAUG, the first convention was aimed at identifying and learning about the Arab American community from which the Association sought members. A book resulted from that conference co-edited and co-authored by myself and Ann Paden. …