Author Interview: Dr. Sabri g. Bebawi
A Dream is Just That: An interminable
journey from Egypt to America
Interviewed by: Gary Sorkin
PBR: Today we are talking with Dr. Sabrig g.
Bebawi, author of the new book,A Dream is
Just That: An interminable journey from Egypt to America. Dr. Bebawi, thank you for joining us.
SB: Thank
you for inviting me; I am glad to be here.
PBR: How did this book come about, and what was
your primary motivation to write A Dream
is Just That?
SB: The
idea had been sweltering in my thoughts for many, many years. I was reluctant and concerned because of the
political and religious implications. I
was somewhat frightened of the possible consequences, but I came to recognize
that “a coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero dies but once.” Quite honestly, I
had had enough of political correctness and I needed a message to go out that we must not tolerate the intolerable.
PBR: What other books and on what topics have you
written?
SB: I
have written several academic textbooks and a collection of short stories
(sudden-fiction) titled Tango under the
Same Moon, which is also published by CreateSpace.
PBR: You tell us much about your childhood in your
book. Overall, for the benefit of
readers of this interview which might not yet have read your book, tell us
briefly the characterizations and differences between growing up in Egypt as
compared to what you now know as our culture for kids growing up in America.
SB: In spite
of the political and religious turmoil, I believe that growing up in Egypt had
a positive impact on me, most significantly on developing a sense of social
responsibility that, sadly, many of us, not only in America, but throughout the
world, lack. When one lacks that sense
of being socially responsible, a domino effect of negative characteristics
ensue, such as unreasonable sense of entitlement, lying, cheating, abusing, and
selfishness.
PBR: You mention in your book that your PhD is in
English. What other languages are you fluent
in?
SB: In
Arabic, or course since it is my native language, but I can communicate in
French, and Spanish. And I have a
limited proficiency in Italian.
PBR: I am always curious to ask people with
multiple language skills, tell us please in what language are your
thoughts? You know, when you are
“talking to yourself.”
SB: I
think in English and have been since my early twenties.
PBR: In the second half you go on to articulate
your conflicts with “Corporate America.” Do you feel the US is rather unfair and apathetic to immigrants without
basic resources to contest greedy policies?
SB: This
is certainly true, but not only to immigrants; “Corporate America” is ruthless
to everyone. Adjectives like ‘unfair”
and “apathetic” are too polite and mild. I would use much stronger and accurate
adjectives.
PBR: What would you suggest to be a “fix” to these
situations? How would you go about making
changes?
SB: I
believe the government should play a more proactive role in protecting the
citizens from corporate abuses; that is why we have governments. In order to
achieve that, citizens must realize that citizenship comes with
responsibilities most important of which is to be active participants in the
democratic process, or democracy would be just a meaningless word. This can be accomplished only through
education and promoting that sense of social responsibility about which I talk
and write.
PBR: Do you have any plans for future books in the
making?
SB: Yes,
I have many ideas racing in my head.
PBR: We wish you the best of success with A Dream is Just That. Thank you again for your time.
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