DEARBORN — As a result of  the stabbing death of 18-year-old Mohammed Abboud of Dearborn in the early hours of the morning of July 13 after a dispute in the Dearborn Ice Skating Center’s parking lot, the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) gathered high school students at the Lebanese American Heritage Club Aug. 9 for a lecture on drug and alcohol abuse, education and the consequences of civil infractions. 

“Our meeting tonight is to give you young people a perspective on life from different angles. I believe you need the warning. If you try to carry yourself responsibly you will find out it’s much easier to become a useful member of society and a contributing member of this community. Why did we bring this meeting together, other than telling you what to do? You are the future of this community. There will come a time when we have to look to you for leadership and you will depict and exhibit the future of this community through your actions,” Dearborn attorney and LAHC President Sam A. Salamey said. 

Youth in attendance was warned not to believe being an Arab American will limit their opportunities.  “If you think you can’t succeed because you’re Arab, you’re lying to yourself, you’re kidding yourself.  Everyone has an opportunity out there, no matter who you are. This is the land of opportunity, take advantage of it. Education is your best route possible,” attorney Helal Farhat said.

Guest speakers including Dearborn resident Hassan Makled and Fordson High School football coach Fouad Zaban plan on starting a website for young people to help them with their problems. “I was there, I see what happens. I had friends that were good, and I had friends that were bad. I see guys I knew walking in the street who don’t have a place to sleep or live all because they thought they were the tough guys. You think you’re a tough guy? No, you have no clue who the tough guy is. The tough guy was the quietest guy,” Makled told students.

Speakers said having a misdemeanor on your record can eliminate the chances of receiving financial aid for college and becoming a judge, lawyer, police officer or doctor.

“You have to realize the drug problem here in the city is not going to get you anywhere. It’s only going to get you behind bars, believe me,” Farhat said.  “You all have the opportunity to make it and stay away from problems. Once you cause problems and get arrested you can’t take that back, it’s done, so you have to learn to restrict yourselves.” 

A portion of the lecture was dedicated to answering student questions. One asked for advice on what approach he should take in regards to kids as young as 13  he knows who abuse marijuana.  Salamey said a similar lecture is being planned for the near future.

“Those who are doing wrong and making our community look bad, go up to them, mentor them and tell them what’s been told to you guys today,” Farhat said. Guest speaker Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said students need do their best because he thinks the job market will be more competitive for the next generation.  “Everyone of you has to look in the mirror and say I am the best that I can be in what I do. If you have a problem with your education you need to speak up. The world is changing, you/re not going to have what we have, I’m going to be honest with you. The economy will not be the same for this next generation, so that means you have to be even better than we were,” Haddad said.