Ahalan Wa Sahalan!

Hello and Welcome!

Thank you so much for taking an interest in my book.

Please take a moment to read this information.

About the Book

This book is a very funny, lighthearted book which does not talk about religion or politics, but rather emphasizes the beautiful Arabic culture.  In fact, it promotes Arabic culture in such a positive light that it could very well be mistaken for propaganda. FROM VEILS TO THONGS is a metaphor of the extremes—nothing more.  It speaks to those who left a conservative culture (the East) to emigrate to a liberal one (the West).  It promotes cross-cultural understanding by using humor to demonstrate that regardless of where we come from, or who we are—underneath we are all the same—we are all human beings.

Excerpt from Author’s Official Disclaimer

“Speaking of street warfare … I ain’t tryin’ to start any, either, so let me throw in a few more disclaimers. First of all, there are about 300 million Arabs worldwide and most are not Christian. However, I am. In fact, I am an Antiochian Orthodox Christian. I am Arab by culture—Christian by faith. So keep in mind that this is written from my perspective. But also keep in mind that the religious aspect doesn’t really change the cultural influence to any real significant degree. Yes, there are obvious differences, (i. e. drinking alcohol) and yes, they do count, but we all basically share the same values (i. e. faith, family, honor, tradition, etc).

And let me be crystal clear about one very, very critical point.

This book has absolutely nothing to do with religion whatsoever… This book has nothing to do with veils and thongs, as in the religious attire or lingerie, but rather symbolically represents the mentality behind the basis of each. It is a metaphor of the extremes.

It speaks to those who left a conservative society (the East) to emigrate to a liberal one (the West). Veils representing all things traditional; thongs representing all things liberal. My worlds are two—saturated and represented by both. And both cultures are equally my birthright. No woman has ever had to have physically worn either to understand life in this realm.”

The woman on the cover is a representation of me, Dalel B. Khalil and does not represent any other Arab chick, but me.  It is who I am—not anyone else in the world.  This is not a hijab—it is a veil.  And all Arab women—in fact, all traditional women, regardless her faith or nationality—Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Atheist, Buddist, Amish—wear a “mental veil”. I am holding up a photograph of myself and showing you my picture—I am both the East and the West.