After the conflict broke out last year in Lebanon, the calls came to help and a few words rang in my head: “Leave no one behind”. They have been making noise since June 15, 2006.I remember those words because I had just returned from Lebanon- only one day before the war started there.
    June 15th is when the shock of seeing new friends suffer and landmarks destroyed wore off a bit and allowed a reaction. I was just there; this isn’t possible, I rationalized. But it was possible and it was happening- all right before me on television every night. This was the first time that war affected me. I lived in my own cocoon, safe from the world. It was a happy place. Part of my heart hardened that day.
    ALO magazine, our parent company Unique Image, Inc. and our publisher were duly appointed to head a newly created campaign called United Lebanon Relief, aka ULR. Those on our committee were quite vocal about needing to reach the American public and not only those from the Middle East. Sound advice true, but not so easy to act upon.
    I am proud to announce that as of today, the ULR campaign has raised over $500,000, by means that included an incredible awareness campaign on ABC television and in the Los Angeles Times. We provided help on the ground in Lebanon for orphanages through a co-op with the National Arab American Medical Association and delivered hearing aids through a similar co-op with SAWA of Southern California. In this issue’s Showtime section you will read of the incredible worldwide journey that took us to Dubai to continue our mission.
    This is just one of the places where you discover the inner beauty of all associated with the Middle East. You’ll read about friends overcoming life’s pain in community spotlight, go up close with the reforms of camel racing in the U.A.E. and travel to Morocco. And that¹s just the start!
   I hope all of you will be able to take a voyage to leave no one behind one day. I am sure you will find it quite rewarding
    
Michael D. Lloyd, Jr., Editor-in-Chief