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In a region rich with those who contributed to our local, state and national good, the late Dr. Mahmoud Fahmy holds a unique place.

Born in Egypt and a frequent world traveler, Fahmy proved himself an invaluable asset to Luzerne County, a genuine civic servant who willingly filled many roles, bringing his experience as an Egyptian and a Muslim but never letting that past overtake his present.

He worked decades at Wilkes University. Even a limited list of other positions is long and impressive.

Fahmy sat on a Violence and Youth Committee formed by the Luzerne County district attorney, and on the International Trade Development Board of the Economic Development Council for Northeast Pennsylvania, and the county Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board, and the Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees. He was a common — and calming — presence at interfaith panels and services.

Fahmy became the go-to person for local media when trouble brewed in the Middle East. His message — every time, for decades — was the same: “All of us should work together. I believe 100% in dialogue. You can’t sweep things under the rug.”

He came to Wilkes-Barre when he was 36, expecting to stay a year. He remained for more than half his long life.

He once allowed a Times Leader feature writer into his home and talked of the many times he welcomed guests, offering the secret to gracious hosting. “When they come, I say,‘The house is yours.’”

After the 9/11 attacks, he spoke truth to power in a way too few accept. It was not about religion.

“There is no doubt,” he said, “the attack was committed in the name of Islam. But this crime had nothing to do with Islam. This crime was committed by a group of fanatics.”

Turning to a friend during a 9/11 vigil, he remarked sadly, “They hijacked my religion.”

Fahmy talked often of how Muslims accept Judaism and Christianity as part of their own religion’s past.“I cannot be a Muslim until I believe in Christianity and Judaism,” he said in 2003. Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, he praised the leader of the Catholic world. ““He encouraged sincerely, truly and authentically, the interfaith dialogue.”

Fahmy routinely spoke of being American, not Egyptian or Muslim, in a way every descendant of an immigrant should embrace. Asked on Sept. 11, 2001, if Muslims should fear for their safety in this country, he gave the answer any non-Muslim U.S. citizen should have given. “I hope not. I have great faith in my fellow Americans.”

And Fahmy once offered the solution to many of our national and international troubles.

“The first thing we have to do is bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. … The second thing we have to do is address hot spots around the world … and the third thing that has to be done, the thing I’m most interested in, is religious people around the world have to get together and discuss what’s happening and what has to be done to bring about peace.”

In remembering Fahmy, we absolutely need to say this: He put the lie to the notion that Muslims are America’s enemy. Fanatics — of any religion, nationality or race — are.

He defined America, Luzerne County and the Wyoming Valley in these terms:

“We are not a melting pot, we are a symphony, a delicious salad bowl, a beautiful mosaic. And we should not try to be a melting pot.”

Thank you, Dr. Fahmy.

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