Sam Risk

              SALOM RIZK

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VISTA DEL ARROYO
PASADENA



The Americanization Of An American…

WHEN Salom Rizk was a baby he was nursed by mothers of many creeds—Mohammedans, Druse, Christians.  His own mother died the day he was born.  Around him grew a legend that carried a curse.  For this was the land of Syria, birthplace alike of high religion and enslaving superstition.  The baby brought up on such an evil mixture of milks would grow to be a monster, a devil, people said.

Then there was the war.  Guns were belching death in Europe.  The Holy Land was Hell.  People starving.  Turks marauding and murdering, people on the death march, patriots on the gallows by the hundreds.  Salom was a boy.  His impressionable mind, like a camera, caught and recorded the pictures.  The horror, the terror, the injustice of it did things to him.

Then he learned that he was a citizen of America, the land of tolerance, of freedom, of opportunity, of education.  If he was really a citizen, if this was his birthright, he must go there at once.  But no.  The American consul at Beirut would not believe him.  Five years he spent, a homeless waif, camping on the steps of the American consulate, dreaming about America.

Finally, after long years of waiting, his perseverance was rewarded … he was permitted to sail for America, literally an emigrant to his own Country; without knowledge of its language or customs.

To the civilization of 2000 years ago was added that of America.  The Syrian Yankee was in the making.  This was the land he had dreamed about.

All day in the hide-room of a packing house—was this education, opportunity, happiness?  Not that he wanted to avoid work.  He wanted to work, to work hard.  But this work gave him no chance to realize the American ideals of which he had dreamed; no chance to reach out for the higher things in life he had come to seek.

The fighting spirit that had won him America saw him through.  He acquired knowledge of our customs—an amazing command of the language.  He found America was truly the land of opportunity.  In no other place in the World would a man so completely control his own destiny.



Federal Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C.
I feel that your message is of tremendous value to adults in general and to high school students in particular.

J. W. STUDEBAKER, Commissioner.



Home for Homeless Boys, Boys Town, Nebraska
I doubt if any other lecturer has left such a message.  It should go far to make our homeless boys proud of being Americans.  God's blessing to you in your great work.

REV. E. J. FLANAGAN.



Rotary Club of New York
Seldom indeed do our members rise to their feet and acknowledge a speaker as they did today.  The kind of talk we should have more often.

EDWIN H. RUSHMORE, Secretary.



County of Somerset, Pennsylvania
Salom Rizk has a splendid message for the youth of the nation.  Every high school student should hear this address.

GUY N. HARTMAN, Supt. of Schools.



Buffalo City Federation of Women's Clubs
He held the attention of five hundred women at our annual Convention for over an hour, making them realize how much they, as Americans, have to be thankful for.

ISABELLE IVES MESSENGER, President.



During the season of 1941–42 Salom Rizk made numerous lecture appearances throughout the country under the sponsorship of the Reader's Digest, one of America's foremost magazines.  He recently completed the writing of his autobiography which will be published during the coming year.



And now SALOM RIZK brings this message of hope and inspiration; his personal story of a climb from the lowest station in life in a land of fear, struggle and poverty to a position of honor in the land of Freedom and Democracy.

The boy nursed by mothers of many Creeds has become the man of one Creed—HUMANITY.

The story of the Syrian Yankee is absorbing.  The message of SALOM RIZK is vital.  He renews our appreciation of America's privileges.  Students are moved to write letters of thanks for the new vision he has given them.  Educators declare for the need of his message of Americanization in our Schools.  Business Executives stand straighter, speak clearer, feel prouder after having heard him.  People from all walks of life are better Men and Women, more loyal Americans, more deeply appreciative of their birthright and opportunities.

It is this effect on the lives of others that has established SALOM RIZK in the foremost ranks of America's speakers.  He is a definite force for good with his own life as a challenge to others.

His early success as a lecturer came as a direct result of his inspiring story.  He was attending school and, one day, the teacher asked him to tell his story to the class.  The pupils liked it.  It was the first time SALOM RIZK had ever talked to a group.  He was quite as enthralled by his interested listeners as they were by his thrilling story.  Other teachers asked him to speak to their classes and he came to be more and more in demand.  His fame spread from tongue to tongue; from community to community.  He came to the attention of leading Educators including Dr. J. W. Studebaker, Federal Commissioner of Education; Dr. Florence Hale; Dr. Agnes Samuelson and all urged and encouraged him to continue.

SALOM RIZK has addressed countless High Schools; Colleges; Parent Teachers' Associations; Teachers' Institutes and Conferences; the Country's leading Rotary, Kiwanis and other Service Clubs; Chambers of Commerce; Advertising Clubs; Women's Clubs; Religious Groups and Industrial Organizations.  Everywhere his appearance has met with the same enthusiastic response.





The Lecturer —
SALOM RIZK tells the fascinating story of his own life as it weaves itself into mankind's common struggle for economic stability and international peace.  He captivates his audience with his vivid portrayals and humorous sallies, and inspires thought by his penetrating views.  Salom Rizk is truly a unique platform personality, combining as he does a delightfully extemporaneous style, a rich vein of humor, a keen sense of the dramatic and a strong social passion.



— And His Subjects

The Americanization Of An American
The Education Of An Immigrant
America's Youth And It's Destiny
Tragedies Of Imperialism