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	Lebanese Community Scoffs at Caritas President's Excuse By Maureen Boyle Brockton Enterprise [Massachusetts] May 25, 2006 http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2006/05/25/news/news/news01.txt Growing up in a bustling Lebanese family, Michael Mather Jr. will greet relatives with a hug or a peck on the cheek. But outside the family, a firm handshake is the norm. "It wouldn't be appropriate to do anything different," the Brockton developer said. It is a sentiment shared by several in the local Lebanese community who scoffed at claims by Dr. Robert M. Haddad, the president of the Caritas Christi Health Care System who quit early today, that allegations he sexually harassed women were rooted in a cultural misunderstanding. Haddad, who was born in Medford, quit today rather than be fired. He was earlier reprimanded by Cardinal Sean O'Malley last week for allegedly sexually harassing four female employees and more than 10 others reportedly had come forward since. Haddad, who is of Lebanese descent, claims he follows traditions of his ancestors when he hugs and kisses women. "This man is just coming up with some story," said Peter Asiaf of Brockton. "It is a fraud. It is ridiculous. He had nothing else to say ... The man is just way off base." Asiaf said he may give relatives or close friends a hug. "That is with close friends, not the women in your office," he said. Melvin Haddad, a Brockton veterinarian and no relation to the Caritas CEO, said close friends may get a hug, but even that is rare. "Somebody I don't know, I'm not going to do that," he said. There are more than 32,000 people of Lebanese descent in Massachusetts and 569 in Brockton, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. But most were born in this country: only 71 were foreign born in Brockton and 6,242 were foreign born in the state, according to the census figures. Gary Gambill, an expert in Lebanese politics in New York, said those born in the United States and working in high-profile jobs know what the rules are here, particularly when it comes to sexual harassment. "He would know what is appropriate and what is not," Gambill said about Robert Haddad. Diana Fox, associate professor of anthropology and coordinator of women and gender studies at Bridgewater State College, said the hospital leader is using an old excuse that doesn't work. "It seems like a bunch of 'bs' to me," she said. "Cultural explanations are often harnessed as excuses for discrimination against women ... It is not to say we have to ignore culture, but culture is not an excuse." Sexual harassment has different meanings to different people, but one thing is clear, she said. "What is universal in all settings is it is unwanted behavior," Fox said. Sandra Faiman-Silva, professor of anthropology at Bridgewater State College, said the kiss on the cheek or a hug when greeting in the Lebanese and other cultures are very formal and would not be misinterpreted. "There may be hugs rather than a handshake. They may kiss on both cheeks as a formal greeting, but certainly that is not a license to behave in a way that people perceive as sexual harassment," she said. Donald Asack, whose grandparents came from Lebanon, said the "tradition" described by the hospital CEO is foreign to his family. "We are all friendly people, but we don't do that in our family," said Asack of West Bridgewater. In the workplace, Asack said everyone must take extra care to avoid even the appearance of sexual harassment. "You have to be very, very careful," he said. Mather's father, also named Michael, said when he first read Haddad's explanation for the sexual harassment claims, he shook his head. "I smirked a little bit," he said. "People that know Lebanese (culture) will look at that and know that's not true. It will backfire because it is not the truth." Maureen Boyle can be reached at mboyle@enterprisenews.com.
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