| D I S T I N G U I S H E D D R U Z E Casey Kasem |
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| DRUZE WORLDWIDE |
| The Voice of the Druze |
| صوت الدروز |
| Distinguished Druze Personalities |
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| Profiled in Al Fajr - The Dawn Druze International Magazine |
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| DRUZE WORLDWIDE We are delighted to be the only Voice of the Druze which has the honor to recognize & publish our Distinguished Druze personalities past and present. We are very proud to have many well accomplished Druze individuals around the world that have made a positive difference to the world around them. If you would like to include a Druze with their history and achievements please submit the information to : Druze@Druzeworldwide.com |
Growing up in Los Angeles was an education in and of itself. I was
surrounded by a diverse group of friends from varying backgrounds,
nationalities and races, exposing me to a multitude of cultural traditions
and cuisines. I am of a mixed background myself, with a Lebanese father
and Irish-American mother and therefore could relate well to those around
me. However, living in a city and a country that is so large and culturally
diverse can lend itself to a feeling of isolation, finding one-self struggling
to “fit in”, to belong to a larger community that shares the same cultural
norms, traditions and holidays. I often found myself telling people that I
was something that I wasn’t just to avoid people asking me what “Druze”
is. I often got responses such as, “Oh, you are Jewish…” or “What is
Druish?”
As I reached adolescence, and this sense of needing to have a
foundation within an ever changing sea of friends and acquaintances had
matured, I started to really understand, gravitate to and appreciate my
Druze heritage thanks to my dad, Casey Kasem.
surrounded by a diverse group of friends from varying backgrounds,
nationalities and races, exposing me to a multitude of cultural traditions
and cuisines. I am of a mixed background myself, with a Lebanese father
and Irish-American mother and therefore could relate well to those around
me. However, living in a city and a country that is so large and culturally
diverse can lend itself to a feeling of isolation, finding one-self struggling
to “fit in”, to belong to a larger community that shares the same cultural
norms, traditions and holidays. I often found myself telling people that I
was something that I wasn’t just to avoid people asking me what “Druze”
is. I often got responses such as, “Oh, you are Jewish…” or “What is
Druish?”
As I reached adolescence, and this sense of needing to have a
foundation within an ever changing sea of friends and acquaintances had
matured, I started to really understand, gravitate to and appreciate my
Druze heritage thanks to my dad, Casey Kasem.
| Growing Up Druze in America By: Julie Kasem |
My dad was born in 1932 and raised in Detroit, Michigan amongst many Druze families. His parents made it a priority to visit
these families on the weekends and holidays and attend yearly conventions. During this time he was exposed to and had deeply
ingrained the fundamental tenants of the Druze Faith including integrity, loyalty, honesty, hard work and altruism. My dad was
very proud to be Druze and wanted to exemplify these traits in his daily life through his work, his personal life and his
humanitarian efforts.
When it came to his career, he was a diligent perfectionist. He started working in high school at the school radio station
announcing the baseball games. This is where he discovered and nurtured his love of radio and went on to work at The Armed
Forces Radio Station in Korea during the Korean War. Upon his return, he graduated from Wayne State University with a degree
in English and went on to work as a radio actor and then on to working at numerous radio stations throughout the country.
Thereafter, he and his best friend, another Lebanese radio personality, Don Bustany, created American Top 40. My dad always
dreamed big but knew the only way to accomplish his goals was through hard work and perseverance. He knew that he had to
start from the bottom and work his way to the top without compromising his values or putting anyone down to lift himself up. He
often spoke of how his Druze values helped him accomplish his goals with integrity.
For example, when my dad was just starting to become successful, he auditioned for a very popular TV show and booked the
part. However, when he read the script, he felt that the content was inappropriate and did not align with his value system. Knowing
that this show would have propelled his career, he still chose not to take the part. A couple of days later he was asked to be the
voice of NBC which was not only a more prestigious job, the paycheck was exponentially greater. If he would have compromised
his standards and taken the first job, he would have missed out on an even greater opportunity. Throughout his career, my dad
had many job offers that would have compromised his core beliefs. He turned these down one-hundred percent of the time. I truly
believe that growing up Druze and having a strong value system was instrumental in shaping my dad’s very successful career and
reputation as being a hardworking, modest and honest man.
In addition, my dad strongly believed in being humble. He would always tell us growing up, “If you have to say who you are…..
you ain’t”. In other words, work hard and let the results speak for themselves. If you are successful, people will know and you don’t
have to brag or boast. He never used his fame to ask for any favors or get a leg up.
When it came time for my dad to start a family of his own, he knew what it took to raise his children with the same set of values
and sense of belonging with which he was raised. My brother Mike, my sister Kerri and I feel so lucky to have been raised by such
an exemplary Druze man. He valued, above all else, family. He always told us that you could have all of the money in the world
but if you don’t have family, you don’t have anything. My dad was dedicated to his children and no matter how busy he was with
his career, he prioritized our well-being. His ability to love had no bounds and it was evident in how he loved and cared for us.
This type of familial dedication stemmed from growing up as a Druze. The Druze way is rooted in family and community and he
always explained to us that although our nuclear family was our core, we also had a very large extended family in the Druze
community.
these families on the weekends and holidays and attend yearly conventions. During this time he was exposed to and had deeply
ingrained the fundamental tenants of the Druze Faith including integrity, loyalty, honesty, hard work and altruism. My dad was
very proud to be Druze and wanted to exemplify these traits in his daily life through his work, his personal life and his
humanitarian efforts.
When it came to his career, he was a diligent perfectionist. He started working in high school at the school radio station
announcing the baseball games. This is where he discovered and nurtured his love of radio and went on to work at The Armed
Forces Radio Station in Korea during the Korean War. Upon his return, he graduated from Wayne State University with a degree
in English and went on to work as a radio actor and then on to working at numerous radio stations throughout the country.
Thereafter, he and his best friend, another Lebanese radio personality, Don Bustany, created American Top 40. My dad always
dreamed big but knew the only way to accomplish his goals was through hard work and perseverance. He knew that he had to
start from the bottom and work his way to the top without compromising his values or putting anyone down to lift himself up. He
often spoke of how his Druze values helped him accomplish his goals with integrity.
For example, when my dad was just starting to become successful, he auditioned for a very popular TV show and booked the
part. However, when he read the script, he felt that the content was inappropriate and did not align with his value system. Knowing
that this show would have propelled his career, he still chose not to take the part. A couple of days later he was asked to be the
voice of NBC which was not only a more prestigious job, the paycheck was exponentially greater. If he would have compromised
his standards and taken the first job, he would have missed out on an even greater opportunity. Throughout his career, my dad
had many job offers that would have compromised his core beliefs. He turned these down one-hundred percent of the time. I truly
believe that growing up Druze and having a strong value system was instrumental in shaping my dad’s very successful career and
reputation as being a hardworking, modest and honest man.
In addition, my dad strongly believed in being humble. He would always tell us growing up, “If you have to say who you are…..
you ain’t”. In other words, work hard and let the results speak for themselves. If you are successful, people will know and you don’t
have to brag or boast. He never used his fame to ask for any favors or get a leg up.
When it came time for my dad to start a family of his own, he knew what it took to raise his children with the same set of values
and sense of belonging with which he was raised. My brother Mike, my sister Kerri and I feel so lucky to have been raised by such
an exemplary Druze man. He valued, above all else, family. He always told us that you could have all of the money in the world
but if you don’t have family, you don’t have anything. My dad was dedicated to his children and no matter how busy he was with
his career, he prioritized our well-being. His ability to love had no bounds and it was evident in how he loved and cared for us.
This type of familial dedication stemmed from growing up as a Druze. The Druze way is rooted in family and community and he
always explained to us that although our nuclear family was our core, we also had a very large extended family in the Druze
community.
