He was raised as a Baptist, but after being expelled from high school his senior year he took responsibility for broadening his own horizons in education and religion.
After spending time in the Middle East, Sam converted to Islam, and twice completed the pilgrimage to Mecca. When he returned to the United States he came to New Mexico, because there was a group of Muslims building a community in Taos. Once there, he was arranged to marry Donna Jean Chamberlain (Born in Hollywood, California, July 9th, 1949), who had three children. They moved throughout northeastern New Mexico, had six more children, and finally settled to open a family business on the plaza of Las Vegas in 1988. Jalila Arthur was born in 1994, went to kindergarten and first grade before choosing home school. Sam and Donna separated when Jalila was eight and divorced when she was ten, then she enrolled in high school at age fourteen. She is currently a full time student at the University of New Mexico, living close to campus in an apartment of her own and that young lady is me. When we examine the role of history in intercultural communication, we gain an understanding of how our past influences our communication skills with people from other cultures.
Beliefs, Values, and World Views.
Sam and Donna articulated during my upbringing that they consider it important to be patient, charitable, and hardworking; therefore, these traits became the preferred personality in my family. The way I was taught to view the world was to appreciate being a part of it. They promote no racial bias, and that one not conspicuously consume or waste. They raised their children conservatively, in the true sense of the word. Our cultural values emphasized a mutually beneficial relationship with nature, other animals, and especially other humans. Family and community were emphasized as significant, especially because of the family business. Sam and Donna instructed their children to spend time wisely, make more time for productive things, and not waste time.