It's important for him to share stories. Growing up in Pendleton he was often found himself in the middle of racial tensions because he was is part white.

VOA: standard.2009.12.11

Smith says American academicians and journalists often cite a list of root causes for Middle East turmoil, in which the U.S., the West and Israel usually play a big part: a history of colonialism and economic exploitation, the creation of Israel and American support for the Jewish state, the politics of oil, Western backing of repressive Arab regimes and the U.S.military presence in the region.

VOA: standard.2010.03.18