Title: Lesson for Iraq in the Asian Soccer CupAuthor: César ChelalaSource: The Common Ground News Service, 21 August 2007Word Count: 567
Title: Pakistan's 60 year struggle for democracyAuthor: Rehan Rafay JamilSource: The Common Ground News Service, 21 August 2007Word Count: 857
Title: The strengthening of faith through religious diversityAuthor: Ali Noer ZamanSource: The Common Ground News Service, 21 August 2007Word Count: 787
Title: ~Youth Views ~ Empowering youth for the common goodAuthor: Nathan RenderSource: The Common Ground News Service, 21 August 2007Word Count: 780
Each article is available in Arabic, French, English and Indonesian; I'd be happy to send you any translation. Please feel free to republish the article(s) and let me know by sending an email to: akessinger@sfcg.org.
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Lesson for Iraq in the Asian Soccer Cup
By César Chelala
NEW YORK, New York - Two very dissimilar events with contradictory results took place recently in Iraq, practically simultaneously: the withdrawal of five Sunni ministers from the so-called unity government of Nouri al-Maliki and the victory of the Iraqi national soccer team over Saudi Arabia for the Asian Soccer Cup.
The first is indicative of the battle for power being waged among the factions present in that troubled country, while the second succeeded precisely because those factions were able to overcome their deep-seated differences and work towards a common goal. The politicians could learn a valuable lesson from the latter.
The Iraqi national soccer team's victory was all the more remarkable in that its adversary in the final match for the Asian soccer cup was Saudi Arabia, the three-time winner and holder of the Cup, also the team favoured to win the competition by all observers.
And this happened to a team from a country torn asunder by war and violence since the US-led invasion of March 2003.Jorvan Vieira, the Brazilian coach signed on by the Iraqi team shortly before the final game, has spoken openly — in an interview published by Clarin, an Argentine newspaper — of his amazement on observing the level of animosity among the players, especially between Sunni and Shiite Iraqis.
The team was in total disarray on his arrival. Many players didn't even talk to each other, and for the first two weeks, things were extremely difficult for him.
When asked how he managed to create a climate of civility among the Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish and Christian players, sufficient for the team to pull together, Vieira replied: "What I did was talk with them every day and tell them that unless they decided to work together they wouldn't get anywhere and that they would leave the Iraqi people without any happiness. Every time two players had a problem, I took them into a room and didn't leave that room until the problem was overcome."
After winning the semi-final match against South Korea, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to celebrate. The demonstrations were interrupted by two suicide car bombings resulting in the death of 50 people and 135 wounded.
A cause for celebration had become a cause for mourning.
"The day afterwards was very difficult for us," remarked Vieira. "We all cried on watching the TV images of the tragedy and we thought if it really was worthwhile to win, since if we won people died and if we lost people also died."
According to Vieira, it was despair that gave the team the strength needed to play and win the final game. The players had learned that a mother who had lost her son during the celebrations had spoken of the happiness of her boy's final moments thanks to their team's victory. It made them think "we have to win this final at any price and offer this triumph to that mother."
For a few moments, the Iraqi people were able to forget that they were living in a country ravaged by war and senseless killing.
Their team's victory gave them a sense of hope, an example of the possibilities ahead if only they worked together, just as the team had done in order to triumph.It can be argued that this was only a temporary situation. May the Iraqi leaders, however, make it a lasting one, one that will restore a sense of humanity to their ravaged country.
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* César Chelala is a writer on human rights issues. He is also a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award for an article on human rights. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 21 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
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Pakistan's 60 year struggle for democracy
By Rehan Rafay Jamil
KARACHI - As Pakistanis celebrate sixty years of independence, the country finds itself embroiled in yet another seemingly intractable political crisis. The state, founded by one of the Indian subcontinent's most brilliant lawyers, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has spent more than half of its life under military rule. Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a secular and democratic state.
Today Pakistan is ruled by the military, and President Pervez Musharraf seems determined to stay in power despite his inability to prevent the growing militancy and political unrest brewing in the country.Musharraf has travelled down a well-trodden path. Starting with the first military coup in 1958, the country has experienced a continuous power struggle between elected and military rulers. The plot is quite predictable by now.
A general overthrows a civilian government in a military coup, making lofty but inevitably elusive promises to hold elections and return the country to democratic rule. Democracy may not be the panacea for all Pakistan's problems but it is a discourse deeply rooted in the Pakistani polity since the country's inception. Unlike many other Muslim countries, Pakistan has enjoyed brief periods of democratic rule. But elections are just one component of democracy and must be supported by strong institutions such as an independent judiciary, a free press and a robust civil society, elements that have – until recently – been absent in Pakistan.
In March, Musharraf made the mistake of suspending the most senior judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Ifitkhar Chaudhury. Few could have contemplated the overwhelming public support that followed.
The demand for the restoration of the Chief Justice and the independence of the judiciary captured the imagination of the nation. In a historic verdict by the Supreme Court this month, the Chief Justice was reinstated. This lawyers' movement was a rare and unprecedented display of people's power in Pakistan. The protests were brought to the homes of millions of people by Pakistan's electronic media. Musharraf's seven-year rule has seen the strengthening of Pakistani civil society and a free press; it is these two institutions that could play an important role in his downfall.
There is a well-known saying in Pakistan that there are three A's that keep the country intact: Allah, the Army and America. This saying may be indicative of some deeper truths about the powers that shape Pakistani political life. Pakistan was a crucial American ally in the final days of the Cold War, which saw the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan. Today Pakistan once again finds itself as an indispensable ally in the Bush administration's so-called "War on Terror".
But the two countries have always had a difficult relationship with mutual suspicion entrenched on both sides. A stable and friendly Pakistani government is essential for American efforts to maintain the fledgling peace in Afghanistan and curb the militancy along the Pak-Afghan border.
The fear that Pakistan, a state armed with nuclear weapons, could be taken over by hostile religious extremists has been a source of concern for American policy makers. The recent standoff between the government and fundamentalist students in the Red Mosque in the heart of the capital Islamabad ostensibly strengthens that perception.
However, the Pakistani military establishment has a dubious and well-documented history of covertly supporting religious political parties and militant groups to marginalize mainstream political parties and further its foreign policy objectives. While religious parties may enjoy strong social support in Pakistan, they have had limited electoral success, as has been proven time and again at the ballot box.
Today Musharraf finds himself at an important crossroads. His political opponents argue that it is unconstitutional for him to simultaneously remain President and Chief of Army.
With parliamentary elections scheduled for October, the President is faced with a difficult dilemma: he can either attempt to stay in power in the hopes of continued support from his two principle allies – the Pakistan Army and America – or he can step down from his position as Chief of Army and allow a peaceful transition of power to a civilian government by holding transparent elections. Such a move could secure him a place in history and ensure that his considerable economic and social reforms in Pakistan are not overshadowed by a desperate attempt to stay in power at all costs.
There is evidence of recent clandestine talks of cooperation between Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto, the exiled leader of Pakistan's largest political party. If these talks bear fruit, there could be a return to civilian rule in the country. Unfortunately, this in itself will not guarantee a quick fix to Pakistan's myriad problems.
The track records of the leaders of Pakistan's two major political parties, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, hardly inspire confidence in democratic leadership of the country. In order for a democratic political culture to take root in Pakistan, civilian governments must be allowed to complete their tenures in office. The people, along with democratic institutions, such as an independent judiciary and free press, should hold political leadership accountable.
In the long-term, perhaps the Turkish political model of an institutionalized role for the military in politics may be the only solution to maintain a balance of power between Pakistan's powerful military establishment and popularly elected governments.
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*Rehan Rafay Jamil is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 21 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
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The strengthening of faith through religious diversity
By Ali Noer Zaman
JAKARTA - One of the much-debated religious issues in Indonesia as of today is that of pluralism. Its opponents, such as the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), believe that pluralist theology is harmful for Islamic theological foundations, as it would reject the idea that one particular religion reigns supreme and that other religions' beliefs are apocryphal.
The Council's fatwa (religious legal opinion) of 2005, which called for the abolishment of pluralistic theology, alarmed the Muslim community of the danger of pluralist theology. The fatwa did nothing to appease the controversy; it only made the debate fiercer.Adian Husaini, from the Indonesian Council for Islamic Propagation (Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia, or DDII), represents another view also calling for the abandonment of pluralistic theology.
The Council highlights the fear that such theology tends to make Muslims regard Islam as relative, making some fear that Muslims will convert to other religions easily or at least accept and even adopt other religions' practices, such as attending common prayer sessions or celebrating other religions' holy days.The plurality of religion is an inevitable fact of humankind. Multiple religions have existed alongside one another throughout history.
While recognising the existence of other faiths, founders of religion and their adherents generally provided guidance on interfaith relations based on their own experiences. Stories of these interactions were usually documented only after years of oral tradition and subject to change.
In most holy books, stories of contentious interactions with people of other faiths can be easily misinterpreted or seen as instructive of anti-pluralism.At present, all such paradigms need to change. High rates of human mobility have brought adherents of various religions into sociable relations within different contexts, such as in the educational or business realms.
Multicultural communities are found in the world's big cities. Now with the help of user-friendly information and communication technologies, people have opportunities to get to know others of different faiths through empathy-driven correspondence and dialogue among religions.
For Paul F. Knitter, a Catholic theologian from the United States, different religious teachings and forms of worship can be resources for a dialogue to enrich one's religious experience.
Every religion can maintain or deepen its own integrity through encounters with other faiths. Making this materialise, however, requires a shift from the old religious mindset. For example, in Christianity Jesus is divine and the saviour of the world.
However, in a global context, he is not the only God and saviour, because God has also inspired other communities.Muslims need to apply a similar approach. Muslims should not consider the Qur'an as the only revelation to hold the absolute religious truth.
A human being is merely a limited interpreter, while God is an infinite entity with far more wisdom to impart than the human mind can process. What a human being receives from God is only the reduction of God's Word in the frame of an individual's socio-cultural language, which might be incongruent with that of others'.
There are revelations other than the Qur'an, and indeed the Qur'an itself confirms this. The messages of the Qur'an, the Bible and the Vedas, among others, are directed in each case to all humankind and are aimed at creating spiritual prosperity and peace for all.
In other words, the aim is not the conversion of other believers, as has been the attempt for centuries. Let conversion become a personal issue, influenced by a person's own social, cultural and individual considerations. Rather than forbidding someone from leaving his or her faith, conversion should be the result of his or her own decision.
According to John Hick, a British theologian and religious philosopher, pluralist theology tries to understand that different faiths are different responses and perceptions of various communities towards the materialisation of God.
Pluralist theology wants to change the religious view from focusing on one's own tradition to seeing God as the source of all faiths. Based on this perspective, one would not judge another faith from one's own religious perspective, but from a universal standpoint.
This does not require individual believers to abandon the teachings of their respective traditions. What does need to change, however, is the individual's standpoint towards other traditions. Pluralist theology has no intention of undermining the faith of religious adherents; in fact, it seeks to strengthen it.
Through religious diversity, God has shown us that He gives blessings without any preference. Pluralist theology is a gift with which to eliminate discrimination against fellow humans for their religious beliefs. In such a context, every religious believer has the same opportunity to gain salvation.
Pluralist theology, therefore, has no relation to the conspiracy theories upheld by certain groups, such as the DDII, which believe that there are concerted efforts trying to conquer adherents of their faith.Pluralist theology should be fostered and protected, not abolished.
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* Ali Noer Zaman is a writer on socio-religious issues. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 21 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
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~Youth Views ~
Empowering youth for the common good
By Nathan Render
CHICAGO, Illinois - What do religious extremists and interfaith youth organisers have in common? A lot more than one might think. College students begin their search for summer internships with enthusiasm and excitement at the opportunity to make an impact. Unfortunately, many end up doing busywork, unable to share their skills and talents. Still, these overworked, underpaid students are motivated to find meaning in their jobs. Most are trying to find purpose in their lives as they transition from childhood to adolescence, and ultimately adulthood.
I have witnessed the demoralising effect this constant searching has on youth in contrast with the frequent declaration by adults that my generation is comprised of the leaders and visionaries of the future. How can youth be "leaders of tomorrow" until they are treated with respect and validity and provided with the resources and support to do so today?
Even in youth-centric institutions such as schools and community centres, young adults are often treated as an afterthought. It often seems as though society is too busy to stop and foster the growth of young people, leaving a growing gap between the meaning youth are trying to find in their lives, and the reality in which they are living. This dissonance is the reason why organisations such as Al Qaeda may appeal to struggling young adults. These organisations give youth the impression that they have a meaningful role to fulfil, empowering them to give meaning to their life.
Eboo Patel, a practicing Muslim and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a non-profit organisation committed to promoting religious pluralism in the world through the empowerment of young people, recognises this phenomenon.
In his new book Acts of Faith, Patel writes, "Even people with the small interfaith movement generally treated young people's involvement as a sideshow. Religious extremists didn't view young people as an afterthought. Religious extremists saw a fire in young people that others were missing. They were stoking that fire and turning it into targeted assassination and mass murder."
Religious extremists clearly understand and utilise the malleability of young people's formative years to their advantage. A point often overlooked is that one of Osama Bin Laden's keys to success is his effective youth organising ability.
He employs these valuable skills to impassion vast numbers of struggling young people, connecting them to extensive social networks, teaching them the significance and relevance of their contribution, and imbuing in them an overall semblance of personal identity and purpose.
I am fortunate in that I have been able to pursue constructive opportunities where I felt valued and have formed a strong identity. Members of my communities, particularly the ones directly related to my faith, have taken the time and effort to invest in my future.
In return, I have been empowered to support pluralism and contribute positively to the world I have envisioned. My experiences in high school – and now in college – have provided me with a strong foundation upon which to live my life as a pluralist and be an effective contributor to my community, my country, and the world.
This summer I was blessed with the opportunity to work as an intern at the organisation Patel founded, the IFYC. The experience has provided me with yet another positively empowering community in which I can thrive, where my potential is repeatedly affirmed. Particularly influential was my work in the InterACTION youth exchange program, which encouraged interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue amongst Jordanian and American youth.
In my first week as an intern, I was given the daunting task of planning all the dialogue sessions for the exchange. I then had the opportunity to participate in the program, practicing the core values of tolerance and hospitality that IFYC embodies.
Most importantly, I have been given the opportunity to learn from my dynamic, intelligent and thoughtful colleagues, particularly my fellow interns. But I know this experience is not the norm for all youth.
While I have always found outlets that allow me to voice my opinions and be a vehicle for positive change, I recognise young people around the world constantly encounter resistance in their efforts to do the same. IFYC and religious extremist organisations possess more similarities than one would first imagine, yet with one major difference: the IFYC strives to build and promote pluralism among youth through cooperative service and religious understanding. We need organisations which embody the youth-centred culture of religious extremist groups, but provide constructive, rather than destructive, opportunities for youth.
Out of my experience comes what I feel is our biggest challenge – we need to explore, create and implement more opportunities like the IFYC internships to promote positive youth development and empower youth for the common good.
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* Nathan Render is a junior at Tufts University majoring in anthropology and child development. He is a leader of Pathways, a new interfaith initiative on his campus. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 21 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Writer's group denounces anti-Arab racism in New York City
RAWI Urges the City of New York to Reinstate Debbie Almontaser
RAWI, the Radius of Arab American Writers, is concerned by the recent "resignation" of Debbie Almontaser from New York City's Khalil Gibran International Academy, a public school devoted to Arabic language and culture.
Almontaser generated public controversy when she was spotted by a reporter wearing a tee-shirt with the phrase "Intifada NYC" at an event sponsored by Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media. Both the event and the organization are unrelated to the Gibran Academy. As Almontaser attempted to explain repeatedly, the shirt is not in any way an endorsement of violence; "the word basically means 'shaking off,'" she noted.
Almontaser was subjected to vicious and factually unsubstantiated attacks by neoconservative media and commentators such as Daniel Pipes, who published sensationalistic articles entitled "A Madrassa Grows in Brooklyn" and "Stop the NYC Madrassa." ("Madrassa" merely means "school" in Arabic.) Rupert Murdoch's New York Post dubbed Almontaser "the Initifada Principal" and ran an editorial under the title "What's Arabic for Shut It Down?" Amid the brouhaha, Randi Weingarten, the president of Almontaser's union, The United Federation of Teachers, took a public stand in opposition to Almontaser.
Almontaser, an Arabic-speaking Yemeni immigrant, is the founding principal of the school and is a veteran public school teacher. Because of the intense pressure, she was advised to resign as principal of the Academy; Mayor Michael Bloomberg accepted her resignation and swiftly replaced her with Danielle Salzberg, a non-Arabic-speaking American Jew; according to The Post, Salzberg is "an ardent Zionist who considered moving to Israel."
RAWI views this intense pressure and Almontaser's subsequent resignation as symptoms of pervasive anti-Arab racism in the United States through which nonviolent, workaday Arabic terms have been stigmatized with sinister, albeit nonsensical, connotations. We correspondingly view New York City's move to replace Almontaser with a non-Arab Zionist as a profound insult to the Arab American community. The clear message to the Arab American community is that we cannot undertake any of our own affairs without continuous public scrutiny and external bureaucratic supervision.
We have also learned that in moments of crisis the fear and loathing of Arabs will supersede the commonsensical need to exercise basic civil responsibility.
As a community of writers, scholars, and artists, RAWI is concerned about the consequences of the Almontaser imbroglio to the freedom of intellectual and cultural expression. If the City of New York can be cowed into taking action against a decorated principal who had done nothing other than wear a tee-shirt emblazoned with a cultural slogan, then groups whose purpose is to restrict public freedom will be inexcusably empowered. The effect of such groups on the Arab American community has already been substantial and has the potential to become pernicious.
Almontaser was the victim of a sensationalistic and premeditated media attack. She was then the victim of cowardice by her union and employers. RAWI urges the City of New York to reinstate her forthwith as principal of the Gibran Academy, a position from which she had no legitimate reason to resign.
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RAWI, the Radius of Arab American Writers, is concerned by the recent "resignation" of Debbie Almontaser from New York City's Khalil Gibran International Academy, a public school devoted to Arabic language and culture.
Almontaser generated public controversy when she was spotted by a reporter wearing a tee-shirt with the phrase "Intifada NYC" at an event sponsored by Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media. Both the event and the organization are unrelated to the Gibran Academy. As Almontaser attempted to explain repeatedly, the shirt is not in any way an endorsement of violence; "the word basically means 'shaking off,'" she noted.
Almontaser was subjected to vicious and factually unsubstantiated attacks by neoconservative media and commentators such as Daniel Pipes, who published sensationalistic articles entitled "A Madrassa Grows in Brooklyn" and "Stop the NYC Madrassa." ("Madrassa" merely means "school" in Arabic.) Rupert Murdoch's New York Post dubbed Almontaser "the Initifada Principal" and ran an editorial under the title "What's Arabic for Shut It Down?" Amid the brouhaha, Randi Weingarten, the president of Almontaser's union, The United Federation of Teachers, took a public stand in opposition to Almontaser.
Almontaser, an Arabic-speaking Yemeni immigrant, is the founding principal of the school and is a veteran public school teacher. Because of the intense pressure, she was advised to resign as principal of the Academy; Mayor Michael Bloomberg accepted her resignation and swiftly replaced her with Danielle Salzberg, a non-Arabic-speaking American Jew; according to The Post, Salzberg is "an ardent Zionist who considered moving to Israel."
RAWI views this intense pressure and Almontaser's subsequent resignation as symptoms of pervasive anti-Arab racism in the United States through which nonviolent, workaday Arabic terms have been stigmatized with sinister, albeit nonsensical, connotations. We correspondingly view New York City's move to replace Almontaser with a non-Arab Zionist as a profound insult to the Arab American community. The clear message to the Arab American community is that we cannot undertake any of our own affairs without continuous public scrutiny and external bureaucratic supervision.
We have also learned that in moments of crisis the fear and loathing of Arabs will supersede the commonsensical need to exercise basic civil responsibility.
As a community of writers, scholars, and artists, RAWI is concerned about the consequences of the Almontaser imbroglio to the freedom of intellectual and cultural expression. If the City of New York can be cowed into taking action against a decorated principal who had done nothing other than wear a tee-shirt emblazoned with a cultural slogan, then groups whose purpose is to restrict public freedom will be inexcusably empowered. The effect of such groups on the Arab American community has already been substantial and has the potential to become pernicious.
Almontaser was the victim of a sensationalistic and premeditated media attack. She was then the victim of cowardice by her union and employers. RAWI urges the City of New York to reinstate her forthwith as principal of the Gibran Academy, a position from which she had no legitimate reason to resign.
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Friday, August 17, 2007
Common Ground News Original Features
Reclaiming Christian values
By Corinne Whitlatch
WASHINGTON - The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and the broader schism between Israel and Arab states, is of deep concern to a great many people who have no personal connection to either side. While Arab and Jewish Americans are on the front lines of citizen advocacy regarding US policy toward the conflict and peacemaking efforts, secular and Christian Americans are also involved and consider the conflict important to their lives and to the United States. Many people of all three faiths hold a profound attachment to the Holy Land.
As an example, Christians grieve the severing of the natural and historic connection between their holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem by Israel's separation barrier.Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition which seeks to influence the US Congress and Administration to adopt polices and take actions that would resolve the conflict and ease human suffering. The coalition brings together Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant national churches, denominations, and agencies to speak to the government with one clear voice, calling for justice and peace.
The goal of CMEP is a negotiated agreement that would bring recognition and security to Israel and a sovereign viable state to Palestinians, with Jerusalem being shared by the governments and the people.Not all Christians in America agree with us. Some hold a theological attachment to Israel and the Jewish people, interpreted as a directive that Israel should not give up any land -- even for the sake of peace. Most of these so-called "Christian Zionists" belong to non-denominational churches that often rally around charismatic preachers. News reports of Christians demonstrating passionate and exclusive support for Israel and of anti-Muslim diatribes by Christian pastors are known throughout the Arab and Muslim world. These reports distort the reality of American Christian sentiment.
Regrettably, the moderate peace and justice language and actions of traditional churches are rarely considered newsworthy, making these voices within the Christian community rarely heard.Some churches and denominations in the United States have direct partner ties with Palestinian churches and to churches in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Israel. All feel a strong attachment to the Holy Land and long for peace and reconciliation with all members of the Abrahamic family of faiths -- Jews, Christians and Muslims.
In meetings with US policymakers, CMEP addresses the situation of Palestinian Christians, namely how the ongoing occupation and conflict leads to their emigration, further depletion of their already small numbers and the erosion of the historic Christian-Muslim nature of Palestinian society.Our concern is not only for the Christians of the Holy Land, but for the whole of the Palestinian people, as well as the citizens of Israel. CMEP strives to be a balanced advocate for the common good of Israelis and Palestinians -- both victims of epic tragedies and repeated wars and violence. Neither has grasped the suffering of the other, and peace-making efforts by the United States and the international community have thus far been inadequate.
CMEP does not work alone on Capitol Hill and enjoys warm cooperative relationships with both Jewish and Arab organizations. Americans for Peace Now, Brit Tzedek V'Shalom, Israel Policy Forum, Arab American Institute and American Task Force on Palestine have quite similar policy positions to the churches in the CMEP coalition. We visit Congressional offices and arrange meetings at the State Department knowing that our message will be reinforced by Jews and Arabs, both Muslim and Christian.
As we bring our message to policymakers that this is not a zero sum game -- that the US must be a friend to both Israel and the Palestinians -- we find a growing understanding that unending conflict is not good for Israel or for America.This is certainly a time of deep despair among all who work and pray for peace and reconciliation. The fracture of the Palestinian society and governance, along with weak US and Israeli leadership dampens hope of progress and raises fear of spiralling violence. Yet, we keep in mind that last summer and at numerous times in recent decades fighting has raged and pessimism ruled. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ending the occupation is of such intense importance to so many people globally, that peacemaking is irrepressible.
The Arab League Initiative offers new opportunities. We are now urging the US Administration to breathe life into the President's declared vision of a viable Palestinian state, including assurance that Jerusalem will be a shared city, the capital of Palestine and of Israel.
###* Corinne Whitlatch is the Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace, http://www.cmep.org/. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service, 16 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/ Copyright permission has been granted for republication.
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An opportunity to experience
George A. Gorayeb
ARNOLD, Maryland - In November, 2002, sixteen people, half of them Jewish- and half Arab-American, met an hour north of New York City for a weekend dialogue workshop. Most of them had not dared anything like this before. When they gathered Friday evening for introductions, anxiety was visible on all the participants' faces. The mistrust was palpable.
One participant had served in the Israeli Army decades ago.
It seemed to some of us that his only previous conversations with Arabs had been while he was holding a rifle and they were answering his questions. The introductions caused some nervous laughter and an amazing process began. Seldom in our lives had we been compelled to more directly face our own prejudices.
A few months prior, I agreed to have dinner with a man named Zachary Berk. He is Jewish and I am of Syrian/Lebanese ancestry. We met to discuss creating an organization to promote Mideast peace. We were not sure whether we could overcome our suspicions and be able to collaborate, but nonetheless quickly became friends. We are both businessmen and were anti-Viet Nam war activists in college. We discussed our mutual admiration for Martin Luther King and non-violent movements like Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to free India. We ultimately decided that we would take the risk and organize our first peace retreat.
He would recruit Jewish participants and I would recruit Arab participants. It proved more challenging than we anticipated. Most people were either too uncomfortable or rejected the idea as a waste of time that would lead to nothing. Committing to spend a weekend with a group of strangers, half of whom you might really dislike, is not most people's idea of fun.
But we ultimately coaxed enough participants to attend and we found ourselves uncomfortably sitting in a circle to hear each other's life stories on a Friday evening at a Girl Scout Retreat Center. Most participants found the interaction very stressful. I was not sure if this social experiment would explode into a screaming match lacking all constructive communication. If that happened, the opinions people held would just be reinforced.The attitudes that evening reflected years of frustration with the other side.
The Jewish participants expressed anguish at suicide bombers, religious extremists consumed by blind hatred and years of Arab rejections to Israeli overtures of peace. The Arab participants complained of the suffering, oppression, and humiliation endured by the Palestinians and Israeli rejections of Arab overtures to make peace.
Much of the interaction was exactly what we would all expect of such a group. It seemed unlikely to change any minds or hearts.
We broke for dinner and ensured that there were an equal number of Jewish and Arab guests at each table. As we broke bread together, the dialogue was more civil. People described their families, and even childhood memories. There was laughter, and with it, a miraculous process began to unfold. On Saturday, we broke into small groups and did role reversal exercises. We created scenarios in which Arab participants would play the role of an Israeli soldier, or settler. The Jewish participants would assume the role of a Palestinian teenager in a refugee camp, or a Palestinian parent struggling to find work and raise a family.
We did other exercises that exposed private inner feelings and by that afternoon, many had gotten emotional. Some described hardship and suffering endured by their parents and tears were shed. People became increasingly honest about their feelings as they opened up to the group. Our common humanity was becoming evident to everyone involved.By Sunday afternoon, as we said our goodbyes, the transformation was shocking. Miraculously, somehow we had all become sincere friends.
Many joked, hugged and made plans to gather for dinner reunions. Most agreed that this weekend had changed them profoundly. After that success, we held several more weekend retreats with similar groups. The results were consistently encouraging. The lesson was clear: given an opportunity to experience another person's life and views in a non-threatening, safe environment, most people's prejudices are mitigated.
Negative stereotyping becomes much harder to accept when you have good friends who contradict that stereotype. It seems obvious to us that if real Mideast peace is ever realized, it will come when we can acknowledge and address our common hopes and fears.
###* George A. Gorayeb lives near Annapolis, Maryland and still promotes Jewish-Arab dialogue. He can be reached at georgegorayeb@yahoo.com. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service, 16 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/ Copyright permission has been granted for republication.**********
By Corinne Whitlatch
WASHINGTON - The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and the broader schism between Israel and Arab states, is of deep concern to a great many people who have no personal connection to either side. While Arab and Jewish Americans are on the front lines of citizen advocacy regarding US policy toward the conflict and peacemaking efforts, secular and Christian Americans are also involved and consider the conflict important to their lives and to the United States. Many people of all three faiths hold a profound attachment to the Holy Land.
As an example, Christians grieve the severing of the natural and historic connection between their holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem by Israel's separation barrier.Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition which seeks to influence the US Congress and Administration to adopt polices and take actions that would resolve the conflict and ease human suffering. The coalition brings together Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant national churches, denominations, and agencies to speak to the government with one clear voice, calling for justice and peace.
The goal of CMEP is a negotiated agreement that would bring recognition and security to Israel and a sovereign viable state to Palestinians, with Jerusalem being shared by the governments and the people.Not all Christians in America agree with us. Some hold a theological attachment to Israel and the Jewish people, interpreted as a directive that Israel should not give up any land -- even for the sake of peace. Most of these so-called "Christian Zionists" belong to non-denominational churches that often rally around charismatic preachers. News reports of Christians demonstrating passionate and exclusive support for Israel and of anti-Muslim diatribes by Christian pastors are known throughout the Arab and Muslim world. These reports distort the reality of American Christian sentiment.
Regrettably, the moderate peace and justice language and actions of traditional churches are rarely considered newsworthy, making these voices within the Christian community rarely heard.Some churches and denominations in the United States have direct partner ties with Palestinian churches and to churches in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Israel. All feel a strong attachment to the Holy Land and long for peace and reconciliation with all members of the Abrahamic family of faiths -- Jews, Christians and Muslims.
In meetings with US policymakers, CMEP addresses the situation of Palestinian Christians, namely how the ongoing occupation and conflict leads to their emigration, further depletion of their already small numbers and the erosion of the historic Christian-Muslim nature of Palestinian society.Our concern is not only for the Christians of the Holy Land, but for the whole of the Palestinian people, as well as the citizens of Israel. CMEP strives to be a balanced advocate for the common good of Israelis and Palestinians -- both victims of epic tragedies and repeated wars and violence. Neither has grasped the suffering of the other, and peace-making efforts by the United States and the international community have thus far been inadequate.
CMEP does not work alone on Capitol Hill and enjoys warm cooperative relationships with both Jewish and Arab organizations. Americans for Peace Now, Brit Tzedek V'Shalom, Israel Policy Forum, Arab American Institute and American Task Force on Palestine have quite similar policy positions to the churches in the CMEP coalition. We visit Congressional offices and arrange meetings at the State Department knowing that our message will be reinforced by Jews and Arabs, both Muslim and Christian.
As we bring our message to policymakers that this is not a zero sum game -- that the US must be a friend to both Israel and the Palestinians -- we find a growing understanding that unending conflict is not good for Israel or for America.This is certainly a time of deep despair among all who work and pray for peace and reconciliation. The fracture of the Palestinian society and governance, along with weak US and Israeli leadership dampens hope of progress and raises fear of spiralling violence. Yet, we keep in mind that last summer and at numerous times in recent decades fighting has raged and pessimism ruled. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ending the occupation is of such intense importance to so many people globally, that peacemaking is irrepressible.
The Arab League Initiative offers new opportunities. We are now urging the US Administration to breathe life into the President's declared vision of a viable Palestinian state, including assurance that Jerusalem will be a shared city, the capital of Palestine and of Israel.
###* Corinne Whitlatch is the Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace, http://www.cmep.org/. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service, 16 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/ Copyright permission has been granted for republication.
**********
An opportunity to experience
George A. Gorayeb
ARNOLD, Maryland - In November, 2002, sixteen people, half of them Jewish- and half Arab-American, met an hour north of New York City for a weekend dialogue workshop. Most of them had not dared anything like this before. When they gathered Friday evening for introductions, anxiety was visible on all the participants' faces. The mistrust was palpable.
One participant had served in the Israeli Army decades ago.
It seemed to some of us that his only previous conversations with Arabs had been while he was holding a rifle and they were answering his questions. The introductions caused some nervous laughter and an amazing process began. Seldom in our lives had we been compelled to more directly face our own prejudices.
A few months prior, I agreed to have dinner with a man named Zachary Berk. He is Jewish and I am of Syrian/Lebanese ancestry. We met to discuss creating an organization to promote Mideast peace. We were not sure whether we could overcome our suspicions and be able to collaborate, but nonetheless quickly became friends. We are both businessmen and were anti-Viet Nam war activists in college. We discussed our mutual admiration for Martin Luther King and non-violent movements like Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to free India. We ultimately decided that we would take the risk and organize our first peace retreat.
He would recruit Jewish participants and I would recruit Arab participants. It proved more challenging than we anticipated. Most people were either too uncomfortable or rejected the idea as a waste of time that would lead to nothing. Committing to spend a weekend with a group of strangers, half of whom you might really dislike, is not most people's idea of fun.
But we ultimately coaxed enough participants to attend and we found ourselves uncomfortably sitting in a circle to hear each other's life stories on a Friday evening at a Girl Scout Retreat Center. Most participants found the interaction very stressful. I was not sure if this social experiment would explode into a screaming match lacking all constructive communication. If that happened, the opinions people held would just be reinforced.The attitudes that evening reflected years of frustration with the other side.
The Jewish participants expressed anguish at suicide bombers, religious extremists consumed by blind hatred and years of Arab rejections to Israeli overtures of peace. The Arab participants complained of the suffering, oppression, and humiliation endured by the Palestinians and Israeli rejections of Arab overtures to make peace.
Much of the interaction was exactly what we would all expect of such a group. It seemed unlikely to change any minds or hearts.
We broke for dinner and ensured that there were an equal number of Jewish and Arab guests at each table. As we broke bread together, the dialogue was more civil. People described their families, and even childhood memories. There was laughter, and with it, a miraculous process began to unfold. On Saturday, we broke into small groups and did role reversal exercises. We created scenarios in which Arab participants would play the role of an Israeli soldier, or settler. The Jewish participants would assume the role of a Palestinian teenager in a refugee camp, or a Palestinian parent struggling to find work and raise a family.
We did other exercises that exposed private inner feelings and by that afternoon, many had gotten emotional. Some described hardship and suffering endured by their parents and tears were shed. People became increasingly honest about their feelings as they opened up to the group. Our common humanity was becoming evident to everyone involved.By Sunday afternoon, as we said our goodbyes, the transformation was shocking. Miraculously, somehow we had all become sincere friends.
Many joked, hugged and made plans to gather for dinner reunions. Most agreed that this weekend had changed them profoundly. After that success, we held several more weekend retreats with similar groups. The results were consistently encouraging. The lesson was clear: given an opportunity to experience another person's life and views in a non-threatening, safe environment, most people's prejudices are mitigated.
Negative stereotyping becomes much harder to accept when you have good friends who contradict that stereotype. It seems obvious to us that if real Mideast peace is ever realized, it will come when we can acknowledge and address our common hopes and fears.
###* George A. Gorayeb lives near Annapolis, Maryland and still promotes Jewish-Arab dialogue. He can be reached at georgegorayeb@yahoo.com. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service, 16 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/ Copyright permission has been granted for republication.**********
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Common Ground News Original Features for republication August 14, 2007
Faith in acting: a review of Eboo Patel's Acts of FaithMatthew Weiner
NEW YORK CITY - There is a growing phenomenon within the Muslim community in America that will change the history of Islam. Young Muslims, mostly the children of immigrants, are publicly reflecting on their identity. Many are becoming, or have become, Islamic scholars and activists on behalf of a civic Islam. Often, these young men and women were raised in fairly secular households and so as they become self consciously Muslim, they must re-imagine what being Muslim, as Americans, means. Certainly, this growing and internally diverse group will change how Americans understand Islam, and how Muslims across the globe understand Islam. Pay attention. A star of this group is Eboo Patel. Founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, Patel not only represents this new face of Islam, but he does so specifically by reaching across religious lines. His being Muslim is centrally focused on embracing difference - and what could be more important in this day? As he tells his story, it is his very encounter with difference that leads him to understand his own faith better, and to become a good Muslim. Patel's story is an important one if for no other reason that it shows how interfaith initiatives, that is reciprocally working with religious others, need not lead to a kind of religious Esperanto or a purely liberal understanding of religion, but rather can enforce and deepen one's own faith while building an appreciation of the other. Patel's book is at once easy to read and informative. The story line is simple without being simplistic: a young Muslim growing up in Chicago learns that he is different from many around him. Some are good to him, others are racist, and he has a choice about how to deal with this racism: go inward and become racist reactively, or begin working with those different from him in order to make a difference. That could be a tag line for this book because, of course, Patel chooses the latter, and reflects that this choice was perhaps less about him and more about who his parents and teachers were. For Patel, this becomes the central argument for why we need to foster positive relations with young Muslims in America and around the world. At this heightened point in time, Muslims can go "good" or "bad", depending on whom they are influenced by. Of course the picture is more complicated, something Patel as an activist-scholar acknowledges. But these are "troubled times", as the sociologist Anne Swiddler argues. Such times require an intense response. We need heroic figures and Patel, in his young life, is undoubtedly moving in that valuable direction. Besides being a story of victory for tolerance and embrace, Patel's story is one of journey, and the narrative line here is again both clear and moving. As Patel self awakens, he travels the globe, meeting the likes of the Dalai Lama and Dr. Ariyaratene (both Buddhists), and is inspired by the likes of Gandhi (a Hindu) and James Baldwin (a Christian and openly gay African American). He likewise rediscovers his own tradition, with such Muslim luminaries as Rumi. Patel does not spend too much time in his autobiography reflecting in an overt way on the more intolerant side that Islam (as well as all other religions) can manifest, although it is implied. Besides not focusing on Islam gone awry, he also does not focus on defending Islam. For me, this is another highlight of Patel's work. Almost everything published about Islam these days is either "pro-Islam" or "anti-Islam" as opposed to a book that looks at Islam in a natural way, finding both the glories and dangers within any lived tradition. Hats off to Patel for refusing to see Islam as an either/or phenomenon, and instead painting a real and complex picture. This is a book that everyone should read, not just glean from a review. Patel explores the interfaith world, realises a major moral gap in that there is no good setting for youth involvement - because it is youth who are easily swayed to intolerance or fostered to justice - and decides he should create the "Interfaith Youth Core".He does, and the rest was just written as history. It is a history worth reading, and I am looking forward to the next chapter.
###
* Matthew Weiner is the program director for the Interfaith Center of New York, and a doctoral candidate at Union Theological Seminary. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 14 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
**********
~Youth View~
Face to faith
Samantha Kirby
CHICAGO, Illinois - During a recent four-month stay in Morocco, I was faced with the challenge of genuinely adapting to a new and drastically different cultural context. The delicate balance of honesty and selectivity, the issue of disclosure and exposure, was never more in question than during my first encounter with my host brother. After asking my name and birthplace, he inquired if I was religious. My immediate response shook me as the words passed through my lips: "No, not really."Before I embarked on my journey to Morocco, friends and family wondered how I would reconcile my Jewish identity with this Muslim society. They wanted to know my strategy for navigating sensitive issues and seemingly inevitable conflicts. I was the least concerned of all; I thought that when the time came, answers would flow. I had faith in the power of cross-cultural exchange to facilitate understanding and dialogue.Once actually faced with the question of faith, however, my immediate reaction was to hide my Jewish identity.As time progressed, this suppression became more difficult. Before long, it was Passover and I was faced with a dilemma. It would be impossible to eat with the family in traditional Moroccan style, using bread to scoop food out of the communal tajine (or clay dish), because Jews do not eat leavened breads during Passover. I had to decide whether to break Passover or finally trust my family with my religious identity. I was terrified that the bonds we had finally formed, despite the communication barriers, would instantly be broken. However, I decided that as people of faith, they would understand the significance of the holiday.It was time to come out. I took a deep breath and pulled my host mother, Nezha, into my room. I told her, in my broken Moroccan Arabic, "This week is a holiday for my religion. I don't eat bread or pastry." I paused. "Ana yehudia." I am Jewish.I showed her my box of matzo, the unleavened bread traditionally eaten during Passover, which I had hidden in my luggage. She looked at me. The three words she voiced shocked me as much as my own had, but in a radically different way. "Wakha. Meshi mushkill." Ok. No problem.Then she disappeared into the kitchen to prepare the late afternoon meal. I exhaled.When she came out, she brought the usual tray, laden with a silver teapot full of sweet mint tea, bread, jam and butter. She disappeared again and emerged with something special: a small silver tray, with just two shallow bowls of jam and butter. She placed the tray in front of me, and motioned for me to get my matzo. In Morocco, I was often inspired by the profound faith surrounding me. But nothing was as inspiring as my family's instant and unconditional acceptance of my religious identity.This summer, I am completing an internship at the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) in Chicago, Illinois. The IFYC is an organisation working to empower young leaders and bring them together through service work, recognising that shared values such as service and hospitality are common among all religions. We have diverse conversations at the IFYC. They are not about Palestine, Israel and the true nature of God, but about common action for the common good: making the world a better place -- one project, one leader, one story at a time.I intern alongside two Jews, a Christian and a Muslim. We don't agree on everything, and our meetings can be quite dynamic. But here we are, together, serving at the soup kitchen downstairs. Here we are, together, discussing what it means to be a Christian/Jew/Muslim at age twenty-one. We are building relationships with each other, so when we engage in challenging conversations, we can walk out of the room together and look forward to our daily lunch hour picnics. Similarly, in Morocco, though I was initially worried that the bonds with my family would be broken if I were to tell them about my religious identity, it was the relationship we had formed which allowed us to share and observe our respective religions under the same roof.I waited too long to be honest with my host family. I am ready to engage fully in those difficult conversations for which I used to hold my breath. I am ready to collaborate with my diverse peers to bring a new kind of peace to the world through pluralism.I won't wait any longer. I am ready now.
###
* Samantha Kirby, a native Californian, is a senior at Northwestern University studying religion and psychology. She recently returned from Morocco, where she studied Arabic and Moroccan culture.This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 14 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/ Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
NEW YORK CITY - There is a growing phenomenon within the Muslim community in America that will change the history of Islam. Young Muslims, mostly the children of immigrants, are publicly reflecting on their identity. Many are becoming, or have become, Islamic scholars and activists on behalf of a civic Islam. Often, these young men and women were raised in fairly secular households and so as they become self consciously Muslim, they must re-imagine what being Muslim, as Americans, means. Certainly, this growing and internally diverse group will change how Americans understand Islam, and how Muslims across the globe understand Islam. Pay attention. A star of this group is Eboo Patel. Founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, Patel not only represents this new face of Islam, but he does so specifically by reaching across religious lines. His being Muslim is centrally focused on embracing difference - and what could be more important in this day? As he tells his story, it is his very encounter with difference that leads him to understand his own faith better, and to become a good Muslim. Patel's story is an important one if for no other reason that it shows how interfaith initiatives, that is reciprocally working with religious others, need not lead to a kind of religious Esperanto or a purely liberal understanding of religion, but rather can enforce and deepen one's own faith while building an appreciation of the other. Patel's book is at once easy to read and informative. The story line is simple without being simplistic: a young Muslim growing up in Chicago learns that he is different from many around him. Some are good to him, others are racist, and he has a choice about how to deal with this racism: go inward and become racist reactively, or begin working with those different from him in order to make a difference. That could be a tag line for this book because, of course, Patel chooses the latter, and reflects that this choice was perhaps less about him and more about who his parents and teachers were. For Patel, this becomes the central argument for why we need to foster positive relations with young Muslims in America and around the world. At this heightened point in time, Muslims can go "good" or "bad", depending on whom they are influenced by. Of course the picture is more complicated, something Patel as an activist-scholar acknowledges. But these are "troubled times", as the sociologist Anne Swiddler argues. Such times require an intense response. We need heroic figures and Patel, in his young life, is undoubtedly moving in that valuable direction. Besides being a story of victory for tolerance and embrace, Patel's story is one of journey, and the narrative line here is again both clear and moving. As Patel self awakens, he travels the globe, meeting the likes of the Dalai Lama and Dr. Ariyaratene (both Buddhists), and is inspired by the likes of Gandhi (a Hindu) and James Baldwin (a Christian and openly gay African American). He likewise rediscovers his own tradition, with such Muslim luminaries as Rumi. Patel does not spend too much time in his autobiography reflecting in an overt way on the more intolerant side that Islam (as well as all other religions) can manifest, although it is implied. Besides not focusing on Islam gone awry, he also does not focus on defending Islam. For me, this is another highlight of Patel's work. Almost everything published about Islam these days is either "pro-Islam" or "anti-Islam" as opposed to a book that looks at Islam in a natural way, finding both the glories and dangers within any lived tradition. Hats off to Patel for refusing to see Islam as an either/or phenomenon, and instead painting a real and complex picture. This is a book that everyone should read, not just glean from a review. Patel explores the interfaith world, realises a major moral gap in that there is no good setting for youth involvement - because it is youth who are easily swayed to intolerance or fostered to justice - and decides he should create the "Interfaith Youth Core".He does, and the rest was just written as history. It is a history worth reading, and I am looking forward to the next chapter.
###
* Matthew Weiner is the program director for the Interfaith Center of New York, and a doctoral candidate at Union Theological Seminary. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 14 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
**********
~Youth View~
Face to faith
Samantha Kirby
CHICAGO, Illinois - During a recent four-month stay in Morocco, I was faced with the challenge of genuinely adapting to a new and drastically different cultural context. The delicate balance of honesty and selectivity, the issue of disclosure and exposure, was never more in question than during my first encounter with my host brother. After asking my name and birthplace, he inquired if I was religious. My immediate response shook me as the words passed through my lips: "No, not really."Before I embarked on my journey to Morocco, friends and family wondered how I would reconcile my Jewish identity with this Muslim society. They wanted to know my strategy for navigating sensitive issues and seemingly inevitable conflicts. I was the least concerned of all; I thought that when the time came, answers would flow. I had faith in the power of cross-cultural exchange to facilitate understanding and dialogue.Once actually faced with the question of faith, however, my immediate reaction was to hide my Jewish identity.As time progressed, this suppression became more difficult. Before long, it was Passover and I was faced with a dilemma. It would be impossible to eat with the family in traditional Moroccan style, using bread to scoop food out of the communal tajine (or clay dish), because Jews do not eat leavened breads during Passover. I had to decide whether to break Passover or finally trust my family with my religious identity. I was terrified that the bonds we had finally formed, despite the communication barriers, would instantly be broken. However, I decided that as people of faith, they would understand the significance of the holiday.It was time to come out. I took a deep breath and pulled my host mother, Nezha, into my room. I told her, in my broken Moroccan Arabic, "This week is a holiday for my religion. I don't eat bread or pastry." I paused. "Ana yehudia." I am Jewish.I showed her my box of matzo, the unleavened bread traditionally eaten during Passover, which I had hidden in my luggage. She looked at me. The three words she voiced shocked me as much as my own had, but in a radically different way. "Wakha. Meshi mushkill." Ok. No problem.Then she disappeared into the kitchen to prepare the late afternoon meal. I exhaled.When she came out, she brought the usual tray, laden with a silver teapot full of sweet mint tea, bread, jam and butter. She disappeared again and emerged with something special: a small silver tray, with just two shallow bowls of jam and butter. She placed the tray in front of me, and motioned for me to get my matzo. In Morocco, I was often inspired by the profound faith surrounding me. But nothing was as inspiring as my family's instant and unconditional acceptance of my religious identity.This summer, I am completing an internship at the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) in Chicago, Illinois. The IFYC is an organisation working to empower young leaders and bring them together through service work, recognising that shared values such as service and hospitality are common among all religions. We have diverse conversations at the IFYC. They are not about Palestine, Israel and the true nature of God, but about common action for the common good: making the world a better place -- one project, one leader, one story at a time.I intern alongside two Jews, a Christian and a Muslim. We don't agree on everything, and our meetings can be quite dynamic. But here we are, together, serving at the soup kitchen downstairs. Here we are, together, discussing what it means to be a Christian/Jew/Muslim at age twenty-one. We are building relationships with each other, so when we engage in challenging conversations, we can walk out of the room together and look forward to our daily lunch hour picnics. Similarly, in Morocco, though I was initially worried that the bonds with my family would be broken if I were to tell them about my religious identity, it was the relationship we had formed which allowed us to share and observe our respective religions under the same roof.I waited too long to be honest with my host family. I am ready to engage fully in those difficult conversations for which I used to hold my breath. I am ready to collaborate with my diverse peers to bring a new kind of peace to the world through pluralism.I won't wait any longer. I am ready now.
###
* Samantha Kirby, a native Californian, is a senior at Northwestern University studying religion and psychology. She recently returned from Morocco, where she studied Arabic and Moroccan culture.This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 14 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/ Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
CAIR Commentary: Smearing U.S. Muslim Groups is 'Un-American'
ISLAM-OPED is a national syndication service of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to offer an American Muslim perspective on current political, social and religious issues.
ISLAM-OPED commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each market area.
Permission for publication will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair.com
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
Please consider the following commentary for publication. ---
Smearing U.S. Muslim Groups is 'Un-American'
By Parvez Ahmed
WORD COUNT: 765
[Parvez Ahmed is board chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. He is also an associate professor at the University of North Florida. His e-mail address is pahmed@cair.com.]
In December 2001, the Department of the Treasury named the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation (HLF), at that time the nation's largest Muslim charity, as a terrorist organization. The government seized HLF's assets and shut down the organization, thus freezing millions of dollars in religiously-obligated donations offered by American Muslims and others to feed and clothe orphans and the needy.
After three years of investigation, the government "revised" its allegations against HLF and a federal grand jury issued a 42-count indictment against seven individuals associated with the charity. The indictment alleged that those individuals were part of a "conspiracy" to provide material support to organizations linked to Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the State Department.
Almost six years later, the HLF officials are finally getting their day in court, as a trial is underway in Dallas. The government's trial brief argues that HLF gave donations to 12 Israeli-licensed Palestinian charities that were allegedly "associated" with Hamas.
This argument is made despite the fact that the U.S. government has not identified the Palestinian charities as supporting terrorism or banned them from receiving American donations. In fact, one of the charities has received aid from the U.S. government.
In an unusual, and some would say un-American, move prosecutors publicly named 306 individuals and organizations as "unindicted co-conspirators" (UCC) relating to the HLF case.
Among those listed are three major American Muslim organizations - the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the North American Islamic Trust and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Collectively, these groups represent the interests and viewpoints of the mainstream American Muslim community.
Listing a person or group as a UCC is not a legal designation of wrongdoing on the part of those named. The UCC designation merely allows for an exception to the hearsay rule, making "co-conspirator" statements admissible during trial.
A recent article in Newsweek stated: "According to one senior law-enforcement official. . .the listing of ISNA, CAIR and other groups as 'unindicted co-conspirators' was largely a tactical move by the government. By listing the groups, the official said, it makes it easier for prosecutors to introduce documents, tapes and other evidence mentioning them. . ."
This dubious practice, which offers the named parties no legal recourse, is quite controversial.
Professor Ira P. Robbins of American University recently wrote in the Federal Courts Law Review: "[The] practice of naming individuals as unindicted co-conspirators. . .appears to be an anomaly in United States law, in that it violates the Fifth Amendment guarantee that no person shall. . .be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
Three federal prosecutors asked by the Los Angeles Times about the practice of publicly naming unindicted co-conspirators called it "improper" and "unfair." This McCarthyite political move violates the Justice Department's own guidelines, which indicate that such lists are to remain sealed to prevent the unfair and un-American labeling of those who are not facing any criminal charges.
The Justice Department's manual for prosecutors says, "In all public filings and proceedings, federal prosecutors should remain sensitive to the privacy and reputation interests of uncharged third-parties."
The guidelines further state that when co-conspirator lists have to be filed in court, prosecutors should seek to file them under seal. In a recent Washington Post article, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski opined that the "war on terror" has caused America more harm than anything that the terrorists ever imagined. It has created a culture of fear in the U.S.
"The atmosphere generated by the 'war on terror' has encouraged legal and political harassment of Arab Americans (generally loyal Americans) for conduct that has not been unique to them."
Given the growing fear of Islam and Muslims among the American public (one-in-four admit to being prejudiced against Muslims), it has become easy to smear Islamic organizations. Without legal recourse to challenge such smears, the constitutional rights of American Muslims suffer through guilt by association and guilt by mere accusation. This chills the First Amendment rights of American Muslims.
It is our duty as Americans to demand that the due process rights of all citizens be preserved and protected. At a time when most experts are recommending the strengthening of American Muslim institutions to serve as bridges of understanding between America and the Muslim world, smearing these same institutions undermines the very cause that ought to unite us as Americans. Liberty and justice for all cannot be a mere slogan. I
n order to reclaim our global leadership, America needs to work with its Muslim citizens to prevent the downward spiral of misunderstanding and hostility that threatens to engulf our world.
-----
CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 Fax: 202-488-0833 E-mail: info@cair.com URL: http://www.cair.com/
-----
ISLAM-OPED commentaries are offered free-of-charge to one media outlet in each market area.
Permission for publication will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis.
CONTACT: ihooper@cair.com
TEL: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 (c)
Please consider the following commentary for publication. ---
Smearing U.S. Muslim Groups is 'Un-American'
By Parvez Ahmed
WORD COUNT: 765
[Parvez Ahmed is board chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. He is also an associate professor at the University of North Florida. His e-mail address is pahmed@cair.com.]
In December 2001, the Department of the Treasury named the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation (HLF), at that time the nation's largest Muslim charity, as a terrorist organization. The government seized HLF's assets and shut down the organization, thus freezing millions of dollars in religiously-obligated donations offered by American Muslims and others to feed and clothe orphans and the needy.
After three years of investigation, the government "revised" its allegations against HLF and a federal grand jury issued a 42-count indictment against seven individuals associated with the charity. The indictment alleged that those individuals were part of a "conspiracy" to provide material support to organizations linked to Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the State Department.
Almost six years later, the HLF officials are finally getting their day in court, as a trial is underway in Dallas. The government's trial brief argues that HLF gave donations to 12 Israeli-licensed Palestinian charities that were allegedly "associated" with Hamas.
This argument is made despite the fact that the U.S. government has not identified the Palestinian charities as supporting terrorism or banned them from receiving American donations. In fact, one of the charities has received aid from the U.S. government.
In an unusual, and some would say un-American, move prosecutors publicly named 306 individuals and organizations as "unindicted co-conspirators" (UCC) relating to the HLF case.
Among those listed are three major American Muslim organizations - the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the North American Islamic Trust and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Collectively, these groups represent the interests and viewpoints of the mainstream American Muslim community.
Listing a person or group as a UCC is not a legal designation of wrongdoing on the part of those named. The UCC designation merely allows for an exception to the hearsay rule, making "co-conspirator" statements admissible during trial.
A recent article in Newsweek stated: "According to one senior law-enforcement official. . .the listing of ISNA, CAIR and other groups as 'unindicted co-conspirators' was largely a tactical move by the government. By listing the groups, the official said, it makes it easier for prosecutors to introduce documents, tapes and other evidence mentioning them. . ."
This dubious practice, which offers the named parties no legal recourse, is quite controversial.
Professor Ira P. Robbins of American University recently wrote in the Federal Courts Law Review: "[The] practice of naming individuals as unindicted co-conspirators. . .appears to be an anomaly in United States law, in that it violates the Fifth Amendment guarantee that no person shall. . .be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
Three federal prosecutors asked by the Los Angeles Times about the practice of publicly naming unindicted co-conspirators called it "improper" and "unfair." This McCarthyite political move violates the Justice Department's own guidelines, which indicate that such lists are to remain sealed to prevent the unfair and un-American labeling of those who are not facing any criminal charges.
The Justice Department's manual for prosecutors says, "In all public filings and proceedings, federal prosecutors should remain sensitive to the privacy and reputation interests of uncharged third-parties."
The guidelines further state that when co-conspirator lists have to be filed in court, prosecutors should seek to file them under seal. In a recent Washington Post article, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski opined that the "war on terror" has caused America more harm than anything that the terrorists ever imagined. It has created a culture of fear in the U.S.
"The atmosphere generated by the 'war on terror' has encouraged legal and political harassment of Arab Americans (generally loyal Americans) for conduct that has not been unique to them."
Given the growing fear of Islam and Muslims among the American public (one-in-four admit to being prejudiced against Muslims), it has become easy to smear Islamic organizations. Without legal recourse to challenge such smears, the constitutional rights of American Muslims suffer through guilt by association and guilt by mere accusation. This chills the First Amendment rights of American Muslims.
It is our duty as Americans to demand that the due process rights of all citizens be preserved and protected. At a time when most experts are recommending the strengthening of American Muslim institutions to serve as bridges of understanding between America and the Muslim world, smearing these same institutions undermines the very cause that ought to unite us as Americans. Liberty and justice for all cannot be a mere slogan. I
n order to reclaim our global leadership, America needs to work with its Muslim citizens to prevent the downward spiral of misunderstanding and hostility that threatens to engulf our world.
-----
CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726 Fax: 202-488-0833 E-mail: info@cair.com URL: http://www.cair.com/
-----
Common Ground News, Feature Story: The Power of Humor
No laughing matter
By Ray Hanania
CHICAGO – In the post Sept. 11th world, I learned several things.
It is easier to hate a stranger than to hate someone you know. And, anger often appears as "hate" when coupled with excessive fear and lack of knowledge.
There is a rising sense of hatred, of "anger gone wild" in America against Arabs and Muslims because of Sept. 11. And there seems to be a growing resignation among Palestinians and Israelis that peace and compromise are no longer possible.
Peace and compromise are always possible. What has changed, though, is attitude. People are discouraged by the unending violence, the failure of the peace process, and the increased negative rhetoric and speech.
Do we just stand by and allow extremists to control us? Or do we take unorthodox steps to remind everyone that we are both human beings and that peace and compromise are in fact the only alternatives to the conflict and violence?
After Sept. 11, I decided to turn to the most powerful form of communication that exists between human beings. Humour. Not just any kind of humour, but stand-up comedy. Stand-up comedy is a controlled kind of humour, involving social satire and sometimes biting commentary, which not only seeks to entertain but to deliver important messages.
Humour alone can't resolve conflicts like the decades-long Palestine-Israel conflict, but it can change attitudes.
It can restore a person's belief in the humanity of the other people. It can cause people to see each other in a positive way that can nurture improved relations. If people can laugh together, we can live together.
I first tested the theory in a show in East Jerusalem in Oct. 2004, at the residence of the American Consul General.
More than 75 Israelis and Palestinians attended. To press the need to bring humour to Palestinians and Israelis, I co-founded with Israeli comedian Charley Warady the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour (www.IPComedyTour.com), also appearing with Israeli comic Yisrael Campbell and African American Jewish comedian Aaron Freeman.
In January and again in June, we performed 10 shows in Israel for mixed but mostly Israeli audiences, and in East Jerusalem for mostly Palestinian audiences.
In May, The Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour performed in Toronto, Canada for more than 1,200 people, mostly Jews and Palestinians.
There has been some opposition. Some Israeli comedians said they couldn't appear with me because it might harm their careers.For Arabs, appearing on stage with "Israelis" is considered haram (against values) and is not the same as appearing with "Jewish comedians."
Five Arab organizations cancelled my scheduled performances for them in the two weeks after returning from the first tour in Israel and Palestine. Other Palestinian and Muslim comedians have blacklisted me from their festivals and TV shows.
I don't mind the rejection because the acceptance is overwhelming. After the 2004 show, the consul general said it was "the first time in three years" Palestinians and Israelis had come together in the same room. After the Toronto show, the auditorium's entrance filled with hundreds of Palestinians and Jews who actually talked and laughed together. We need to do more of that. During the January tour, a suicide bombing in Eilat made us question whether we should continue. We decided we had to continue because we would not allow one terrorist or a group of extremists to control our lives.
The violence of a few should be reprimanded to the few. We must strive to believe that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who are not involved in the violence are people who are angered and frustrated but not necessarily hateful of others.
We went on with our shows reminding audiences that the terrorists and extremists do not speak for the majority of Palestinians or Israelis. We can have compromise and peace if we stop demonising each other; the best way to do that is through humour.And that's no joke.
###
* Ray Hanania is an award-winning Palestinian-American syndicated columnist and a stand-up comedian based in Chicago. He can be reached at rayhanania@aol.com. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service, 09 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
**********
By Ray Hanania
CHICAGO – In the post Sept. 11th world, I learned several things.
It is easier to hate a stranger than to hate someone you know. And, anger often appears as "hate" when coupled with excessive fear and lack of knowledge.
There is a rising sense of hatred, of "anger gone wild" in America against Arabs and Muslims because of Sept. 11. And there seems to be a growing resignation among Palestinians and Israelis that peace and compromise are no longer possible.
Peace and compromise are always possible. What has changed, though, is attitude. People are discouraged by the unending violence, the failure of the peace process, and the increased negative rhetoric and speech.
Do we just stand by and allow extremists to control us? Or do we take unorthodox steps to remind everyone that we are both human beings and that peace and compromise are in fact the only alternatives to the conflict and violence?
After Sept. 11, I decided to turn to the most powerful form of communication that exists between human beings. Humour. Not just any kind of humour, but stand-up comedy. Stand-up comedy is a controlled kind of humour, involving social satire and sometimes biting commentary, which not only seeks to entertain but to deliver important messages.
Humour alone can't resolve conflicts like the decades-long Palestine-Israel conflict, but it can change attitudes.
It can restore a person's belief in the humanity of the other people. It can cause people to see each other in a positive way that can nurture improved relations. If people can laugh together, we can live together.
I first tested the theory in a show in East Jerusalem in Oct. 2004, at the residence of the American Consul General.
More than 75 Israelis and Palestinians attended. To press the need to bring humour to Palestinians and Israelis, I co-founded with Israeli comedian Charley Warady the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour (www.IPComedyTour.com), also appearing with Israeli comic Yisrael Campbell and African American Jewish comedian Aaron Freeman.
In January and again in June, we performed 10 shows in Israel for mixed but mostly Israeli audiences, and in East Jerusalem for mostly Palestinian audiences.
In May, The Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour performed in Toronto, Canada for more than 1,200 people, mostly Jews and Palestinians.
There has been some opposition. Some Israeli comedians said they couldn't appear with me because it might harm their careers.For Arabs, appearing on stage with "Israelis" is considered haram (against values) and is not the same as appearing with "Jewish comedians."
Five Arab organizations cancelled my scheduled performances for them in the two weeks after returning from the first tour in Israel and Palestine. Other Palestinian and Muslim comedians have blacklisted me from their festivals and TV shows.
I don't mind the rejection because the acceptance is overwhelming. After the 2004 show, the consul general said it was "the first time in three years" Palestinians and Israelis had come together in the same room. After the Toronto show, the auditorium's entrance filled with hundreds of Palestinians and Jews who actually talked and laughed together. We need to do more of that. During the January tour, a suicide bombing in Eilat made us question whether we should continue. We decided we had to continue because we would not allow one terrorist or a group of extremists to control our lives.
The violence of a few should be reprimanded to the few. We must strive to believe that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who are not involved in the violence are people who are angered and frustrated but not necessarily hateful of others.
We went on with our shows reminding audiences that the terrorists and extremists do not speak for the majority of Palestinians or Israelis. We can have compromise and peace if we stop demonising each other; the best way to do that is through humour.And that's no joke.
###
* Ray Hanania is an award-winning Palestinian-American syndicated columnist and a stand-up comedian based in Chicago. He can be reached at rayhanania@aol.com. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service, 09 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
**********
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Christian Sabebeh Conference in September
Dear friends in the USA and Canada,
Once more, it is time for the Annual Arabic/English Christian Shabeebeh Conference at beautiful Maranatha. This year, a third day has been added due to popular demand, so please plan accordingly. We would love to see you with us, so please try to make it. We would appreciate it if you could inform your friends or forward this e-mail to anyone that might be interested in attending.
To register, simply reply to this e-mail, or call us at the numbers listed at the bottom of this e-mail. When registering, please indicate all the names of the people attending in your group, and whether arriving on Thursday or Friday for each!
For those that haven't attended before, Maranatha is located right on the Eastern shores of Lake Michigan. You will be lodging in wonderful, one-bedroom apartments or hotel-style rooms, and if you feel like it, the beautiful lake-shores are only a few minutes walk. The food is great, and the atmosphere is even better!
Please visit our website for more information at:http://www.geocities.com/cabc3/arabic-youth-conference.htm
For those on Facebook.com, visit the conference page to view pictures at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2580421407 Please confirm your registration even if you have already registered on Facebook!________________________________________________________
9th Annual Arabic/English Christian Shabeebeh Conference, 2007
When: September 6-9, 2007 (Thursday – Sunday, the weekend after Labor weekend)Speaker (Arabic): Pastor Nicolas Yasmine, from Montreal, Canada
Speaker (English): Bro. Fayez Khoury
Worship Leader: Bro. Ziad Shihadeh
Where: Maranatha Bible Conference, in Muskegon, Michigan, USA. Here's the website for the conference center if you're interested: http://maranatha.gospelcom.net/ Maranatha Pictures: http://maranatha.gospelcom.net/maranatha/gallery/ Price (Thursday arrival): $165 American (~$175 Canadian)
Price (Friday Eve. arrival): $130 American (~$140 Canadian)
Ages: 16-45 *
* Kids are permitted with parents. Sunday School will be provided.
Rooms are limited, so please reserve your spot by Monday 8/27.
________________________________________________________
We look forward to seeing you with us.Your brethren in Christ,The Chicago/Michigan Arabic Christian Shabeebeh
For them,
Bisher Rihani
Day: (630)579-5182
Cell: (773)719-4440E-mail: bisher_rihani@yahoo.com
Once more, it is time for the Annual Arabic/English Christian Shabeebeh Conference at beautiful Maranatha. This year, a third day has been added due to popular demand, so please plan accordingly. We would love to see you with us, so please try to make it. We would appreciate it if you could inform your friends or forward this e-mail to anyone that might be interested in attending.
To register, simply reply to this e-mail, or call us at the numbers listed at the bottom of this e-mail. When registering, please indicate all the names of the people attending in your group, and whether arriving on Thursday or Friday for each!
For those that haven't attended before, Maranatha is located right on the Eastern shores of Lake Michigan. You will be lodging in wonderful, one-bedroom apartments or hotel-style rooms, and if you feel like it, the beautiful lake-shores are only a few minutes walk. The food is great, and the atmosphere is even better!
Please visit our website for more information at:http://www.geocities.com/cabc3/arabic-youth-conference.htm
For those on Facebook.com, visit the conference page to view pictures at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2580421407 Please confirm your registration even if you have already registered on Facebook!________________________________________________________
9th Annual Arabic/English Christian Shabeebeh Conference, 2007
When: September 6-9, 2007 (Thursday – Sunday, the weekend after Labor weekend)Speaker (Arabic): Pastor Nicolas Yasmine, from Montreal, Canada
Speaker (English): Bro. Fayez Khoury
Worship Leader: Bro. Ziad Shihadeh
Where: Maranatha Bible Conference, in Muskegon, Michigan, USA. Here's the website for the conference center if you're interested: http://maranatha.gospelcom.net/ Maranatha Pictures: http://maranatha.gospelcom.net/maranatha/gallery/ Price (Thursday arrival): $165 American (~$175 Canadian)
Price (Friday Eve. arrival): $130 American (~$140 Canadian)
Ages: 16-45 *
* Kids are permitted with parents. Sunday School will be provided.
Rooms are limited, so please reserve your spot by Monday 8/27.
________________________________________________________
We look forward to seeing you with us.Your brethren in Christ,The Chicago/Michigan Arabic Christian Shabeebeh
For them,
Bisher Rihani
Day: (630)579-5182
Cell: (773)719-4440E-mail: bisher_rihani@yahoo.com
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Common Ground News Service Original Features
The Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH) aims to promote constructive perspectives and dialogue about Muslim–Western relations. CGNews-PiH is available in Arabic, English, French and Indonesian. To subscribe, click here.
For an archive of past CGNews articles and other information, please visit our website at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Unless otherwise noted, copyright permission has been obtained and articles may be reprinted by any news outlet or publication. Please acknowledge both the original source and the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
Inside this edition (Articles listed in full below)
1) Lebanon, a lesson in conflict management? by Abbas Barzegar
Abbas Barzegar, a Ph.D. candidate in the history of religions at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, asks whether there is more to the Lebanese example than "a turf war between rival gangs or a proxy war between Washington and Tehran". Despite its precarious situation, or perhaps because of it, he explains how Lebanon's brand of "prudent politics" provides some lessons about conflict management "the non-violent, democratic way".
(Source: Common Ground News Service, 7 August 2007)
2) ~Youth Views~ Dual nationality: a blessing or a curse? by Hanane El Hadi and Menna Taher
Menna Taher, a journalism student at the American University in Cairo, and Hanane El Hadi, a graduate student in International Studies and Diplomacy at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, consider the shared challenges and opportunities for "dual nationals" who have lived in both Europe and the Muslim world.
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 7 August 2007)
======
Lebanon, a lesson in conflict management?
By Abbas Barzegar
Atlanta, Georgia - With a population of four million divided amongst eighteen religious sects, it is surprising that the Lebanese political system has managed to survive this long. Now, this already burdened, fractious society heads into what promises to be a tumultuous presidential election. But Lebanon's struggles should be understood as more than simply a turf war between rival gangs or a proxy war between Washington and Tehran. Rather its problems and prospects represent a crystallised microcosm of the range of tensions and issues that face the Middle East and the West. The most significant feature of the Lebanese political field, and its most dangerous vulnerability, is the glaring lack of a central authority capable of enforcing the rule of law. With the Syrian band-aid that filled this vacuum now gone, many wonder if Lebanon's famed recovery from the civil war was anything more than transitory.
However, the fact that there has not been an outbreak in internal violence amongst the country's political and sectarian factions — despite the escalation in tensions following former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's unresolved assassination and the Israeli aggression last summer — should be testament that Lebanese society is prepared to face extraordinary political challenges without succumbing to the temptation of violence. Arguably it is this dimension of the Lebanese experience that has created a unique environment of pragmatism which many others would do well to observe. For example, this summer's outbreak of violence at the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp has been greeted by many hasty pundits as a sign that the country is headed toward another civil war, but for those more familiar with situation, the problem in Tripoli has been a case of common ground between the Sinora government and the opposition movement headed by Hizbullah.
Instead of Hizbullah leaning towards a pan-Islamic agenda by supporting fighters in the camp, it has unequivocally condemned Fatah al-Islam and supported the Lebanese government's efforts to secure its authority as the only legitimate policing entity in the country. Furthermore, given Hizbullah's pragmatic approach to things, few in Lebanon fear the Shi'a party is trying to implement an Islamic state in Lebanon. It may be that Hizbullah's manoeuvring over the past year is simply part of a clever political plan at a time when its popularity remains high but its role in the government is uncertain.
However, such criticism overlooks the more important fact that Lebanon's vulnerability is precisely what gives rise to this unique system of prudent politics and restraint that may offer a model of conflict management for the rest of the Middle East. Such prudence and restraint, if seized upon correctly, can bear tremendous long term fruits. For example, since the Israeli attack on Lebanon last year, the rubble of Dahiyeh (a Shi'ite neighbourhood in Beirut) has been virtually cleared, making bombed out building lots look like construction sites. Hizbullah has not rebuilt many of those homes however, not because it cannot, but because the central government has not issued building permits to allow it to do so. What is striking is that Hizbullah is actually recognising the government's authority in this matter. It would be quite easy with Iranian financing to rebuild a few dozen apartment buildings in a year's time and bypass the Lebanese central government. Hizbullah's leadership, regardless of one has to say about its ideology, is succumbing to the fundamental principle of democracy - political compromise over the use of force. This sense of prudent politics can also be seen on the side of the Sinora-Harriri government.
The opposition protest camp, which started in January and strangled the parliamentary offices, has now become a virtual ghost town with only a few dozen individuals monitoring the grounds at any given moment. Lodged in the heart of downtown Beirut, it would appear to be quite simple for the Sinora government to order a few bulldozers to destroy the empty tents and arrest the few Hizbullah guards on duty. Such a scenario is unlikely to happen however because it would guarantee future escalation and spiral society into internecine violence. Being on the brink of chaos changes many political equations. In neighbouring Palestine one wishes that Hamas and Fatah could have learned a central point in conflict management from the Lebanese example: just because a short-term gain is possible does not necessarily mean that one should seize it.
It is ironic that Lebanon, a country torn by civil war, external interference and foreign invasion, and home to a group on the US' list of terrorists, is positioned to be the exemplar of democracy for the Arab world while Egypt, second only to Israel in receipt of U.S. foreign aid and whose opposition is made up largely of the politically pragmatic Muslim Brotherhood, resorts to water hoses and constitutional revision as a means to deal with free demonstrations and opposition parties.
Meanwhile, other US allies in the region — future recipients of a $20 billion military aid package — remain monarchies. The upcoming months undoubtedly will be trying for Lebanese society, but given the country's track record over the last few years, in the face of overwhelming odds, one should not expect that Lebanese political leaders will cower at the challenge. The by-elections on August 5th, which were host to an enormous amount of tension, went more smoothly than expected and without violence—another indication that things are not inevitably going downhill in Lebanon. Instead, it may be that interested onlookers learn something about conflict management the non-violent, democratic way.
*Abbas Barzegar is a Ph.D. candidate in the history of religions at Emory University in Atlanta where he studies early Islamic political history and the formation of Muslim sectarianism. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 7 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
**********
~Youth Views~
Dual nationality: a blessing or a curse?
By Hanane El Hadi and Menna Taher
Ifrane/Cairo - In an increasingly globalised world, people are emigrating from one country to another for a variety of reasons, such as the pursuit of specific education or job opportunities, new experiences, or even to escape war-torn situations. There has been a steady movement of Muslims from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe, and conversely, there is also a significant number of Europeans who opt to live in Middle East.
Faced with the diverse and sometimes competing identities in their new environments, these "dual nationals" share unique challenges and opportunities in their new home countries.After World War II, Europe conscientiously placed increased importance on individual religious freedom, making its countries an attractive destination for Middle Eastern and North African Muslim immigrants.
In recent years, however, there have been increased tensions between immigrants and nationals and restrictive laws, such as the educational system's ban of visible religious symbols on one's person in France, have appeared.France and the UK are among the top two destinations for Arab immigrants; yet, they differ from each other in their integration policies. The French model is largely based on the principle of assimilation while the British model advocates multiculturalism.
When immigrants from a North African background in France were asked about belonging to French society many gave the same answer, "Even if we have French citizenship, we are still regarded as immigrants; French society wants us to give up our culture, which defines our identity, in order to fit the French model". Despite this sentiment, however, some North African Muslims in France, such as new Justice Minister, Rachida Dati, have found a way to contribute fully in French society. She both serves as an example and acts as a liaison between those who feel pressure to give up their identity through assimilation and the French government. The experience in the UK is slightly different.
One example can be found in the responses of those from an Indian background living on the other side of the English Channel who, when questioned, tended to say, "We are British and Indian at the same time." The space in which both identities can be embraced at the same time allows dual nationals to benefit from the best of both worlds, and to offer the best of themselves to their local societies. Dual nationals living in the Arab world also experience their identity in different ways and face their share of challenges.Ahmed Rashed is a student at the American University of Cairo who has lived his whole life in Paris and Amsterdam and only moved to Egypt last year. He has found it difficult understanding some of the physical manifestations of culture, such as different greeting etiquette.
"In France it is ok for a man to kiss a girl on the cheek while greeting her; however, he would greet a guy with a handshake. Here it is the other way round," he explained.
Yet despite such frustrations felt by newcomers, many also report experiencing the gratification that cultural fusion can offer. Mariam Ghorbannejad, a 25-year old female who is half British and half Iranian, is one such individual. She is currently living in Egypt to learn Arabic and working as an editor for the Daily Star. Ghorbannejad has had little difficulty adapting to the culture. Having travelled much she has seen many different cultures and did not experience much "culture shock" when moving to Egypt.
"The English are more reserved and they might consider the Egyptian attitude aggressive, but I have no problem with it," she said. She appears to be at peace with the differences between Cairo and London, saying: "Here it is never quiet, you have salespeople selling their products, and bakers shouting 'bread' all the time. And you can't walk much in the streets because the pavement is uneven; but it's easier to get a taxi here than in London."
Although many individuals who have called more than one part of the world "home" find themselves faced with identity crises at one point or another, not knowing exactly where they belong, these stories also demonstrate the unique advantages to dual nationality: the ability to feel comfortable – to belong – in societies where those who don't share this dual identity would struggle to feel at home, and the opportunity to share their unique perspective with others.
* Menna Taher is a sophomore student at the American University in Cairo majoring in journalism. Hanane El Hadi is currently fulfilling her MA degree in International Studies and Diplomacy at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. They co-wrote this article as part of the Soliya Connect Program West-Muslim World intercultural dialogue program.
This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 7 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
end
For an archive of past CGNews articles and other information, please visit our website at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Unless otherwise noted, copyright permission has been obtained and articles may be reprinted by any news outlet or publication. Please acknowledge both the original source and the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
Inside this edition (Articles listed in full below)
1) Lebanon, a lesson in conflict management? by Abbas Barzegar
Abbas Barzegar, a Ph.D. candidate in the history of religions at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, asks whether there is more to the Lebanese example than "a turf war between rival gangs or a proxy war between Washington and Tehran". Despite its precarious situation, or perhaps because of it, he explains how Lebanon's brand of "prudent politics" provides some lessons about conflict management "the non-violent, democratic way".
(Source: Common Ground News Service, 7 August 2007)
2) ~Youth Views~ Dual nationality: a blessing or a curse? by Hanane El Hadi and Menna Taher
Menna Taher, a journalism student at the American University in Cairo, and Hanane El Hadi, a graduate student in International Studies and Diplomacy at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, consider the shared challenges and opportunities for "dual nationals" who have lived in both Europe and the Muslim world.
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 7 August 2007)
======
Lebanon, a lesson in conflict management?
By Abbas Barzegar
Atlanta, Georgia - With a population of four million divided amongst eighteen religious sects, it is surprising that the Lebanese political system has managed to survive this long. Now, this already burdened, fractious society heads into what promises to be a tumultuous presidential election. But Lebanon's struggles should be understood as more than simply a turf war between rival gangs or a proxy war between Washington and Tehran. Rather its problems and prospects represent a crystallised microcosm of the range of tensions and issues that face the Middle East and the West. The most significant feature of the Lebanese political field, and its most dangerous vulnerability, is the glaring lack of a central authority capable of enforcing the rule of law. With the Syrian band-aid that filled this vacuum now gone, many wonder if Lebanon's famed recovery from the civil war was anything more than transitory.
However, the fact that there has not been an outbreak in internal violence amongst the country's political and sectarian factions — despite the escalation in tensions following former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's unresolved assassination and the Israeli aggression last summer — should be testament that Lebanese society is prepared to face extraordinary political challenges without succumbing to the temptation of violence. Arguably it is this dimension of the Lebanese experience that has created a unique environment of pragmatism which many others would do well to observe. For example, this summer's outbreak of violence at the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp has been greeted by many hasty pundits as a sign that the country is headed toward another civil war, but for those more familiar with situation, the problem in Tripoli has been a case of common ground between the Sinora government and the opposition movement headed by Hizbullah.
Instead of Hizbullah leaning towards a pan-Islamic agenda by supporting fighters in the camp, it has unequivocally condemned Fatah al-Islam and supported the Lebanese government's efforts to secure its authority as the only legitimate policing entity in the country. Furthermore, given Hizbullah's pragmatic approach to things, few in Lebanon fear the Shi'a party is trying to implement an Islamic state in Lebanon. It may be that Hizbullah's manoeuvring over the past year is simply part of a clever political plan at a time when its popularity remains high but its role in the government is uncertain.
However, such criticism overlooks the more important fact that Lebanon's vulnerability is precisely what gives rise to this unique system of prudent politics and restraint that may offer a model of conflict management for the rest of the Middle East. Such prudence and restraint, if seized upon correctly, can bear tremendous long term fruits. For example, since the Israeli attack on Lebanon last year, the rubble of Dahiyeh (a Shi'ite neighbourhood in Beirut) has been virtually cleared, making bombed out building lots look like construction sites. Hizbullah has not rebuilt many of those homes however, not because it cannot, but because the central government has not issued building permits to allow it to do so. What is striking is that Hizbullah is actually recognising the government's authority in this matter. It would be quite easy with Iranian financing to rebuild a few dozen apartment buildings in a year's time and bypass the Lebanese central government. Hizbullah's leadership, regardless of one has to say about its ideology, is succumbing to the fundamental principle of democracy - political compromise over the use of force. This sense of prudent politics can also be seen on the side of the Sinora-Harriri government.
The opposition protest camp, which started in January and strangled the parliamentary offices, has now become a virtual ghost town with only a few dozen individuals monitoring the grounds at any given moment. Lodged in the heart of downtown Beirut, it would appear to be quite simple for the Sinora government to order a few bulldozers to destroy the empty tents and arrest the few Hizbullah guards on duty. Such a scenario is unlikely to happen however because it would guarantee future escalation and spiral society into internecine violence. Being on the brink of chaos changes many political equations. In neighbouring Palestine one wishes that Hamas and Fatah could have learned a central point in conflict management from the Lebanese example: just because a short-term gain is possible does not necessarily mean that one should seize it.
It is ironic that Lebanon, a country torn by civil war, external interference and foreign invasion, and home to a group on the US' list of terrorists, is positioned to be the exemplar of democracy for the Arab world while Egypt, second only to Israel in receipt of U.S. foreign aid and whose opposition is made up largely of the politically pragmatic Muslim Brotherhood, resorts to water hoses and constitutional revision as a means to deal with free demonstrations and opposition parties.
Meanwhile, other US allies in the region — future recipients of a $20 billion military aid package — remain monarchies. The upcoming months undoubtedly will be trying for Lebanese society, but given the country's track record over the last few years, in the face of overwhelming odds, one should not expect that Lebanese political leaders will cower at the challenge. The by-elections on August 5th, which were host to an enormous amount of tension, went more smoothly than expected and without violence—another indication that things are not inevitably going downhill in Lebanon. Instead, it may be that interested onlookers learn something about conflict management the non-violent, democratic way.
*Abbas Barzegar is a Ph.D. candidate in the history of religions at Emory University in Atlanta where he studies early Islamic political history and the formation of Muslim sectarianism. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 7 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
**********
~Youth Views~
Dual nationality: a blessing or a curse?
By Hanane El Hadi and Menna Taher
Ifrane/Cairo - In an increasingly globalised world, people are emigrating from one country to another for a variety of reasons, such as the pursuit of specific education or job opportunities, new experiences, or even to escape war-torn situations. There has been a steady movement of Muslims from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe, and conversely, there is also a significant number of Europeans who opt to live in Middle East.
Faced with the diverse and sometimes competing identities in their new environments, these "dual nationals" share unique challenges and opportunities in their new home countries.After World War II, Europe conscientiously placed increased importance on individual religious freedom, making its countries an attractive destination for Middle Eastern and North African Muslim immigrants.
In recent years, however, there have been increased tensions between immigrants and nationals and restrictive laws, such as the educational system's ban of visible religious symbols on one's person in France, have appeared.France and the UK are among the top two destinations for Arab immigrants; yet, they differ from each other in their integration policies. The French model is largely based on the principle of assimilation while the British model advocates multiculturalism.
When immigrants from a North African background in France were asked about belonging to French society many gave the same answer, "Even if we have French citizenship, we are still regarded as immigrants; French society wants us to give up our culture, which defines our identity, in order to fit the French model". Despite this sentiment, however, some North African Muslims in France, such as new Justice Minister, Rachida Dati, have found a way to contribute fully in French society. She both serves as an example and acts as a liaison between those who feel pressure to give up their identity through assimilation and the French government. The experience in the UK is slightly different.
One example can be found in the responses of those from an Indian background living on the other side of the English Channel who, when questioned, tended to say, "We are British and Indian at the same time." The space in which both identities can be embraced at the same time allows dual nationals to benefit from the best of both worlds, and to offer the best of themselves to their local societies. Dual nationals living in the Arab world also experience their identity in different ways and face their share of challenges.Ahmed Rashed is a student at the American University of Cairo who has lived his whole life in Paris and Amsterdam and only moved to Egypt last year. He has found it difficult understanding some of the physical manifestations of culture, such as different greeting etiquette.
"In France it is ok for a man to kiss a girl on the cheek while greeting her; however, he would greet a guy with a handshake. Here it is the other way round," he explained.
Yet despite such frustrations felt by newcomers, many also report experiencing the gratification that cultural fusion can offer. Mariam Ghorbannejad, a 25-year old female who is half British and half Iranian, is one such individual. She is currently living in Egypt to learn Arabic and working as an editor for the Daily Star. Ghorbannejad has had little difficulty adapting to the culture. Having travelled much she has seen many different cultures and did not experience much "culture shock" when moving to Egypt.
"The English are more reserved and they might consider the Egyptian attitude aggressive, but I have no problem with it," she said. She appears to be at peace with the differences between Cairo and London, saying: "Here it is never quiet, you have salespeople selling their products, and bakers shouting 'bread' all the time. And you can't walk much in the streets because the pavement is uneven; but it's easier to get a taxi here than in London."
Although many individuals who have called more than one part of the world "home" find themselves faced with identity crises at one point or another, not knowing exactly where they belong, these stories also demonstrate the unique advantages to dual nationality: the ability to feel comfortable – to belong – in societies where those who don't share this dual identity would struggle to feel at home, and the opportunity to share their unique perspective with others.
* Menna Taher is a sophomore student at the American University in Cairo majoring in journalism. Hanane El Hadi is currently fulfilling her MA degree in International Studies and Diplomacy at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. They co-wrote this article as part of the Soliya Connect Program West-Muslim World intercultural dialogue program.
This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at http://www.commongroundnews.org/.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 7 August 2007, http://www.commongroundnews.org/
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.
end
Monday, August 06, 2007
ADC Condemns Tom Tancredo's continued racist hatred
ADC Press Release:
ADC Condemns Comments from Congressman Tancredo
Washington, DC | August 3, 2007 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is shocked and appalled by recent comments made by Republican presidential candidate Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado. While speaking to a group of voters in Iowa, Tancredo said "If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland…would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina; that is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they would otherwise do. If I am wrong, fine, tell me, and I would be happy to do something else. But you had better find a deterrent, or you will find an attack."
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Congressman Tancredo has made such ignorant and hate-filled remarks. On a radio show in 2005, Tancredo suggested dropping nuclear bombs on the holy city of Mecca in retaliation for any terrorist attack directed against the homeland of the United States.
Tancredo's comments serve only to encourage hatred towards Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds. His views are not shared by the US government; Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey of the State Department called Tancredo's recent comments "reprehensible" and "absolutely crazy".
ADC asks our members to contact Congressman Tancredo concerning his remarks.
Washington Office:
1131 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0606
Phone: (202) 225-7882
Fax: (202) 226-4623
Email: http://tancredo.house.gov/contact_tom.html
Website: http://tancredo.house.gov/
Main District Office:
6099 South Quebec St., Ste. 200
Centennial, CO 80111
Phone: (720) 283-9772
Fax: (720) 283-9776
http://capwiz.com/adc/issues/alert/?alertid=10156126
###
NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non sectarian and non partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980, by former Senator James Abourezk to combat racial stereotyping and to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the United States. ADC has 38 chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and members in all 50 states.
______________________________________________________________
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee | www.adc.org
ADC Condemns Comments from Congressman Tancredo
Washington, DC | August 3, 2007 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is shocked and appalled by recent comments made by Republican presidential candidate Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado. While speaking to a group of voters in Iowa, Tancredo said "If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland…would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina; that is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they would otherwise do. If I am wrong, fine, tell me, and I would be happy to do something else. But you had better find a deterrent, or you will find an attack."
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Congressman Tancredo has made such ignorant and hate-filled remarks. On a radio show in 2005, Tancredo suggested dropping nuclear bombs on the holy city of Mecca in retaliation for any terrorist attack directed against the homeland of the United States.
Tancredo's comments serve only to encourage hatred towards Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds. His views are not shared by the US government; Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey of the State Department called Tancredo's recent comments "reprehensible" and "absolutely crazy".
ADC asks our members to contact Congressman Tancredo concerning his remarks.
Washington Office:
1131 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0606
Phone: (202) 225-7882
Fax: (202) 226-4623
Email: http://tancredo.house.gov/contact_tom.html
Website: http://tancredo.house.gov/
Main District Office:
6099 South Quebec St., Ste. 200
Centennial, CO 80111
Phone: (720) 283-9772
Fax: (720) 283-9776
http://capwiz.com/adc/issues/alert/?alertid=10156126
###
NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non sectarian and non partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980, by former Senator James Abourezk to combat racial stereotyping and to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the United States. ADC has 38 chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and members in all 50 states.
______________________________________________________________
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee | www.adc.org
Friday, August 03, 2007
Israeli settlers occupy Palestinians lands in Bil'in
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Last night, hundreds of Israeli settlers occupied buildings illegally erected on land belonging to the Palestinian village of Bil'in, despite an order from the Israeli Supreme Court forbidding them to do so. The takeover came amidst rumors relating to the imminent bankruptcy of real estate giant Heftsiba.
Earlier today, Mohammad Khatib, a member of Bil'in's popular committee against the wall and settlements stated that;
"The settlers are above the law. The organized takeover of the Matityahu Mizrah settlement is in defiance of the Supreme Court's ban, it is a continuation of the Modi'in Elite local council's policy to work illegally and create facts on the ground. This time Modi'in Elite's local council are taking advantage of Heftsiba's rumored bankruptcy to commit yet another crime intended to pressure the Israeli Supreme Court."
In January 2006, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a temporary order in one appeal case (143/06), freezing the building and population of the Matityahu East settlement after the illegal building of 42 residential buildings. Twenty of the buildings were built with no permit and 22 others with permits illegally issued by the Modiin Elite council.
Khatib reports that Yaacov Gutterman, head of the Modi'in Elite local council and the man who, according to the civil administration, is responsible for "large scale illegal building" in the Matityahu East settlement is on site distributing food to the invading settlers.
According to a report in today's Ha'aretz Metityahu Mizrah is the largest West Bank settlement project that is illegal under Israeli law.
The route of the wall in Bil'in is designed not only to protect Matityahu Mizrah but according to a master plan allowing for future expansion. For more details see B'tselem Report "Under the Guise of Security: Routing the Separation Barrier to Enable Israeli Settlement Expansion in the West Bank".
For more information call Mohammad Khatib 0545-573285 or Jonathan Polak 054-6327736
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led non-violent resistance movement committed to ending Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land. We call for full compliance with all relevant UN resolutions and international law.
For specific media inquires such as interview requests, photo usage, etc. please email the ISM Media Office at media@palsolidarity.org
Last night, hundreds of Israeli settlers occupied buildings illegally erected on land belonging to the Palestinian village of Bil'in, despite an order from the Israeli Supreme Court forbidding them to do so. The takeover came amidst rumors relating to the imminent bankruptcy of real estate giant Heftsiba.
Earlier today, Mohammad Khatib, a member of Bil'in's popular committee against the wall and settlements stated that;
"The settlers are above the law. The organized takeover of the Matityahu Mizrah settlement is in defiance of the Supreme Court's ban, it is a continuation of the Modi'in Elite local council's policy to work illegally and create facts on the ground. This time Modi'in Elite's local council are taking advantage of Heftsiba's rumored bankruptcy to commit yet another crime intended to pressure the Israeli Supreme Court."
In January 2006, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a temporary order in one appeal case (143/06), freezing the building and population of the Matityahu East settlement after the illegal building of 42 residential buildings. Twenty of the buildings were built with no permit and 22 others with permits illegally issued by the Modiin Elite council.
Khatib reports that Yaacov Gutterman, head of the Modi'in Elite local council and the man who, according to the civil administration, is responsible for "large scale illegal building" in the Matityahu East settlement is on site distributing food to the invading settlers.
According to a report in today's Ha'aretz Metityahu Mizrah is the largest West Bank settlement project that is illegal under Israeli law.
The route of the wall in Bil'in is designed not only to protect Matityahu Mizrah but according to a master plan allowing for future expansion. For more details see B'tselem Report "Under the Guise of Security: Routing the Separation Barrier to Enable Israeli Settlement Expansion in the West Bank".
For more information call Mohammad Khatib 0545-573285 or Jonathan Polak 054-6327736
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led non-violent resistance movement committed to ending Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land. We call for full compliance with all relevant UN resolutions and international law.
For specific media inquires such as interview requests, photo usage, etc. please email the ISM Media Office at media@palsolidarity.org
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Israeli-Palestinian Combatants for Peace event Aug. 14-15, Chicago
Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace invites you to a luncheon and discussion
With Israeli Yonatan Gur and Palestinian Riyad al Halees of Combatants for Peace
Hosted by Charles E. Dobrusin and moderated by Aliza Becker, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
Tuesday, August 14 at 12 noon
10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1800 (between Madison & Monroe 1/2 block west of Wacker)
Chicago, IL 60606
Please RSVP to aliza@btvshalom.org or (312) 341-1205 by Sunday, August 13 and indicate if you would like a vegetarian meal. All food will be Kosher. Site is accessible.
Bios
Yonatan Gur was born in 1979 on a kibbutz in the western Galilee. He is presently a third year history student at Tel Aviv University and works as a reporter for the "Yedioth Aharonot" newspaper and as a group moderator in non-formal education projects. During primary and high school, he was active as a group leader in youth movements and as a member of the "Peace Now" youth organization. After high school and a year of volunteer social service he was drafted by the Israel Defense Forces, eventually serving as a platoon commander in the armored corps. Yonatan joined "Combatants for Peace" in February 2006, and since then has been an active member of this movement.
Riyad al Halees was born in 1979 in Hebron, south of Jerusalem. He holds a BA degree in sociology from Bir Zeit University in Ramallah, where he now lives. Riyad was arrested several times and served time in Israeli prisons for participation in actions against the Israeli occupation. In 2003 Riyad was severely injured from shots fired by Israeli soldiers. His brother was killed in the incident. Following that event Riyad gradually realized that violence only leads to more violence and that a non-violent struggle is the only way to end the occupation and achieve peace. It was for the promotions of these ideas that Riyad joined CFP and has become one of its most prominent members
About Combatants for Peace
We are a group of Israeli and Palestinian individuals who were actively involved in the cycle of violence in our area. The Israelis served as combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinians were involved in acts of violence in the name of Palestinian liberation. We all used weapons against one another, and looked at each other only through weapon sights; however today we cooperate and commit ourselves to the following:
* We no longer believe that the conflict can be resolved through violence.
* We believe that the blood shed will not end unless we act together to terminate the occupation and stop all forms of violence.
* We call for the establishment of a Palestinian State, alongside the State of Israel. The two states can exist in peace and security beside each other.
* We will use only non-violent means to achieve our goals and call for both societies to end violence.
Aliza Becker, Deputy Director
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
11 E. Adams, Suite 707
Chicago, IL 60603
Ph: (312) 341-1205
Fax: (312) 341-1206
E-mail: Aliza@btvshalom.org
Web: www.btvshalom.org
With Israeli Yonatan Gur and Palestinian Riyad al Halees of Combatants for Peace
Hosted by Charles E. Dobrusin and moderated by Aliza Becker, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
Tuesday, August 14 at 12 noon
10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1800 (between Madison & Monroe 1/2 block west of Wacker)
Chicago, IL 60606
Please RSVP to aliza@btvshalom.org or (312) 341-1205 by Sunday, August 13 and indicate if you would like a vegetarian meal. All food will be Kosher. Site is accessible.
Bios
Yonatan Gur was born in 1979 on a kibbutz in the western Galilee. He is presently a third year history student at Tel Aviv University and works as a reporter for the "Yedioth Aharonot" newspaper and as a group moderator in non-formal education projects. During primary and high school, he was active as a group leader in youth movements and as a member of the "Peace Now" youth organization. After high school and a year of volunteer social service he was drafted by the Israel Defense Forces, eventually serving as a platoon commander in the armored corps. Yonatan joined "Combatants for Peace" in February 2006, and since then has been an active member of this movement.
Riyad al Halees was born in 1979 in Hebron, south of Jerusalem. He holds a BA degree in sociology from Bir Zeit University in Ramallah, where he now lives. Riyad was arrested several times and served time in Israeli prisons for participation in actions against the Israeli occupation. In 2003 Riyad was severely injured from shots fired by Israeli soldiers. His brother was killed in the incident. Following that event Riyad gradually realized that violence only leads to more violence and that a non-violent struggle is the only way to end the occupation and achieve peace. It was for the promotions of these ideas that Riyad joined CFP and has become one of its most prominent members
About Combatants for Peace
We are a group of Israeli and Palestinian individuals who were actively involved in the cycle of violence in our area. The Israelis served as combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinians were involved in acts of violence in the name of Palestinian liberation. We all used weapons against one another, and looked at each other only through weapon sights; however today we cooperate and commit ourselves to the following:
* We no longer believe that the conflict can be resolved through violence.
* We believe that the blood shed will not end unless we act together to terminate the occupation and stop all forms of violence.
* We call for the establishment of a Palestinian State, alongside the State of Israel. The two states can exist in peace and security beside each other.
* We will use only non-violent means to achieve our goals and call for both societies to end violence.
Aliza Becker, Deputy Director
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
11 E. Adams, Suite 707
Chicago, IL 60603
Ph: (312) 341-1205
Fax: (312) 341-1206
E-mail: Aliza@btvshalom.org
Web: www.btvshalom.org
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Defendent who defeats terrorism charges awaits sentencing in suburban Chicago kangaroo court
Co-defendent in phony "terrorism" charge, Dr. Abdul-Haleem Ashqar, cleared along with Mohammed Salah, but awaits sentencing on trumped up phony charges of "civil contempt" and "obstruction of justice" for failing to "testify" when demanded by criminal US Attorney John Ashcroft against other alleged Palestinian targets.
Here's a story from the Muslim Link Newspaper in Detroit:
Ashqar Awaits Community Support
By Farkhunda Ali
Muslim Link Staff Writer
The Free Dr. Ashqar Committee (FDAC), MAS Freedom Foundation, and SISTERS Committee launched a letter writing campaign in support of Dr. Abdul-Haleem Ashqar late May 2007.
The majority of the letters have been submitted from members of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia. A small number of supporters from Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland have already begun to submit letters as well.
The next step is to ask other Masajid in the DC Area to participate in the campaign. Ashqar is depending on these letters of support to prove to the judge in his case that the Muslim community stands behind him. On February 1st, the jury found Ashqar “not guilty” of all the major charges and convicted him of lesser charges of “civil contempt” and “obstruction of justice” for not testifying against other Palestinian activists.
His sentencing is scheduled for September 7th in Chicago. He could possibly face a minimum of 18-month sentence if jailed for civil contempt. In the worst-case scenario, Ashqar faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.The defense plans to appeal the verdict on the lesser charges and will fight this case diligently until Ashqar’s family rests at home peacefully.
Ashqar’s defense team is urgently requesting additional letters of support in order to present a positive testimony on behalf of its client. So far, Ashqar’s legal counsel stated they have received 300 letters of support.
The objective of the mass letter writing campaign is to gather 700 support letters before the sentence to present to the Honorable Judge Amy St. Eve asking her to show mercy when deciding on a sentence.
The FDAC did not return any phone calls regarding the letter writing campaign. Ashqar told the Muslim Link he is pleading the community to come forth in large numbers to get as many support letters as possible.
According to Ashqar’s legal counsel, the judge has agreed to read all letters and take them into consideration when deciding on the sentence terms.
After a lengthy jury deliberation in Chicago, Ashqar and his co-defendant Muhammad Salah were acquitted of the most serious charges in February by a federal jury of the racketeering conspiracy charges. This acquittal came at the end of four months trial that took place in Chicago, IL. The previous verdict safeguarded both defendants from possibly facing a maximum life prison terms for terrorism related conspiracy charges. Their victory proved that Americans still value their core Constitutional principles. Judge St. Eve decided not to incriminate Ashqar and Salah for exercising their first amendment rights of freedom of speech.On July 11, 2007, the co-defendant Salah was sentenced to 21-months in federal prison for lying under oath in a civil lawsuit. Salah, 54, was also fined $25,000 and ordered 100 hours of community service.
Ashqar’s defense team did not make any comments regarding the pending negotiations with the probation officer on sentencing guidelines.
“The most challenging thing is counting all of the wonderful letters that we have received from the Muslim community,” said Attorney Bill Moffit, defense attorney of Ashqar.
All supporters are instructed to write their name, address, and phone number. Please include your professional and education background and city of residence. The letter should include information on how one knows Ashqar and the period of time of acquaintance.
The letter should answer the following questions: What is your impression of the type of person he is? Do you think of him as an honest human being? Why?
The letter can be concluded by stating some personal thoughts on the trial, Ashqar and his life. All writers are advised to be polite in their requests to reconsider Ashqar’s verdict or to have clemency in sentencing.
The letters will go straight to Honorable Judge Amy St. Eve. The letters can be mailed to: Mr. WILLIAM B. MOFFITT ESQ. , 11582 GREENWICH POINT ROAD, RESTON, VA 20194. For more information, Email Ashqar@aol.com or visit http://www.free-ashqar.org/.
Here's a story from the Muslim Link Newspaper in Detroit:
Ashqar Awaits Community Support
By Farkhunda Ali
Muslim Link Staff Writer
The Free Dr. Ashqar Committee (FDAC), MAS Freedom Foundation, and SISTERS Committee launched a letter writing campaign in support of Dr. Abdul-Haleem Ashqar late May 2007.
The majority of the letters have been submitted from members of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia. A small number of supporters from Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland have already begun to submit letters as well.
The next step is to ask other Masajid in the DC Area to participate in the campaign. Ashqar is depending on these letters of support to prove to the judge in his case that the Muslim community stands behind him. On February 1st, the jury found Ashqar “not guilty” of all the major charges and convicted him of lesser charges of “civil contempt” and “obstruction of justice” for not testifying against other Palestinian activists.
His sentencing is scheduled for September 7th in Chicago. He could possibly face a minimum of 18-month sentence if jailed for civil contempt. In the worst-case scenario, Ashqar faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.The defense plans to appeal the verdict on the lesser charges and will fight this case diligently until Ashqar’s family rests at home peacefully.
Ashqar’s defense team is urgently requesting additional letters of support in order to present a positive testimony on behalf of its client. So far, Ashqar’s legal counsel stated they have received 300 letters of support.
The objective of the mass letter writing campaign is to gather 700 support letters before the sentence to present to the Honorable Judge Amy St. Eve asking her to show mercy when deciding on a sentence.
The FDAC did not return any phone calls regarding the letter writing campaign. Ashqar told the Muslim Link he is pleading the community to come forth in large numbers to get as many support letters as possible.
According to Ashqar’s legal counsel, the judge has agreed to read all letters and take them into consideration when deciding on the sentence terms.
After a lengthy jury deliberation in Chicago, Ashqar and his co-defendant Muhammad Salah were acquitted of the most serious charges in February by a federal jury of the racketeering conspiracy charges. This acquittal came at the end of four months trial that took place in Chicago, IL. The previous verdict safeguarded both defendants from possibly facing a maximum life prison terms for terrorism related conspiracy charges. Their victory proved that Americans still value their core Constitutional principles. Judge St. Eve decided not to incriminate Ashqar and Salah for exercising their first amendment rights of freedom of speech.On July 11, 2007, the co-defendant Salah was sentenced to 21-months in federal prison for lying under oath in a civil lawsuit. Salah, 54, was also fined $25,000 and ordered 100 hours of community service.
Ashqar’s defense team did not make any comments regarding the pending negotiations with the probation officer on sentencing guidelines.
“The most challenging thing is counting all of the wonderful letters that we have received from the Muslim community,” said Attorney Bill Moffit, defense attorney of Ashqar.
All supporters are instructed to write their name, address, and phone number. Please include your professional and education background and city of residence. The letter should include information on how one knows Ashqar and the period of time of acquaintance.
The letter should answer the following questions: What is your impression of the type of person he is? Do you think of him as an honest human being? Why?
The letter can be concluded by stating some personal thoughts on the trial, Ashqar and his life. All writers are advised to be polite in their requests to reconsider Ashqar’s verdict or to have clemency in sentencing.
The letters will go straight to Honorable Judge Amy St. Eve. The letters can be mailed to: Mr. WILLIAM B. MOFFITT ESQ. , 11582 GREENWICH POINT ROAD, RESTON, VA 20194. For more information, Email Ashqar@aol.com or visit http://www.free-ashqar.org/.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Press conference on immigration reform planned
For Immediate Release
Thursday, July 26, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Leonie Campbell (202) 296-2300 x135; (202) 492-4591 (Cell)lcampbell@advancingequality.org
TELEPHONIC BRIEFINGImmigrant Rights Leaders to Discuss Increased Anti-Immigrant Measures in Congress and the Need for Community Action
WHAT: On the record briefing with Q & A
WHEN: Monday, July 30, 2007 ~ 3:00 p.m. (EDT) 12:00 p.m. (PST)
HOW: To register and obtain the call-in number, please contact Leonie Campbell at (202) 296-2300 x135 or lcampbell@advancingequality.org.
WHO: Karen K. Narasaki, President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Josh Bernstein, Federal Policy Director, National Immigration Law Center
Deepa Iyer, Executive Director, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
Eun Sook Lee, Executive Director, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
Kerri Sherlock Talbot, Director of Policy and Planning, Rights Working Group
Background: Last week 57 senators voted for Senator John Ensign’s (R-NV) amendment to the unrelated education bill, H.R. 2669, which would have cut off the Social Security benefits of naturalized citizens who could not prove they were work-authorized for every quarter they contributed to the system. The failed amendment, which required 60 votes for passage, is part of a disturbing trend of Senators and Representatives attempting to restrict the rights of even long time legal permanent residents. Despite the demise of the comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate, Congress has not dropped the issue of immigration. Unfortunately, many politicians are seeking to push anti-immigrant measures as immigration reform. Speakers will discuss attempts to further restrict access to food stamps for legal permanent residents and naturalized citizens and appropriations bills that make the extremely flawed Basic Pilot immigration verification system mandatory for any company receiving funds under the Act.
They will provide information on the impact of anti-immigrant measures on the Asian American community and offer ways for community members to help stop the alarming anti-immigrant trend. In addition, the panel of immigrant rights leaders will talk about the many attempts to enlist state and local police to enforce federal civil immigration laws at the expense of community policing.
The Asian American Justice Center (http://www.advancingequality.org/) is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (http://www.aaichicago.org/), the Asian Law Caucus (http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (http://www.apalc.org/) in Los Angeles – and nearly 100 community partners in 49 cities, 23 states and Washington, D.C.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Leonie Campbell (202) 296-2300 x135; (202) 492-4591 (Cell)lcampbell@advancingequality.org
TELEPHONIC BRIEFINGImmigrant Rights Leaders to Discuss Increased Anti-Immigrant Measures in Congress and the Need for Community Action
WHAT: On the record briefing with Q & A
WHEN: Monday, July 30, 2007 ~ 3:00 p.m. (EDT) 12:00 p.m. (PST)
HOW: To register and obtain the call-in number, please contact Leonie Campbell at (202) 296-2300 x135 or lcampbell@advancingequality.org.
WHO: Karen K. Narasaki, President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Josh Bernstein, Federal Policy Director, National Immigration Law Center
Deepa Iyer, Executive Director, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
Eun Sook Lee, Executive Director, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
Kerri Sherlock Talbot, Director of Policy and Planning, Rights Working Group
Background: Last week 57 senators voted for Senator John Ensign’s (R-NV) amendment to the unrelated education bill, H.R. 2669, which would have cut off the Social Security benefits of naturalized citizens who could not prove they were work-authorized for every quarter they contributed to the system. The failed amendment, which required 60 votes for passage, is part of a disturbing trend of Senators and Representatives attempting to restrict the rights of even long time legal permanent residents. Despite the demise of the comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate, Congress has not dropped the issue of immigration. Unfortunately, many politicians are seeking to push anti-immigrant measures as immigration reform. Speakers will discuss attempts to further restrict access to food stamps for legal permanent residents and naturalized citizens and appropriations bills that make the extremely flawed Basic Pilot immigration verification system mandatory for any company receiving funds under the Act.
They will provide information on the impact of anti-immigrant measures on the Asian American community and offer ways for community members to help stop the alarming anti-immigrant trend. In addition, the panel of immigrant rights leaders will talk about the many attempts to enlist state and local police to enforce federal civil immigration laws at the expense of community policing.
The Asian American Justice Center (http://www.advancingequality.org/) is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (http://www.aaichicago.org/), the Asian Law Caucus (http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (http://www.apalc.org/) in Los Angeles – and nearly 100 community partners in 49 cities, 23 states and Washington, D.C.
Arab American Media Wire Service Celebrates 3 years
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2007
Contact: Ray Hanania
rayhanania@comcast.net
Arab American Media Wire Service celebrates 3rd Anniversary
(Chicago, IL., USA/July 26, 2007) -- The nation's only Arab American news wire service, Arab American Media Wire, celebrated its third year of service this month, distributing more than 500 press releases and feature/news stories to mainstream American news media and to the Arab American Ethnic media.
"We started the AAMS Wire in July 2004 mainly because there was no source where one could come to find the latest news releases on Arab American or Middle East issues generated by Arab American groups," said AAMS founder, veteran journalist Ray Hanania.
"Every week, more and more editors and reporters at newspapers around the country and around the world, come here to scan the latest postings for possible story leads and content for their newspapers."
The service is offered free of charge. Any content found ont he AAMS wire can be republished and referenced with proper attribution to the original sources of the news and to the AAMS Wire service.
"This is an important networking tool that is crucial to achieving balanced and comprehensive news media coverage of the Arab American community," said Hanania, who is a board member of the National Arab American Journalists Association and a member of the diversity committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, and Media Watch committee of the Asian American Journalists Association.
"Press releases are a critical aspect of balanced reporting."
Individuals wishing to submit press releases, notices or feature stories can email them to
rayhanania@comcast.net
The preferred format is to post the releases in the body of the email rather than as an attachment. Unfortunately, PDF's cannot be posted to the site.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2007
Contact: Ray Hanania
rayhanania@comcast.net
Arab American Media Wire Service celebrates 3rd Anniversary
(Chicago, IL., USA/July 26, 2007) -- The nation's only Arab American news wire service, Arab American Media Wire, celebrated its third year of service this month, distributing more than 500 press releases and feature/news stories to mainstream American news media and to the Arab American Ethnic media.
"We started the AAMS Wire in July 2004 mainly because there was no source where one could come to find the latest news releases on Arab American or Middle East issues generated by Arab American groups," said AAMS founder, veteran journalist Ray Hanania.
"Every week, more and more editors and reporters at newspapers around the country and around the world, come here to scan the latest postings for possible story leads and content for their newspapers."
The service is offered free of charge. Any content found ont he AAMS wire can be republished and referenced with proper attribution to the original sources of the news and to the AAMS Wire service.
"This is an important networking tool that is crucial to achieving balanced and comprehensive news media coverage of the Arab American community," said Hanania, who is a board member of the National Arab American Journalists Association and a member of the diversity committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, and Media Watch committee of the Asian American Journalists Association.
"Press releases are a critical aspect of balanced reporting."
Individuals wishing to submit press releases, notices or feature stories can email them to
rayhanania@comcast.net
The preferred format is to post the releases in the body of the email rather than as an attachment. Unfortunately, PDF's cannot be posted to the site.
# # #
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Palestine Football Team in UK
PALESTINE: Something to Cheer About!!!
PALESTINE NATIONAL YOUTH (under 21) TEAM IN THE UK
August 21st to September the 10th 2007
www.palestinefootball.myzen.co.uk/
Download the leaflet of the events: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/events.asp?d=y&id=2287
Cheshire County at the Vauxhall Motors Stadium, Ellesmere Port 26/08/07, 11am
Chester City FC Youth at the Airbus Stadium, Broughton, Chester, 30/08/07 5.30pm
Tranmere Rovers FC, Raby Training Ground, Wirral, 04/09/07 3pm
Blackburn Rovers FC, Ewood Park, 08/09/07 at 3pm
Tickets: http://www.rovers.co.uk/
For further information on the tour see http://www.palestinefootball.myzen.co.uk/
PALESTINE NATIONAL YOUTH (under 21) TEAM IN THE UK
August 21st to September the 10th 2007
www.palestinefootball.myzen.co.uk/
Download the leaflet of the events: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/events.asp?d=y&id=2287
Cheshire County at the Vauxhall Motors Stadium, Ellesmere Port 26/08/07, 11am
Chester City FC Youth at the Airbus Stadium, Broughton, Chester, 30/08/07 5.30pm
Tranmere Rovers FC, Raby Training Ground, Wirral, 04/09/07 3pm
Blackburn Rovers FC, Ewood Park, 08/09/07 at 3pm
Tickets: http://www.rovers.co.uk/
For further information on the tour see http://www.palestinefootball.myzen.co.uk/
SIRAJ Holy Studies Program completes first session, produces online videos
The first month of the Palestinian Summer Celebration for this year already finished successfully and we just started our second month. Participants traveled from Chile, USA, England, Scotland and Switzerland.
The 2007 participants have produced three videos so far:
1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PHXE1-TYg
2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1MMve_qHK0 (via Dolorossa, religious)
3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ5jzZHqvnY
The last video is the most updated one and all the videos expresses the personal experiences for the participants. More over, our participants have written about their time in Palestine and you can find more information at: http://www.sirajcenter.org/s-blogs.htmS
iraj Center has hosted different people this summer who traveled to Palestine either to make a film, write a story, give lectures and talks, or delegations who visit Palestine either to visit Holy Sites and meet with locals and understand the political situation or fact finding missions and work groups.
For more information, please visit http://www.sirajcenter.org/ Salaam,
George S. Rishmawi
Coordinator,Siraj, Center For Holy Land Studies
Schools Street, Beit SahourPalestine
The 2007 participants have produced three videos so far:
1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PHXE1-TYg
2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1MMve_qHK0 (via Dolorossa, religious)
3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ5jzZHqvnY
The last video is the most updated one and all the videos expresses the personal experiences for the participants. More over, our participants have written about their time in Palestine and you can find more information at: http://www.sirajcenter.org/s-blogs.htmS
iraj Center has hosted different people this summer who traveled to Palestine either to make a film, write a story, give lectures and talks, or delegations who visit Palestine either to visit Holy Sites and meet with locals and understand the political situation or fact finding missions and work groups.
For more information, please visit http://www.sirajcenter.org/ Salaam,
George S. Rishmawi
Coordinator,Siraj, Center For Holy Land Studies
Schools Street, Beit SahourPalestine
Monday, July 23, 2007
PR: Support Ta'ayush Human Rights effort, Chicago August 4
Ta’ayush in Peril: Defending Human Rights in Palestine
A Ta’ayush Fundraiser with Israeli Human Rights Attorney Gaby Lasky
Saturday, August 4, 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Grace Place
637 S. Dearborn
ChicagoTa’ayush (Arabic for “life in common”) is a grassroots organization of Arabs and Jews working to break down the walls of racism and segregation by constructing a true Arab-Jewish partnership. For years, Ta’ayush has been working on behalf of the Palestinian inhabitants of the South Hebron Hills in the West Bank, who are under threat of being expelled from their ancestral hills.
In recent weeks the threat has become imminent, and Ta’ayush has put out an international call to ask for help. Specifically, Ta’ayush – an all volunteer organization with no resources of its own – is trying to raise $10,000 to help defray the lawyers’ costs as they work to defend the rights of these people to keep their homes.Please join us this morning for a discussion with Gaby Lasky, who works with Ta’ayush on this and other issues. A human rights attorney, Lasky represents Israelis, internationals and Palestinians who engage in non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation. Formerly secretary general of the Israeli Peace Now, she is currently the legal advisor to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel. She also represents a number of women conscientious objectors refusing to serve in the Israeli army while the occupation continues.
Lasky will share details of the urgent situation facing Palestinians, not only in the South Hebron hills, but also in Jerusalem, where they are facing severe challenges to continued residency.A light breakfast will be served. There is no cost to attend the event. We will be soliciting voluntary donations for Ta’ayush’s legal fund.
You may also contribute directly:
Send checks made out to Ta’ayush toTali SchaeferPO Box 250778New York, NY 10025Co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace - Chicago.RSVP greatly appreciated! Lynn Pollack at 312-427-2533 or e-mail lpollack@afsc.org
A Ta’ayush Fundraiser with Israeli Human Rights Attorney Gaby Lasky
Saturday, August 4, 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Grace Place
637 S. Dearborn
ChicagoTa’ayush (Arabic for “life in common”) is a grassroots organization of Arabs and Jews working to break down the walls of racism and segregation by constructing a true Arab-Jewish partnership. For years, Ta’ayush has been working on behalf of the Palestinian inhabitants of the South Hebron Hills in the West Bank, who are under threat of being expelled from their ancestral hills.
In recent weeks the threat has become imminent, and Ta’ayush has put out an international call to ask for help. Specifically, Ta’ayush – an all volunteer organization with no resources of its own – is trying to raise $10,000 to help defray the lawyers’ costs as they work to defend the rights of these people to keep their homes.Please join us this morning for a discussion with Gaby Lasky, who works with Ta’ayush on this and other issues. A human rights attorney, Lasky represents Israelis, internationals and Palestinians who engage in non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation. Formerly secretary general of the Israeli Peace Now, she is currently the legal advisor to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel. She also represents a number of women conscientious objectors refusing to serve in the Israeli army while the occupation continues.
Lasky will share details of the urgent situation facing Palestinians, not only in the South Hebron hills, but also in Jerusalem, where they are facing severe challenges to continued residency.A light breakfast will be served. There is no cost to attend the event. We will be soliciting voluntary donations for Ta’ayush’s legal fund.
You may also contribute directly:
Send checks made out to Ta’ayush toTali SchaeferPO Box 250778New York, NY 10025Co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace - Chicago.RSVP greatly appreciated! Lynn Pollack at 312-427-2533 or e-mail lpollack@afsc.org
Saturday, July 21, 2007
PBS Features report on Women's TV Talk Show "Kalam Nawaem" that challenges Middle East stereotypes July 31, PBS
WIDE ANGLE PRESENTS AN EXCLUSIVE REPORT ON THE GROUND-BREAKING ALL-FEMALE TALK SHOW THAT IS SHAKING UP THE MIDDLE EAST
Dishing Democracy Premieres Tuesday, July 31 At 9 P.M. As WIDE ANGLE Continues Its Sixth Season On PBS
While the United States has been striving to promote democracy in the Arab world, a home-grown revolution is already taking place. Every Sunday night in living rooms throughout the Middle East, tens of millions of viewers are tuning in to a fearless all-female talk show whose four hosts discuss controversial subjects, shatter stereotypes and provoke debate. Originally inspired by ABC’s hit The View, Kalam Nawaem (Sweet Talk) is taped in studios over the Middle East and broadcast each week from Dubai. Five years after its premiere, the show is a top-rated program on MBC, one of the first privately owned Arab satellite television channels.
With exclusive access to both the private and the professional lives of Kalam Nawaem’s hosts and producers, WIDE ANGLE: Dishing Democracy provides a nuanced portrait of Arab women harnessing the power of transnational satellite television to boldly and effectively push social reform. Dishing Democracy premieres Tuesday, July 31 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).
The show is hosted by four women of different ages, nationalities and points of view who have become household names and role models across the Muslim world. Muna AbuSulayman, the very first Saudi woman to appear on Arab satellite television; Farah Bseiso, a Palestinian actress; Fawzia Salama, an Egyptian newspaper columnist; and Rania Barghout, a liberal Lebanese, meet in the production studio to discuss – and disagree on – a wide range of news, entertainment and social issues with invited guests. WIDE ANGLE’s cameras capture censorship discussions in editorial meetings, tension and camaraderie in the dressing room, and viewer reaction on the Arab street.
All four hosts are working mothers with strong family values, but when it comes to dishing it out, no subject matter is taboo. They were among the first in the Arab media to openly discuss homosexuality, and have been repeatedly outspoken on sensitive issues like polygamy, masturbation, wife battering, and equality between the sexes. The show is not without its enemies, as Rania Barghout explains: “The day before yesterday we had a letter, saying …we’re terrible women. We are corrupting Arab societies. We are the devil!”
Before the advent of satellite dishes, most Arab viewers depended on terrestrial state television, which meant few channels and some form of government oversight of everything that went to air. Dishing Democracy explores how Muslim women are utilizing satellite television to modernize Islam in living rooms throughout the Arab world.
The director, Amsterdam-based Bregtje van der Haak, has made numerous documentaries on social, political and cultural topics around the world, including Saudi Solutions and Femmes Fatales about the lives of working women in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
For additional information and photography, visit thirteen.org/pressroom/wideangle or pbs.org/pressroom.
Major funding for WIDE ANGLE is provided by PBS, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Bernard and Irene Schwartz, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, The Jacob Burns Foundation, Ford Foundation, Josh and Judy Weston, Rosalind P. Walter, and The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.
WIDE ANGLE is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York for PBS. Stephen Segaller is executive producer. Pamela Hogan is series producer. Andy Halper is senior producer.
..........…
Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, NOW With David Brancaccio, and Cyberchase – as well as the work of Bill Moyers – to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The Thirteen Walking Tours, New York Voices, and Reel New York. Thirteen extends the impact of its television productions through educational and community outreach projects – including the Celebration of Teaching and Learning – as well as Web sites and other digital media platforms. More information can be found at: www.thirteen.org.
end
Dishing Democracy Premieres Tuesday, July 31 At 9 P.M. As WIDE ANGLE Continues Its Sixth Season On PBS
While the United States has been striving to promote democracy in the Arab world, a home-grown revolution is already taking place. Every Sunday night in living rooms throughout the Middle East, tens of millions of viewers are tuning in to a fearless all-female talk show whose four hosts discuss controversial subjects, shatter stereotypes and provoke debate. Originally inspired by ABC’s hit The View, Kalam Nawaem (Sweet Talk) is taped in studios over the Middle East and broadcast each week from Dubai. Five years after its premiere, the show is a top-rated program on MBC, one of the first privately owned Arab satellite television channels.
With exclusive access to both the private and the professional lives of Kalam Nawaem’s hosts and producers, WIDE ANGLE: Dishing Democracy provides a nuanced portrait of Arab women harnessing the power of transnational satellite television to boldly and effectively push social reform. Dishing Democracy premieres Tuesday, July 31 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).
The show is hosted by four women of different ages, nationalities and points of view who have become household names and role models across the Muslim world. Muna AbuSulayman, the very first Saudi woman to appear on Arab satellite television; Farah Bseiso, a Palestinian actress; Fawzia Salama, an Egyptian newspaper columnist; and Rania Barghout, a liberal Lebanese, meet in the production studio to discuss – and disagree on – a wide range of news, entertainment and social issues with invited guests. WIDE ANGLE’s cameras capture censorship discussions in editorial meetings, tension and camaraderie in the dressing room, and viewer reaction on the Arab street.
All four hosts are working mothers with strong family values, but when it comes to dishing it out, no subject matter is taboo. They were among the first in the Arab media to openly discuss homosexuality, and have been repeatedly outspoken on sensitive issues like polygamy, masturbation, wife battering, and equality between the sexes. The show is not without its enemies, as Rania Barghout explains: “The day before yesterday we had a letter, saying …we’re terrible women. We are corrupting Arab societies. We are the devil!”Before the advent of satellite dishes, most Arab viewers depended on terrestrial state television, which meant few channels and some form of government oversight of everything that went to air. Dishing Democracy explores how Muslim women are utilizing satellite television to modernize Islam in living rooms throughout the Arab world.
The director, Amsterdam-based Bregtje van der Haak, has made numerous documentaries on social, political and cultural topics around the world, including Saudi Solutions and Femmes Fatales about the lives of working women in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
For additional information and photography, visit thirteen.org/pressroom/wideangle or pbs.org/pressroom.
Major funding for WIDE ANGLE is provided by PBS, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Bernard and Irene Schwartz, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, The Jacob Burns Foundation, Ford Foundation, Josh and Judy Weston, Rosalind P. Walter, and The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.
WIDE ANGLE is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York for PBS. Stephen Segaller is executive producer. Pamela Hogan is series producer. Andy Halper is senior producer.
..........…
Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, NOW With David Brancaccio, and Cyberchase – as well as the work of Bill Moyers – to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The Thirteen Walking Tours, New York Voices, and Reel New York. Thirteen extends the impact of its television productions through educational and community outreach projects – including the Celebration of Teaching and Learning – as well as Web sites and other digital media platforms. More information can be found at: www.thirteen.org.
end
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Canadian Arab Author releases first book
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chick-lit makes its way to Cuba
First-time Arab-Canadian author explores more than mojitos, cigars and salsa dancing
Toronto, ON – July 04, 2007 -- Young women who struggle to balance the competing pressures of careers, love, friends, family values and individuality will identify with Nadine Dajani's brilliantly-written chick-lit novel with ethnic flare, Fashionably Late. Going beyond the traditional "women's fiction lite" fare, the novel shakes up the fashion-plus-best-friends-plus-boys formula with shadows of social criticism, a fresh look at bastion-of-communism-turned-tourist-hotspot Cuba, and perhaps most surprisingly for a "chick lit" novel, the Lebanese civil war. "Anyone who is curious about the interplay between different cultures will get something from this book," said author Nadine Dajani in a recent interview.
Fashionably Late is far from forgettable fluff for fashionistas. This smart, sassy and inspirational story illustrates the profound evolution of Montreal-based Muslim Ali Hallaby, a sensible accountant who endures a tumultuous quarter-life crisis involving a struggle with career chaos, powerful parental pressure and a lacklustre love life when she fails the Uniform Final Examination (UFE), the single most important thing standing between her and a blossoming career at one of the Big Four accounting firms.
Drawing strength from her friends, foreign travel and her love of fashion, Ali's courageous journey of self-discovery will embolden other young women to listen to the desires of their heart and act on what they learn, while whisking them away to historic and romantic Cuba.
"From the chic boutiques of Montreal to the sultry nightlife in Cuba, Fashionably Late sparkles with wit and humour. You will fall in love with Dajani's engaging Lebanese-Canadian heroine," commented JoAnn Hornak, author of Adventures of a Salsa Goddess.
"It was about having something to say," Dajani, an accountant-turned-author, responded when asked why she decided to pen her first novel. "I wanted to create a novel that people would enjoy, but I was encouraged to infuse it with details and insights about the immigrant experience, especially as seen through the eyes of a deeply misunderstood minority group (Arabs). Ultimately, it was the multicultural aspect of the novel as well as the unusual setting that appealed to people," she explains.
Born in Lebanon and raised in Canada, Dajani grew up loving all things right-brained, but when it came time for university, opted to major in accounting instead. After completing (and passing) her accounting examinations, Dajani moved to the Cayman Islands to work in the offshore banking industry. Eager to flex her creative muscles and explore her passion for fashion, Dajani enrolled in a Fashion Marketing degree at LaSalle College in her spare time.
Fashionably Late enjoyed an international release in June 2007, and is available at major bookstores as well as on-line at Chapters, Indigo and Amazon.
Chick-lit makes its way to Cuba
First-time Arab-Canadian author explores more than mojitos, cigars and salsa dancing
Toronto, ON – July 04, 2007 -- Young women who struggle to balance the competing pressures of careers, love, friends, family values and individuality will identify with Nadine Dajani's brilliantly-written chick-lit novel with ethnic flare, Fashionably Late. Going beyond the traditional "women's fiction lite" fare, the novel shakes up the fashion-plus-best-friends-plus-boys formula with shadows of social criticism, a fresh look at bastion-of-communism-turned-tourist-hotspot Cuba, and perhaps most surprisingly for a "chick lit" novel, the Lebanese civil war. "Anyone who is curious about the interplay between different cultures will get something from this book," said author Nadine Dajani in a recent interview.
Fashionably Late is far from forgettable fluff for fashionistas. This smart, sassy and inspirational story illustrates the profound evolution of Montreal-based Muslim Ali Hallaby, a sensible accountant who endures a tumultuous quarter-life crisis involving a struggle with career chaos, powerful parental pressure and a lacklustre love life when she fails the Uniform Final Examination (UFE), the single most important thing standing between her and a blossoming career at one of the Big Four accounting firms.
Drawing strength from her friends, foreign travel and her love of fashion, Ali's courageous journey of self-discovery will embolden other young women to listen to the desires of their heart and act on what they learn, while whisking them away to historic and romantic Cuba.
"From the chic boutiques of Montreal to the sultry nightlife in Cuba, Fashionably Late sparkles with wit and humour. You will fall in love with Dajani's engaging Lebanese-Canadian heroine," commented JoAnn Hornak, author of Adventures of a Salsa Goddess.
"It was about having something to say," Dajani, an accountant-turned-author, responded when asked why she decided to pen her first novel. "I wanted to create a novel that people would enjoy, but I was encouraged to infuse it with details and insights about the immigrant experience, especially as seen through the eyes of a deeply misunderstood minority group (Arabs). Ultimately, it was the multicultural aspect of the novel as well as the unusual setting that appealed to people," she explains.
Born in Lebanon and raised in Canada, Dajani grew up loving all things right-brained, but when it came time for university, opted to major in accounting instead. After completing (and passing) her accounting examinations, Dajani moved to the Cayman Islands to work in the offshore banking industry. Eager to flex her creative muscles and explore her passion for fashion, Dajani enrolled in a Fashion Marketing degree at LaSalle College in her spare time.
Fashionably Late enjoyed an international release in June 2007, and is available at major bookstores as well as on-line at Chapters, Indigo and Amazon.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Protestors target anti-Arab/Muslim Congressman Mark Kirk and his pro-war policies
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq
http://noiraqescalation.com/
For Immediate Release
Contact: Josh Levin
July 2nd, 2007
Veterans Turn Up the Heat on Congressman Mark Kirk Over Iraq War
National “Iraq Summer" Campaign Targets Three in Illinois Highlighting New Voices Tired of Endless Iraq War
Northbrook, IL – A growing coalition of veterans, families of veterans, faith leaders and peace activists will take aim at Congressman Mark Kirk for his support of President Bush’s Iraq policy this Tuesday. The effort, one of three in Illinois and 40 nationwide, is part of the “Iraq Summer” campaign. Over the next ten weeks, a barrage of events, letter writing campaigns, volunteer activities, internet organizing and resolution efforts directed at Kirk, Tim Johnson (IL-15) and Ray LaHood (IL-18) will call on the lawmakers to reject President Bush's failed policy of endless war and vote for the safe, responsible redeployment of American troops out of Iraq.
"Iraq Summer" is a nationwide campaign organized by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, which is dispatching nearly 100 organizers to the home states and districts of Republican Senators and Representatives who have opposed setting a timeline to end the war in Iraq. The program is modeled on the "Freedom Summer" civil rights project. Organizers will be in fifteen states from Nevada to Maine, a total of 40 congressional districts.
What: Launch of "Iraq Summer," Campaign to Turn the Heat Up on Congressman Mark Kirk
Who: Ray Parrish, Veteran Counselor and Vietnam Veteran; Americans Against Escalation in Iraq
Where: Outside the office of Congressman Mark Kirk, 707 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, IL 60062. Exit the Edens Expressway (I-94) at Dundee Rd, head west 0.2 miles to Skokie Blvd, turn right (north) and go to the office building next to Morton’s Steakhouse.
When: Tuesday, July 3rd, 11am
###
http://noiraqescalation.com/
For Immediate Release
Contact: Josh Levin
July 2nd, 2007
Veterans Turn Up the Heat on Congressman Mark Kirk Over Iraq War
National “Iraq Summer" Campaign Targets Three in Illinois Highlighting New Voices Tired of Endless Iraq War
Northbrook, IL – A growing coalition of veterans, families of veterans, faith leaders and peace activists will take aim at Congressman Mark Kirk for his support of President Bush’s Iraq policy this Tuesday. The effort, one of three in Illinois and 40 nationwide, is part of the “Iraq Summer” campaign. Over the next ten weeks, a barrage of events, letter writing campaigns, volunteer activities, internet organizing and resolution efforts directed at Kirk, Tim Johnson (IL-15) and Ray LaHood (IL-18) will call on the lawmakers to reject President Bush's failed policy of endless war and vote for the safe, responsible redeployment of American troops out of Iraq.
"Iraq Summer" is a nationwide campaign organized by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, which is dispatching nearly 100 organizers to the home states and districts of Republican Senators and Representatives who have opposed setting a timeline to end the war in Iraq. The program is modeled on the "Freedom Summer" civil rights project. Organizers will be in fifteen states from Nevada to Maine, a total of 40 congressional districts.
What: Launch of "Iraq Summer," Campaign to Turn the Heat Up on Congressman Mark Kirk
Who: Ray Parrish, Veteran Counselor and Vietnam Veteran; Americans Against Escalation in Iraq
Where: Outside the office of Congressman Mark Kirk, 707 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, IL 60062. Exit the Edens Expressway (I-94) at Dundee Rd, head west 0.2 miles to Skokie Blvd, turn right (north) and go to the office building next to Morton’s Steakhouse.
When: Tuesday, July 3rd, 11am
###
Saturday, June 30, 2007
New America Media Host Summit with Immigrant Rights Groups in the South
Building Stronger Communications:
A Summit of Ethnic Media and Immigrant Rights Groups From the South
New America Media, Posted: Jun 19, 2007
Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond and Hispanic Pollster Sergio Bendixen to Speak at July 12 Atlanta Immigration Summit.
Listen to Bendixen announce NAM's Poll of Undocumented Immigrants on June 20.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Alex Moe 646-812-4885
Immigrant Rights Groups Contact: Elena Shore 415-503-4170
ATLANTA -- Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, and Hispanic pollster Sergio Bendixen will meet with Southern ethnic media and immigrant rights groups at the 2007 Immigration Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by New America Media (NAM) in partnership with the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, this free summit will offer unique opportunities for reporters and editors who face the immense challenge of covering immigration in the Southern United States.At a time of intense national debate over immigration reform – the number one concern for ethnic media – cities across the South are roiled by changing demographics, anti-immigrant legislation, and growing anti-immigrant sentiment in their communities.
The goal of the summit is not only to bolster the communications of the Immigration Rights Movement, but also to strengthen reporting around immigration issues. The event will be a major benchmark in connecting ethnic media to one another, as well as to key leaders of the national Immigrant Rights Movement, and to the local community-based organizations working around this subject. Pollster Sergio Bendixen, CEO of Bendixen & Associates, will share the findings of a new poll of undocumented immigrants in the United States and discuss its implications for the South, and for immigration reform.
Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, will share his views on the economic and labor issues surrounding the immigration debate.The day-long summit will include panels on where the national Immigrant Rights Movement is headed, how to build a more effective collaboration between ethnic media and immigrant rights groups in the South, how to cover immigration policy, and strategies for dealing with and covering the anti-immigrant backlash.
Ethnic media now provide news and information for one out of four adults in the United States, according to NAM multilingual polling. Nowhere has the growth of this sector been more dramatic than in the South. Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that by 2025 Georgia, Florida and Maryland will be among a handful of states in which the minority population will outnumber Whites. Additionally, Atlanta has more than a dozen Korean-language newspapers, along with robust Hispanic, African- American, Chinese, Vietnamese and Hmong media. This free summit will provide a rare occasion for journalists in this sector to meet and build relationships with advocates on the frontlines who can help them cover these issues more effectively for their communities.
When: Thursday July 12, 20079:00 a.m. Breakfast and Registration10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Program (lunch included)Where: University of Georgia Alumni Center
Atlanta Financial Center3333 Peachtree Road, N.E.South Tower, Suite 210, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 266-2622Cost: There is no charge for this event.
RSVP: Please RSVP no later than Tuesday July 3rd.Media: Please RSVP to Alex Moe at 646-812-4885.
Immigrant Rights Groups: Please RSVP to Elena Shore at 415-503-4170.
Hosted by New America Media, the largest national association of ethnic media in the U.S. Co-sponsored by Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Georgia, National Immigration Forum, Center for Community Change, Asian American Justice Center, and the National Council of La Raza.
end
A Summit of Ethnic Media and Immigrant Rights Groups From the South
New America Media, Posted: Jun 19, 2007
Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond and Hispanic Pollster Sergio Bendixen to Speak at July 12 Atlanta Immigration Summit.
Listen to Bendixen announce NAM's Poll of Undocumented Immigrants on June 20.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Alex Moe 646-812-4885
Immigrant Rights Groups Contact: Elena Shore 415-503-4170
ATLANTA -- Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, and Hispanic pollster Sergio Bendixen will meet with Southern ethnic media and immigrant rights groups at the 2007 Immigration Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by New America Media (NAM) in partnership with the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, this free summit will offer unique opportunities for reporters and editors who face the immense challenge of covering immigration in the Southern United States.At a time of intense national debate over immigration reform – the number one concern for ethnic media – cities across the South are roiled by changing demographics, anti-immigrant legislation, and growing anti-immigrant sentiment in their communities.
The goal of the summit is not only to bolster the communications of the Immigration Rights Movement, but also to strengthen reporting around immigration issues. The event will be a major benchmark in connecting ethnic media to one another, as well as to key leaders of the national Immigrant Rights Movement, and to the local community-based organizations working around this subject. Pollster Sergio Bendixen, CEO of Bendixen & Associates, will share the findings of a new poll of undocumented immigrants in the United States and discuss its implications for the South, and for immigration reform.
Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, will share his views on the economic and labor issues surrounding the immigration debate.The day-long summit will include panels on where the national Immigrant Rights Movement is headed, how to build a more effective collaboration between ethnic media and immigrant rights groups in the South, how to cover immigration policy, and strategies for dealing with and covering the anti-immigrant backlash.
Ethnic media now provide news and information for one out of four adults in the United States, according to NAM multilingual polling. Nowhere has the growth of this sector been more dramatic than in the South. Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that by 2025 Georgia, Florida and Maryland will be among a handful of states in which the minority population will outnumber Whites. Additionally, Atlanta has more than a dozen Korean-language newspapers, along with robust Hispanic, African- American, Chinese, Vietnamese and Hmong media. This free summit will provide a rare occasion for journalists in this sector to meet and build relationships with advocates on the frontlines who can help them cover these issues more effectively for their communities.
When: Thursday July 12, 20079:00 a.m. Breakfast and Registration10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Program (lunch included)Where: University of Georgia Alumni Center
Atlanta Financial Center3333 Peachtree Road, N.E.South Tower, Suite 210, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 266-2622Cost: There is no charge for this event.
RSVP: Please RSVP no later than Tuesday July 3rd.Media: Please RSVP to Alex Moe at 646-812-4885.
Immigrant Rights Groups: Please RSVP to Elena Shore at 415-503-4170.
Hosted by New America Media, the largest national association of ethnic media in the U.S. Co-sponsored by Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Georgia, National Immigration Forum, Center for Community Change, Asian American Justice Center, and the National Council of La Raza.
end
Thursday, June 28, 2007
MidEastYouth wins major prize from Atlas Economic Research Foundation
http://www.mideastyouth.com/
We are extremely proud to announce the fact that we won the $5,000 award from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation for leading the best New Intellectual Entrepreneurship Project, our FIRST financial gain after a full year of being active.
The reason we won is the following:
"Your project was the most appealing among all entries. We were particularly impressed because the forum manages several blogs, provides free services to other cyber activists, is responsive to breaking news, and has a large network of supporters and reporters in different countries in the Mideast region. It was also helpful to review your detailed budget that was precise, reasonable, and tied to outcomes. "
- Sajid Anani, program manager for Atlas’s Middle East program
I congratulate all Mideast Youth authors, staff members and participants on this huge step forward. The money will be mostly used for technical improvements such as a professional re-design of the site as well as eventually moving to a dedicated server.
We hope to see the design done by the end of July and we hope to be moving our servers to a powerful one in December so we can start next year on an entirely new page!
Congratulations everyone.
END
We are extremely proud to announce the fact that we won the $5,000 award from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation for leading the best New Intellectual Entrepreneurship Project, our FIRST financial gain after a full year of being active.
The reason we won is the following:
"Your project was the most appealing among all entries. We were particularly impressed because the forum manages several blogs, provides free services to other cyber activists, is responsive to breaking news, and has a large network of supporters and reporters in different countries in the Mideast region. It was also helpful to review your detailed budget that was precise, reasonable, and tied to outcomes. "
- Sajid Anani, program manager for Atlas’s Middle East program
I congratulate all Mideast Youth authors, staff members and participants on this huge step forward. The money will be mostly used for technical improvements such as a professional re-design of the site as well as eventually moving to a dedicated server.
We hope to see the design done by the end of July and we hope to be moving our servers to a powerful one in December so we can start next year on an entirely new page!
Congratulations everyone.
END
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
JOB POSTING: Regional Sales Representative for national food distributor
An opportunity to build a career with the Nation’s fastest growing Middle East food importer
Ziyad Brothers Importing is looking for an enthusiastic, creative & imaginative self-starter to represent our company in various regions around the United States.
The ideal candidate has a desire to succeed and in helping Ziyad Brothers Importing enhance its sales base by generating new customers and maintaining the highest level of customer service that is the cornerstone of our business.
If you are looking to broaden or change your career in business, this could be the opportunity for you. Please contact us today and join us in building a rewarding career experience. Arabic & English language proficiency required.
Email your resume, work history overview, three references and your contact information to: jobs@Ziyad.com.
end
Ziyad Brothers Importing is looking for an enthusiastic, creative & imaginative self-starter to represent our company in various regions around the United States.
The ideal candidate has a desire to succeed and in helping Ziyad Brothers Importing enhance its sales base by generating new customers and maintaining the highest level of customer service that is the cornerstone of our business.
If you are looking to broaden or change your career in business, this could be the opportunity for you. Please contact us today and join us in building a rewarding career experience. Arabic & English language proficiency required.
Email your resume, work history overview, three references and your contact information to: jobs@Ziyad.com.
end
Non-violent activist beaten by Israeli police, groups alleges
B'Tselem demands an investigation into beating of the organisation's field worker by a police officer
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, has written to the director of the department for police investigations in the Israeli Ministry of Justice (DPI), to demand that it open a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful use of force by a police officer who beat B'Tselem field researcher in East Jerusalem, Kareem Jubran. In addition, B'Tselem wrote to the commander of the Jerusalem district of the Israeli Police, demanding that it investigates the detention of Jubran, and the violent police officer's refusal to identify himself. B'Tselem attached information regarding video documentation of the incident, and potential witnesses.
On Tuesday, 12.6.07, Kareem Jubran was filming police and border officers who were checking Palestinian drivers in the Mount of Olives area of East Jerusalem. A police officer approached Jubran, asked him for identification and searched his belongings. Although Jubran complied with his instructions, the officer ordered him into the police van, where he punched him in the stomach with great force. Jubran was then detained by the police officers for about three hours. He was released with no charge.
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For additional information please contact Sarit Michaeli, Communications Director,+972-(0)50-5387230, saritm@btselem.org
Sarit MichaeliCommunications DirectorB'Tselem+972 (0)2 6735599 (office)+972 (0)50 5387230 (cell)http://www.btselem.org/
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, has written to the director of the department for police investigations in the Israeli Ministry of Justice (DPI), to demand that it open a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful use of force by a police officer who beat B'Tselem field researcher in East Jerusalem, Kareem Jubran. In addition, B'Tselem wrote to the commander of the Jerusalem district of the Israeli Police, demanding that it investigates the detention of Jubran, and the violent police officer's refusal to identify himself. B'Tselem attached information regarding video documentation of the incident, and potential witnesses.
On Tuesday, 12.6.07, Kareem Jubran was filming police and border officers who were checking Palestinian drivers in the Mount of Olives area of East Jerusalem. A police officer approached Jubran, asked him for identification and searched his belongings. Although Jubran complied with his instructions, the officer ordered him into the police van, where he punched him in the stomach with great force. Jubran was then detained by the police officers for about three hours. He was released with no charge.
------------------------
For additional information please contact Sarit Michaeli, Communications Director,+972-(0)50-5387230, saritm@btselem.org
Sarit MichaeliCommunications DirectorB'Tselem+972 (0)2 6735599 (office)+972 (0)50 5387230 (cell)http://www.btselem.org/
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