11-21-09 Hatred against Muslims and Arabs answered

Hatred against Muslims and Arabs answered
By Ray Hanania — Below are two columns you should read both. The first reflects the growing racism and hatred among a growing number of uneducated and uninformed Americans. The second represents the facts, responding to the hatred and bigotry. As an American Arab military veteran from a family of American Arab military veterans, I am proud to present this debate that is the heart of America’s misguided conscience today.

09-27-09 Arab IOC Delegates can change anti-Arab American politics

Arab World has opportunity to confront bigotry in America
By Ray Hanania – This week, the Arab World will be participating in a vote that on its face may seem insignificant to the many problems that plague the Middle East but could begin a process of changing the United States. The vote will take place Friday in Copenhagen where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide which of four cities between Madrid, Tokyo, Rio and Chicago will win the right to host the Olympics in 2016.  Compared to the votes in the United Nations where the pro-Israel bloc continues to block peace, hold back the advances of the Arab World and continues to denigrate the rights of Islamic countries, the IOC vote Friday may seem insignificant.  In fact, though, the vote could begin a process not of changing the United Nations, but rather creating an opportunity to enact change in the United States, the one nation that holds the key to the future of the Middle East.

09-01-09 Gilad Shalit in the Arab media

Gilad Shalit in the Arab media
By Ali Younes – Every time I read and watch how Arab media outlets cover the story of prisoner’s exchange of the Israeli solider Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, I come to think how Arab media have fallen victims to Israeli PR machine (propaganda). There are several issues at play here when covering this story. Note that Gilad Shalit is always mentioned by name, I know his name, you do, and maybe my grandmother knows his name too!

06-06-09 Obama’s New beginnings for everyone-Comic Strip

06-06-09 Obama Offers new beginnings, for everyone Comic Strip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click HERE to view larger image
Shades of Gray: Ray Hanania’s World Comic Strip June 6, 2009, on Middle East (me) and also American politics (dom). President Barack Obama promised the Arab and Muslim World a new beginning, much to the chagrin of the extremists in Israel and some in his administration. Permission granted to republish with attribution.
www.professivecomicstrips.blogspot.com 

06-03-0 What Arabs and Muslims hope for in Obama speech

What Arabs and Muslims hope for in Obama speech
By Ray Hanania – By just going to Cairo University to give a “speech to the Muslim World,” Barack Obama is doing something that his predecessors never really understood. The Arab World and the Muslim World do not hate Americans nor do they hate the West. They are angry about some policies. Some fanatics use that anger and exploit it to finance and empower their extremist goals. But by speaking to the Arab and the Muslim World, Obama is sending a signal to the silent majority of Arabs and Muslims that he cares and that Americans care. And that by itself will help to undermine the extremists in the Arab and Muslim World who are behind much of the violence. Obama “gets it.” But what he actually says will help the Arab and Muslim World decide if Obama “understands” the Arab and Muslim World.

05-10-09 May in Taybeh Palestine

May in the Holy Land
Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D. – In this month of May, it was suppose to be my husband’s last month finishing his four year term as Mayor of Taybeh. And, it was suppose to be my last month of serving coffee and tea to everyone I know. Although the service sometimes is to high profile visitors like the Ambassador of Sri Lanka yesterday. However, Hamas and Fatah do not seem to be anywhere nears a unity government so the national elections in Palestine have been postponed. All local government positions have been extended until December 2009 hoping these political parties can agree to something. I hate to be a person who lacks optimism since I place all my hope in Christ but sometimes, I feel, it will take a miracle to bring change to our extra depressed conditions. And, forgiveness and reconciliation do not seem to be in the vocabulary of any political party in Israel and/or Palestine.

Easter behind the wall 04-18-09

Celebrating Miracle of Holy Fire Behind the Wall
Maria C. Khoury – (Taybeh, Occupied Palestine) It was an amazing and extraordinary day in Ramallah and then in Taybeh receiving the Holy Fire following the miracle at Christ’s Holy Life-Giving Tomb in Jerusalem on this Great and Holy Saturday afternoon. I decided not to argue with the soldiers and the policemen in Jerusalem like last year where my husband David and I could not get anywhere near the Holy Sepulchre.

Also, I decided to take the advise of the Greek monk during my first time to witness the Miracle of the Holy Fire (2002) when he kicked me out of the front row near the Life-Giving-Tomb and said in Greek: “My child it is not only with the eyes that we see.” I think he desperately needed the space for the Greek Consul and Greek dignitaries that attend this special miracle but his wise words never left my thoughts.

I had a wonderful day waiting for the Holy Fire to go through the checkpoints and arrive in Ramallah for all those who do not have permits to enter Jerusalem. Since on top of the security permits, we also need additional passes to go by further checkpoints to get to the Holy Sepulchre. To access holy places and pray on holy days should be a basic human right not needing any permits or passes but we live a bizarre life under Israeli occupation. Don’t ever take your religious freedom for granted, we suffer to achieve it.

It was an incredible two-hour parade in Ramallah which included the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts from Taybeh and all of the surrounding cities, villages and refugee camps with the largest Scouts group being Sireyt Ramallah which was the first group to initiate the parade and the last group of scouts leading over thirty altar boys from the Ramallah Orthodox Church marching with icons and crosses. The streets were filled with thousands of Christians and Muslims watching Father Galation, along with the Mayor of Ramallah, the Honorable Jennet Michael, who is a devote Orthodox Christian herself receiving the flame from the miracle of the Holy Fire and marching throughout the main street in Ramallah until they reached the Holy Transfiguration Church with the president of the parish council, Mr. Salem Hanania also accompanying. Fr. Yacoub, Fr. Nicola, Fr. Emanuel were all present along with Fr. Aktham the Latin priest and the Episcopalian minister. The Ramallah governor was also present in the procession with many prominent Palestinian Christians along with Mr. Moheeb Awad who represents the only Christian vote in the Palestinian Legislative Council beside Dr. Gazi Hanania, former council member and David Khoury, Mayor of Taybeh. My good friend, attorney Maher Hanania, reflected upon this unbelievable day the best: “By far this is the most emotional day for Christians.”

There were people in the balconies, on the roof tops and hanging out of windows trying to catch all of the colors and sounds of the many drums and bagpipes of over twelve different scout groups with the Ramallah Islamic Scouts, Ramallah Orthodox Club, Jifna, Birzeit, Aboud and Kadoura Refugee Camp to name a few. My favorite scouts were the two year old boys and girls who needed an adult to keep them marching in a straight line. I specifically noticed the teenager among the scouts wearing the t-shirt, “Our time Has Come,” and immediately I thought it meant our time has come to have a normal life like the rest of the world since nine years there has been no change in the Holy Land and conditions continue to get worse than the day before. Atrocity after atrocity there has only been violence and darkness while the world watches and does nothing to help end the occupation.

A group passed out chocolates to the crowds that had a typewritten note: “Love one another.” And if you have ever personally asked me about Muslim-Christian relationships in Palestine, I offer the example of this Holy Saturday reflecting a beautiful day of cooperation and celebration as Christians witness the Miracle of the Holy Fire. If you have ever personally asked me why Palestinian people do not practice non-violent resistance, I experienced this day in Ramallah and Taybeh as peaceful and non-violent resistance. People trying to live normal lives and celebrate ancient centuries’ old traditions while locked up within a wall and open prison. Israeli Occupation forces brutally killed Bssem Abu Rahmeh from Bilin, 30 years old while participation in a non-violent demonstration on Friday and the Israeli settlers from Bet El viciously killed a young boy from Jalazon Refugee camp the same day. It is a struggle to stay peaceful while you are being stripped of your dignity and humanity on a daily basis.

After the Holy Fire has been received in Ramallah with this fantastic parade each Scouts group is responsible to carry the flame to their home village to prepare for the Midnight Resurrection service continuing yet another parade and marching to the local Orthodox Church in an ecumenical parade where all Christian faiths participate. Thus the Taybeh Scouts including our seven year old cousin, Philip, who learned from his dad Ibrahim to carry the flame in the lantern, insisted on holding the sign, “Light of Christ” and riding on top of the tiny white car while entering Taybeh before sunset while the whole community was anxiously waiting chanting hymn giving glory to God.

Christian people filled the streets of Ramallah and Taybeh today as witnesses to the true Light. In Luke 16:15 we read that Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” We witness the truth and His Beatitude the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilos III, received the Holy Fire on Holy Saturday in Jerusalem so that all who are not living in the land of Christ’s Holy Resurrection can believe that Christ is the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9) Christ is Risen!

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Column04-02-09: Daley pushing Arab faces to front of line in 2016 Olympic bid

American Arabs still marginalized in 2016 Olympic bid

By Ray Hanania – Mayor Daley is quietly trying to boost up the window dressing of his bid for the 2016 Olympics by padding the front lines with Arab-looking people. He’s been doing it ever since I wrote four weeks ago that his administration has, over the years, marginalized American Arabs denying us jobs, appointments, grant funding and more.

HANANIA: As Israelis fight to claim victory, the peace process takes its final gasps, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 02-12-09

As Israelis fight to claim victory, the peace process takes its final gasps

By Ray Hanania – Why am I not surprised that both the leader on the left and the leader on the right have claimed victory in Israel’s elections this week? Tzipi Livni Israeli Foreign Minister and head of the Kadima Party, a more conservative version of the old Labor Party, claimed a mandate from Israeli voters, while her chief rival Benjamin Netanyahu, a frightening extremist, claimed victory, too.

ELAASAR: Why should Arab and Muslim Americans vote for Obama? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 10-16-08

Why should Arab and Muslim Americans vote for Obama?
By Aladdin Elaasar – Islam has come to the forefront of American presidential elections this year. With allegation that Barak Obama is a Muslim, or an Arab- which he is not- fear has been used by his opponents to tie him to some foreign scary thing. But it is not working. The more serious issues this year for the American voters are of course the economy, the Iraq war, health care, education and other serious nagging issues. Smear campaigns and digging for dirt proved not to work with savvy American voters.