HANANIA: Free Speech in America and the Arab World, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 7, 2008
Free Speech in the Arab World and in America, restrictions on both
By Ray Hanania – There is really no such thing as “free speech” in either the Arab World where tyrants handpicked by the Western powers openly oppress their people and in America, where the mainstream media picks and chooses what is free and what is not free. Demands for free speech resonate in both, and still those clarion calls for freedom are also marked by censorship, too. For example, in the Arab World, writers and groups constantly challenge the restrictions on free speech in America, and yet they condone censorship on those in their own circles with whom they disagree. This hypocrisy is particularly troubling for Arab Americans but something worth exploring in the wake of the American holiday that marks its freedom, the 4th of July. Read more »
By Ray Hanania – There is really no such thing as “free speech” in either the Arab World where tyrants handpicked by the Western powers openly oppress their people and in America, where the mainstream media picks and chooses what is free and what is not free. Demands for free speech resonate in both, and still those clarion calls for freedom are also marked by censorship, too. For example, in the Arab World, writers and groups constantly challenge the restrictions on free speech in America, and yet they condone censorship on those in their own circles with whom they disagree. This hypocrisy is particularly troubling for Arab Americans but something worth exploring in the wake of the American holiday that marks its freedom, the 4th of July. Read more »
CARTOON: Anti-Semitism, to racism to Americanism, For Immediate Release 11-18-07
War on Errorism, Nov. 18, 2007. The hypocrisy of the American mainstream news media. Some kinds of racism and bigotry are bad. And some forms of racism are just another form of Americanism. When Don Imus slanders African Americans, it’s a media felony. When Michael Savage blasts Muslims, it’s just free speech. Ray Hanania
HANANIA: Arabs, Muslims see past Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric, For Immediate Release 9-27-07
Arabs, Muslims and minorities hear different message from Ahmadinejad
By Ray Hanania – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the United Nations stirred a chorus of criticism from mainstream American leaders and activists. But Arabs and Muslims listened with receptive understanding, believing American society is biased and the problems in the Middle Easr are compounded by improper translation of concepts from Middle Eastern languages to English. Read more »
CARTOON: The Politics of Free Speech, Ahmadinejad at Columbia, For Immediate Release, 9-24-07
(Click to view full size) War on Errorism: The Politics of Free Speech, 9-24-07. By Ray Hanania. For more political cartoons, visit www.hanania.com/cartoons/cartoons.htm.
HANANIA: Time to expel the United Nations, For Immediate Release, 9-23-07
Time to expel United Nations to a nation that is freeBy Ray Hanania — You do not have to agree with Iranian President Ahmadinejad to criticize President Bush for his hypocritical comments and the restrictive political policies he encourages that discriminate against Arabs and Muslims in America. The Iranian Leader has much to answer for, including oppressing his own people and highly publicized incendiary comments such as denying Israel’s right to exist, and allegedly calling the Holocaust a “myth.” Read more »
SHILLO: Arab-aware in America, For Immediate Release, 9-22-07
“Arab-aware” in mainstream America
By Saffiya Shillo — We are living in an Arab-aware time. Never before have “Arabs” sustained such an enduring and glaring spotlight. When I use the term Arab, I am interpreting it through usage offered by mainstream through the myriad news blurbs, TV specials, and documentaries consumed by average Americans. This usage seems to blanket anyone Middle Eastern, Arab or not, Muslim or not in a negative manner. There is no differentiation made. The number of talking heads and Arab-experts out there is amazing. Of course most all of them are non-Arab but they inform us daily about the “Arabs.” In fact, we are over aware. Read more »
Our Syndicated Columnists
RAY HANANIA is a syndicated columnist. His columns appear in numerous publications including the Jerusalem Post, the Arab News, the Arab American News, the Southwest News Herald and more. Hanania is the publisher of the National Arab American Times Newspaper. Named Best Ethnic American Columnist for 2007 by the New America Media, and the 2009 Mehdi Courage in Journalism Awardee, Hanania hosts a morning Radio Show of Radio Chicagoland, in Chicago (Mon-Fri, 8-9:30 am) on WJJG 1530 AM Radio. He is an internationally acclaimed standup comedian, author of the humor book Ya Habibi, and pens the Comic Strip called Shades of Gray. View his complete Bio?
ALI YOUNES is an award winning, veteran journalist and columnist. He is an expert on the Arabic language. Managing Editor of The Arab Desk web site, Ali's columns appear in newspapers across the country. He is a 2002 recipient of the National Arab American Journalists Association Excellence in Writing Award.
ANISA MEHDI is an Emmy Award-winning journalist specializing in religion, the arts, and people. For over 20 years she has reported, written, directed and produced television news and documentary programs for major American media outlets, including National Geographic, PBS, ABC News, and CBS. Her commentaries have been heard on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Ms. Mehdi is founder and president of Whetstone Productions, a New Jersey-based production and consulting company. She is adjunct Professor of Communications at Seton Hall University. She writes a twice weekly for the Newark Star-Ledger Newspaper blog. View her complete Bio?
Click here to Read Anisa's Blog
SAFFIYA SHILLO is a peace activist, communications specialist and community editor for the National Arab American Times Newspaper. Ms. Shillo serves as a Board Member of the Palestinian American Women's Society. Her activism is extensive, having served as the former President of the Palestinian American Congress-Chicago Chapter, as a National Board member of the American Task Force on Palestine, and as Director of the Arab American Institute's Chicago office. Active in Jewish/Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, Ms. Shillo gives presentations to national organizations on strategies and methods to achieve peace through dialogue. Ms. Shillo also served as Director of Ethnic Affairs for the State of Illinois' Office of Lieutenant Governor, and worked as a domestic violence/sexual assault counselor serving Chicago's Arab community. She can be reached at smshillo@yahoo.com
MARIA KOUREMENOU KHOURY
Guest Columnist
is the author of Witness in the Holy Land, reflecting her personal experience living under the Israeli Occupation with husband, the honorable Mayor David C. Khoury, and their three children. Her articles bringing awareness of the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the plight of the Palestinians have been published worldwide in numerous newspapers and translated to various languages. Maria is a graduate of Hellenic College, Harvard University and Boston University with a doctor of education degree. Born in Tripoli, Greece, she was raised in Denver, Colorado. Contact Maria at: Khourymaria@hotmail.com. Her guest columns appear occasionally.
ALADDIN ELAASAR is an award winning Arab American journalist and author of several books including Silent Victims: The plight of Arabs and Muslims in Post 9/11 America. Elaasar is also a member of the National Arab American Journalists Association. Email him at omaraladin@aol.com. His latest book is The Last Pharoah: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the MidEast.
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HANANIA'S PODCAST INTERVIEWS ON MIDDLE EASTERN TOPICS>
Click to Go to Ray Hanania's Middle East Podcast Interviews?. Ray conducts interviews on Middle East and Arab topics that are podcast through iTunes and by the National Arab American Times Newspaper at www.AATimesNews.com.
Veteran Award winning reporter Ray Hanania shares the secrets he learned from 32-plus years of frontline journalism to you can create an internet network that will allow you to side step the biases, challenges and failings of the mainstream American News media. Set up an effective New Media Internet Network bringing together web sites, blogs, social media, and create a strategy that delivers your message, product and opinion to the largest possible public audience. $34.95. 238 Pages.
ANISA MEHDI'S DOCUMENTARY
More than 2.5 million Muslims from across the globe embark on a Hajj and converge on Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to ask pardon for their sins and renew their spiritual commitment though a elaborate series of ancient rites and rituals. And it's not optional - every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to do so is expected to make the hajj at least once in his or her lifetime. Despite the enormity of this annual pilgrimage, it has seldom been witnessed by outsiders, as Mecca is strictly off-limits to non-Muslims. Now, with unprecedented access to Islam's holiest city, National Geographic takes the spiritual journey of a lifetime, following three Muslims from very different backgrounds - an executive from Malaysia, a radio evangelist from South Africa, and a blond-haired, blue-eyed professor from Texas - as they take part in an epic five-day quest for salvation.
ARABS OF CHICAGOLAND
Arabs first settled in Chicagoland in the mid-19th century, when immigrants from all parts of the world were flowing steadily into the U.S. As tensions in the Arab world flared, immigration increased—the first to arrive were Lebanese Christians, followed by Muslim Palestinians. Today, there are more than 250,000 Arabs in the Chicago area, with equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. A part of the fabric of Chicago, Arabs serve in many roles, from business leaders to elected officials to judges, doctors, engineers, journalists, and more. In the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Arab Americans have come under great scrutiny and have suffered much misunderstanding. Now, this book, which explores their integral role in Chicagoland’s growth, is especially important.
RAY HANANIA'S HUMOR BOOK
A collection of essays on the experiences growing up Arab and Palestinian living in a Jewish community in America on Chicago's South Side. Includes humor and anecdotal stories along with serious topic discussion. The first book to detail Arab American life first published in the United States in 1996. This 2nd Edition is published in 2007.
ARAB AMERICAN MEDIA DIRECTORY
The ONLY directory of Arab American ethnic media -- newspapers, radio and TV. Plus organizations and religious institutions and more. Only $35 in PDF Format
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