CARTOON: Iraqi shoe-thrower a hero, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 12-16-08
Click cartoon to view larger image
Ray Hanania’s World Comic Strip
Dec. 16, 2008
Muntadar al-Zaidi is a national hero in Iraq who turned to a form of non-violent protest against the occupier George W. Bush, and was brutally beaten and attacked afterwards. Bush’s guards broke three of al-Zaidi’s ribs, his arm and bloodied him. Who is really violent?
ALARABI: Iraqi journalist shoe-thrower a national hero, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 12-16-08
Iraqi journalist hailed as a national hero
By Ali Alrabi – American journalists often say: “I am American first.” Then they ask, is Muntather Alzaidi a hero or a villain? According to Alzaidi, he said, “I am an Iraqi first.” For many, Muntather Alzaidi’s action of throwing his famous shoes at George Bush during press conferences in Baghdad has optimized Iraqi people’s feelings about George Bush and his legacy in Iraq as they see it. Read more »
COMIC STRIP: Bush and China in competition in Beijing for hypocrisy, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 8, 2008
Click Comic Strip to view larger Image
Ray Hanania’s World Comic Strip
President Bush competes with China for hypocrisy at the Beijing Olympics. Bush scolds China for human rights abuses but ignores human rights abuses in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001.
Visit Ray Hanania’s World Comic Strip blog for all past comics on all topics.
HANANIA: Iraq war corruption cases go beyond simple “fraud” For Immediate Release, April 8, 2008
Iraq war corruption cases go beyond simple “fraud”
By Ray Hanania – This week, a suburban Chicago man who once held a management position at a company that sub-contracted war-related services in Iraq through Halliburton, will finally face trial on charges of corruption. Halliburton and the sub-contractor, Kellogg Brown & Root Inc., (KBR), have seen a string of their managers and employees convicted on corruption charges over the past five years since the war began. But the judge overseeing the case has ruled the defendants will not be permitted to debate the Iraq War during the trial, fueling suspicions the Bush administration is manipulating the cases to protect its political and financial interests. Read more »
HANANIA: Arabs driven by biases that mirror Israeli biases, For Immediate Release, March 16, 2008
Arabs driven by biases that mirror Israeli biases
By Ray Hanania – Last month, Hamas terrorists fired rockets into Israel and killed an Israeli girl. The attack provoked a massive response from Israel which claimed to target Hamas militants but ended up killing dozens of Palestinian civilians. Palestinians, Muslims and Arabs roundly condemned the Israeli attacks, but made no mention of the murder of the Israeli girl. Israelis were no different, condemning the murder of the little girl and then excusing away the murder of scores of innocent Palestinian civilians. As the back and forth escalated, the partisanship increased with Palestinians ignoring their attacks against Israel and Israelis ignoring their attacks against Palestinians. And people wonder why peace has been elusive so far in the Middle East. Read more »
MEHDI: Patience is road to reconciliation with Iran, For Immediate Release, 12-14-07
Patience is the road to reconciliation with Iran
By Anisa Mehdi — Two weeks ago today I left Iran. I was sorry to leave after such a short visit – just one week. I was attending a conference and got to spent time with friends I hadn’t seen since my last trip to Iran, six years ago. The cabby that picked me up outside my friend’s apartment late that Friday night spoke better English than I spoke Farsi. Within the first five minutes of our hour-long trek to the glittery, new Imam Khomeini International Airport he managed to communicate something significant. “Khomeini, good,” he said bluntly. “Khamenei, bad.” Read more »
ALARABI: Language and war in the Middle East, For Immediate Release, 12-11-07
Language and war in the Middle East:
By Ali Alarabi – Last November 26,President Bush signed an agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Malki that will regulate the presence of US troops in Iraq as well as the presence of American military bases in that country. Signed through a secure video conferencing system the agreement or the “ declaration of principles” as it was termed, called for an “ enduring” US presence in Iraq. As to why the US administration used the term “ Enduring” is of no mystery. The word “ Enduring” which according to Oxford English dictionary means among other things “ Permanent” or “eternal,” or “forever” it is a pretty and seemingly harmless word comparing to the more politically charged words like “ permanent” which if used instead it would likely raise a firestorm among certain segments of the Iraqi people. For Bush and for others, the battle over words is apparently as important as the battle over nations. Read more »
HANANIA: Injustice of Saudi rape victim overshadows American injustices, For Immediate Release, 12-08-07
Americans howl about injustice of others, but not their own
By Ray Hanania — The way Americans have been howling about the outrageous punishment of a Saudi Arabian woman who was gang raped and sentenced to 200 lashes, you would think that they care about how Arabs and Muslims are treated. Even President Bush expressed his anger when asked about the case. But the reality is that neither President Bush nor most Americans really care about the Saudi woman, nor do they care about her lawyer who is also being punished for defending her In reality, Americans do not really care about the fate of the young girl. The fact is the punishment is outrageous by American standards, although her rapists were all convicted and sentenced to jail time, too. For Americans, the girl only symbolizes an opportunity to bash Arabs and Muslims. They could care less about justice. How do I know that? Because right here in America are injustices that tower above the case of the Saudi girl, and they don’t care. 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.
-
Ray Hanania on WJJG RADIO
Get Info? - Arab American News Resources: Top 5 topics missed by the mainstream American media. Click to go to the AAN Resource Page?
- Tony Rezko related news and opinions: Chronology, government documents, columns and local background into the controversy. Click for Rezko Resources page
Blogroll
- - AlJazeera English online TV
- - Arabisto.com
- - Hanania’s weekly live radio show RSS Feed
- - Middle East Peace Discussion board
- - Radio Chicagoland WJJG 1530 AM Mon-Fri 8-9:30 AM
- - Ray Hanania’s World Comic Strips
- - The Camera and I
- – 2008 Arab American Media Directory
- – Anisa Mehdi
- – Arab American TV Online
- – Comedian Sherif Hedayat
- – Editor & Publisher Magazine
- – Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour
- – Justin Martin’s Arab Street
- – Middle East Times News Site
- – MidEastYouth.com News/Blog
- – NAAJA Media Watch
- – National Arab American Journalists Association
- – National Arab American Times Newspaper
- – NewsWhacker
- – Palestine Press Network
- – Ray Hanania
- – Society of Professional Journalists
- – SPJ Al-Sahafiyeen Blog
- – The Arab Desk
- – The Comic Torah
Books & author products
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
Top Stories
CLICK HERE BETWEEN 8 AM & 9:30 AM CST
TO LISTEN TO
"MORNINGS WITH RAY HANANIA"
- LIVE INTERNET STREAMING AUDIO