09-27-09 See good when confronting bad in Hollywood films

Arab Americans must see the good when confronting bad in Hollywood movies
By Ray Hanania — A recent online post discussed the continued smearing of Arabs and Muslims by Hollywood, quoting one of the most authoritative analysts of the topic, Jack Shaheen.  The discussion was on New University by writer Daniel Johnson. We are seeing an unusual trend of change taking place in Hollywood, one where Arabs and Muslims post-Sept. 11, 2001, are being portrayed with more sensitivity and at least more accuracy. But at the same time, the hate-wing of the Hollywood and TV industry that has slandered Arabs and Muslims since the big screen and TV first appeared, seem to be overcompensating to off-set the positive portrayals by digging deeper into their own hatred to portray Arabs and Muslims even worse.

09-11-09 Americans turn from hatred to education of Arabs/Muslims

Americans turn from hatred to education 8 years since Sept. 11
By Ray Hanania – We are finally seeing some real light through the black fog of American anger and hatred that erupted following the terrorist attacks eight years ago this week on Sept. 11. American anger against Arabs and Muslims is fast turning into education and enlightenment, in part because of a president who is resetting the nation’s moral character by washing away the demagoguery that symbolized the response of his predecessor.

08-23-09 Protests against release of Lockerbie bomber driven by revenge not justice

Release of Libyan in Lockerbie bombing puts past behind us
By Ray Hanania –The release this week of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the convicted mastermind of the 1988 bombing of PAN AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, opens old wounds by also a debate that should have taken place years ago.It’s understandable that Americans are angry with the decision. Many Americans were on board the flight and lost their lives in the bombing. What has never been understandable is the American indifference to the killing of innocent civilians who are Arab, Muslim or of other races by American terrorists.

08-20-09 American Arabs should reject paid activists messages on U.S. Census fight

Fighting the Census exclusion of Arabs on form is about empowerment
By Ray Hanania – The U.S. Government has done a great job hiring Arabs in our community to shill for their cause, to continue to oppress our community. The focus on the effort is the U.S. Census.I want you to notice something. Everyone one pimping and pushing for the American Arab community to “participate” in the U.S. Census are all PAID by the U.S. Government to tell us to fill out the census form.They lie that filling out the census form and “writing in our race” Arab in the little line at the bottom of the form is a way for us to be empowered. And when someone questions their lies, they slam and slander Arabs who argue that we have been misled by lazy, do-nothing Arab activists who have taken the short and easy route to money instead of fighting the long term challenge.

08-08-09 Arab grocer charges racism in arrest over allegations of code violations

Arab grocer and family arrested in Chicago suburb
Store owners cries racism; neighbors say he is an “unsanitary” grocer
By Ray Hanania — (Oak Lawn, Illinois) While the nation is still reeling from a racial confrontation between a Black professor, a White Cambridge cop and President Obama, a food-store owner in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn alleges village inspectors and police shut him down over the past two years because he is a Muslim and an Arab. Naim Massad thought he had a perfect location to open his Middle Eastern grocery store in June 2007 in huge strip mall at 10333 S. Central Avenue in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The strip mall also includes a music store, a beef store, laundromat, liquor store, and a restaurant with a comedy club and bar. Officials in Oak Lawn confirmed they were shocked at what has transpired over the course of two years which on July 16, 2009 resulted in Massad, his wife, and one of their three under-aged children being arrested, handcuffed and jailed. The arrest was ordered by a health inspector who charged Massad’s store violated several village health codes.

Palestine Not Remembered

Palestine not Remembered
By Saffiya Shillo — On the anniversary of the siege of Palestine, Palestinians worldwide forget to remember what is most important when marking this and every other past and future commemoration. They forget to fight for Palestine! They forget to fight the “right” fight.” They forget to raise their voices in unison advocating the noble cause for freedom through justice. They forget what it means to be One Palestinian People.

HANANIA: Noble mission of Bridges Muslim TV falters in wake of founders tragedy, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 02-14-09

Noble mission of Bridges Muslim TV falters in wake of founders tragedy
By Ray Hanania – When Bridges TV first launched in 2004, there was great hope that it would do two things: First, open the door to Arab and Muslims to portray themselves accurately through engaging and professional journalism. And, more importantly, address the stereotypes that weigh down objective reporting in the mainstream American media which includes not only the news media but the entertainment media of Hollywood and TV and the communications media which includes organizational PR. But over the years, Bridges TV became a kind of challenge to itself.

HANANIA: Dueling hoaxes expose more than youthful lies in bonfire of the bigotries, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 10-18-08

Dueling hoaxes expose more than youthful lies in bonfire of the bigotries

By Ray Hanania – The incidents happened weeks apart, a young Christian girl in Palos Heights, a community notorious for anti-Arab hatred and racism, told police that she had been sexually assaulted by an man she described as “Arab looking.” Police developed a sketch of the suspect and the community response was immediate. The sketch was posted on nearly every store window not just in Palos Heights, but throughout the Southwest Suburbs across a 15 mile span that happened to correspond with the regional settlement of Arabs.

HANANIA: Profiling only helps when there is evidence, not before, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 18, 2008

Profiling only helps when there is evidence of a crime, not before
By Ray Hanania – Ever since America realized on Sept. 11, 2001 that we really didn’t know enough about the Middle East or the Islamic world, our response has been driven more by fear than reason. Americans are the most educated people in the world, yet many act, in the face of a terrorist threat by a small handful of groups that embrace a distorted spin on Islam, like they know nothing. As a result, innocent people who “looked” Middle Eastern were arrested. Hundreds were arrested and falsely charged facing years of imprisonment until the charges were dropped or overturned.

HANANIA: Obama may be inspiring, but what about his people? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 19, 2008

Obama may be inspiring, but what about his “people?”
By Ray Hanania – Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama is a very inspiring person whose steady words seem to evoke confidence in his audiences. I wish he would drop that annoying Jesse Jackson-like rhyming that he does, and I am not quite comfortable about all the “people” who are around him. Imagine, for example, if John McCain’s “people” were organizing a public event and they decided that they didn’t want any Black faces in the crowd on the stage where Obama would be speaking. The outcry would be harsh.