Dec

19

Happy Eid!

December 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment

On this Eid, I pray for peace and blessings for the whole Muslim community and all of mankind. I hope that the next Eid will bring much needed health, prosperity, and stability to our world.

Eid Mubarak to all my readers who are celebrating this week :)

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Eid prayers at the National Convention Center in Washington, DC

Video of Eid at the Convention Center 

Dec

15

Dear Candidate, Would You Like to Reach Out To Me?

December 15, 2007 | 8 Comments

Dear Candidate,

My name is Moi. I am a 23 year old graduate student studying in the nation’s capital. I am a student of politics and international relations. I’m disgusted by the current administration. I want change. I want to see hope for the future. I want to see my civil rights protected. I want to see my country respect the human rights of others.

I also happen to be Muslim. And Arab. And still American. I realize this might scare you. I encourage you to be courageous. I encourage you to not make bigoted remarks about my faith and heritage, or question my loyalty to this country. I would hope you don’t use inflamatory catchphrases such as “Islamofascism” because they deeply offend me.

As a politically aware constituent who has been following your campaign and the others’, I am dismayed at the fact that you have not reach out to me in any way. Actually, you most likely tried to avoid any association with Islam, Muslims, and Arabs because you think that such an association would hurt you in the polls. If you are worried that such unfounded associations between you, Islam/Muslims/Arabs, and terrorism are worthy enough for you to defend yourself so vehemently for the sake of some narrowminded, bigoted, and ill-willed voters, then you should know that for every supporter gained, you have lost another.

You might not realize this, but American Muslims and Arab Americans constitute a significant voting bloc that can have a serious impact on the elections in some states, as was the case in the 2000 presidential elections (in Florida for W. Bush), and the 2006 midterm elections (in Virginia for Sen. Webb). A wise politician like you would not want to overlook this opportunity.

My concerns as a citizen are not simply related to my faith and ethnicity. Like other Americans, I care about finding a job when I graduate. I care about being able to pay my mortgage when I own a house. I am concerned about my future, especially because your generation is killing our hopes of having any social security forty years from now. I am concerned about the millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance. While I’m lucky to have it now, I wasn’t ensured in the year and a half after I finished my bachelor’s degree, tried to find a job, and settled for a part time position that didn’t provide me with insurance. What if I had been in a car accident? I would be in debt for years to come. I also care about the student loans that I am racking up as I pursue a graduate degree. I care about the energy crisis that we are going through but which everyone is ignoring. And I’m also concerned about our foreign policy.

I don’t deserve to be ignored and marginalized. I cherish my ability to vote and would not trade it for anything. I hold this honor in high regard, because I come from a part of the world where people are suffering everyday because of their inability to speak out and cast a vote to change their future.

I will cast my vote in November, and I will vote for change. But change can be for better or for worse. I would like to be convinced that you bring change for the better.

Regards,

moi

Dec

11

An Early Eid Gift: Israel Moves into Gaza

December 11, 2007 | 2 Comments

The Israeli Occupying Forces did not feel that it was right to allow Gazans to worship and celebrate in peace on the days before Eid and Christmas. It would not be a uniquely Palestinian holidy season without death, destruction, and demolition at the hands of the IOF.

GAZA CITY (AFP) — Six Palestinian fighters were killed in Israel’s largest operation for months against the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the eve of the first Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations since a US summit.

Dual-pronged raids, backed by warplanes in the north and south of the Hamas-run territory, which encountered stiff resistance from Palestinian militants, wounded 15 Palestinians, medical officials said.

Five militants were killed in southern Gaza where around 30 Israeli tanks pushed three kilometres (two miles) into the sector, which local residents said was the deepest Israeli incursion since Hamas seized power six months ago.

A friendly reminder too, that “militants” also happen to be human beings with families and loved ones. Those who were brutally murdered were in their 20s. How many more 20 somethings have to die resisting an illegal, brutal occupation before the world stands up to the Israeli hegemon? How many more women have to loose sons, husbands, brothers and fathers to this apartheid regime? How many more rivers of tears must be shed before Palestinians are allowed to live with some semblence of peace? How much longer?!!!

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Palestinian relatives of Islamic Jihad militant, Khalil Al Aswad, react during his funeral in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Dec

10

Note to Self

December 10, 2007 | 3 Comments

Blogging in one’s head on the Metro, while preparing for a final exam, or writing a paper, is NO EXCUSE for not blogging online!

Dec

4

Don’t Miss It If You’re in DC: “USA vs. Al-Arian”

December 4, 2007 | 2 Comments

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 5th, be sure to check out the DC premeiere of the documentary film “USA vs Al-Arian“.

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“USA vs Al-Arian” is a disturbing film on freedom of speech in post 9/11 America and political persecution. The film follows the arrest and trial of Sami Al-Arian, an Arab-American university professor accused of supporting a terrorist organization abroad. For two and a half years Dr. Al-Arian was held in solitary confinement, denied basic privileges and given limited access to his attorneys. The film is an intimate family portrait documenting how a tight-knit family unravels before our very eyes as trial preparations, strategy and media spin consume their lives. Norwegian director Line Halvorsen has made a damning portrait of the case focusing on the trial’s emotional toll. This is a nightmare come to life, as a man is prosecuted for his beliefs rather than his actions.

The panel discussion after the screening includes:

Moderator: Award-winning journalist
AMY GOODMAN of Democracy Now!

DAVID COLE , Professor of Law, Georgetown University.
LINDA MORENO, Trial Attorney, USA vs Al-Arian.
JONATHAN TURLEY, Prof. of Law, G.Washington University Law School.
ABDULLAH AL-ARIAN, Son of Sami Al-Arian.
LINE HALVORSEN, director of “USA vs Al-Arian”.

AMC/Loews Uptown 1 Theater
3426 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

December 5th, 2007 at 7:00 PM

Buy tickets HERE

For more about the Sami Al-Arian case, check out the latest piece on Huffington Post authored by Al-Arian’s daughter.

I’ve also written about his case in the past:

Al-Arian Speaks Out, Continues Hunger Strike

Justice: 2, War on the Innocent: 0

Dr. Sami Al-Arian To Be Released Soon

From the Land of the Free: Oppression and Injustice at Its Best!

Justice…

[h/t: Kabobfest]

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