The Arab American News
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Vulgar letters at Fordson snowball into a major bullying outbreak
February 24th, 20120 DEARBORN — One sophomore girl from Fordson High School was celebrating what she described as a wonderful birthday with her family on the eve of February 10. But unbeknownst to her, she was about to receive a letter in the mail that would humiliate her and her entire family and turn her Happy Birthday into an ongoing grueling...
Michigan primary looms as candidates fight for votes
February 24th, 20120 Santorum faring better than native son Romney in projection polls Michigan voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 28, casting their ballots in the state's Republican primary on the same day as Arizona voters decide their winner. U.S. Republican presidential candidates (L to R) U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, former U.S. Senator...
It’s time to support Ficano, new executive team
February 24th, 20120 Dwelling on past mistakes only hurts Wayne County Robert FicanoNow that the start of a new year is upon us it is time to take a different approach to our County of Wayne. It is indeed all of our county, in many ways the anchor of much of our state. Home of GM, Ford, the Tigers, the Lions, downtown Detroit, Metro Airport and almost...
Syria: To arm or not to arm rebels, that is the question
February 24th, 20120 WASHINGTON — Just days before the opening meeting of the new international "Friends of Syria" in Tunis Friday, the debate over whether the United States should provide more support – including weapons – to opposition forces is gathering steam. Free Syrian Army fighters look at a tank taken by defectors from the regular Syrian Army...Hunger strike renews urgency: Demand boycott of Israel now
Khader Adnan’s life was just saved. He paid a terrible price for his freedom. He paid with a health-shattering two months on hunger strike. Shackled, starving, and surrounded by Israeli soldiers, he defeated them all. The Palestinian people are often shackled, often starving, and always surrounded by Israeli soldiers.Yet they just...
Star International’s Hamdan commits to Wayne State football program
February 23rd, 20120 DEARBORN — The Wayne State University college football program put itself back on the map with a Division-II runner-up performance in 2011, and the university has always had a reputation as a quality school academically. That combination was impossible for Star International Academy's Yaser Jamal Hamdan to pass up, as the versatile...Fighting cancer: local activist honored, supported at recognition banquet
DEARBORN - A recognition and support banquet was held for Dr. Suleiman Barada on Thursday, February 23 at the Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. Dr. Barada, who is a community activist, was recently diagnosed with cancer and is seeking an alternative form of chemotherapy, which is a trial therapy that is not covered by major health...Murder charges dismissed against two brothers from Christmas day car accident
DEARBORN - Homicide charges were dismissed last Friday against Yaken Al-Ghathie and Saber Alghathie, two Dearborn boys who were accused of killing their sister in a car accident on Christmas day while driving to their other sisters wedding at Greenfield Manor.In what the brothers described as "Zaffa," a Yemeni wedding tradition that...
Wayne County Treasurer stresses communication as tax deadline approaches
February 23rd, 20120 DETROIT – With the March 30 deadline approaching for delinquent taxpayers in Wayne County who may be subject to foreclosure, the county's treasurer, “We are hoping to pursue and give guidance to people during this strenuous, challenging economic time.” Raymond J. Wojtowicz, spoke with The Arab American News about what...New York Times foreign correspondent remembers working with Anthony Shadid
Stephen Farrell, a Middle East correspondent for the New York Times is still grieving the loss of his close friend and colleague Anthony Shadid who received international acclaim as one of the most distinguished reporters to cover the region for the Times. Nada Bakri, Anthony Shadid's wife, lights a candle at a vigil for Shadid, at...
Tawakkul Karman: A tool for farcical democratic initiatives
February 23rd, 20120 Who is Tawakkul Karman and more importantly, how and why has this religiously-dressed Yemeni woman come to be the darling of Western-oriented democracy movements? To understand who is actually reaping the rewards of this activist, we should begin by following the money. Mrs. Karman has a non-governmental organization (NGO)...
Rise of Islamists in Syria could threaten Jordan’s political stability, analyst warns
February 23rd, 20120 AMMAN - An eventual fall of Syria's regime, followed by the rise of an Islamist government could create a quandary for Jordan, a small country that has strategic ties with its northern neighbor, analysts say. Free Syrian Army fighters pose in front of a tank taken by defectors from the regular Syrian Army in Al Qusayr February 23, 2012....Victory of hunger striker Khader Adnan partial, but memorable
The Palestinian prisoners’ movement will never forget Khader Adnan. Its history will record that his “battle of the empty intestines,” as Palestinians refer to prisoners’ open hunger strike, lasted the longest. Adnan was able to do what hasn’t been done in a long time. His story turned the cause of Palestinian political...
Israel will not strike Iran in the near future
February 22nd, 20120 Israel will not strike Iran without securing Washington’s approval. The Obama administration expects the sanctions on the Islamic Republic to work. As the U.S. economy starts to improve and the troops return home the last thing Americans want is a new war.The mood in Israel is different from that of the U.S. Iran’s suspect...Bridge Card abuses placing pressure on local businesses to cheat, witnesses say
The problem of Bridge Card abuse is one that is fueled by people across Michigan of various ethnic and social backgrounds, but according to witnesses, abuse has become a major problem locally. DEARBORN – Many local customers have created lasting friendships with the owners of the city's many locally owned shops, which stands as......
Kashou designs highlight Super Bowl show
"It's a big stepping stone in my career to work on a project for Madonna, she is a global fashion icon who has been a reinventing her image for decades now and to be a part of that is a huge honor.”INDIANAPOLIS — The 2012 Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 5 was highlighted by Roman and ancient Egyptian themes, but what viewers may...Fact-checking: Terry Jones’ worst enemy
DEARBORN — Last week, Qur’an burning Florida Pastor Terry Jones sent out a press release in which he cited examples of the rise of “Shari’a Law” in Dearborn. But when one takes a closer look at the statements Jones is making by doing some fact-checking, they will find that Jones’ claims are either over exaggerated or even......
Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities easier said than done?
February 20th, 20120 WASHINGTON — Despite renewed media speculation regarding possible Israeli attacks against Iran's nuclear facilities as early as this spring, skepticism that such a campaign could actually be successfully carried out remains relatively high, raising the question of whether there is more bark than bite to Israeli threats. Iran's...GOP candidates need to revise approach toward Middle East
Gingrich (C) made headlines when he infamously declared Palestinians an “invented people;” Santorum and Romney have continued to make similar statements about the Middle East. The leading Republican presidential candidates have a one-sided view of the Arab-Israeli conflict.During the Florida presidential debate, a Palestinian...BDS: Power of the people at work
The issue is not about hummus, chocolate bars or Dead Sea vacations. It is about civil society taking full responsibility for its own action (or lack of). The issue is not exactly about Israeli products either, but rather about how even a seemingly innocent decision like buying Israeli dates may enable the continued subjugation of the...Interfaith leaders meet with FBI Director to discuss training manual concerns
WASHINGTON — Last week, the Muslim Public Affairs Council along with other community and interfaith organizations met with FBI Director Robert Mueller and the FBI’s Public Affairs Office in an effort to address concerns regarding the agency’s use of inflammatory training material. The FBI provided an update on steps it has taken to......
Arab League rolls cultural red carpet for Bahrain
An anti-government protester runs with a Bahraini flag and a banner that reads ''We will Return'' during a protest that attempted to march back to Al Farook Junction, formally known as Pearl Square, in the village of Sanabis, west of Manama, February 14, 2012. Anti-government protesters tried to march from all directions to reach to the...Martin Luther King’s legacy shines at ADC scholarship reception
DEARBORN — Martin Luther King Jr. Day might have been commemorated across the country last month, but the civil rights leaders influence was more than alive last Friday, February 10 at the Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn, where the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee held its 13th annual Scholarship Awards Reception honoring......
UN assembly adopts resolution, ratchets up pressure on Assad
February 19th, 20120 Syrian ambassador says country is being targeted as new constitution is drafted NEW YORK - The 193-nation UN General Assembly ratcheted up the pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday by overwhelmingly approving a resolution that endorses an Arab League plan calling for him to step aside. A weapons dealer checks...
‘Underwear’ bomber gets life in prison
February 19th, 20120 Nigerian 'underwear' bomber gets life in prison in U.S.Taylor witness: “You are merely a government patsy” Abdulmutallab and the remnants of his failed underwear explosives. DETROIT - A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Nigerian man to life in prison for trying to blow up a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day in......
