The Arab American News
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Muslims were here before 9/11
New York — I live in Harlem on a street that is home to three churches and a mosque. The mosque is next door to one of those churches and when male congregants mingle on the sidewalk, it's impossible to tell who had just been in church and who in the mosque. It's only some of the women's headscarves that tell you. Muslim Americans...Statement by the President on the Occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr
As Ramadan comes to an end, Michelle and I extend our best wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. For Muslims all over the world, Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of a holy month of fasting and prayer. It is a time of self-reflection focusing on the values that Muslims and people of all...First Annual Taste of East Dearborn Next Week
The East Downtown Dearborn Development Authority (EDDDA) has teamed up with the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce for the creation of the first annual Taste of Dearborn East event, which will be held on September 15th, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will showcase the diverse variety of flavors offered by sixteen local restaurants...ELECTION 2010: State parties hold conventions, select candidates for November showdown
DEARBORN — With about two months to go until the November 2 general election, top Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder and top Democratic candidate Virg Bernero have both officially announced their running mates in what should prove to be a crucial election for one of the union's most financially-challenged states. Snyder...BACK TO SCHOOL: Focusing on new reading program at DPS
DEARBORN — Students in the Dearborn Public Schools system are expected to start school Sep. 7. The district, made up of about 18,500 students at 31 schools, will begin classes for high school students at 7:20 a.m., middle school students at 8:00 a.m. and elementary school students at 8:40 a.m. Superintendent Brian Whiston is...BCBSM debuts high school transition program for students with disabilities
DETROIT — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan held a banquet on Monday, August 30 at 5:00 p.m. to welcome 12 Detroit Public School students into a one year internship for a high school transition program entitled Project SEARCH. Project SEARCH is a transition program which provides training and education to students with disabilities...
On our 26th anniversary, we renew our commitments
September 4th, 20100 Last year The Arab American News quietly celebrated its 25th anniversary. We felt the usual hoopla would be inappropriate given the dire economic circumstances most of the country's citizens found themselves in. But the issues of our publication during that period were still filled with heartfelt congratulatory messages. This showed us...Paletko hosts annual iftar for Dearborn Heights Muslims
Mayor Paletko speaks at his third annual iftar dinner. PHOTO: Neck MeyerDEARBORN HEIGHTS — Al-Shallal Restaurant's banquet room was the site of Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko's third annual iftar dinner on Wednesday, September 2, a new tradition that Dearborn Heights Director of Community and Economic Development...
Yemeni travelers with local ties released, cleared of all potential wrongdoing despite media frenzy
September 4th, 20100 Two Yemeni travelers, one of them is former metro Detroit residents were officially released from the custody of Dutch officials and cleared of all potential wrongdoing on Wednesday after what's being called a mix-up over personal items in their luggage on a flight from Chicago to Amsterdam. "The feeling after hearing what happened...Why do they hate us?
Faith Misplaced: The Broken Promise of U.S.-Arab Relations 1820-2003. Ussama Makdisi PublicAffairs, June 22, 2010."Why do they hate us?" It is probably the most asked question regarding the Arab world since 9/11. Many have ventured to ask and answer this question in the years before and after 9/11, and such works became popular with...
“Bullied” but not surrendering
September 4th, 20100 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speak during an event about the Middle East peace talks in the East Room at the White House in Washington September 1, 2010. REUTERS/Jim YoungThe resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) will allow Barack Obama...Will fear of failure rescue Mideast negotiations?
Is the Obama administration able today to mediate conflict resolution between Arabs and Israelis? The White House is hosting this week the launch of a new round of direct Mideast peace talks. Without hesitation, the administration conveys new signs of hope and assumes the presence of regional readiness for peace making. The honored...Democratic Egypt needed for two state solution
WASHINGTON — The Egyptian Association for Change - USA and the Coalition of Egyptian Organizations call on President Obama to discuss Egypt's future with President Mubarak. Mr. Obama's invitation to the Egyptian President to participate in the peace talks on September 2, 2010 does not address the severely deteriorating situation in...Blair reveals Syria’s fears were well-founded
Tony Blair DAMASCUS — Syria always feared that the White House of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney would invade Damascus once it had dispatched with Baghdad in 2003 and, in his newly released memoirs, the former British prime minister Tony Blair confirmed those fears were well founded. Describing the former U.S. vice president as...
U.S. wasted billions in rebuilding Iraq
September 4th, 20100 KHAN BANI SAAD – A $40 million prison sits in the desert north of Baghdad, empty. A $165 million children's hospital goes unused in the south. A $100 million waste water treatment system in Fallujah has cost three times more than projected, yet sewage still runs through the streets. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey (L-R),......
Eid Festival to take place September 12
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Eid Festival is scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 12, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The festival, which is held in celebration for Eid al-Fitr, will be at the Dearborn Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. Dearborn, 48126. The festival will feature rides, live entertainment,...Companies responsible for unfinished Dearborn construction site file bankruptcy
DEARBORN — Burton-Katzman's (B-K) affiliates, West Village Commons, LLC, and Westminister Homes, LLC, filed for bankruptcy under chapter 7 provisions on Aug. 26, days before B-K was ordered to pay the city of Dearborn a $5 million court- ordered payment for the unbuilt development project in west Dearborn. A preferred development......
Israeli soldiers charged in picture-taking flap
JERUSALEM — Four Israeli soldiers were indicted after taking pictures of themselves pointing their guns at a Palestinian prisoner. In the indictment filed Monday by the Military Advocate, the soldiers were charged with abuse and illegal use of weapons. The soldiers, from the Nahal Haredi brigade, also were accused of improper...Security Council extends UNIFIL mandate
NEW YORK — The United Nations voted to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping operation in southern Lebanon for another year. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Monday to keep the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon on patrol in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel until Aug. 31, 2011. The Council based its decision on what...
Middle East peace talks open in U.S.
September 3rd, 20100 WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton, U.S. secretary of state, has formally opened a summit in Washington for direct talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders, saying the U.S. "cannot and will not impose a solution." U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) looks on as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and President...CAIR PSA campaign challenges anti-Muslim bigotry
SOUTHFIELD — In a news conference Sep. 1, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) discussed its public service announcement (PSA) campaign launch at its headquarters. The campaign is designed to commemorate the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and fight stereotypes surrounding......
Free foreclosure workshops in Wayne County
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Library is teaming up with the Wayne County Fight Mortgage Foreclosure Program to offer free workshops Thursdays in September and October for citizens in need of financial counseling in order to keep their houses. The foreclosure prevention workshops will be on Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7 and Oct. 21...Jordanian pianist to appear on PBS special
AMMAN — Jordanian pianist Zade Al-Dirani's concert "One Night in Jordan: A Concert for Peace," is to air on PBS Saturday, Sep. 11 at 9:30 p.m. The concert is in honor the late King Hussein of Jordan (1935-1999) who had resolved to bring peace to the Middle East. Zade is a 29 year old pianist who was born in Amman, Jordan and began......
Amer Act to get hearing
LANSING — The HB 4118, also known as the "Amer Act," is scheduled to have a hearing with the Families and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, September 7 at 2:30 p.m, The Amer Act will require that families be given priorty when placing children into foster care. This would prevent children from being placed into a foreign culture or...28th annual quilt festival
DEARBORN — First United Methodist Church of Dearborn is to host their 28th annual Festival Of Quilts on October 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 9 from 10 to 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 22124 Garrison, Dearborn. The Festival will honor the church's 200-year anniversary and showcase 200 quilts including 30 quilts......