Michigan lawmakers pass smoking ban
Michigan will become the 38th state to adopt a ban of some sort on smoking in public areas if Gov. Jennifer Granholm, as expected, signs a bill sent to her by the state House on Thursday. The ban would take effect on May 1, prohibiting smoking in bars, restaurants and most other workplaces excluding casino gaming floors, cigar bars,...Arab Americans on both sides of oath of office ceremony
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — City Councilman Tom Berry, who was re-elected in November, took his oath of office on Tuesday at city hall with the help of Judge David Turfe, marking one of the first times in history an Arab American elected official swore in another Arab American to public office. Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom...Group distributes Qur’ans to front doors
DEARBORN — Many Dearborn residents have been wondering about the source of paperback Qur'ans found hanging from doorknobs throughout the city in recent months. A copy of an English translation of the Qur’an hanging from the front door of a west Dearborn home in November. PHOTO: TAAN The group distributing free copies of an...Beaumont hospitals enhance language services
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak held a press conference Dec. 3 to announce a new initiative to improve language services for patients thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. The foundation is the United States' largest philanthropic organization devoted exclusively...New salon specializes in lavish beauty treatments
DEARBORN — With its luminescent, multi-colored flashing sign and polished exterior, it's hard to miss European Tanning Salon & Hair Design's newest location on Ford Road in Dearborn Heights. European Tanning Club & Hair Design’s state-of-the-art new facility (top) is on the site of a former print shop (bottom)...Immigration reform is good for economic recovery
There are signs that the nation is slowly emerging from the longest and most severe recession since the Great Depression. But a full economic recovery will require solid thinking about the strength of our workforce so that we are better positioned to produce and consume goods, contribute to the tax base, and expand job opportunities...Israel’s illegal settlements in America
U.S. Envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, was highly enthusiastic about Israel's partial, temporary illegal settlement freeze stating "it is more than any Israeli government has done before and can help move toward agreement between the parties." In fact, Israel has done more. In 2005 Israel reversed settlement construction...Reflections on Michael Moore’s “Capitalism”
The thrift in me allowed me to wait until Michael Moore's "Capitalism - A Love Story" came out in second run theatres. It was well worth the wait. The powerful effect that Moore has on his audience derives from the personal stories he relates combined with a sense of humor that highlights the bizarre nature of our capitalist society....ADC prepares for major fundraiser Dec. 11
From Thanksgiving to Eid al-Adha and Christmas, the holiday season brings out the spirit of giving like no other time of year. The ACCHR building in Dearborn. And this time around, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan is hoping for a strong response from the local community in a time of great need at...My compatriots’ vote to ban minarets is fueled by fear
(Editor's note: A referendum banning the construction of minarets in Switzerland was endorsed by 57.5 percent of voters on Sunday, November 29, 2009. The referendum was sponsored by the extreme rightwing Swiss People's Party This is a response to the surprise vote by Swiss citizen and Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan.). It wasn't meant to...Zionism’s un-Christian Bible
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign should widen its scope to target non-Israeli companies who contribute significantly to the oppression of Palestinians. As part of this broader strategy, priority should be given to one of the most egregious offenders, the prestigious British publisher, Oxford University Press. As...
News in Brief: Popular Syrian actors coming to Detroit area
December 5th, 20090 Town halls scheduled on Dearborn schools budget DEARBORN — The first of three town hall meetings on severe budget cuts Dearborn Public Schools have to implement was to take place Thursday evening at the Michael Berry Career Center in Dearborn Heights. Dearborn Public Schools students and parents protest expected teacher...
‘A Country Called Amreeka’ author to visit Dearborn Thursday
December 5th, 20090 To fully and accurately relate the Arab American experience in a book, an author would have to present the stories of communities and individuals of countless backgrounds from throughout the country. Alia Malek did exactly that in "A Country Called Amreeka." A civil rights lawyer born to Syrian immigrants in Baltimore, Malek traveled...Free Gaza Movement raises funds
DEARBORN — Activists from multiple backgrounds joined together Wednesday at Bint Jebail Banquet Hall in Dearborn for a fundraising dinner in support of the Michigan Peace Team's upcoming trip to Gaza near the end of December. Huwaida Arraf The event, created by the Students for Socially Responsible Investing at the...Habib’s will deliver inspired cuisine
DEARBORN — Habib's Cuisine Restaurant and Banquet Center held its grand opening celebration on Tuesday, December 1, with guests in attendance ranging from Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly to city council members and other community leaders. Guests mingled and listened to dedication speeches while enjoying a buffet featuring some of the......
Clark-Coleman distributes Thanksgiving dinners with staffers, volunteers
DEARBORN — State Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman and her staff held a second annual Thanksgiving turkey drive Nov. 24. Over 160 families benefited from the effort, made in collaboration with the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). Abbas Elhadi, right, a...
Obama switches gears on Afghanistan
December 4th, 20090 WASHINGTON (IPS) — President Barack Obama presented a case Tuesday for sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan that included both soaring rhetoric and a new emphasis on its necessity for U.S. national security. U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, December......
Arab Detroit hosts 7th Annual Workshop
DEARBORN — The Dearborn-based Web site Arab Detroit will host its 7th annual educational workshop entitled "Images and Perceptions of Arab Americans: Arab America: Bridging the Gap" on Thursday, December 3, 2009. Byblos Banquet Hall at 7258 Chase Road in Dearborn will be the site of the event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m....HFH president to keynote woman’s breakfast
DEARBORN — The Arab American Women's Business Council will hold its 3rd Annual Breakfast on Friday, December 4, giving local businesswomen a chance to network and learn from the best. The breakfast was held at Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. AAWBC founder Jumana Judeh The event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and is...Dr. Adnan Hammad receives award from the American Cancer Society
Dr. Adnan Hammad received a prestigious award from the American Cancer Society in Los Angeles Nov.18 for his volunteerism, humanitarianism and distinguished service. Adnan Hammad The American Cancer Society, the nation's largest voluntary health organization, honors individuals who are helping to realize the...Attacks on Iran are attacks on Obama
In the last few weeks, there has been a flurry of unsubstantiated accusations against Iran. These accusations may seem to be aimed at Iran but, in fact, a pattern is emerging, which suggests that the attacks are really directed at destroying the Obama administration by discrediting its goodwill gesture toward Iran, which is a sharp......
Iraqi refugees move to Michigan despite poor economy
The U.S. government resettled Mazen Alsaqa in Massachusetts in February. Within a month, the Iraqi refugee moved to Michigan. Iraqi refugee Rawaa Bahoo helps her daughter Maryam, 5, with her hair as Marvin, 8, left, and Maryana, 4, watch TV in Farmington Hills, Mich. Bahoo, 29, came to Michigan in July 2008 just a few days after...Budget cuts hit education hard
Dearborn Public Schools students and parents demonstrated against expected teacher layoffs outside the district’s administrative center on Nov. 23. PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal/TAAN DEARBORN — In the district hit hardest by severe state cuts in education funding, school board members bore the brunt of students' parents' and......
Arab American veterans reflect on Fort Hood attack
Maj. Nidal Hasan's face continues to haunt Muslim and Arab Americans, his image floating around news media endlessly as investigations go on, details emerge and commentators associate his alleged crimes with his religion and ethnicity. For many Arab and Muslim veterans of the U.S. military, hearing about the victims of the Fort Hood...Retailer stands by diversity message
One of the world's biggest electronics retailers this week stood by a decision to include a small "Happy Eid al-Adha" greeting in its circular advertising Thanksgiving Day sales. Right-wing internet bloggers and forum users attacked Best Buy for printing the greeting after coming under fire in past years from groups like the American......