Russia establishing new realities in Syria; U.S. sends weapons, but to whom?
"Syria cannot be another Afghanistan to Russia for the simple reason that America cannot call the rebels freedom fighters like it did in 1980." With Syrian jets bombing rebels and extremists and Syrian and Iranian groups attacking them on the ground, Moscow seems determined to end the international efforts to topple the Syrian...Palestinians are struggling, alone
"Palestinians are alone, fighting with rocks, knives and screwdrivers against one of the most well-equipped armies in the world. "The world was shocked by the footage of Israeli settlers taunting a 13-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot by occupation forces in the West Bank. "Die you son of a whore," a Jewish settler told the...A silver lining in the war on ISIS?
In the international war on ISIS, a hidden silver lining is emerging: serious self-criticism within Muslim society and growing convergence of opinion of world leaders on ISIS. Regrettably, these two recent developments are not serious enough to lead to the dismantling and degrading of ISIS. As radical Islamist terror spreads in...The third Intifada may be underway
"Palestinians eagerness for national liberation has reached a point where they are charging at occupation soldiers with knives and screwdrivers. This is not another round of unrest. The intifada may well be underway."Fifteen years after the Second Intifada, after right-wing Ariel Sharon, an Israeli politician whose hands were drenched...Blue collar neighborhoods need better community policing
The Southend has suffered an 81 percent increase in narcotic violations and a doubling of auto thefts from 2012 to 2014.Dearborn is home to one of the finest police forces in the country, no doubt about it. The Dearborn Police Department (DPD) has been recognized both nationally and by the state. However, a recent spike in...
We are Americans, like you
October 9th, 20150 If you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. And if you put satire on xenophobia, it's still xenophobia. The O'Reilly Factor's segment on Dearborn, which was supposed to be comedic, was racist, bigoted and dangerous. Jesse Watters, Bill O'Reilly's correspondent who was sent to Dearborn, tried to ridicule his Arab...Putin: Friend or foe in Syria?
What Vladimir Putin is up to in Syria makes far more sense than what President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry appear to be up to in Syria. The Russians are flying transports bringing tanks and troops to an air base near the coastal city of Latakia to create a supply chain to provide a steady flow of weapons and munitions to...Pope Francis’ call for compassion should be heard
Pope Francis delivered a message of tolerance, compassion and giving during his visit to the United States last week. These ideals should be adopted by people of all faiths. Treating our fellow humans with respect and trying to understand their struggles— no matter where they come from— should be a universal ethical...
Hubbard’s statue was removed, but the struggle continues
September 30th, 20150 "Confining ourselves to demographic islands perpetuates Hubbard's racist ideals."Residents and civil rights activists celebrated the removal of Orville Hubbard's statue from the grounds of Dearborn's historic City Hall. Hubbard was a White supremacist who advocated for racial segregation. The statue is being relocated to the Dearborn...An American pope with a challenge for America
"We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners." - Pope FrancisI was privileged to have been in attendance at many of Pope Francis' Washington events this past week. What came through so very clearly is that Francis is an American pope with a profoundly American message.For two...Subduing al-Quds: Israel’s high-stake game in al-Aqsa
The State of Israel was established on the ruins of Palestine, based on a series of objectives that were initialed by letters from the Hebrew alphabet, the consequences of which continue to guide Israeli strategies to this day. The current violence against Palestinian worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem is a...Stampedes are too common at Hajj; Saudi Arabia should be accountable
An ambulance drives to the camp city of Mina near Mecca, Sept. 24The death of more than 717 people in a stampede at Hajj on the day of Eid is a tragedy. But it was not a natural disaster. It is a man-made incident that could have been avoided. Saudi authorities pledged to investigate the deadly blunder, which was caused by two...Carson’s anti-Muslim remarks: The party of Lincoln is becoming the party of Palin
"It is farcical that Trump and Carson are leading the GOP race."Dr. Ben Carson, the second most popular Republican presidential candidate, said he would not advocate for a Muslim president because Islam's teachings are inconsistent with the Constitution. The statement showed an astounding amount of hate and ignorance. But what is...On “abeed” and “camel jockeys”: Racial supremacy is a disease
"Snuffing out prejudice in our African and Arab American communities is not only ethically necessary, it is in our self interest.""You camel jockey motherf****ers," yelled an African American man at a crowd of Arab Americans at a Dearborn gas station after a traffic dispute this week. As the confrontation escalated, the angry driver...
We should always stand with Ahmed
September 18th, 20150 A 14-year-old brings a homemade clock to school. A teacher and the school’s principal pretend to think it's a bomb and call the police, who amplify the prejudice by detaining the student. Nobody had actually mistaken the clock for a bomb. If that had been the case, the school would have been evacuated and the bomb squad......
The 33rd anniversary of the Sabra massacre: Where are the Arabs
"Where are the Arabs?" distressed Palestinian women asked the cameras while leaving the Sabra and Shatila refugee camp after witnessing one of worst crimes of the second half of the past century. In cooperation with the Israeli forces, Christian extremist militants murdered more than 3,500 Palestinians over two days in the Sabra...Fast, faster, fastest: Why the rush?
Socrates and Plato were not in a hurry. Neither was Aristotle nor Heraclitus. They took time to think deeply. As far back as twenty-four centuries ago, they offered insights and observations about the human condition, character, and personality that are as true today as they were then.Fast forward to our fast-paced society. Many people......
Islamophobia in Sterling Heights demands condemnation and discussion
A predomenantly Chaldean protest against the proposed mosque in Streling Heights, Sept. 10The evening of September 10th in Sterling Heights, Michigan reflects the complex convergence of trauma and bigotry that affects Chaldean and Muslim communities in Southeast Michigan. The American Islamic Community Center (AICC), which...
An open letter to the Chaldean community: Dialogue is needed
September 11th, 20150 Arab-Chaldean relations have reached a critical point. Repeated attempts by some Chaldeans to attack, smear and ridicule Arab and Muslim Americans can no longer be tolerated. This rising bigotry should be addressed with reason and dialogue within and between both communities. Members of the Chaldean community took turns trying to...Sterling Heights desecrated the Constitution; we must act
On Sept. 10, the Sterling Heights Planning Commission rejected the proposed mosque on 15 Mile Road. As explained in a previous editorial, zoning and residential concerns against the mosque were thinly veiled lies that failed to hide the rampant Islamophobia expressed by bigots who opposed the house of worship. We have to organize...Reform Lebanon, but also protect it
A woman during a rally in front of the Lebanese consulate in Detroit The Lebanese people are finally seeing past their political allegiances and sectarian identities to stand up to the rotten political system that is victimizing all of them. We support the Lebanese struggle for reform against the ruling class and commend the "You Stink"......
Celebrating 31 years in a painful world
The Arab American News staff during our 30th anniversary celebrationThe Arab American News was established 31 years ago, on Sept. 7, 1984. Since then, it has grown from an idea to become a destination for tens of thousands of readers, journalists and politicians seeking the news of Arab America.The newspaper has matched the growth and...We should be grateful for our Constitution
Concerning your editorial of Aug. 27, about the proposed Mosque in Sterling Heights: There is a teachable lesson that we can all learn from… and that is; sometimes it takes the newer citizens— those who are the most grateful for our Bill of Rights, those who vividly remember the oppression they are fleeing— to remind us what a......
Syria’s refugees: Poetry doesn’t help; action needed
September 4th, 20150 Aylan KurdiThe photo of Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian child who drowned and washed on the shores of Turkey, has inspired volumes of poetry and sympathy. But words and tears will not help the people of Syria. Actions are needed by all governments— including ours— which considers itself the leading force in the free world. Aylan, 3,...More in-depth reporting on air pollution in Michigan’s Wayne County could save lives
Southend resident Marya Aladwar has asthma and attends Salina Elementary School in Dearborn. Aladwar is holding up the inhaler she uses to treat her asthma. Air pollution from industrial sources can trigger asthma attacks.DETROIT — Air pollution from industrial sources in Wayne County— especially in the low income ZIP......