tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77107777159162092232024-03-12T17:36:26.455-07:00NOWAR: The Arab American NOWAR CommitteeNOWAR means no to war and racism. We are professors, writers, and activists who want to create cultural change and social justice.The organizers reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN MICHIGAN TO JOIN US!Arab American NOWAR Committeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081611829663926753noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7710777715916209223.post-4115583535422747042006-09-24T16:16:00.000-07:002006-09-24T16:22:12.885-07:00Fast from SUN UP to SUN DOWN<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">FAST FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN on your designated days.<br />You do not have to be from Michigan to join the fast.</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br />MARK YOUR CALENDARS and check back for directions & details.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:180%;" >UPCOMING IFTAR DINNERS: </span><br /></span></span><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Wednesday, October 11th in Detroit 7-730 p.m.</span></span></span></li></ul><pre style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="WMmessagebody"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >Detroit solidarity fasters would like to announce the<br />DETROIT Iftar<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Detroit Summer/CCNDC community space</span><br />7-8pm @ 3535 Cass<br />off the corner of MLK Jr blvd<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">It's a POTLUCK so please bring a dish to pass.<br />Featuring performances from<br />HARDCORE DETROIT BREAKERS<br />JITTERS<br />DULAB<br />BIG A<br />live painting by members of<br />OTHER collective, and more...</span></span><br />____________________________________________________<br /></pre><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Thursday, October 19th in Ann Arbor 7-7:30 p.m.</span></span></span></span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Sponsored by Muslims Students' Association and NOWAR committee</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">If you are attending the Iftar in Ann Arbor, sign up for<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://umich.edu/%7Emuslims/fastathon.htm">this fastathon</a></span><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="subcattitle">The <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">2006 Fast-A-Thon Iftar dinner</span> will be held in the<br />WEDGE ROOM at WEST QUAD<br />on the UM -Ann Arbor campus<br />approximately 7:00 P.M.</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Please sign up so MSA will have an accurate count of attendees.<br />_____________________________________________________________<br /></span><br /></span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We had more than fourteen people for this dinner on Sunday. It was a wonderful gathering. Thanks for joining us!</span></b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2006 <br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">after SUNDOWN</span></span><br /><span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.bintjbeil.com/bjcenter.html" target="_blank"><b>BintJbeil Cultural Center</b></a><br /><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">6220 </span></b><st1:address><st1:street><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Miller Rd</span></b></st1:street><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></b><st1:city><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Dearborn</span></b></st1:city><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span></b><st1:state><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">MI</span></b></st1:state><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">CHIGAN </span></b><st1:postalcode><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">48126</span></b></st1:postalcode></st1:address><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><br />COMMENT SECTION ON THE FAST IS OPEN.<br />Feel free to contribute and start a conversation!<br /></span></b>Arab American NOWAR Committeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081611829663926753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7710777715916209223.post-81879519261202344572006-09-24T07:31:00.001-07:002006-10-11T08:44:59.018-07:00List of Participants and Calendar for Fast (so far)<span style="font-weight: bold;">THOSE WHO ARE FASTING THE WHOLE MONTH<br />Mary Assel, Rabie & Farouq Shafie, Kim Redigan, and Wadad Abed </span><br /><br />Sept 25-27<br />Kim Redigan, Nazih Hassan,<br />Anassa Elizabeth Mullens,<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Sept 28-30<br />Mary Assel, Jan Newman, Megan Williamson,<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Detroit Chapter of <a href="http://jewishsolidarity.info/">International Jewish Solidarity Network</a></span>:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Ben Chodoroff</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">, Mike Medow, Rick Feldman</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">, Max Sussman,<br />Carinne Silverman-Maddox</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">, ilana Weaver</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Oct 2-4<br />Nadine Naber, Pedro <st1:city><st1:place>San Antonio,<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Joe Namy, </span><a href="http://ibnbintjbeil.blogspot.com/">Ibn Bint Jbeil,</a> Sheryl Yengera<br /></st1:place></st1:city></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Oct 5-7<br />Wadad Abed, John Fiscella, Ginan Rauf,<br />Sairah Husain, <span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Huda Karaman Rosen and Jeffrey Rosen</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Oct 9-11<br />Paul Rodgers, Shirley Chalmers, Debbie Alkamano<br />Dean Saranillio, Marie Cotera<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Oct 12-14<br />Rabie & Farouq Shafie, Hend Alomari, May Seikaly,<br />Franceska Wilde, Laurie White, Rachel Kirkland<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Oct 16-18<br />Paulette Childress, Patricia Dunn, Aida Bamia,<br />Sharon Heijin Lee, <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">David Pitts & Joanna Hanks</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Oct 18-20</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Margaret Al-Aboudi, Shadia Kanaan, Hildy Kerney </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">from</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Women in Black-Kalamazoo</span><span style="font-size:0;"><span id="role_document" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></p><o:p></o:p>Oct 19-21<br />Peter Putnam, Patricia Dunn, William Secrest,<br />Khaled Mattawa, Reem GibrielArab American NOWAR Committeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081611829663926753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7710777715916209223.post-40510564099823806932006-09-18T16:33:00.000-07:002006-09-18T16:34:18.551-07:00JOIN US!!<p class="MsoNormal">Dear friends of the Muslim communities,<br /><br />Please join us, the Arab American NOWAR committee, in a solidarity fast. Say NO TO WAR AND RACISM by fasting with Muslims during Ramadan.<br /><br />Read the NOWAR statement and if you agree with the statement and wish to participate in the fast, contact us via email at <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">solidarityfast at comcast.net</span><a href="http://beta.blogger.com/solidarityfast@comcast.net"><br /></a><br />1. You are committing to abstain from food --sunup to sundown-- for a minimum of three days during the month of Ramadan which begins on September 23.<br /><br />2. We will assign dates to participants and create a public calendar.<br /> <br />3. Your signature will be added to the list of fasters and made public on our blog and to media contacts.<br /><br />4. Throughout Ramadan, we will gather for two Iftar dinners to break our fast, one in <st1:city><st1:place>Ann Arbor</st1:place></st1:city> at the beginning of Ramadan and one in <st1:city><st1:place>Dearborn</st1:place></st1:city> near the end of Ramadan.<br /><br />Regardless of which days you have been assigned to fast, we who are fasting in <st1:state><st1:place>Michigan</st1:place></st1:state> in solidarity with Muslim communities, will attend these two Iftar dinners. Both dinners will start at sundown.<br /><br /><span style=""> </span><br /><span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.bintjbeil.com/bjcenter.html" target="_blank"><b>BintJbeil Cultural Center</b></a><br /><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">6220 </span></b><st1:address><st1:street><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Miller Rd</span></b></st1:street><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></b><st1:city><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Dearborn</span></b></st1:city><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span></b><st1:state><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">MI</span></b></st1:state><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span></b><st1:postalcode><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">48126</span></b></st1:postalcode></st1:address><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />TEL: (313) 584-0011 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">UM campus/Ann Arbor/<br />student co-sponsored event<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;" >****DATES/TIMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED as soon as possible****</span></span><br /><br /><span style=""> </span><br />Visit <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">OUR BLOG </span></span>for our statement, the list of signatures, and other important information related to the solidarity fast.<br /><br />In solidarity and toward peace,<br /><br /><b>Arab American NOWAR COMMITTEE</b><br /><st1:city><st1:place>Ann Arbor</st1:place></st1:city> & Dearborn</p>Arab American NOWAR Committeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081611829663926753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7710777715916209223.post-55161819788121740612006-09-18T16:30:00.000-07:002006-09-18T16:31:49.602-07:00Fast in Solidarity with Muslim Communities<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">SAY NO TO WAR AND RACISM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">FAST IN SOLIDARITY WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITIES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I am fasting during Ramadan in solidarity with peoples from Muslim majority countries and Muslim immigrant communities in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> who have been subjected to harassment, detention, economic hardship and war as a consequence of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> imperialist aggressions and Israeli occupation. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I fast in solidarity with the people of Lebanon who have experienced the destruction of their country, displacement, and the loss of their loved ones. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I fast in solidarity with the people of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Palestine</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family:Times;"> who continue to face massive deprivation of land, life and resources and the denial of their right to return to their homeland and their right to full citizenship.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I fast in solidarity with the people of Iraq who have lived under siege for over a decade of U.S.-led war and destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I fast in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan who have faced a massive U.S. bombing campaign, and a denial of access to hospitals, food and electricity.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">I fast in solidarity with Muslim immigrants and Muslim Americans who have been harassed, detained, deported, or racially profiled without evidence of criminal activity; those who have been forced to live with the possibility that at any time, they may be picked up, locked up, or detained; and those families and communities who have been forced to separate because of anti-Muslim immigration policies.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style=""> </span>I fast for the end of all U.S. led and supported occupations and the self-determination of all peoples, including all indigenous peoples, immigrants, and people of color in the U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;">The “war on terror” is an illegal war that violates international laws and uses “national security” as an excuse to conquer Arab and Muslim lands, oil, labor, and people.<span style=""> </span>The Bush administration has used September 11<sup>th</sup> as an excuse for increasing military intervention in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Philippines</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;">, waging war on </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Afghanistan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> and </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Iraq</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;">, and forcing a regime change on </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Pakistan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;">, among other imperialist acts. </span><span style="font-family:Times;">Fully supported by the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;">, the recent Israeli war against the people of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Lebanon</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> aims to destroy the popular resistance movement and to ignite an internal confessional strife. Such has been the US-Israeli design for </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Lebanon</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> for decades.<span style=""> </span>In its veto on July 12 of the United Nations resolution condemning the Israeli actions in Gaza, the Bush administration is sending a clear message that Israeli conquests complement US policies for the region, as manifested in the occupation and destruction of Iraq. Effectively, three Arab states (Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon) are now simultaneously under a violent siege and are being drawn into internal strife.<span style=""> </span>And the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> seems even closer to implementing attacks on </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Iran (see arab-american.net)</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;">For many of us, to join a solidarity fast against war and racism is a choice.<span style=""> </span>For those living under U.S. and Israeli military occupation and war, accessing resources and simply being granted the right to exist are privileges that are increasingly difficult to come by. This is why fasting is a form of solidarity.<span style=""> </span>One hundred people die in Iraq per day. Over 4,000 Palestinians and over 1000 Israelis killed since 2000 alone. Over 7.2 million Palestinians have become refugees. Because of the Israeli economic blockade, most the children in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">Gaza</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family:Times;"> are malnourished, according to a recent New York Times article.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;">Domestically, the Bush administration has expanded its definition of “immigrant” to “evil terrorist enemy within.”<span style=""> </span>Latino immigrants and other immigrants who have been marked as “potential criminals” have faced increasing forms of targeting and harassment since 9-11.<span style=""> </span>Attacks against Filipinos/as have taken place based on Bush’s designation of the Philippines as an Al Qayeda harboring country.<span style=""> </span>These attacks seek to quell the dissent of anyone who speaks out against the war machine.<span style=""> </span>The silencing of dissent is facilitated by increasing policies that treat anyone who thinks critically of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family:Times;">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:Times;"> foreign policy—or believes in national self-determination—is treated as “anti-American” and anyone who thinks critically of the Israeli state as “anti-Semitic.”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;">The “war on terror” has facilitated the passing of new laws, such as the Patriot Act that give more power to the racist criminal justice system.<span style=""> </span>These laws legalize and give increased power to the institutions of racial profiling, surveillance, sweeps, detentions, and lock-ups.<span style=""> </span>The government pours money into the military, and we are paying this huge bill with severe cuts in the budgets for women’s and family’s social services, including welfare, housing, health, education, and transportation.<span style=""> </span>The Bush administration recruits young people of color and lies to them by claiming that they will be given money for their education.<span style=""> </span>These promises are not kept and young people of color, African-Americans in particular, are positioned on the front lines, used as cannon fodder for an illegal war.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;">The “Fast against War and Racism” creates an opportunity for people to express their solidarity with Muslim communities. It is also an opportunity for creating links between people who are targeted by the war on terror in their homelands and the people who are targeted by the war on terror, over here, within the U.S<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Say NO to war and racism<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Join the Fast in Solidarity with Muslim communities<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Times;">Organized by:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style=""> </span>NOWAR: The Arab American “No to War and Racism” Committee, Ann Arbor, Michigan <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><a href="mailto:solidarityfast@comcast.net">solidarityfast@comcast.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Arab American NOWAR Committeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081611829663926753noreply@blogger.com0