Palestine group launches commemorations
Dearborn Hasan Newash was six years old when his family fled their home in the Palestinian village of Ein Karem in 1947, when it was overrun by a right-wing Jewish militia ahead of the establishment of Israel. Newash returned to visit his childhood home in 1990, more than 40 years later, and found the house his father built...Ultimate fighter: No pain, no gain
From the outside looking in, most people think Ultimate Fighters are the epitome of dumb jocks, or worse yet, a little crazy. After all, who would willingly jump into a cage and put themselves in harm's way unless they didn't have anything better to do with their life? One person who chose to do just that is Amir Sadollah, one...State Rep. Farrah to bring Arab America to Lansing
LANSING Michigan's only Arab American State Rep., Barbara Farrah, is organizing a celebration of Arab culture at the Capitol building in Lansing on May 22. Farrah said she's seen several similar cultural events sponsored by other representatives at the Capitol before, and felt the need to bring Arab Americans into the mix....Proud Navy counselor recruits from own community
Heather Charara's eight year career with the U.S. Navy has granted her more opportunities than she could have ever imagined. Throughout her career she has traveled extensively, met new people, and formed lifelong friendships with her fellow officers. Born to a Lebanese father and German mother, Charara had always had a...ACCESS celebrates 37th anniversary
Detroit To kick off its 37th year of service and for the first time in 25 years without Ismael Ahmed as its executive director, ACCESS held its annual dinner probably the largest Arab American dinner in the country May 10 at the Detroit Marriot. ACCESS spokespeople said nearly 2,000 attended. The group handed out awards...City’s top talent hope to become 2008 “Dearborn Stars”
DEARBORN The area's most talented performers are sending in their applications to compete in the 2008 "Dearborn Stars" talent contest. The second annual talent contest, which features various performances of all ages, is scheduled for July 16 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Dearborn...Dearborn Stars maintain momentum
DEARBORN The Dearborn Stars are now 2-1 on the season as they split a pair over games over the past week in the Michigan Premier Soccer League's Open Division. The Stars won 1-0 over the United Soccer Club on May 9, getting the game-winning goal from Hasan Saad late in the game off a deflection. May 11 was a different story as the...A day of service for the community
The National Arab American Service Day will take place on May 17th, 2008, kicking off at 10 a.m. at Lapeer Park in Dearborn. 250 volunteers are expected but more are always welcome. Volunteers can choose from three different service projects for the day including Family Fun Day at Lapeer Park, Warrendale Motor City Makeover, and...The myth of an Islamic state
The yearning for an Islamic state has been bloody and fruitless. This is a major theme of Tarek Fatahs heavily researched yet easily read book. He goes back to the origins of Islam to show the wrong-headedness of the notion. Mohammed, who developed the political system of Medina, did not try to replicate that model...NEWS FROM CANADA
Israeli ambassador fears Muslim immigrants On the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary, Alan Baker, Israel's ambassador in Ottawa, expressed concern about the impact that the growing Muslim population in Canada would have on Canada's foreign policy. In spite of the strong pro-Israel stance of the current Conservative...Annual Mother’s Day brunch honors Rehab Amer
DEARBORN The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Greater Detroit Chapter celebrated exemplary mothers in the Arab American community during its Second Annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 4, 2008, at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center here. The event hosted approximately 200 guests from different age groups and...Business treats customers like family
DEARBORN When it comes to corner auto repair shops, most places only care about one thing: their bottom line. But the problem with that philosophy is that sooner or later, customers find out, and most of the time, they don't come back. Luckily, Dabaja Tire Center on the corner of Greenfield and Warren in Dearborn is different....The first song in the soundtrack of my life
My heavy eyelids slip slowly downwards. As they continue to droop I take one final, albeit increasingly blurry, look at the comforting image of my childhood bedroom. Upon my lush peach-colored armchairs, I catch sight of my many beloved dolls, the dolls that never fail to entertain my little-girl fancies throughout the day. They appear...The five percent solution to America’s crises
US presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney DEARBORN β Green Party U.S. presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is hoping to get support from five percent of voters in November, in an attempt to change the way the country's political system operates, she said Monday in an interview with The Arab American News. In an...V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!
The Dearborn Stars soccer team was victorious over the Ford Lightning in the newly-revived teams first game since the 2000 season. The Michigan Premier Soccer League's Stars, which are sponsored by the Lebanese American Heritage Club, won 5-0 on the strength of their balanced scoring. The five goals were scored by five......
Women’s Foundation honors ACC leader
NOVI The Michigan Women's Foundation (MWF) hosted its 19th Annual Women of Achievement and Courage Celebrations by honoring five dynamic women who have made significant contributions to arts, advocacy and activism. As the first and most experienced statewide organization that supports and invests in women and girls, MWF will use...ACLU supports doctor fired from clinic
ANN ARBOR The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has issued an opinion critical of Packard Community Clinic's policy regarding speech of employees. In a letter to Executive Director Kim Kratz, the ACLU states: " the policy is extremely broad and poses serious civil liberties implications for the free expression...Deeb to be awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor
WARREN Edward Deeb, native Detroiter and president and CEO of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association, and the Michigan Business and Professional Association, headquartered in Warren, MI, will be awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, at ceremonies on Ellis Island in New York City May 10. The two large associations he heads have...Comcast Cares Day
Comcast volunteers, family and friends painted and cleaned up the Yemen American Benevolent Association facility in Dearborn on Saturday, May 3, as part of Comcast Cares Day, the companys nationwide day of service. More than 30 non-profit organizations throughout the state of Michigan benefited from the efforts of thousands of......
The man behind the Mahdi Army
An excellent work, "Muqtada" ends off right where current events pick up with the recent Iraqi army attacks ordered by Nuri al-Maliki in southern Iraq, Basra in particular. The media view that this was purely an Iraqi effort is put into place with one of author Patrick Cockburn's closing comments that Maliki "had limited real...Man charged with deed fraud
DEARBORN A Grosse Pointe Woods man accused of swindling an elderly couple faces up to 38 years in prison after being charged on April 30. A preliminary hearing was to be held Friday. John Matouk, 41, was charged with forgery, uttering and publishing and false pretenses. According to a release from the Wayne County Prosecutor......
What, if anything, is Arab American poetry?
To what extent is "Arab American" a title that can be defined concisely rather than atmospherically? Does it carry any weight if it is externally and involuntarily imposed, rather than adopted willingly? Is it something to be championed and celebrated, or is it to be buried, obscured, and avoided? The 39 poets, whose work is...Finklestein: Middle East powder keg ready to blow
According to Norman Finklestein, not only Israel and the Arab world but all of us may be on the edge of the pit. Speaking at the University of Ottawa on May 2 at a meeting sponsored by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, he said that Hizbullah could undertake an attack on Israel at a time that it decided on.......