More protesting!

More protesting!! Everyone should do this once in their lives, it's amazing!!!

Protesting Israeli Aggression in the Nation's Capital

So I went to my first protest yesterday! It was AMAZING! There were at least 1000 people there and we all held signs, chanted and marched from the Israeli Embassy to the Egyptian Embassy and then up and down Connecticut Avenue in DC. A few things that struck me: the police were great, they held traffic for everyone and ensured that everyone was safe, on both sides, the protest split several times and there were groups chanting Takbir and more religious slogans (someone even brought a Hizballah flag!) (which doesn't necessarily help, it's okay to recognize religious pride, but this was about Gaza and condeming Israel, not Islam and we don't want to alienate those non-Muslim supporters who add to the numbers in the protest), there were flags from other countries, including Ireland...and there was a wide range of attendees (even a Hacidic Jew came!!). It was an unforgettable experience, particularly because it felt like I was finally DOING something instead of sitting in my living room yelling at the TV. :) There's another one on Sunday in front of Congress. I love it...there were many news stations there, but when we watched the evening news to see if there was coverage, suprisingly, there was none! I don't get it. If this had been a pro-Israel protest I can pretty much guarantee it would have made the front page. If you can protest wherever you are for Gaza...please do! Someone has to speak for those who cannot!! Here are some pictures...enjoy!!!

Chanting in front of the Israeli Embassy

Maryam protesting!!

Protester wearing Palestinian flag

Protester (unidentified)

Protest moves to Connecticut Ave in DC

Protest!!

The situation is getting worse. I've come to realize that the US, European and Arab governments are going to do nothing to help Gaza and stop the Israeli aggression onto the Palestinian civilians. So the the only thing left to do is to protest! There have been massive protests around the world and they MUST continue. The media and the foreign governments cannot and will not ignore thousands of people protesting in front of Israeli and American Embassies and shouting their displeasure at the top of their lungs. It's time people. You want to see the power of the people, this is it. It's up to us to make the difference and stop the humanitarian tragedy that is happening; it cannot be ignored.

For Gaza, it was a Red Christmas

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, it's been a very crazy and busy time...I finally got some time off of work (alhumdulilah!!!) so I'm trying to relax. The hubby was sick with the stomach flu for Christmas so that pretty much torpedoed the holiday; I spent the night on the couch because I didn't want to get the crud from him. Thank goodness, I didn't get it (knock on wood!). Hope it stays that way. I've been following the Gaza tragedy like crazy and realized rather quickly the strategy and tactics that Israeli PR is using to try and control the coverage on the American media, they've now resorted to repeating the phrase "war on Hamas" to try and counteract the images viewers are seeing of women and children bloody after being bombed by Israeli fighter jets. I was discussing this with my husband and he made a good point about the difference between this conflict and the attacks on Lebanon in 2006; at least the Lebanese people could get out. For the Israelis, this is like the old "fish in a barrel" adage, the Gazans have no where to go...they are trapped. How are they supposed to respond? They can't send back smart bombs or use anti-aircraft fire, it's a completely one-sided strike. Those missiles fired by Hamas are practically useless and are mostly for emphasis--they've only taken one casualty and that one compared with 1500 is just too vast to cite as aggression by Hamas.

I've been following the conflict mostly on Al-Jazeera; they just aired an interview with Tzipi Livni, I'm not suprised she went on AJ, but it's a good counterpoint to those that argue that AJ is just an extremist network with one point of view. AJ is the only major network that has reporters in Gaza and who have been covering this story 24/7.

The outcome of this conflict is going to be bad for everyone, but particularly for Israel. They are only pushing the peace process back several steps, more people sympathize and will support Hamas (which they should have learned from the 2006 conflict in Lebanon with the sympathy going towards Hizballah) and for what it's worth, it seems like these attacks were more for the domestic Israeli audience who will be voting in two months than anything else; Israel knows they can't unseat Hamas--they were elected democratically in 2006; also, I think it's interesting how they timed it "in between" US presidents so that the US couldn't stop or influence the attacks.

This is a travesty and the silence of the world is deafening. Some people are protesting and that's good, but the Arab leaders are sitting on their hands, as usual while decrying the Israeli actions with their mouths. Useless words. The pocketbook can be just as mighty as the violent attacks they could mount. Saudi has done nothing but blame Hamas, Egypt has blamed Hamas, I'm suprised Jordan hasn't done the same; although the JMB and IAF relationship with Hamas has sweetened over the last few months.

Anyways....this is a terrible time for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the world bites their tongue; swallowing the blood of the innocent people who are dying from this "war on Hamas."

The Hummus War

Hummus War Looms Between Lebanon and Israel

From the Associated Press.
BEIRUT, Lebanon – The latest conflict simmering between Lebanon and Israel is all about food: Lebanese businessmen accusing Israel of stealing traditional Middle Eastern dishes like hummus.

Fadi Abboud, president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, said Tuesday his group plans to sue Israel to stop it from marketing hummus and other regional dishes as Israeli.

"It is not enough they (Israelis) are stealing our land. They are also stealing our civilization and our cuisine," said Abboud.

He said his group also seeks to claim the eggplant spread baba ghannouj and tabbouleh, a salad made of chopped parsley and tomatoes, as Lebanon's own.

Hummus — made from mashed chickpeas, sesame paste, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic — has been eaten in the Middle East for centuries. Its exact origin is unknown, though it's generally seen as an Arab dish.

But it is also immensely popular in Israel — served in everyday meals and at many restaurants — and its popularity is growing around the globe.

While Abboud cites a history of complaints by Lebanese businessmen about Israel exporting and marketing Lebanese dishes as Israeli, it's not clear where the Lebanese might file suit since the two countries are officially at war.

Israel's Food Industries Association and the Foreign Ministry both declined comment.

Abboud compares his suit to the one over feta cheese in which a European Union court ruled in 2002 the cheese must be made with Greek sheep and goats milk to bear the name feta. That ruling is only valid for products sold in the EU.

Abboud acknowledged an uphill battle, particularly over hummus — which Palestinians also claim as their own.

"Hummus might be debatable, in any case we will be happy if the Palestinians win... But nobody can even discuss whether tabbouleh or baba ghannouj are Lebanese," Abboud added. "We don't have to win. The important thing is to try."

It's my election and I'll cringe if I want to!

Warning: Major Rant and Venting Post...look away if you must.

Okay, so the debates went last night. My opinion has not changed...Palin is so odd. The way she talks to the American people is so annoying. Who WINKS at the camera during a Vice Presidental debate, how unprofessional! We're not idiots and don't treat us like that. Unreal. And every time she said "I-rack" and "I-ran" I just cringed. If you cannot even say the names of countries properly, then you should not be VP or Pres. Biden did well, he's a bit dry, but at least he spoke "up" to the people and did not treat them like morons.

One of the things that just irks me beyond belief is the way that the media and politicians treat Americans like they are too stupid to understand what's going on. Don't talk down to me. Even those citizens who do not have a higher education have common sense and know what's right and wrong and trying to be "joe six pack" and a "hockey mom" (you bet'cha) doesn't set higher expectations on the pubic to really inform themselves and not to be lazy and just take whatever you're told and accept it. *ugh* I am so not an anarchist, but my gosh people, pull your head out and ask the tough questions! The only thing I would disagree with Biden on is his knowledge about Hezballah and the elections in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. He said that France kicked Hez out...? Huh??? Hez has been in Lebanon since the early 80s and has never left; in fact, they are the ones who pushed Israel out of southern Lebanon and the only ones who were able to defend Lebanon during the 2006 onslaught by Israel. They are part of the government because legally, according to their constitution, they are the ones who are supposed to hold the Presidency because the Shi'a have the majority. They haven't pushed for a census, but they could. They are allied with Christian groups (Gen Aoun) and have done more to provide social support to the people of Lebanon than the state ever has. So until you fix the ability of the state to provide these services, build a strong army incoporating Hez into the special forces, and treat all confessional groups fairly, you will have some major problems in Lebanon. (There is also the "tiny" issue of the Palestinian refugees as well...that needs to be taken care of).

Secondly, the elections in Palestine were one of the most free and fair in the Middle East in history. The people had two choices, Fatah (corrupt) or Hamas (Islamist but not corrupt); with choices like that, should it be any suprise that Hamas won? It wasn't a case of oh, we want to be Islamist, in fact, most Palestinians just want the oppotunity to practice their religion (Christian, Jewish or Muslim) in the way they see fit, not necessarily to copy Hamas's way of worshipping; however, again, we go back to who provides social services, who has been there for the people and who has not been corrupt?! This isn't rocket science people...this isn't something as simple as "oh that's the way they are," it a basic issue of social services and a desire to exercise the democratic right to choose your leader, whatever the outcome. Biden said something about not allowing elections because Hamas would win; well what the hell is up with that? So we only promote democracy in places where the outcome is what we want it to be?? Hello? How is that fair? Talk about a lack of credibility; an honest broker can express their dissatisfaction, but ultimately, it's up to the people to choose their leader, whatever the outcome might be. Just based on social science and social movements, any violent group put into political power will moderate to some extent. Look at Israel, they declared themselves a state after conducting terror acts and become moderated after they took power, the IRA, ANC...the list goes on. Democracy means respecting the outcome of free and fair elections, regardless of whether or not you like the outcome.

Both candidates have a serious lack of knowledge about the Middle East and Central Asia and the world in general; I'm just disappointed and very pessimistic about the next four years either way. I already voted absentee so my vote is done; Obama all way kid. But, I guess I still want to gripe. What would life be in America if you couldn't gripe?! It just wouldn't be the same. :-)

Vent: Complete.