I really began to embrace my Arab identity during the formative years of my life, while a student at the University of Michigan. This was a turbulent time for Arab-Americans after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, yet the community persevered (and continues to do so). Much of the credit goes to Dr. Hala Maksoud who, as the President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, was able to mobilize, empower, and unite the community more than any one before – or after. It was around this time, under the leadership and inspiration of Dr. Maksoud, that I became an active participant in Arab-American advocacy. In 2002, the entire community suffered a tremendous loss with her passing. Arguably, the community – today rife with divisions – has yet to rebound. It is an understatement to say that Dr. Maksoud is greatly missed.
In her memory, the Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership was created to train a new generation of Arab-American leaders. Specifically, the Foundation sponsors 5-day seminars that bring together young Arab-Americans for leadership training. The seminars are organized by Hussein Ibish of the American Task Force on Palestine. Below is a review of the seminar by an attendee. I will not comment on this account, other than to say two things. First, many past attendees of this program have openly complained that the 5-day seminar is a waste of an otherwise excellent idea and opportunity. Specifically, attendees have complained that it is nothing more than a self-created opportunity for Hussein Ibish to dictate belligerently and endlessly, giving little to no opportunity for participants to chime in. “We weren’t taught to lead, we were taught to follow Ibish’s agenda,” says one former attendee. My comment, there’s no surprise here. Anybody who has seen Ibish publicly speak is aware of his inability to know when to shut up… I think even Ibish will admit this. Second, there is no excuse for Ibish’s gay-bashing. What a shameful desecration of Dr. Maksoud’s memory.
Foundation for Arab-American Leadership:
Earlier this year, I attended the Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership. The leadership training, led by American Task Force on Palestine’s (ATFP) Hussein Ibish, promises to “identify, educate and motivate outstanding young individuals who demonstrate the promise of becoming tomorrow’s Arab-American leaders.” Those who attended the leadership training were a promising group of Arab-Americans who hope to have a positive impact on the future of the community. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to actually hear what this promising group had to say – about anything. Throughout the training, “discussion” was dominated by Ibish, with little room for participants to actually voice their ideas, concerns and thoughts about the Arab-American community.
I felt as though we were being told what to think and what to say – namely, what ATFP and Ibish have to think and say concerning Arab-American issues and current events in the Arab world. I was being trained to be a follower – to have no independent thought, no independent solutions, and certainly no independent voice of my own. These compromise the opposite of what many of us define as a “leader.”
On Palestine…
The reading packet was mailed to each participant a week or so before the training and contained chapters on all the major issues of relevance to the Arab-American Community. Palestine, Iraq, War on Terror, Arab-American Civil Rights, and so on. I immediately flipped to the section on Palestine since being an activist for Palestine served as my pathway and first connection to the Arab-American activist community. Almost all the materials in the reading packet provided in the chapter on Palestine were ATFP material – with, thankfully, an excerpt from Edward Said’s “The Question of Palestine.” This was especially troubling for me – why not include many great writers like Amira Hass, Joseph Massad, writers from Electronic Intifada, Uri Avnery, Bill and Kathleen Christenson and Jonathan Cook?
All of these writers come from various religious, ethnic and educational backgrounds but have one common goal – to open up debate about Zionism in the United States. To include only ATFP material along with Edward Said is to silence and exclude many other important voices and views in the Palestinian-Israeli discourse.During the Training…
The Foundation’s website promises that the training will drive leaders “to inspire positive change in the Arab-American community.” Ibish proceeded to do the complete opposite when he referred to and commented on the sexual orientation of a well-known professor who does extensive research and writing on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. What does someone’s sexual orientation have to do with his or her ability to constructively add to Palestinian-Israeli discourse? He also mentioned many other prominent members, institutions and organizations in the Arab-American community by name and proceeded to bad-mouth them and what they do.
If the training is meant to teach participants to be able to positively represent the community in public, trash-talking, putting other organizations down, and commenting on others’ sexuality is definitely not the way to do it! Not only is this unprofessional and inappropriate, but comments such as calling someone a “flaming homosexual” is a terrible way of exemplifying how to represent that Arab-American community. Inappropriate comments and attacks on other members of the community may also make participants hold back from speaking out. As an activist not only for issues of importance to the Arab-American community but also for Gender issues – this definitely kept me from wanting to participate in the training and, I thought, only added to some of the negative images that the issues the Arab-American community has to constantly fight – like misogyny and extremism.The leadership training also promises to train leaders to be “committed to protecting the civil and political rights of Arab Americans”. By the sound of Mr. Ibish’s comments, it seems as though these rights are not protected, respected or advocated for if they happen to be a “flaming homosexual.” As a leader of a training, you should be promoting open communication, unification and outlining common goals for the future leaders of the community.
Being Taught To Follow…
A perfect example of being taught to follow was the “discussion” on advocating for Palestine. It was not a discussion at all, but a lecture by Ibish basically outlining the agenda of the ATFP – an organization that does not enjoy the unanimous support of the Arab-American/Palestinian-American community. The first indication of this was that almost all of the materials in the reading packet provided in the chapter on Palestine were ATFP material. Since this conflict is central to Arab-American activism, discussion should have included what others in the group thought where appropriate and effective ways to advocate for Palestine.
I do not advocate for a Two-State Solution nor agree with the way ATFP is willing to negotiate the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees. After some of the comments Hussein made about other members of the community, I certaintely did not feel comfortable speaking up or sharing my views. There was no discussion on Zionism itself – which should be the root of any discussion about advocating for Palestine – whatever solution one chooses to advocate for. It is obvious that following in the footsteps of previous “leaders” in the Arab-American community is not working for the Palestinian cause here in the United States – so why are we being taught that these are the only things we should be advocating for? It was frustrating not being able to voice my opinion abou
t what the different organizations were doing on behalf of Palestine, and even more frustrating not to be able to discuss with others in the group about what they think. Leadership is not dictating to others what they should think or feel about Palestine or any other topic.I think the idea of an Arab-American leadership training is extremely valuable and definitely a need in the community. We need to empower and promote the next generation of Arab-American activists and leaders by encouraging their freethinking, imagination and passion for all the issues that are important to them. This is not done by putting others in the community down, commenting on their personal lives and sexual orientations or by attempting to silence the diverse views and ideas the community has. I have to look no further than my friends to see the next leaders of the Arab-American community – the doctors, lawyers, hip-hop artists, poets, performers, photographers, film-makers, writers, those planning the next big conference on Palestinian rights and those attending the best schools in the world and educating themselves– they are all representing themselves and the Arab-American community in the best way possible!
Related posts:
- To the ATFP
- Pay This Guy’s Rent…
- In memory of Professor Tanya Reinhart
- HALA- N.O.M.A.D.S, Philistines, & Excentric.
- Afif Safieh 1 – Tom Lantos 0
Hussein Ibish is a mean, mean person. I wanted so desperately to “work” with him, but I found him to be the most arrogant person I’ve ever encountered.
The training was a complete waste of time – I’d do anything to get it back. Why does the ATFP employ him?
My personal favorite was his demand that all graduates “raise” $1000 by the end of 2007. Are you kidding me? I paid HOW MUCH to come to D.C. to listen to that man bad mouth people in MY Arab community, not to mention the other people at my training session (I feel bad for the people who came in late, who, by the way, he totally and completely bashed!)? No discussion – he just sprung it on us as if it’s OUR job to subsidize his lifestyle. Do some real work “man” if you want to make a living.
That man is about as inappropriate (I have zero desire to hear about his sexual escapades, thank you very much), unprofessional (oh – the filthy language he uses!) and insensitive as any person I’ve ever met.
Hussein Ibish disgusts me. So Oprah isn’t worth fighting, but defending his honor is? Puh-leeze. I hope he goes down in flames. We all know he deserves it.
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2008, 7:07 pmI don’t think we should ignore it just because it happened behind closed doors. Behind the closed doors he has a responsibility; he decided to insult somebody due to their sexual preference. He did this in somebody else’s name (Hala Maksoud). We should all be outraged, he’s not excused because he did it in closed door. In that position, he has responsibility, and he did not live up to it. Why are you afraid to condemn it? i don’t get it, that it happened behind closed doors so we should just ignore? Why do we care so little about gay rights that we are so easily willing to just ignore? That’s wrong. Shame on all of us.
Posted by medo | March 17, 2008, 7:11 pmIt was around this time, under the leadership and inspiration of Dr. Maksoud, that I became an active participant in Arab-American advocacy.
Fadi, is that what you call what you do? Arab-American advocacy? I thought you were a Palestinian activist? Or do you consider them to be the same thing? Because I personally doubt that you will (or even possibly COULD) make things better for Arab-Americans by being a propagandist for Palestinians. You are more likely to have the exact opposite effect, if any. Imagine some American-Arabs (if there is even such a thing?) living in an Arab country and constantly advocating for Israel. They would become intensely popular individuals, correct? Same thing.
Anonymous,
what’s the deal with Ibish? Who used to be on TV all the time as a pundit, now he’s nowhere to be seen?
Right after 0/11 I recall four Arab/Muslim commentators being invited to make the rounds on American cable news a LOT. Mona Eltahawy, some woman named Sarah who was one of the founders (I think) of CAIR, this guy Insane Rubbish, and woman who always wore a mini-skirt and worked for the Al Hayat DC Bureau (I think). I don’t remember her name because she was the first to get dis-invited. Of these 4, only Mona Eltahawy spoke logically and persuasively. I wish the American news networks invited her to appear on shows more often. Good riddance to the rest, they are/were as nutty as the KABOBfest crew.
Posted by Craig | March 17, 2008, 7:42 pmHi “CAUGHT!,”
That was a very hasty title to award yourself. Maybe if you had paid attention during the media training portion of that seminar session you attended, you would’ve known better than to make an ALL CAPS allegation followed by an exclamation mark in a public forum before you had thoroughly investigated the facts!
But humor aside, I’m the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chapter of ADC (Feel free to Google my name and give me a call for further verification of my existence), and I did attend the last session that ended yesterday, March 16th.
Indeed, it may be true that the allegation may have occurred during a different seminar session than the one I attended, so I don’t know if it’s a fabrication. But if I were to tell you that George Bush had said “death to Christians” at some rally, you wouldn’t need to have been there to reasonably conclude that the quote is either utterly fabricated or taken severely out of context. This is only an extreme example to make a point. On similar grounds, I can only tell you about my impression of Hussein Ibish, and he doesn’t strike me as someone who would insult another on the basis of their sexual orientation. It just seems far fetched to me.
But I’m really not interested in quibbling over a quote. I simply want to make the broader point that while it may be reasonable to be critical of Hussein’s style or have reservations on the content of the seminar or the extent of its diversity, what is unreasonable is to judge a seminar with someone as experienced and skilled in handling the media as Hussein to be a complete waste of time. That seems transparently disingenuous.
It is understandable that some will love the seminar, others will hate it, and most will fall somewhere on the spectrum in between; and I certainly wouldn’t expect a consensus around my particular opinion of the seminar (see my post from above for that). I’m merely favoring a more serious critique and discussion of the seminar than the mudslinging offered here.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to actually spend some time attempting to advance the causes we all seem to care about.
Posted by Omar Baddar | March 17, 2008, 8:30 pmmado I said “I don’t think it is fair to roast him in the court of public opinion on a comment made behind closed door with no one willing to call him out on it.”
This comment was supposedly made in a session were privacy is expected. We were all told that everything said in the session was confidential. The point of closing the door was for everyone to feel free to say what they want. And i like that policy, it allows us to forget politically correct and get to the meat of the issues. Kinda like post anonymously on a blog.
But I wasn’t even saying that he shouldn’t be responsible for what he says. I am saying that we shouldn’t bash him if the accuser isn’t willing to stand up. My personal experience tells me he isn’t a homophobe. And i can’t respond to a comment I have no bases to believe. I am not saying that Fadi is a liar, but context is everything. And we have no context in which to judge this comment.
Posted by Nadine | March 17, 2008, 8:30 pmFadi,
I fear that by anonymously outing a homophobe the homophobe may anonymously out the homosexual. This is a dangerous game that could drag in personal lives that might be peripherally allied with you.
Perhaps drafting a declaration that denounces homophobia, honestly addressing the real cultural/religious issues impeding such efforts could be a start. Garner support, get Ibish to sign. What’s the point of outing him if you can openly/publicly give him the opportunity to denounce what he might have said without humiliating him . Unless the point is to get him to admit to this in order to humiliate him. But my hope is that your ultimate goal is to move the community forward on this issue.
this is so ugly……
Posted by nev | March 17, 2008, 8:37 pmHussein Ibish is a political hack and a sellout. If I wanted to attend a seminar like this, I may as well go on a birthright trip to Israel, because that’s essentially what his so-called pragmatist agenda will leave the Palestinian people with.
As for his gay bashing, he’s already sold out Palestine for elitism, so it is not surprising he’d sell out decency for a few chuckles and to denigrate someone who has done more for Palestine in one day of writing than he has done in his whole career.
To be fair, I’m not sure if Ibish is a bigot in this regard, which makes it all the more troubling. Unfortunately, in our society it has become ok to “joke” about people based on sexuality. But if one were to take his comments and replace it with an ethnicity or religion (e.g. Black, Mexican, Muslim), one could easily detect how offensive it is. I think this posturing is careless and perpetuates a clear double standard in our society. Ibish is a joke on policy and political commentary. He does not need to bring bigotry into the mix.
Posted by Hussein Ibish's subconscious | March 17, 2008, 8:52 pmHussein Ibish is a political hack and a sellout. If I wanted to attend a seminar like this, I may as well go on a birthright trip to Israel, because that’s essentially what his so-called pragmatist agenda will leave the Palestinian people with.
As for his gay bashing, he’s already sold out Palestine for elitism, so it is not surprising he’d sell out decency for a few chuckles and to denigrate someone who has done more for Palestine in one day of writing than he has done in his whole career.
To be fair, I’m not sure if Ibish is a bigot in this regard, which makes it all the more troubling. Unfortunately, in our society it has become ok to “joke” about people based on sexuality. But if one were to take his comments and replace it with an ethnicity or religion (e.g. Black, Mexican, Muslim), one could easily detect how offensive it is. I think this posturing is careless and perpetuates a clear double standard in our society. Ibish is a joke on policy and political commentary. He does not need to bring bigotry into the mix.
Posted by Hussein Ibish's subconscious | March 17, 2008, 8:52 pmHussein Ibish is a political hack and a sellout. If I wanted to attend a seminar like this, I may as well go on a birthright trip to Israel, because that’s essentially what his so-called pragmatist agenda will leave the Palestinian people with.
As for his gay bashing, he’s already sold out Palestine for elitism, so it is not surprising he’d sell out decency for a few chuckles and to denigrate someone who has done more for Palestine in one day of writing than he has done in his whole career.
To be fair, I’m not sure if Ibish is a bigot in this regard, which makes it all the more troubling. Unfortunately, in our society it has become ok to “joke” about people based on sexuality. But if one were to take his comments and replace it with an ethnicity or religion (e.g. Black, Mexican, Muslim), one could easily detect how offensive it is. I think this posturing is careless and perpetuates a clear double standard in our society. Ibish is a joke on policy and political commentary. He does not need to bring bigotry into the mix.
Posted by Hussein Ibish's subconscious | March 17, 2008, 8:52 pmHussein Ibish is a political hack and a sellout. If I wanted to attend a seminar like this, I may as well go on a birthright trip to Israel, because that’s essentially what his so-called pragmatist agenda will leave the Palestinian people with.
As for his gay bashing, he’s already sold out Palestine for elitism, so it is not surprising he’d sell out decency for a few chuckles and to denigrate someone who has done more for Palestine in one day of writing than he has done in his whole career.
To be fair, I’m not sure if Ibish is a bigot in this regard, which makes it all the more troubling. Unfortunately, in our society it has become ok to “joke” about people based on sexuality. But if one were to take his comments and replace it with an ethnicity or religion (e.g. Black, Mexican, Muslim), one could easily detect how offensive it is. I think this posturing is careless and perpetuates a clear double standard in our society. Ibish is a joke on policy and political commentary. He does not need to bring bigotry into the mix.
Posted by Hussein Ibish's subconscious | March 17, 2008, 8:52 pmHussein Ibish is a political hack and a sellout. If I wanted to attend a seminar like this, I may as well go on a birthright trip to Israel, because that’s essentially what his so-called pragmatist agenda will leave the Palestinian people with.
As for his gay bashing, he’s already sold out Palestine for elitism, so it is not surprising he’d sell out decency for a few chuckles and to denigrate someone who has done more for Palestine in one day of writing than he has done in his whole career.
To be fair, I’m not sure if Ibish is a bigot in this regard, which makes it all the more troubling. Unfortunately, in our society it has become ok to “joke” about people based on sexuality. But if one were to take his comments and replace it with an ethnicity or religion (e.g. Black, Mexican, Muslim), one could easily detect how offensive it is. I think this posturing is careless and perpetuates a clear double standard in our society. Ibish is a joke on policy and political commentary. He does not need to bring bigotry into the mix.
Posted by Hussein Ibish's subconscious | March 17, 2008, 8:52 pmHussein Ibish is a political hack and a sellout. If I wanted to attend a seminar like this, I may as well go on a birthright trip to Israel, because that’s essentially what his so-called pragmatist agenda will leave the Palestinian people with.
As for his gay bashing, he’s already sold out Palestine for elitism, so it is not surprising he’d sell out decency for a few chuckles and to denigrate someone who has done more for Palestine in one day of writing than he has done in his whole career.
To be fair, I’m not sure if Ibish is a bigot in this regard, which makes it all the more troubling. Unfortunately, in our society it has become ok to “joke” about people based on sexuality. But if one were to take his comments and replace it with an ethnicity or religion (e.g. Black, Mexican, Muslim), one could easily detect how offensive it is. I think this posturing is careless and perpetuates a clear double standard in our society. Ibish is a joke on policy and political commentary. He does not need to bring bigotry into the mix.
Posted by Hussein Ibish's subconscious | March 17, 2008, 8:52 pm“referred to and commented on the sexual orientation of a well-known professor” does not equal gay bashing or homophobia. Come off your self righteous high horse…
I think that you are bating us in to attacking him, when even the anonymous poster doesn’t accuse him of it. You should be ashamed of yourself.
In a blogasphere that relishes the none politically correct. I want to ask you, what dictates gay bashing?
If I call you an idiot, am I arab bashing. If I point to a black man and call him black is that racist. If I say I disagree with every word you write while mentioning that you are a man am I misandrist.
NO!!!
You want a open discussion of homophobia in our community. It should begin with our acceptance that calling someone gay isn’t an insult.
I think you just took the opportunity to attack someone you didn’t like anyway.
Posted by naw | March 17, 2008, 9:23 pmArab Americans (ATFP, AAI, CAIR, etc. etc. etc.) and Palestinians have for a long time advocated the slaughter of all gays, Jews and Christians in the USA and everywhere. Once the State of Israel, the USA, and the rule of law are exterminated, you Arabs will attempt to impose sharia. I hope you will succeed in killing yourselves.
A world without Arabs would be a world without terror. God Bless the State of Israel.
Posted by pat1425 | March 17, 2008, 10:17 pmDeath to Hezbollah
Death to Hamas
Death to Arab Americans
who speak evil of gays, Jews and Christians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HlaVpqUXF0
Posted by pat1425 | March 17, 2008, 10:34 pmAs a recent attendee of the program…
As Arab American activists, our public actions, public rhetoric, and other of the such should have some serious consideration as to “how it affects our community”. This is a plea from one Arab American to our community; journalists, bloggers, and the likes.
I truly believe that the desecration of the Hala Maksoud Foundation is in the sheer titling of this post. This could very well have been a “what do you think of the program by the foundation” or some other crafty and catchy phrases.
Dr. Ibish did not exactly blog his way into Dr Maksoud’s selection, nor did he mistakenly stumble into the offices on Connecticut ave; he was Dr. Maksoud’s selection based on the man’s credentials and other factors that she felt were important to carry her work. As such, the leadership program is vetted and been exposed, almost publicly to suggestions and criticism, to which extent many have been incorporated to make the program what it is today. By that, it will surely continue to evolve!
I am a recent attendee of the program, and very much appreciated the opportunity to interact and be exposed to the principles of advocacy, its general history and its past and current actors. In that context, those are the principle makings of leadership within our community.
The oath taken under which this program is conducted is “what is said in this room, stays in this room”. This is essentially what is communicated to participants, and moreover, the speakers during the seminar.
Mr. Fadi: It seems that you achieved your purpose of attracting personal attention, albeit on the world wide web, to an otherwise honest attempt to make a difference in this community. I am sure had you have directed feedback to Mr. Ibish’s in an effort to garner a bit more context, your post would have better served the greater purpose.
I walk away shaking my head…
Posted by Marck | March 17, 2008, 10:37 pmNaw:
Calling someone a “flaming homosexual” in that context is a bigoted comment. If you can’t see that, you are delusional. It’s not to say that he is a bigot, possibly an insensitive opportunist, but the comment itself is wrong, and not taken out of context (he was making fun of someone based on their sexuality). If you were to call someone a “stupid towelhead,” you would be a bigot.
Marck: All this crap about “unity” for the sake of unity is silly. If I disagree with you, why should we band together? Because we’re both Arab. Fouad Ajami is Lebanese. Should I join hands with him because we’re both Arab. Or should I join hands Ilan Pappe who holds the same principles as me? Common sense says opt for the latter.
Posted by Ibish's Mom | March 17, 2008, 11:49 pmNaw:
Calling someone a “flaming homosexual” in that context is a bigoted comment. If you can’t see that, you are delusional. It’s not to say that he is a bigot, possibly an insensitive opportunist, but the comment itself is wrong, and not taken out of context (he was making fun of someone based on their sexuality). If you were to call someone a “stupid towelhead,” you would be a bigot.
Marck: All this crap about “unity” for the sake of unity is silly. If I disagree with you, why should we band together? Because we’re both Arab. Fouad Ajami is Lebanese. Should I join hands with him because we’re both Arab. Or should I join hands Ilan Pappe who holds the same principles as me? Common sense says opt for the latter.
Posted by Ibish's Mom | March 17, 2008, 11:49 pmNaw:
Calling someone a “flaming homosexual” in that context is a bigoted comment. If you can’t see that, you are delusional. It’s not to say that he is a bigot, possibly an insensitive opportunist, but the comment itself is wrong, and not taken out of context (he was making fun of someone based on their sexuality). If you were to call someone a “stupid towelhead,” you would be a bigot.
Marck: All this crap about “unity” for the sake of unity is silly. If I disagree with you, why should we band together? Because we’re both Arab. Fouad Ajami is Lebanese. Should I join hands with him because we’re both Arab. Or should I join hands Ilan Pappe who holds the same principles as me? Common sense says opt for the latter.
Posted by Ibish's Mom | March 17, 2008, 11:49 pmNaw:
Calling someone a “flaming homosexual” in that context is a bigoted comment. If you can’t see that, you are delusional. It’s not to say that he is a bigot, possibly an insensitive opportunist, but the comment itself is wrong, and not taken out of context (he was making fun of someone based on their sexuality). If you were to call someone a “stupid towelhead,” you would be a bigot.
Marck: All this crap about “unity” for the sake of unity is silly. If I disagree with you, why should we band together? Because we’re both Arab. Fouad Ajami is Lebanese. Should I join hands with him because we’re both Arab. Or should I join hands Ilan Pappe who holds the same principles as me? Common sense says opt for the latter.
Posted by Ibish's Mom | March 17, 2008, 11:49 pmNaw:
Calling someone a “flaming homosexual” in that context is a bigoted comment. If you can’t see that, you are delusional. It’s not to say that he is a bigot, possibly an insensitive opportunist, but the comment itself is wrong, and not taken out of context (he was making fun of someone based on their sexuality). If you were to call someone a “stupid towelhead,” you would be a bigot.
Marck: All this crap about “unity” for the sake of unity is silly. If I disagree with you, why should we band together? Because we’re both Arab. Fouad Ajami is Lebanese. Should I join hands with him because we’re both Arab. Or should I join hands Ilan Pappe who holds the same principles as me? Common sense says opt for the latter.
Posted by Ibish's Mom | March 17, 2008, 11:49 pmNaw:
Calling someone a “flaming homosexual” in that context is a bigoted comment. If you can’t see that, you are delusional. It’s not to say that he is a bigot, possibly an insensitive opportunist, but the comment itself is wrong, and not taken out of context (he was making fun of someone based on their sexuality). If you were to call someone a “stupid towelhead,” you would be a bigot.
Marck: All this crap about “unity” for the sake of unity is silly. If I disagree with you, why should we band together? Because we’re both Arab. Fouad Ajami is Lebanese. Should I join hands with him because we’re both Arab. Or should I join hands Ilan Pappe who holds the same principles as me? Common sense says opt for the latter.
Posted by Ibish's Mom | March 17, 2008, 11:49 pmPolitics of fear
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9028.shtml
The Palestinians are some of the most talented, best educated, and hardest working people in the Middle East.
- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Keynote Speech at The American Task Force on Palestine’s Inaugural Gala, 11 October 2006.
The Palestinians, frankly, are a ragtag people, many who barely speak English. And whatever they say is often offensive and then used against them.
- Dr. Ziad Asali, President and founder of the American Task Force on Palestine, 1 August 2007
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 12:49 amNadine,
And i like that policy, it allows us to forget politically correct and get to the meat of the issues. Kinda like post anonymously on a blog.
So, you think people comment anonymously on blogs when they want to “get honest” do you? lol. People comment anonymously on blogs when they want to be abusive and not have anyone on the blogosphere know what a prick they really are.
Posted by Craig | March 18, 2008, 2:29 amSHALOM! Oy vey this is too much dramatics for even me to be sifting through, yet I proceed because I have ahavah for the KABOBfest and the Arabic speaking communities. Ibish atah lo tzodek! Hishtagata? I have two Lesbian sisters and my uncle Efrayim is gay. If somebody would ever call them *flaming* I would be enraged beyond belief. Have you ever seen me mad? No I don’t suppose you would want to. I am a beast. You have a lot of chutzpah my friend. Too much really. I hope this mess is cleared possibly even faster than the response because that is only correct.
Meytav HaIchulim!
~Chaim~
Posted by Chaim "Hussein" Sugarman | March 18, 2008, 3:55 amSHALOM! Oy vey this is too much dramatics for even me to be sifting through, yet I proceed because I have ahavah for the KABOBfest and the Arabic speaking communities. Ibish atah lo tzodek! Hishtagata? I have two Lesbian sisters and my uncle Efrayim is gay. If somebody would ever call them *flaming* I would be enraged beyond belief. Have you ever seen me mad? No I don’t suppose you would want to. I am a beast. You have a lot of chutzpah my friend. Too much really. I hope this mess is cleared possibly even faster than the response because that is only correct.
Meytav HaIchulim!
~Chaim~
Posted by Chaim "Hussein" Sugarman | March 18, 2008, 3:55 amSHALOM! Oy vey this is too much dramatics for even me to be sifting through, yet I proceed because I have ahavah for the KABOBfest and the Arabic speaking communities. Ibish atah lo tzodek! Hishtagata? I have two Lesbian sisters and my uncle Efrayim is gay. If somebody would ever call them *flaming* I would be enraged beyond belief. Have you ever seen me mad? No I don’t suppose you would want to. I am a beast. You have a lot of chutzpah my friend. Too much really. I hope this mess is cleared possibly even faster than the response because that is only correct.
Meytav HaIchulim!
~Chaim~
Posted by Chaim "Hussein" Sugarman | March 18, 2008, 3:55 amSHALOM! Oy vey this is too much dramatics for even me to be sifting through, yet I proceed because I have ahavah for the KABOBfest and the Arabic speaking communities. Ibish atah lo tzodek! Hishtagata? I have two Lesbian sisters and my uncle Efrayim is gay. If somebody would ever call them *flaming* I would be enraged beyond belief. Have you ever seen me mad? No I don’t suppose you would want to. I am a beast. You have a lot of chutzpah my friend. Too much really. I hope this mess is cleared possibly even faster than the response because that is only correct.
Meytav HaIchulim!
~Chaim~
Posted by Chaim "Hussein" Sugarman | March 18, 2008, 3:55 amSHALOM! Oy vey this is too much dramatics for even me to be sifting through, yet I proceed because I have ahavah for the KABOBfest and the Arabic speaking communities. Ibish atah lo tzodek! Hishtagata? I have two Lesbian sisters and my uncle Efrayim is gay. If somebody would ever call them *flaming* I would be enraged beyond belief. Have you ever seen me mad? No I don’t suppose you would want to. I am a beast. You have a lot of chutzpah my friend. Too much really. I hope this mess is cleared possibly even faster than the response because that is only correct.
Meytav HaIchulim!
~Chaim~
Posted by Chaim "Hussein" Sugarman | March 18, 2008, 3:55 amSHALOM! Oy vey this is too much dramatics for even me to be sifting through, yet I proceed because I have ahavah for the KABOBfest and the Arabic speaking communities. Ibish atah lo tzodek! Hishtagata? I have two Lesbian sisters and my uncle Efrayim is gay. If somebody would ever call them *flaming* I would be enraged beyond belief. Have you ever seen me mad? No I don’t suppose you would want to. I am a beast. You have a lot of chutzpah my friend. Too much really. I hope this mess is cleared possibly even faster than the response because that is only correct.
Meytav HaIchulim!
~Chaim~
Posted by Chaim "Hussein" Sugarman | March 18, 2008, 3:55 amOuting somebody in Macksoud’s name as a “flaming homosexual” (among a series of insults directed at others) does constitute gay-bashing, and is a desecration of Macksoud’s name. I’m not sure how this point is contestable.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 5:01 amNot an insult…
Homosexual: Gay
Definitely an insult…
Flaming Homosexual: Too gay. Annoyingly gay. Intolerably gay. Disgustingly Gay. A gay man whose mannerisms are too feminine to be acceptable.
If Ibish did call the professor a “flaming homosexual,” then yes it’s a desecration of Maksoud’s memory.
End of story.
Maybe it’s time Ibish admit or deny the accusation.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 5:24 amYes, obviously it’s high time for Ibish to deny that he is a gay-basher. Then he should deny that he beats his wife. And, he needs to deny that he works for Moasad. After that, we can think of more things for him to deny. This is fun!
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 7:31 amI think we know he did it. Anybody who knows him knows he's capable of it. Nobody that was at that particular conference (including Hussein) has denied it. In fact, a few more have come forward and confirmed it. To those of you who've rushed to his defense, think for a second how it would feel if you are a gay Arab. How much this hurts. Are his comments funny to you.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 3:46 amUnfortunately hearing this about Ibish does not surprise me at all. What surprises me is that people are questioning his ability to be crude. Obviously these people don’t know the man.
I remember one of my earliest interactions with him when I was an intern at a dc organization. He had come to speak to a group of us interns.
I vividly remember the look of horror on the faces of my fellow interns in the room when he used entirely inappropriate and sexual language describing his forays in university that had absolutely nothing to do with arab-american activism.
Is he a gay basher? Who knows, but all I know is that very little can be said that would surprise me about the crudeness and disgusting nature of Mr. Ibish.
This in itself speaks volumes.
But i suggest you all spend your energy elsewhere- like picking apart the hypocrisies of ATFP’s actions. Telling Ibish he is an ass only reinforces his attitude. He believes he is too high and mighty to ever accept criticism.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 8:06 amOne of the really nasty things about ATFP is that they openly support Israel’s “right” to murder Palestinians. Here’s what they said on the 3rd of March:
“ATFP stressed that all parties have responsibilities in easing the situation. The Task Force said that it is unacceptable for the civilian population of Gaza to be subjected to collective punishments and indiscriminate or disproportionate use of force, and called on Israel to abide by its responsibilities under international law. ATFP also insisted that Palestinian militia groups should immediately and permanently end all rocket attacks on Israel. “
By criticizing the “indiscriminate or disproportionate use of force” they are basically saying that they support the “discriminate” or “proportionate” use of force by Israel against Occupied Palestinians. I bet what that means is that ATFP wants Israel to assassinate the leaders of Hamas so that Abbas and his buddies can ride back to power in Gaza on Israeli tanks.
In their “policy focus” (probably written by Ibish) of March 6, they openly call for Israel to kill elected Palestinian leaders: “Any action against Hamas should therefore be directed specifically towards Hamas, and should proceed in parallel with advances with the Palestinian Authority on the security, economic, and – most importantly – political fronts.”
So what is ATFP? It is an anti-Palestinian pro-Zionist organization. Their dream is to be greeted at the White House and to cozy up to Bush. Asali what will you do when Condi is no longer in power? Who will you kiss and cuddle? Be careful from the blood of the “birth pangs of the new middle east.”
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 8:26 amThis thread has gone on entirely too long about whether or not Ibish made a bigoted comment. While this behavior, if true, doesn’t speak well of him, it’s hardly the most crucial aspect of his political position.
Here are what I think are the most relevant issues:
1. Debate whether or not ATFP are essentially Abbas/Dahlan toadies and are pursuing a course that shortchanges their ostensible beneficiaries in Palestine.
2. Point out that the stance of, “I was too intimidated to speak up at the seminar” is unacceptable, at least as a stopping point. I can’t blame anyone for their particular anxieties-I have my own- but recognizing them is the beginning, not the end. Remember that the Ziokids at Columbia made “intimidation” their first line of attack. Shouldn’t have worked for them, shouldn’t work in this case either. Stand up.
3. While there is no papering over serious differences in philosophy or tactics, Arabs will never emerge as a significant political force in this country until there is a nucleus of belief that we can all endorse. Let squabbling and divisions remain the primary social form among psychoanalysts and communists. We need better.
Posted by Ismail | March 18, 2008, 8:34 amFor those of us who have been reading this and wondering what this nonsense is all really about, it has become clear. Some people really, really, really hate ATFP and will say anything to bash it and all of its folks, tear it down, smash it up and make everyone think it sucks. In the end, it seems like that’s all there is in this. Hatred of ATFP and just trashing anyone involved in it.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 8:41 amOne cannot speak out against Israel for being a racist state, that they ae by defintion a jewish and jewish only state, and then turn around support an islamic and islamic only state. Furthermore, having a political stance that is not in line with Hamas does not make you anti Palestinian, nor does it make you pro Fatah. Any of us who are serious about mid east issues know Abbas and Fatah are not deserving of praise either. But you cannot continue to make everything black and white. Do you honestly think in those two dimensions alone? If I like don’t like apples does that automatically mean i like oranges? Is this the depth of your analytical process? Take your radical mind numbing bullshit out of our community.
Posted by Try Logic | March 18, 2008, 8:53 amI think this whole article by Fadi is pure Jealousy, I did attend the seminar with Hussein and I agree with Tony there was never a point were I personally felt that I cannot say what I felt, and the group I was with I think can attest to this as well, we had open conversations were everyone spoke what they wanted also I never heard Hussein say anything about homosexuals I cannot comment on that but I never heard a bad word our of his mouth about anyone or any group.
I think the program that was put together was a good one, more things could have been added but the people we meet and subjects we talked about were important and I appreciated that time i spent in Washington. I did not feel the ATFP had its presence felt at all, it was all about the Hala Foundation. – i do not want to go under anonymous but i dont have a google email….my name is Mae…….
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 9:01 amDear Try Logic: you are the one placing it as one or the other. You are saying that if you do not want Israel to murder Hamas leaders (like ATFP does) then you support an Islamic state. Actually it is the tactic of ATFP to accuse anyone who does not support Abbas/Fateh of being a “terrorist” or Islamic extremist. I am a proud Muslim and I don’t support an Islamic State. But also I don’t agree with the policy of ATFP that Hamas should be killed. Hamas did more to defend the Palestinians than Fateh which sold itself to Israel. I want National Unity like all Palestinians. ATFP they say openly they want Hamas to be killed by Israel. They put us in the position that either you are with Abbas or you are with the “Terrorists.” Just like Bush.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 9:02 amATFP: so far we have a corrupt bastard (Rafi Dajani) and a homophobe (Hussein Ibish).
ATFP doesn’t support a concrete right of return for Palestinian refugees and is willing to settle for a state with swiss-cheese borders.
ATFP: Clearly a representative of the Palestinian people, both here and in the Middle East.
How much do you want to bet Ibish rights a 90 page position paper on why he’s not a homophobe?
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 9:30 amAnonymous. I disagree with what you feel ATFP is doing. But I agree with your overall assessment of the situation. I also believe that Hamas has done a great deal to protect the Palestinian people, but I am at odds with their desire for an Islamic state in all of historical Palestine, this for ethical and reliastic reasons. Unless I misunderstood their position, in which case, lets talk.
Posted by Try Logic | March 18, 2008, 9:52 amFor the record,in my session, Dr. Hussein actually said I am a supporter of Gay Rights.
I am shocked that people would go through this program, which is provided to participants for free, which brings notable speakers, and where they can, at the very least, benefit from Hussein’s media experience. I don’t care if you disagree with his views, if anything you can learn from someone who has done hundreds more network news/radio/newspaper interviews than most of you. Hussein said many times, that there were people (columnists, academics, etc) that he disagreed with but who provided intelligent arguments. I felt he welcomed our ideas and respected our opinions, even if they were opposite of his own.
If you want more “leadership training” go through Round 2 where the Hala Foudantion pays $5,000+ to rent a studio so you can practice doing an interview and not make a fool out of yourself on national television. Who else is providing this service to anyone for FREE?
If you truly wanted to help improve the program, you could e-mail Hussein anonymously (I mean how hard is it to make up an e-mail address) and let him know. I thought it was a tremendous learing experience and I feel I greatly benefitted.
Once again, We as a community are all great critics, but the real question is what are you doing?
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 10:21 am“In Anta Akramta Al Kareema, Malaktahoo, Wa An Anta Akramta Al Laeema, Tamarrada.”
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 10:36 amFadi jumps five-percentage points in KABOBfestWATCH‘s poll: Which KABOBer Sucks The Most? Cast your ballots and read all about it on KABOBfestWATCH
VOTE TODAY! VOTE TODAY!
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | March 18, 2008, 11:01 amFadi jumps five-percentage points in KABOBfestWATCH‘s poll: Which KABOBer Sucks The Most? Cast your ballots and read all about it on KABOBfestWATCH
VOTE TODAY! VOTE TODAY!
Posted by Programmer Buydatti | March 18, 2008, 11:02 amI attended the first Hala training session. I am commenting due to the counterproductive nature of the original post and some of the subsequent comments, not out of some “loyalty” or instruction to do so.
If an attendee of the Hala seminar was so seriously displeased or had allegations of inappropriate conduct, this should have been taken up in the first place with Hussein and within the organization. That this is first coming out “anonymously” via a public blog, and in such a hateful manner, can only hurt the foundation, and subsequently, the task toward which it is directed: Arab-American leadership and public/political participation.
I do not remember any “gay bashing” or a reference to anyone as a “flaming homosexual.” I remember criticisms of some individuals by Ibish, but nothing that has approached the level of meanness demonstrated within this thread.
I remember disagreeing with Ibish and those disagreements being tense but still civil and professional. I remember there being issues upon which Ibish and I did agree. I remember some attendees disagreeing with the ATFP position, and their disagreement preventing their full involvement within the training and on the listserve. I remember different motivations for attending the training among trainees– for instance, the use of the week as research fieldwork–and that such motivations affected the disposition and participation of the trainees.
I remember, in general, a positive, dialogic experience, one that has continued on the listserve. Yes, Ibish is opinionated. So? It’s the fault of those too cowardly to speak up to him that they are too cowardly to do so. Ibish can hardly be faulted for being opinionated, and attendees certainly know in advance that, on Palestine, they’re going to be exposed to the ATFP position. Other positions were discussed. So were many other issues, like Iraq and US civil liberties, very constructively.
Blogging is a public production of information. Responsibilities apply to blogging as they do to any other production of information. Besides endeavoring to conduct ourselves ethically and professionally in a public space, Arab Americans should work to ensure that the demanding, important issue of Palestine, which is of obvious centrality as an issue, does not so divide and conquer us that we get nothing done. This blog posting of unfounded public accusations, vitriol, and meanness only tears done, it does not strengthen or build.
Kristin Shamas
Attendee, May-June 2005
Posted by Kristin Shamas | March 18, 2008, 11:31 amWow, this is a lot of comments here. I think there are two distinct issues here. One, the gay bashing. Two, the ATFP-agenda of it. Regarding the first issue, it’s great to know from others that attended the program that Hussein did not partake in gay-bashing during their seminar. But keep in mind, there has been more than one seminar. As pointed out a few times above, in the seminar that is the subject of this post, nobody that attended – including Hussein – has denied that he used such homophobic language. Hussein is not denying it because he knows he did it. It’s good to know that in other seminars (such as the one Tony and Kristin attended), he did not partake in gay-bashing. But be smarter Kristin, that doesn’t mean he didn’t do it at other times. Be smarter.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 12:38 pmWhy would anyone respond to an anonymous accusation? Isn’t that like a waste of time?
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2008, 1:32 pm