Arab influence
Arabs in Hollywood
The Academy Awards rarely make mention of films that properly address issues relating to the Arab world, Islam and/or terrorism (I’m not including technical categories like sound and special effects). Of course, there are exceptions like Waltz With Bashir and Munich, but those types of movies are only palpable to the people running Hollywood because [...]
What’s in a name?
Tanast. Eli. Telel. Shaden. Dahia. Aelli. Just a sampling of names rejected by Moroccan authorities over the past few years for being “contrary to Moroccan identity.” Moroccan law forbids the naming of one’s children with anything from Amazigh or foreign traditions; over the past few years, this law has created problems outside of Morocco’s borders [...]
Shame on Sharm
On Friday, a few hours before Israel’s security cabinet decided to suspend their war on Gaza, the shameless Egyptian despot took to the airwaves for yet another pointless speech. Among other things, he called on Israel to immediately end its assault and pull out of Gaza. Nice one Hosni! It’s not hard to see why [...]
Line In the Sand
A half-ass Arab summit was held in Doha on Friday. It was conceived with the most honorable of intentions, but ultimately, the bitter realities of divisions within the region proved insurmountable. The main saboteurs of this long overdue attempt to take a common stand were none other than Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Once again Arabs [...]
Angry Arabs
We Arabs are expected to condemn Israel whenever the opportunity presents itself. If we’re constantly complaining it’s because there’s always something to complain about – repeated transgressions and ongoing occupation provide virtually infinite room for criticism. Arab leaders in particular have mastered the art of speaking out against Israel although they never actually do anything [...]
A little more than a shameless plug
Like Will, I too have been contemplating the growing acceptance of Arabic-sounding names in the US mainstream. To be fair, there have been quite a few in recent times, even if they aren’t necessarily Arab (e.g. Fareed Zakaria, John Abizaid, Fawaz Gerges, Farid Nassar). Of course, you also have those of Arab descent with more common-sounding names (e.g. Helen [...]
Warning: Arab Rodents are Way Too Cute
There are two signs that Arabic names are no longer sending chills down the spines of whitey. The first is that Barack Obama said he will follow tradition and be sworn in as US president using his full name, including his middle name… Hussein. I was sure this tradition would be the first thing he [...]
Even MORE Disturbing than Busta Rhymes “A-rab Money”
Self-neo-orientatlizing hip hop artist/producer Noose remixes Busta Rhymes’ offensive song by “arabizing” it and the accompanying music video to the song. Wonder what I mean by “arabizing” the song and hip hop culture? This is done by: wearing a kuffiyah (Arab gangsta cred), driving a benz (hip hop materialism cred), “brought up in the Jersey [...]
A-rab Money? Fo Real Busta Rhymes????
“Middle East women and Middle East bread I got Oil Well money in the desert playin Golf My first thought when I heard the offensive chorus sandwiched in between gibberish “Arabic” (“The way i make the people wanna sing the hook in Arabic : LaLaLa HaleHeloHaLow/HelaBalaHeHeleBalo/We gettin Arab Money/We gettin Arab Money”): WTF Busta? Now [...]
Anthony Shadid on Arab Loss and Nostalgia
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony Shadid of the Washington Post spoke about Arab Nostalgia at the Palestine Center last week. His talk was evocative, and poetic, as he ties Iraq, the Levant, and his ancestral home in Lebanon.
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