July 2008 - Posts
If I ruled the world...
When will the world wake the f**k up and enforce the so
called democratic and international laws which were established to maintain
equality and civility in an otherwise uncivilized world.
How disgusting is it that Israel engages in practices against
the Palestinians that would never be accepted by any government in the world
against any other people. Not only do they
engage in such practices, but they do so with arrogance and no concern of world
opinion. Where is the media? Where are the investigative reporters? Where is justice?
As though I wasn't
already disgusted by Israel's inhumane policies, I felt it necessary to
comment on a home that was bulldozed by the Israeli Occupation Forces yesterday morning. Israel’s inhumane policy continued as the residence, belonging to the Abu Ayisha family, which housed five families
was demolished leaving all of the residents homeless. In addition to the demolition, the Army also
attacked the families and supporters injuring many of them when they forced
them out of the home. The army did not
even allow ambulances to enter or take the injured to the hospitals. They were eventually taken to hospitals by private cars.
So why was the home demolished? The Israeli army claimed that it was due to there
being no construction permit on file for the home. Needless to say, Israel
has rarely if ever granted any permits to Palestinians in Jerusalem since 1967. They make it clear their intent is to
forcefully steal additional land.
Imagine if this rule of law was applied to all. Thousands of Zionist settlements
have been built in the Occupied
Territories against
International Law on illegally occupied land, yet for them, it is okay. I
dream of the day those settlements are brought down, preferably with the thieving
murderous occupants still inside and by the same bulldozers which have brought tragedy
to an entire innocent Palestinian civilian population.
If only I ruled the world.
freepali.com sponsors Shadia Mansour
I would like to change routes slightly on this blog as I look to promote a wonderful festival held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
For those of you who
do not know about Arab World Fest, I can not say enough about what a wonderful
festival it is. If there is any festival that showcases Arab culture in a
professional and organized manner providing 3 days of non-stop activities
ranging from non-stop and continuous live entertainment, film festival,
marketplace, food vendors, children’s area, cultural area, fireworks, and much
more. I welcome you all and encourage you to visit the festival website at www.arabworldfest.com to get a glimpse
of what the fest is all about.
In an effort to
promote Palestinian artists, freepali.com will be sponsoring Shadia Mansour
at the fest this year. For those of you who have visited the Art Resistance
section of freepali.com, I am sure you have seen Shadia’s link. She is a
wonderful performer representing Palestinians well; not only as an artist, in her
work and her lyrics, but as a strong Palestinian woman (is there any other
kind!) commanding attention and respect during her
performances.
I was introduced to
Shadia by Patriarch, another wonderful Palestinian Hip Hop artist out of
California who
is a crowd favorite at Arab World Fest as he always put on a powerful
performace. Patriarch selfishlessly recommended Shadia last year, showing great
character and support by helping to promote a fellow artist. They put on a show
together like no other. Patriarch will unfortunately be unable to attend the
fest this year, but I encourage you all to visit his site and I would like to
express my love and respect to him as an artist, a person and a Palestinian
brother.
I WELCOME ALL WHO CAN
TO ATTEND!
FREE DR. SAMI AL-ARIAN NOW!
How unfortunate that the judicial system we so cherish and cite as a positive example before the world has become one of embarrassment and targeted racism. Please read the information below, but more importantly, please ACT!
Dr. Sami Al-Arian is a university professor who has been held as a
political prisoner by the US government for over 5 years. No jury has
ever found him guilty, and no evidence has ever been presented to back
up the US government's accusations, except that Al-Arian is a
Palestinian Muslim who advocated on behalf of Palestinians suffering
under Israeli occupation and worked to involve American Muslims in the
political process here.
Dr. Al-Arian was scheduled to be
released on April 11th, but in March, he was summoned to testify before
a third grand jury. Dr. Al-Arian refused, not only because the plea
agreement he concluded with the government in 2006 unambiguously
exempted him from having to testify, but also because the government
prosecutor who sought his testimony was blatantly laying a perjury trap
for him. Due to his refusal to testify, Dr. Al-Arian was charged with
two counts of criminal contempt on June 26th. His trial will commence
on August 13th. Criminal contempt is the only crime that has no maximum
penalty; if convicted, Dr. Al-Arian could spend the rest of his life in
prison.
See http://www.freesamialarian.com for more info.
Last Thursday (June 26th), three months after refusing to testify
before a third grand jury, Dr. Sami Al-Arian - whose trial has been the
single most important test case of the PATRIOT Act - was charged on two
counts of contempt of court. Dr. Al-Arian refused to testify not only
because the plea agreement he concluded with the government in 2006
clearly exempts him from having to do so, but also because it was a
clear perjury trap.
The Assistant US Attorney who sought his
testimony and who brought the contempt charges, Gordon Kromberg, has
made no attempt to hide his bigotry towards Arabs and Muslims.
Furthermore, Kromberg has publicly and in no uncertain terms declared
his alleged right to use legal loopholes to punish people he cannot
convict for any substantial crimes. (See article in posted section for
more information on this rogue prosecutor).
Criminal contempt has no maximum penalty; if convicted, DR. AL-ARIAN, A LOVING FATHER OF FIVE, COULD BE SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
These
charges are an outrageous abuse of the grand jury system and a naked
attempt by the government to punish an innocent man for exercising his
first amendment rights.
PLEASE ACT!
2 phone calls + 1 fax = BIG difference!
Friends, please stand with us against this act of tyranny by doing these two simple things:
1.
Call Senator Patrick Leahy ((202) 224- 4242) and Congressman John
Conyers ((202) 225-5126) - the Judicial Committee chairmen of the
Senate and House respectively - and ask them to meet with the Attorney
General and have him stop Assistant US Attorney Gordon Kromberg from
going forward with this unlawful indictment. Even if you are not their
constituent, they are obliged to listen to your opinion since their
duties extend to all Americans.
2. Fax a letter to the Office
of Professional Responsibility at the US Department of Justice: (202)
514-5050. See the postings section for the letter template.
To find out how to HELP EVEN MORE, please see the discussion board below under "More ways to help."
Again, you all have our heartfelt thanks for your sincere support at this crucial time.