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From the Al-Sahafa Editor, Fatina Salaheddine
FEBRUARY 2010
Miracles Are All Around Us…
They Just Need To Be Passed Along
In the spirit of this month’s upcoming “Valentine’s
Day”, I thought this inspiring story of love (in its simplest
and most innocent form) would be most appropriate...
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly
jar from its hiding place in the closet.
She poured the change out on the floor and counted it
carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly
perfect. No chance here for mistakes.
Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting
on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made
her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s Drug Store with the big red
Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her
some attention, but he was too busy at this moment Tess
twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.
Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting
sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a
quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter.
That did it!
“And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an
annoyed tone of voice. I’m talking to my brother from
Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without
waiting for a reply to his question.
“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tes answered
back in the same annoyed tone. “He’s really, really
sick...and I want to buy a miracle.”
“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.
“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing
inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can
save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I
can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, softening a little
Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough,
I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”
The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He
stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a
miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know,” Tess replied with her eyes welling up.
I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs
an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to
use my money.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago
“One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered barely
audibly.
“And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more
if I need to.”
“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar
and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little
brothers.”
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand
he grasped her mitten and said “Take me to where you
live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents.
Let’s see if I have the miracle you need.”
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a
surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation
was completed free of charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew
was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of
events that had led them to this place.
“That surgery, her Mom whispered, was a real miracle.
I wonder how much it would have cost?”
Tess smiled She knew exactly how much a miracle
cost...one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a
little child.
In our lives, we never know how many miracles we
will need. A miracle is not the suspension of natural
law, but the operation of a higher law.
Readers, I know you’ll all keep the ball moving, Miracles
are all around us, They Just Need To Be Passed Along.
~Fatina Salaheddine
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JANUARY 2010
Our Warmest Wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR's 2010!!!
Over the past nine years, the Al-Sahafa Newspaper has taken a major leadership role in educating the public about the vast, rich Arab culture, of which Arab Americans proudly come from and represent. This Newspaper has been a great tool of self-expression from our active readers, as well as helped inform the community of the various events, programs, and functions taking place each month, concerning Arab Americans and the Middle East.
The Al-Sahafa Newspaper has been very active in the Middle Eastern business communities, and has taken active leadership roles with Political figures in ensuring that the TRUE MESSAGE and UN-BIASED FACTS about the M.E. are construed correctly to their constituents. Our diligence over the years with well-known respected publications, as well as the nation's leading Media TV outlets and their personalities, through continuous dialogue and active participation with various Arab American Chambers, Organizations, Conferences, and Middle Eastern Embassies has kept Al-Sahafa quite the busy publication!
Proudly, the Al-Sahafa Newspaper has earned accreditation through global businesses, media and political leaders, and through insightful interviews profiled in international and Middle Eastern magazines and award-winning publications.
We've been fortunate enough to have captured these moments on video and on picture stills. Please take some time out of your busy day and check out our website www.al-sahafa.us . Please make sure to read Al-Sahafa ONLINE - as well as - click on the "Scrap Book" button, and enjoy our Published Articles, Photo Album, and Multimedia pages.
Most importantly readers, get involved! Please share with us your opinions, thoughts, articles, personal stories, and editorials – by emailing us directly: office@al-sahafa.us or join our Facebook Group titled; Al-Sahafa Newspaper USA.
There is an Arabic saying that goes a little something like this; One hand cannot clap alone.
.....which basically means; You need two hands to clap. The entire network of readers need to work together in order to achieve unity. The Al-Sahafa Newspaper is here for you. Use this Newspaper as a tool. It is a very powerful thing when something is achieved collectively!
Stay in touch & Happy New Year’s!
~Fatina Salaheddine
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DECEMBER 2009
How Times Have Changed for the word “Arab”…
This month our Cover Story takes readers on an enchanting journey to the Middle East. Our Culture Corner columnist; Nijma Awadallah wrote the piece in a very romantic and “Disney esque” sort of way – where she takes the reader for a “magic carpet ride” in discovering a bit about the rich Middle Eastern culture and talks about some Arab delights that for centuries have quenched the discerning taste buds of the people of the region.
I wish we still lived in an America that portrayed the Middle East and Arabs in a beautiful and mystic way, as was portrayed by Hollywood and Disney movies and great Persian and Arab books and cartoons during my adolescent years in school. I remember growing up, and all my school friends intrigued with the idea and mystery of this far away place, called the Middle East. Visions of rich fat Sheikhs that sat on over stuffed pillows in intricately decorated tents in the middle of the Sahara Desert, whilst smoking on a Shisha and enjoying a trio of sensual belly dance entertainment – all were of imagination and part imagery that many a friend used to ask me about.
I actually looked up the description and imagery that Disney originally designed for the character “Aladdin” just to see for myself, and re-emphasize for the sake of my “Editor’s Thoughts” for this month, just how much “times have changed for the word Arab” in today’s U.S. media and Hollywood movies:
• Aladdin’s Physical Appearance: Aladdin was drawn with large eyes, like those of a Disney heroine, to indicate innocence. The lineaments of his body are more free-flowing and more rounded than is usual for Disney heroes. He looks like a modern 18-year-old, except for his wardrobe.
• Aladdin’s Wardrobe: As a street rat he wears a red fez on his head, a purple vest without a shirt, and white billowing pants. He is barefoot. Pretending to be Prince Ali Ababwa, he wears a white outfit with matching turban-style head wrap, adorned with a feather and jewel.
• Aladdin’s Personality: Aladdin is portrayed as clever, and ultimately a good-hearted person. Like most Disney male protagonists he is a brave young man who seeks to win the affection of many other characters, which demonstrates his insecurity. He can be selfish and indignant at times, which is shown through the wishes he makes, but he is never with evil intentions. The biggest difference from the norm is that, unlike most youthful Disney heroes, he's a doer rather than a passive character.
Amazing right!? That such a great description of an Arab boy could exist in a Disney classic named; “Aladdin” which influenced millions of American and world-wide audiences alike! Now try finding that description in today’s media of an “Arab boy”…
Presently, there is a long way to go before Arabs get a fair description back in the media and in the Hollywood movies. Arabs must accept some responsibility for the negative imagery they receive all too often, for they have not used all of the resources at their disposal. Rather than integrate and push forward their views, they have constantly remained aloof, believing that because their cause is just, they will eventually prevail. The truth is, that those who are winning the media war are not going to change if they are merely “asked to be fairer”. Arabs MUST take on the challenge of how the media portrays them. Having said that, and being of Lebanese descent, I plan on continuing to represent a true and fair Arab viewpoint in each month’s Al-Sahafa issue – and ask readers and fellow Arab-Americans alike, to join in the challenge of bringing back a rightful and positive description of what it is to be an Arab or come from the majestic and enchanting region of the Middle East.
Happy Holidays.
~Fatina Salaheddine
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NOVEMBER 2009
A CALL TO ACTION
President Obama said that he was "surprised and deeply humbled" by the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee that awarded him the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recently. The committee said it honored Barack Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
President Obama said he viewed the decision less as a recognition of his own accomplishments and more as "A CALL TO ACTION." He said he did not feel he deserved "to be in the company" of past Peace Prize winners, but would accept the prize while pushing for a broad range of international objectives, including nuclear nonproliferation, a reversal of the global economic downturn and a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Aaaa yes, the ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT. For over 61 years, (since the state of Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948) – the violent struggle of land ownership and occupation between Israelis & Palestinians, has shown no end in sight.
The ancient city of Jerusalem - a historically rich, sacred, and spiritual place, that everyone in the world needs to partake in and experience, has been eyed as the “prize” of the citizens of both Palestinians and Israelis, and thus caught in the ceaseless turmoil between them. Jerusalem has been the focal point of the on-going power struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, yet after all these years - there has been no major emphasis in the International media that this city BELONGS TO THE WORLD, and not just to one country or to one people or one religion.
Every nation needs to get involved in Jerusalem’s peace process. Why do I believe Jerusalem belongs to the world? Well – for starters this city contains MAJOR HOLY SITES for Christians, Moslims, and Jews combined. No matter where you are in the world, praying at your respected place of worship (Church, Mosque, or Synagogue), you are praying to PROPHETS - those whom God chose to make Holy, on the Holiest of ground. That sacred ground being the one and only city of Jerusalem, located in heart of the Middle East. Jerusalem is not just an Arab-Israeli problem, Jerusalem deserves the world’s attention in resolving a peaceful solution. One that will allow the citizens of the world to come and visit and experience the Holy Sites located in Jerusalem, that were walked on and breathed upon by our prophets.
I truly feel that with President Obama being awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, that it was a collective request from the International community, for America’s leader to re-activate the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians. The fight for the most holy city of Jerusalem (the heart of the Middle East) between the Arabs and Israelis is the root problem that has festered into years of violence and repercussions from terrorists around the world.
For Obama to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, it carries a CLEAR MESSAGE and immense responsibility, not for what Obama has accomplished – but instead signifies a pre-determined legacy to what is hoped to be achieved by the world's most powerful, most visible democracy. The world wants “AMERICA BACK”. The country that set the highest of standards in peace-brokering and mediating. President Obama has a chance to lead the peace process and insist that both sides engage in genuine dialogue and live up to their commitments spelled out in this critical issue.
At the end of the day, the success of ending the long overdue Arab-Israeli Conflict depends on a renewed commitment to peace and progress, supported by a FAIR & HONEST America. An America that doesn’t take sides, but rather acts as a WORLD LEADER & EXAMPLE that will bring global healing. Perhaps now, in a moment shaped by hope, the time has come for "A CALL TO ACTION” led by our very own President Barack Obama.
~Fatina Salaheddine
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OCTOBER 2009
Arabian Folktales and Storytelling
Throughout my childhood, my mother would often tell my siblings and me stories. The stories were not part of any book. They were told to us from memory. My mother had been told these tales by her parents who had learned the stories from their parents, who had learned the stories from their parents, and so on down the line into ancestral history. Whether the tales were meant to be humorous, to teach history, or to provide a moral lesson, they were always meant to entertain. However, for me, the fascination of folk tales lies not only in their ability to provide entertainment, but also in their antiquity, and their ability to provide a sense of unity and identity in a family. Indeed, there is something truly exciting about hearing a tale that was once told by a great grandparent and passed down from the generations before. Story telling in the Arab culture is a family activity, and an age old practice. Tales about the fictitious and romantic love stories like that of Antar and Abla, have been related from individual to individual in most , if not all, Arab families and have spanned generations. Their long existence is a testament to the importance of family and tradition in the Arab culture. From grandfather to grandchild, from uncle to nephew, or from mother to child, the telling of tales was done in all parts of society and all across the Arab world. Below is a sample of an Arabian folk tale and the country it came from.. The tale teaches a moral lesson. Enjoy.
~Fatina Salaheddine
Don't Count Your Chickens (from Egypt)
In a small village of mud-brick houses on the banks of the Nile lived a poor young peasant. One day, tiring of his miserable lot, he resolved to leave home and seek his fortune. With borrowed money he bought himself eight hundred new-laid eggs and a large, round basket to carry them in. His merchandise on his arm, he carefully stepped down to the river and waited for a northbound sailing boat to take him to Cairo.
Then as he sat in the shade of the sail and sped over the cool water, he began to daydream. "As soon as I reach Cairo I shall go to the poultry market and sell my eggs. With the price of the eggs I shall go to the weavers' bazaar and buy some fine striped cotton cloth and bring it back to the village. The women will crowd round the brightly colored material and buy it up to sew for their families. I shall earn enough to pay back my creditors and buy myself an ewe. I will pamper my ewe until she gives birth to two lambs, and then I shall sell her and her young and buy myself a water buffalo cow. When the water buffalo calves, I shall have two water buffaloes to sell. They will bring me the price of a servant to do my work. Then I shall be able to say, 'Come, boy! Go boy! Hurry now! Run!' And if he is stubborn I shall kick him, like this....."
And with his mind dwelling on his future fortune, he gave a kick that sent the basket of eggs at his feet sliding off the deck and into the Nile. The water swallowed it up in an instant, while he was left with nothing, not even a dream.
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SEPTEMBER 2009
The Time Has Come for the U.S. to Step-up the Peace Process
Today the Arab-Israeli conflict remains the world's central challenge. Israelis and Palestinians both need an end to its bitter violence. So do the global millions who suffer the collateral damage: ongoing extremist violence and deep cynicism about international justice.
In 2002, Arab countries took a bold step forward, committing themselves to a two-state solution that includes security guarantees for Israel to live in peace with its neighbors; a sovereign and democratic Palestine; and a process that leads to a comprehensive settlement, addressing the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.
The two-state solution recognizes what I have long argued. For lasting peace, Israel must be fully integrated into the entire region, from Morocco to Yemen. But this depends on creating an independent Palestinian state, whose people are, at last, able to live in dignity and hope. Unless this happens, there will be no region-wide acceptance of Israel and no real peace.
In 2003, the parties agreed on the road map to peace. The United States and the eight leading industrialized nations were also on board. But the process has been trapped in an ongoing cycle of violence. Now, events provide fresh opportunities. New Palestinian leadership can carry forward the vision of a viable, independent Palestine by delivering on the reforms that statehood involves: competent governance, investments in public welfare, fighting corruption, tougher security against terrorism and a real partnership at the peace tables.
In Israel, the government can recommit to the road map and take confidence-building measures that will refute the charge that its recent policies are intended to sideline the peace process and further divide people. Both sides can now make the compromises that a comprehensive, lasting and just peace requires.
Just as important, with President Obama and his new administration, the United States can now refocus on this critical issue. The world's most powerful, most visible democracy has a chance to send a strong message to the region's people, especially its youth - a message of deeds, not words. That means fulfilling the promise of a rebuilt, violence-free, democratic and sovereign Iraq. And in the spiritual heart of the region, it means leading the peace process and insisting that both sides engage in genuine dialogue and live up to their commitments spelled out in the road map - one that President Obama has said could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state once again.
At the end of the day, the success of regional reform depends on a renewed commitment to peace and progress, supported by a courageous America. That achievement will bring global healing. Perhaps now, in a moment shaped by both loss and hope, the time has come.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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MAY 2009
PRESIDENT OBAMA REACHES OUT TO THE MUSLIM WORLD...
First Stop: TURKEY!
"Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam,".
"In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject."
"The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country - I know, because I am one of them."
"And when people look back on this time, let it be said of America that we extended the hand of friendship,".
"There is an old Turkish proverb: 'You cannot put out fire with flames.'"
WHEN EAST MEETS THE WEST, IN TURKEY
Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. Istanbul is not only a major metropolis -the only one in the world situated on two continents (Asia and Europe), but also a unique modern, secular cultural center where elements from Western and Islamic societies come together.
Spending my summer last year in Turkey, gave me an opportunity to explore how the legacy of a rich diverse history interacts with a modern life style. Throughout its history, Istanbul has served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330-395), the Byzantine Empire (395-1204 and 1261-1453), and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1923), and hosted a diverse group of ethnic and religious communities (such as Greek Orthodox, Latin, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim). Today, the city is considered as one of the best cultural centers of Europe with its rich nightlife, cafes, bars, clubs, and restaurants, its countless museums, festivals, concerts and galleries making it a major site to observe and understand the dynamics of the interaction of the West with the East.
During my visit to Turkey, I also explored the historical sites from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and learned about the tension and synergy between Greek Orthodox, Latin, Jewish, and Islamic influences in the history of Istanbul. I was fascinated by the interactions of the Ottoman Empire and then the Republic of Turkey with Europe and the role of Islam in everyday life as well as foreign policy. I tried to understand how and to what extent this Islamic society interacts with the elements of Western culture to make it its own. Using all these imprtant historical elements as a basis, I explored the contemporary political and cultural issues of Turkey and its diverse communities. What a truly fascinating country! See Cover Story; Pages 4-5
~Fatina Saheddine
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APRIL 2009
Who Knew A simple Cup of Turkish Coffee had such History...
People commonly known today as “Middle Eastern” are in fact a mix of cultures and ethnic groups. Not every Arab is the same religion, and not all Arabs speak the same Arabic dialect. And to top that all off; within each of the Arabic countries there may be a variety of races, religions, and cultures! Hence, social and religious traditions and legal and bureaucratic regulations can vary significantly from one country to another, and even within the country itself. But - with all the varied rich and colorful differences found within the Middle East, there is one particular commonality that binds the region as one, no matter what the differences... And that is their love for a simple black delicious hot drink, uniformly called; Turkish Coffee.
Background on Turkish Coffee:
There is a story of how coffee was discovered. Kaldi was an Ethiopian, grazing his flock on the upland plains of Ethiopia and noticed his flock becoming frisky and eating the leaves and berries of the coffee plant. He tried some and felt frisky too. He took the “magic” berries to a nearby monastery where a monk believed them to be the work of the devil, and threw them into the fire. This released such an aroma that the beans were quickly rescued from the flames and the monks learned how to make the hot black beverage we know and drink today. The monks later considered coffee as a gift from God, because it kept parishioners awake during prayers!
The premier coffee houses were first introduced to the Ottoman Empire's capital, Istanbul in 1554. The drink was not well-known by the general public, but within a few years, hundreds of coffee houses sprung-up in Istanbul. At first, coffee was drunk from large bowls, or soup bowls. Later the size of the cups became much smaller. Porcelain cups became popular because they prevented the hot coffee from getting cold. These cups were then placed into a beautifully and intricately decorated metal holder called a "zarf." Turkish Coffee drinking became such an important part of daily and ceremonial life that the sultan’s coffee set, was carried during royal processions, and every wealthy household had a servant whose sole task was to prepare Turkish Coffee!
Not just in Turkey, but all over the world, coffee houses have become places where people meet together in order to debate, read newspapers and books, chat and sometimes to play games. The Turkish language contains a wonderful proverb explaining this:
" The heart seeks neither coffee nor the coffee house
The heart seeks a friend: coffee is just an excuse."
Today, one can find Turkish Coffee drunk in Middle Eastern, Turkish and Greek restaurants from New York to San Francisco to every continent of the world!
So the next time you're at a coffee house and ask for Turkish Coffee (or the closest tasting equivalent to a cup of freshly brewed Turkish Coffee would be a double espresso shot); just think of yourself not only drinking a rich cup of delicious hot coffee, but a cup of yesteryear that has transcended the test of time throughout the ancient world's empirical history. It's good to know your history readers- and what better place to begin with, than with your daily cup of coffee!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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MARCH 2009- TALKING POLITICS
Dear Mr. Rafiq Al-Hariri,
It has been four years too long since your assassination on February 14th, 2005. Yes, you were assassinated, Mr. Hariri. When the lights went out suddenly for you, on that fateful Valentine's morning, as you were driving past the St. George Hotel in Beirut, it was because strategically placed explosives equivalent to around 1000 kg of TNT were detonated. Yes, Mr. Hariri, some people just couldn't stand by and watch Lebanon rising back on its feet anymore. They couldn't accept you, the man behind the country's success story. Nicknamed "Mr. Lebanon" because of your life's effort in rebuilding and protecting our fragile precious land of the Cedars. Rafiq Al-Hariri, you were the most important political figure in Lebanon, and were also much bigger than Lebanon. You had powerful connections, an incredible political mind, and limitless financial resources. Whoever murdered you achieved one thing only - a hole in Lebanese politics that still hasn’t been filled.
When those responsible for your killing, carried out their murderous mission, they didn't realize that the exact opposite of their intent happened. They killed you to abruptly stop your message of Lebanese Nationalism, instead turned you into an iconic symbol to not only the Lebanese, but to the entire Middle East.
I wanted to write you a letter, Mr. Hariri, to tell you what has happened in your dear Lebanon in the last four years of your absence. It has been a rocky four years. At first, there was a collective rage that erupted from the people of Lebanon (al sha3b al-Libnany). How could a Lebanese be killed in such a way, on his own land, that he himself re-built? A Lebanese who was part of the Peace Agreement ending the Lebanese Civil War?
"In death Rafik Hariri has become an epitaph for Lebanon-2, the second independence. As a businessman and politician he was larger than life in that sliver of a country on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The hundreds of thousands of Lebanese who gathered in Beirut to remember him on Feb. 14 are testimony to his enduring popularity among the people of Lebanon. People remember Rafik Hariri as a businessman and politician. I also remember him as a man with a keen sense of humor. One example suffices: I once asked him a difficult, possible underhand, question and he protested. I said it was only a question and he could choose to answer it anyway he liked. He said, and I quote; 'the question often dictated the answer'. He explained that a Muslim would approach his sheikh and ask him if he could smoke a cigarette while praying and the sheikh would rebuke him for allowing a worldly and harmful pleasure to disrupt his prayer. A Jesuit would approach a priest and say: Father can I pray while smoking a cigarette? And the answer would be that prayer is appreciated at any time and in any condition."
- Jihad Al-Khazen
(Lebanese Journalist and writer)
Your funeral was massive. Millions of Lebanese filled the streets of Beirut. They came on foot and in their vehicles, from every corner of Lebanon and cried out their angst in unison. Aside from the fact that it was your death that caused such a commotion - you would've actually been so proud of your people. Knowing how much your constant life's message was insistent on Lebanese tolerance and that we should be "nationals" loving our country under no religious or sectarian divide, you would've been thrilled to see the thousands upon thousands of red, white and green Lebanese flags all raised by Lebanese of every religious sect and waving collectively in the air. It was truly such a spectacle to behold! They chanted and sang nationalistic songs, and even became politically charged enough to drive the Syrian Army out of Lebanon.
“Hariri's legacy is that his friends and his detractors agreed that he had a certain 'vision' for Lebanon. He believed not only in the full restoration of Beirut's previous role as the center of culture, finance and tourism, in the ME, but of expanding that role when comprehensive peace is achieved. He believed that Lebanon's western orientation, its liberal traditions, imperfect as they are, its business traditions, its universities and its influential media, will position the country not only to compete with Israel, but to help transition the region, including Syria to the new post peace realities. While he was the product of a flawed political system, and can be criticized for not trying harder to modernize it and make it more democratic, he was nonetheless, way ahead of most Lebanese leaders as a modernizer trying to lead Lebanon through a difficult transition from war to peace, from a Syrian protectorate to an independent state. It is that vision that the assassins wanted to kill.”
- Hisham Melhem
(Washington Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya News Channel)
It was during this nationalistic time that a certain account called The Mehlis Report resulted from the United Nations' investigation into your February 14, 2005 assassination. The investigation was launched in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1595 and was headed by the German judge, Detlev Mehlis. It involved questioning of Lebanese and Syrian officials. The report based its findings on key witnesses and on a variety of evidence including patterns of telephone calls between specific prepaid phone cards that connected prominent Lebanese and Syrian officials to events surrounding your crime. Tensions in Lebanon became high and then followed the divide within the Lebanese. For Lebanon, the reverberations of your attack were deep and long lasting, and it seemed to blow the country back to the 1980s, when Mafia-style assassinations and car bombings were as brazen as they were commonplace. Your death inflamed long-standing strains—Sunni versus Shia, pro-Syrian versus anti-Syrian—and roiled the politics of the entire Middle East.
Chaos erupted when Hezbollah (Lebanon's popular Shia resistance group) took up alliance with Lebanon's neighboring Syria. In less than one month after your death, (March 8th to be exact) a demonstration was held (purposely chosen to take place before March 14th arrived- the one month, or 30-day remembrance of your death) by Hezbollah along with some Christian leaders. Their reason for outcry- citing that Syria is not to blame for your assassination. And so the divide since your absence has been played out by the March 8 side verses the March 14-Future Movement side.
In the last four years, the March 8 and March 14 loyalties then became more of the focus, than your message of Lebanese unity. People tuned in to their television each night and watched the back-and-forth "War of Words" between the two opposing sides. Even more ridiculous - each side sought out their own colors and flags!? Seats in parliament were also affected, each opposing side wanting majority seats. Then March 8th people decided to just have a "sit-out" and camp themselves embarrassingly in Beirut's heart; its Downtown District. This incredulous 18-month long situation caused such havoc on the businesses and business owners who put their life's savings in to the Downtown District. This was a sad moment in Lebanon's history. Mr. Hariri, I know that your heart would've been broken to see such an act take place in your beloved and re-constructed Downtown. The place where you wanted all of Beirut to be unified and come together. The act of the camping in Downtown Beirut was not only taken to such a level of disgust and disrespect within the country, but it unfortunately reflected a bad image of our country abroad (something I know would’ve disturbed you immensely).
It took the Emir of Qatar to personally fly out all our Lebanese politicians to Doha, for a "truce agreement" all for the sake of peace and to elect us a Lebanese President already. Seriously, how disappointing that some Lebanese actually look-up to these politicians that allowed themselves to be spoiled like little children in Doha, in order to reach a suffice agreement. Word out on the Lebanese street was, "Doha, please keep our politicians there. Lebanon is in peace without them". (Lubnan B alph khair)!
As your son Saad has been articulating in his March 14 speeches recently, to love your country before yourself; “Lebanon First”, I am reminded of how you incessantly instructed me; “Hab-B Lubnan, low shu ma’ sar. Hab-B Lubnan.” (Love your Lebanon, whatever happens, love Lebanon). My God how I miss the days of hope and pride that you gave all the Lebanese outside of Lebanon. This sense of “Lebanon is back.” Back and better than the days our parents spoke of (Eeyam al a3z). The good prosperous days where investments flourished, business was booming, and Beirut was regaining its strategic place in the Middle East, as the premier in the Entertainment, Fashion and Art world. You gave us all a reason to want to come back and be a part of the country’s “come back”.
But let me get back to updating you on the current situation with the Lebanese…
Your son, Saad has helped fill the colossal void that you left by leading the March 14th Future Movement, as well taken over as official spokesperson of the Hariri family, to all those charities, orphanages, schools, churches, mosques, foundations and organizations that you were supporting and are in constant need. Saad is even running in the Lebanese Elections in June of this year to be Lebanon’s next Prime Minister. And as expected, your son Saad has been the driving force to get your UN trial underway. Over the last 4 years, his constant argument has been directed publicly; “those responsible for the crime of killing my father; Rafiq Al Hariri, must be brought to justice and pay for their unforgivable crime. Our goal is not political, it is just to prosecute those guilty persons.”
Mr. Hariri, after the initial shock and anger of your assassination subsided, many more valuable and outspoken Lebanese were targeted. Some were killed and some survived their attempted assassinations. The bitter squabbling of politicians and their opposing sides of March 8 and March 14 became more and more forthright with demonstrations and back and forth threatening messages. But it now seems (after four long years) that the Lebanese people have had ENOUGH of the lost message, and have begun recanting the question again of; “who killed you,” “who killed Mr. Hariri,” and are currently awaiting for the U.N. Tribunal to get underway next month in March, in a residential suburb of Hague, in the Netherlands.
"Hariri's legacy lies not only behind the fact that he is the builder of modern Lebanon; in fact, every single aspect of the capital's modernity exists due to his reconstruction efforts: The airport, The Lebanese University Campus, Downtown Beirut, Beirut's international Stadium, Beirut's infrastructure, and the list does not end. But more essentially in how Hariri changed the Lebanese people: He left behind a large, mutli-sectarian constituency that believes in combining western modernity and Islamic tradition, fundamental Lebanese nationalism and progressive Arab Unity, personal freedoms and rule of law, capitalist productive economy and social equality. During his lifetime, he transformed Lebanon from a ravaged destroyed country into a modern, developed nation. By dying as a martyr, he gave us our independence, freedom and sovereignty after three decades of foreign occupation. There is nothing more one man could of done for Lebanon”.
- Saleh Al Machnouk
(Lebanese member in the leadership of the Future Movement)
For years, Lebanese looked up to you as their own “father figure” as you set about rebuilding Lebanon, both internally and internationally. Through your Hariri Foundation, you raised and educated a generation of youth abroad. Giving students a priceless gift – an education. You fathered orphans in countless orphanages left behind from the civil war. You renovated Downtown Beirut, re-built the country’s airport, built needed infrastructure such as roads and highways, school buildings, and homes for mosques and churches. You sponsored investment conferences in Beirut, urging people to believe and invest in Lebanon. You financed the Lebanese Army, cleaned up Lebanon’s seaport, and were well on your way in changing the image of Lebanon abroad, back to its “Paris of the Middle East” era. What a tremendous loss the Lebanese citizens suffered when you were assassinated, what a loss. I cannot even begin to imagine how your Hariri family dealt with losing you. For they are the ones that lost a husband, a brother, an uncle, a cousin and a loving father.
“4 years after, Rafic Hariri still lies in the heart of each one of us. He remains the role model for progressive and self-made men. He became a legend that will inspire the generations to come”.
- Ricardo Karam
(Lebanese TV Host & Producer)
There is a nauseous feeling amongst the Lebanese that a second bomb, perhaps bigger than the first, has yet to detonate, during your upcoming UN trial. It involves the naming and prosecution of the people behind your plot. Eleven judges, including four Lebanese, have been nominated to work at the tribunal. The court's budget will amount to some 51.4 million dollars (36 million euros) in 2009, with 49 percent of it financed (pricelessly) by Lebanon. The wait has been terribly frustrating, but by not bringing those responsible and punishing them for what they have done, would be a an injustice and a crime in itself. (La’ eyoonak wa’ La’ eyoon Beirut bookra b’yin kishif al hak’ee’ka).
Mr. Hariri, to say the least - you lead your life as a true and inspiring example of what it is to be a LEBANESE. For generations to come, you will always be revered as ‘Al-Hariri” – a name carrying the ultimate gravitas.
Allah Yirhamak.
May God Bless your soul Mr. Hariri.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
Al-Sahafa Newspaper; Publisher
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FEBRUARY 2009
Voices from the Arab World
They may not have a vote, but civic-minded people in the Middle East watched the U.S. presidential race closely, and some had chosen their favorite candidate, months before the election.
Even before winning the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States, he seemed to have captured the hearts, minds and newspaper pages across the entire Middle East. Obama appeared to be the favorite candidate, as evidenced in the region's English language press. An op-ed in Egypt's Daily News called him "a breath of fresh air." Another, in the Daily Star of Lebanon, said he is "a global candidate for a global age."
"To see an African-American come this close to the White House, less than 50 years after the end of segregation ... is an accomplishment for which all Americans can be proud of," wrote an editorial in Arab News, a Saudi Arabian newspaper. "Democrats, in particular, must quietly feel glad that the days of the Birmingham Barons and Bull Connor are behind the party."
Though Obama is, himself, a Christian, his father's Muslim heritage, and his own multiracial makeup, are seen as a huge plus — a sign to many in the world that he may be able to understand the Middle East region and what it would take to achieve peace and stability, as leader of the Free World.
In one editorial, Lebanese political analyst Chibli Mallat pointed out that the name Barack is short for "Mubarak," an Arabic word, meaning "the blessed one." In a point of unsolicited advice, Mallat suggested Obama should highlight that heritage.
"You should be proud of your Muslim legacy," wrote Mallat. "Make it a central plank of your Presidency as a world leader. Become a uniquely ecumenical president, in a world increasingly in the throes of religious strife."
When asked what the new American president's priorities should be, experts in the Middle East point to a handful of perennial, predictable issues: the Iraq War, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and resolving diplomatic standoffs with Syria and Iran. But while the issues may be the same as in the last political cycle, the feeling in the Middle East region is that they are much more critical now.
And on the contrary - many Middle Eastern editorials have published, that if the 44th president of the United States were to believe that he has the unqualified support of Arabs, and that they will be willing to go along with anything he dreams up to solve the region's raging conflicts, from Palestine to Iraq to Syria, and most of all Iran, he would be cherishing an illusion. Arabs are pleased that former President Bush is history, and that they will no longer have to endure his sermons about democracy and freedom, and yet they consider Obama, the president of a weakened world power, with fresh ambivalence.
The elites in the Gulf Region are bursting with self-confidence as big as the skyscrapers in Dubai, lining up next to each other, growing taller and taller, as if there were no limits. But it is hard to say what worries the Arabs more these days -- president Obama or the world's crisis of capitalism. Major developers throughout the Middle East region, with operations from Saudi Arabia to Morocco, are said be in financial difficulties. How serious they are can only be surmised. And because the Arab Sheikhs are keeping their cards close to their chests, they are surrounded by a sense of dark foreboding. The oil rush in the Gulf acts as the foundation of the region's modernity and a condition for its oases of free thought. It is to the Arab world what the California Gold Rush was to America more than 100 years ago: the historic proof that the Middle East is blessed and can fully exert the economic power of a new type of civilization.
And as a proud Lebanese-American supporter of our 44th President of the United States, I'd like to end with my own words;
"With the future and leadership of the planet placed in our American hands, I believe we made the right choice in electing Barack Obama to lead the world back on the right path by TURNING OUR AMERICAN IMAGE AND STANDING IN THE WORLD BACK TO THE PEACEFUL NATION OF TOLERANCE AND MEDIATION. AND OF A NATION THAT SITS DOWN AT THE TABLE AND BREAKS BREAD WITH THE WORLD'S LEADERS. Will President Obama change the tone in the Middle East? Only time will tell."
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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JANUARY 2009
Our Warmest Wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR's 2009!!!
Over the past eight years, the Al-Sahafa Newspaper has taken a major leadership role in educating the public about the vast, rich Arab culture, of which Arab Americans proudly come from and represent. This Newspaper has been a great tool of self-expression from our active readers, as well as helped inform the community of the various events, programs, and functions taking place each month, concerning Arab Americans and the Middle East.
The Al-Sahafa Newspaper has been very active in the Middle Eastern business communities, and has taken active leadership roles with Political figures in ensuring that the TRUE MESSAGE and UN-BIASED FACTS about the M.E. are construed correctly to their constituents. Our diligence over the years with well-known respected publications, as well as the nation's leading Media TV outlets and their personalities, through continuous dialogue and active participation with various Arab American Chambers, Organizations, Conferences, and Middle Eastern Embassies has kept Al-Sahafa quite the busy publication.
Proudly, the Al-Sahafa Newspaper has earned accreditation through global businesses, media and political leaders, and through insightful interviews profiled in international and Middle Eastern magazines and award-winning publications.
We've been fortunate enough to have captured these moments on video and on picture stills. Please take some time out of your busy day and check out our website www.al-sahafa.us . Please make sure to read Al-Sahafa ONLINE - as well as - click on the "Scrap Book" button, and enjoy our Published Articles, Photo Album, and Multimedia pages.
Most importantly readers, get involved! Please share with us your opinions, thoughts, articles, personal stories, and editorials - on our Reader's Forum and/or our new Facebook Group Page titled; Al-Sahafa Newspaper USA. (I might proudly add, that our website averages 200,000 clicks a month - so your feedback is well read by local, national and international visitors to the Al-Sahafa website)!
There is an Arabic saying that goes a little something like this; One hand cannot clap alone.
.....which basically means; You need two hands to clap. The entire network of readers need to work together in order to achieve unity. The Al-Sahafa Newspaper is here for you. Use this Newspaper as a tool. It is a very powerful thing when something is achieved collectively!
Stay in touch!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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DECEMBER 2008
2008 YEAR IN REVIEW
The Current State of the U.S. & the Middle East
The end of 2008 is only weeks away. As the days brings us closer to its finale - I want to share my thoughts about what state the world is currently in… and hopefully evoke and inspire some readers to aid in the world’s much needed damage control, in the upcoming year of 2009.
There is continued turmoil in the Middle East. We have Iraq still in shambles, after almost 6 years since the start of the war. Not forgetting that our troops are also still fighting the taliban in Afghanistan.
Then there’s the dismal and unresolved struggle of independence and plight for land and freedom for the Palestinians – It's hard to find grounds for optimism that much has changed in the dynamics shaping the Mideast's core conflict. My thought is; if it has been that hard for the U.S. to help broker an agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians for a two-state solution, then maybe it's not in the U.S.'s best interest to be the mediator in helping to resolve this conflict. This continuing cycle of blood-shed has got to stop. It's only "fueling the flame" for continued extremists around the globe to use the "palestinian occupation" as their excuse for violence and terror.
So far the country of Turkey (with its Middle Eastern and European fusion of culture and history) has had success in mediating peace talks between the Israelis and Syrians. I personally suggest Turkey should get involved in mediating the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as well - specifically in reference to the holiest city on earth; Jerusalem (the city containing the 3 holiest sites for Jews, Christians, and Moslems = people of the book).
In Lebanon, we have the Lebanese still demanding the truth, with still no knowledge of who, how or why the unbelievable assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister and billionaire Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri took place on (Valentine's Day) February 14th 2005. There are no answers as well to the assassinations of the many other members of Lebanese Parliament and Media Personalities, as well as attempted assassinations, like on the LBC Media personality; May Chidiac.
The country of Syria has had its fair share of controversies this past year as well with the United Nations’ threatening sanctions, and with its internal government shake-up from dealing with extreme pressure and opposition from the U.S. led war on Iraq – to better protect its borders from crossing insurgents. As well as being labeled “Hizbollah’s financial backer, with neighboring country, Iran.
This year also marked the United Nations turning 63 years. We all are celebrating sixty-three years of what, you may ask? Well folks, I’m the type of person who looks forward, and not so much backward on the faults of an organization. What I personally believe that an ideal UN organization should bring to the world in the upcoming year, is a stronger more effective push for reform. A new human rights effort. We need political coalition building. What we need is a true United Nations “abode” for the world to call its “home”. A place where criticism is replaced by credibility.
And with America’s “broken promises of peace towards the Middle East” – I want to end this year with a challenge for President-Elect Barack Obama in 2009.
Our beautiful country; the United States of America, here and around the world, is at the lowest point of prestige it has ever been. It seems befitting to say that we are not “The United States of America” anymore, but more appropriately referred to as “The Divided States of America”.
Until the war in Iraq, we in America were not just the most powerful nation on earth, we were also the most respected and influential. And we squandered that. The world cringes at us because of Iraq. And with good reason. We NEED to get America’s “Fair & Honest Peace Broker” image back. We need to put the broken pieces of the United States together again. And to restore our values around the globe. And to favor negotiation over invasion, in reference to our foreign policies. The American people placed their concerns and trusted that through their votes - that Obama was the right man for the job of the highest seat in the nation - to bring back that positive peaceful nation-building U.S. image, that so many around the world miss and looked upon as an example and trusted world leader.
I want to also challenge our nation’s political, business, and organization leaders to right the wrongs of 2008. To end the suffering of the world’s oppressed. To provide a platform for those who have important things to say to the international community about today’s children and stopping the spread of hunger and disease such as Aids, Cancer, and religious, cultural and ethnic genocide.
I challenge YOU readers of Al-Sahafa, to support and press on these consequential issues that affect our daily lives. While keeping in mind the saying; “What goes around, comes around.” I challenge you readers, to make this world a promising upcoming year of 2009.
* And on that note, I want to wish all our readers the very best of what the New Year’s 2009 brings. A very happy and safe New Year’s Eve to all.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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NOVEMBER 2008
A very interesting question...
Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin:
What if...
What if things were switched around? Think about it... Would the
country's collective point of view be different? How much does racism
influence our opinions? Ponder some of the following:
What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including
a three-month-old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?
What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review,
while Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating
class?
What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?
What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe
disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his
standards?
What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair
while he was still married?
What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain
killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable
organization?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Five were the
United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major
political scandal as part of the largest Savings and Loan crisis of the
late 1980s and early 1990s.)
What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker, while Obama couldn't
read from a teleprompter?
What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included
discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?
What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many
occasions, a serious anger management problem?
What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer
distribution?
What if the Obamas had adopted a white child?
You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected reality,
do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they were? Would a black McCain even be allowed to be a politician much less a leader of our country?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes
positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in
another when there is a color difference.
Educational Backgrounds:
Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a
Specialization in International Relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Magna Cum Laude
Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in
Political Science. Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor
(J.D.)
VS.
John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester North Idaho College
- 2 semesters, general study University of Idaho - 2 semesters,
journalism Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester University of Idaho -
3 semesters, B.A. in Journalism
Education isn't everything, of course, but this is about the two highest
offices in the land as well as our standing in the world. Should our
presidents have some proper political education, or just have the right
connections with the lobbyists and special interest groups? You make the
call..
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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OCTOBER 2008
America & the World
Recently I got a chance to meet two internationally recognized media-savvy women; Ms. Christiane Amanpour - CNN's Chief International Correspondent and Ms. Madeleine Albright - Former U.S. Secretary of State. Both of whom I feel so "connected-to" in sharing their views and understandings of foreign politics in relation to America and the rest of the world... and I'd like to share some of these views with you readers...
Next month, America will find out who will lead this nation for the next four years. And in this little time that we have left to decide who we're voting for, we need to keep in mind what the "key issues" are, that our next President will have to deal with, and if he is going to be capable of handling them:
How to fight Global Terrorism
What to do with Proliferation
How to restore America's Image and DEMOCRACY
How to overcome the negative aspects of Globalization
How to handle America's Financial Crisis
How to use our Energy Resources wisely in relation to keeping our environment clean, and not relying on foreign independence
How to fix the Growing Gap between the Rich and the Poor
My fellow readers, our Presidential Candidates need to be pressed on with these "key issues", by America's citizens and its Press. I personally hope to see an American Press who writes and discusses and asks the tough questions for the people, without fear nor favor!
We're getting to be a smaller and more connected world, as we get more Globalized, and we cannot afford to make more enemies by dealing with foreign politics in a "my way or the highway" attitude. It just doesn't work! This nation was built on compromise, and we have to be a flexible country. We need each other. And what we need to do is utilize our powerful position in the United Nations, in the most humblest of ways. We need to get back our image as a "gentle, peaceful and understanding" country. One that sets the "melting-pot" example for the rest of the world through its nation-building foreign policies and fair and honest diplomacy abilities and standards.
May the best man, who can conquer these challenges and yet unite the people win!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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SEPTEMBER 2008
Saying Goodbye to Ohio Congress woman; Stephanie Tubbs Jones
My friend and Role Model, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first African-American woman elected to the House of Representatives from Ohio and a leader in the fight against predatory lending practices, passed away on Wednesday August 20, 2008. She was only 58 years young. The cause was from a ruptured brain aneurysm.
Aside from being well-loved and well-known for her grass roots activism, Ms. Tubbs Jones, a Democrat, was in her fifth term as representative of the 11th Congressional District, which includes most of the east side of Cleveland. Two years ago, she was re-elected with 83 percent of the vote. Before her first election to Congress, in 1998, she had been the chief prosecutor for Cuyahoga County in Ohio.
Considered a liberal, Ms. Tubbs Jones was a co-sponsor of legislative efforts to broaden health care coverage for low- and middle-income people and of programs supporting the re-entry of convicts into their communities. She was also the author of legislation requiring certification for mortgage brokers and stiffer penalties for predatory loans.
Stephanie Tubbs was born in Cleveland on Sept. 10, 1949. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 1971 and received her law degree there three years later. From 1976 to 1979, she was an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor. In 1981, she won election as a Cleveland Municipal Court judge, and 10 years later she was appointed chief prosecutor.
Ms. Tubbs Jones’s husband of 27 years, Mervyn L. Jones Sr., died in 2003. She is survived by her son, Mervyn II.
* Your engaging smile and warmth will never be forgotten. You were our bright star that shined so brightly in Congress, and to all those you came accross, and paved the way for. Ohio will miss you. May God Bless your soul dear Stephanie...
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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JUNE "SUMMER" 2008
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER FOLKS!
We at the Al-Sahafa Newspaper Office are taking our annual well-deserved "Summer Break". This office will be closed from Saturday June 7th - Sunday August 24th.
Our 2008 "Summer Issue" is currently out on stands. Don't miss out! Stay informed, and make sure to get your news-filled copy today!
Our next issue will be the September 2008 Issue, due out in the fall (the first Tuesday of September). We at the Al-Sahafa Newspaper office would like to wish all our loyal readers and supporters a happy, successful, and safe summer!
We’ll be back before you know it, in full force covering the events, and bringing you all the latest on our significant Middle Eastern Community(s) in the great state of Ohio, all across the nation and internationally.
~Fatina Salaheddine
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MAY 2008
Lesson in Values
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a 500 Dollar note. In the room of 400, he asked,
"Who would like this 500 Dollar note?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air. Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?"
Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth 500 Dollars. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless.
But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.
"VALUE HAS A VALUE ONLY IF ITS VALUE IS VALUED"
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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APRIL 2008
Sand and Stone
TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT
OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE
OTHER ONE IN THE FACE. THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT
WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND:
"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."
THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY
DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH
THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE! AND STARTED
DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.
AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE:
"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM,
'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A
STONE, WHY?'
THE FRIEND REPLIED;
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE
WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT.'
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS
IN STONE. THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN
HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN AN ENTIRE LIFE
TO FORGET THEM.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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MARCH 2008
Voting
Voting is our given right,
which men have died to keep.
Voting shows our peoples might,
so our country won't get into deep.
But there are those who never vote,
and constantly seem to complain.
Patriotism they don't promote,
and their rights they choose to abstain.
Every vote does really count,
to let our officials know.
For their actions they must account,
or their ratings will never grow.
So come next election time,
go cast your vote with pride.
Voting doesn't cost a dime,
plus the out come you help decide.
THE OHIO PRIMARY IS TUESDAY MARCH 4th!
MAKE SURE TO VOTE OHIO!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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FEBRUARY 2008
Miracles Are All Around Us ...
They Just Need To Be Passed Along
In the spirit of this month's upcoming "Valentine's Day", I thought this inspiring story of love (in
its simplest and most innocent form) would be most appropriate...
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet
She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had
to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.
Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door
and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with
the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was
too busy at this moment Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.
Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good.
Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my
brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his
question.
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tes answered back in the same annoyed tone.
"He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist
"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says
only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said,
softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how
much it costs."
The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl,
"What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"
"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy
says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago
"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly.
"And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a
miracle for little brothers."
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me
to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the
miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The
operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and
doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.
"That surgery, her Mom whispered, was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
Tess smiled She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents...plus the
faith of a little child.
In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need. A miracle is not the suspension of
natural law, but the operation of a higher law.
Readers, I know you'll all keep the ball moving, Miracles are all around us, They Just Need To Be
Passed Along.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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JANUARY 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude
waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the "Terminator", for
an instant you're probably set back on your heels! However, the mark of a successful person is
how quickly one can get back their focus on what's important.
On a recent trip, I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.
I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for the United Nations. We were driving in the right lane
when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi
driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, (the guy who almost caused a big accident), whipped his head around
and he started yelling curse words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I
mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? The guy almost ruined your car and
sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I Now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of
anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if
you let them, they'll dump it on you.
When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them
well, and move on. You'll be happy you did."
So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage
Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people:
At work, at home, with friends? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."
I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see
Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them
coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing;
I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they
have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents
know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The
bottom line is that successful people Do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.
What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, If you let more garbage trucks
pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..
Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance , TAKE IT!
If it changes your life , LET IT!
Nobody said life would be easy...
They just promised it would be worth it!
Happy New Year's 2008 folks!
...And don't let "Garbage Trucks" take over your days in the New Year!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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DECEMBER 2007
2007 YEAR IN REVIEW
The Current State of the U.S. & the Middle East
The end of 2007 is only weeks away. As the days brings us closer to its finale - I want to share
my thoughts about what state the world is currently in… and hopefully evoke and inspire some
readers to aid in the world’s much needed damage control, in the upcoming year of 2008.
Currently, there is continued turmoil in the Middle East. We have Iraq in shambles – with this
war of senseless suicide bombers, turning wedding receptions and funerals into a massive blood
bath. All in the name of “religion” – when in actuality, in the name of “All I want is attention and
power”. At the incredible misfortune of so many innocent lives taken in a split second of pure
terror in the unfortunate continued Iraqi civil war.
Then there’s the dismal and unresolved struggle of independence and plight for land and
freedom for the Palestinians – It's hard to find grounds for optimism that much has changed in
the dynamics shaping the Mideast's core conflict. Sure, Israelis and Palestinians agreed to talk
about the "final status" issues of creating a Palestinian state, with the U.S. urging them on, at the
Annapolis peace conference last month. But the governments representing the two sides in
Annapolis may actually be further apart on the substance of some of those issues than were their
predecessors who failed at Camp David.
In Lebanon, we have the Lebanese still demanding the truth, with still no knowledge of who,
how or why the unbelievable assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister and billionaire
Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri took place on (Valentine's Day) February 14th 2005. There are no answers
as well to the assassinations of the many other members of Lebanese Parliament and Media
Personalities. The Lebanese economy is also a major dilemma being at a devastating standstill,
with Hizbollah camps suffocating Downtown Beirut's livelihood and businesses, as well as the
country's constant will to recover from Israel’s destruction of Lebanese infrastructure, during the
Israeli-Hizbollah conflict of last summer.
The country of Syria has had its fair share of controversies this past year as well with the United
Nations’ threatening sanctions, and with its internal government shake-up from dealing with
extreme pressure and opposition from the U.S. led war on Iraq – to better protect its borders
from crossing insurgents. As well as being labeled “Hizbollah’s financial backer, with
neighboring country, Iran.
Speaking of Iran, Iranians have had to deal with quite a controversial President; Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. From his nuclear program being threatened by U.N. sanctions, to this past year’s
U.N. General Assembly’s appearance, and speaking in a hostile environment at Columbia
University. President Ahmadinejad meandered from science and religion to politics, without
leaving room to answer questions from the audience. The least to say is that this President
definitely evokes opinionated rebuttals.
This year also marked the United Nations turning 62 years. We all are celebrating sixty-two years
of what, you may ask? Well folks, I’m the type of person who looks forward, and not so much
backward on the faults of an organization. What I personally believe that an ideal UN
organization should bring to the world in the upcoming year, is a stronger more effective push for
reform. A new human rights effort. We need political coalition building. What we need is a true
United Nations “abode” for the world to call its “home”. A place where criticism and scandal is
replaced by credibility.
And with America’s “broken promises of peace towards the Middle East” – I want to end this
year with a challenge for 2008. Our beautiful country; the United States of America, here and
around the world, is at the lowest point of prestige it has ever been. It seems befitting to say that
we are not “The United States of America” anymore, but more appropriately referred to as “The
Divided States of America”. Until the war in Iraq, we in America were not just the most
powerful nation on earth, we were also the most respected and influential. And we squandered
that. The world cringes at us because of Iraq. And with good reason. We NEED to get America’s
“Fair & Honest Peace Broker” image back. We need to put the broken pieces of the United
States together again. And to restore our values around the globe. And to favor negotiation over
invasion.
I want to challenge our nation’s political, business, and organization leaders to right the wrongs
of 2007. To end the suffering of the world’s oppressed. To provide a platform for those who
have important things to say to the international community about today’s children and stopping
the spread of disease such as Aids, Cancer, Bird Flu, famine, and religious, cultural and ethnic
genocide.
I challenge YOU readers of Al-Sahafa, to support and press on these consequential issues that
affect our daily lives. While keeping in mind the saying; “What goes around, comes around.” I
challenge you readers, to make this world a promising upcoming year of 2008.
* And on that note, I want to wish all our readers the very best of what the New Year’s 2008
brings. A very happy and safe New Year’s Eve to all.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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NOVEMBER 2007
Elections and the Middle East Policy
The Time Is Right For Change
The topic I’d like to discuss with you all this month is about "Reformulating Policy in the Middle
East," an issue that is critical to get right. We need to get our Middle East policy right. If we
don't get it right, it's become clear that we can't have security in the United States. So it's
important for U.S. citizens to get it right. Our allies need us to get it right because they can't have
security, and the people of the region need us to get it right because the destruction that we saw
in Lebanon, the destruction that we're seeing in Iraq, we don't want to see that continue to
expand to other countries in the region. So, this is a critical moment to really look at this issue of
reformulating policy in the Middle East. It's important that we begin to have a very honest and
frank discussion about it.
So how do we make a more sensible Middle East policy? I think when you start to look at the
Middle East you have to start with the obvious - the question of oil. There's no question that
controlling the oil and the profits from oil is a top priority in the Middle East, particularly as we
are competing with China and India for that resource. As it gets more precious and more
expensive, that becomes a higher priority. So if you want to talk about reformulating policy in the
Middle East, it starts with reformulating our energy policy at home and by becoming a leader in
the world for a more sensible energy policy. We have the technology to change our energy policy
away from the dirty, nineteenth-twentieth century fossil fuel economy toward a twenty-first
century clean, sustainable energy economy. A review of the wind resources, for example, in the
United States by the federal government found that three states alone could provide enough
energy through wind to satisfy all of our electricity needs. Three states alone. One of those is
Texas. Even oil-rich Texas can profit and continue to profit from the wind resources. And that's
just one source. What's great about the moment that we're in right now is that we're reaching a
tipping point where the public is ready for this. The public is ready for this transition. They know
it's needed. It's needed for a variety of reasons. There'll always be a need for some oil. So, the
Middle East will still be an issue, but it won't become a national security issue if we can break our
addiction to oil. It's also an environmental urgency.
So we have a combination of economic and environment and national security coming together
with the same conclusion. It's time to break our addiction to fossil fuels. It's urgent. There's no
time to waste on it. The missed opportunity of 9/11 for our oil-based economy was to say, "We
need to get all these old, dirty fossil fuel cars off the streets within ten years. We could do it."
Imagine the Midwest (OHIO) with the explosion in new automobile sales and new automobile
production. The Midwest would have been growing. We'd also change the way our buildings
operate, both personal, commercial and government buildings, because there's a lot of waste there
as well. The United States wastes half the energy that it has, and so we can have a lot of room in
there for that change. I think once we break our oil addiction, which I think is very doable and
essential, then we can really look at the Middle East in a much more sensible way.
So I hope that people hearing this will run for office themselves, because we really need
leadership. We need people to get up and say that we need to change direction because that is
the role of us as civic players and we need to start to be civic participants in the government. As
civic participants we need to not just run for office, we need to be advocating these issues
because I think the time is right for change. I repeat, the time is right for change. You can see it
in the polling. You can see it in the votes we've had around the country. Currently, so far, this
election season, people are ready to see a different direction in government, and once we get a
different direction in government with an emphasis on breaking away from a fossil fuel-based
economy which I think is the key for so many war and peace issues, like the Middle East; and the
issue of our economic environment. And once we get these key issues right, I believe things will
start to fall in place.
Oh...and by the way, Happy Thanksgiving on November 22nd!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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OCTOBER 2007
TIME
Each of us has a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, TIME credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night TIME writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day TIME opens a new account for you. Each night TIME burns the remains of the day. If
you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow.” You must live in the present
on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success.
The clock is running... So make the most of your TIME today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the bus.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won Silver in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have. And remember that TIME waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That is why it is called a “present.”
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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SEPTEMBER 2007
Arab Contributions Enhance Civilization
Aaah, the smell of new schoolbooks, and packed lunches are in the air. It's the tell-tale signs of a
new school year. With new friends and memories to make, and new things to learn - it reminds
me how much history we need to instill in our children today, of how much today's society owes
so much knowledge and learning from the Arab people.
The rich heritage of the Arab people embraces almost 14 centuries of tumultuous history. It spans
parts of three continents, and links societies of every, race, economic condition and political
orientation.
In the history of the lands of Arabia, great empires have come and gone, leaving rich literary and
artistic legacies even as their political and military power evaporated. The caliphate of the
Abbasids in Baghdad, the Mamluk rule in Egypt and Syria, the Safavid empire in Iran, the
empires of the Mughals and Ottomans all reached breathtaking levels of achievement in science,
literature, art and architecture, creating brilliant and enduring monuments.
In mathematics, the Arab sifr, or zero, provided new solutions for complicated problems. We
owe Algebra to the Arabs who also perfected the astrolabe and compiled astronomical charts and
tables. It was an Arab doctor who first diagnosed smallpox and measles. Camphor, basil,
oregano, cinnamon to name a few herbs and spices found their way from Arab pharmacies to
European tables. The Alhambra in Granada is only one of the many great examples of Arab
architecture.
Arab pilots guided Europeans around Africa to India, and Arab scholars helped Columbus learn
the earth was round. One of the earliest philosophers—al-Kindi—wrote on specific weight, tides,
light reflection and optics. Cotton muslin, Damask linen and Shiraz wool were watchwords for
quality in textiles in Europe. Arab words such as admiral, candy, julep, saffron, sugar, zenith and
many others filtered into English. Three great monotheistic religions came from the region which
gave us Arab culture.
In every aspect of our daily lives we are indebted to Arab creativity, insight and scientific
perseverance.
So parents, let's not forget to add this rich history about the Arabs in our children's education
these days.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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JUNE JULY AUGUST 2007
Summer is in the Air... Are you ready?
O’kay Ohio – are you ready? Summer weather (as usual) took its time to finally get to us in the
good ole’ Buckeye State, but now that it’s here…. Are you ready? Ready for the daylight
savings time to change one more time – making the day longer, and it seem like forever for the
work-day to end? Ready to make sure that car of yours is clean, and free of all those “wash me
please” art work designs - compliments of passers by?
I am a firm believer in that EACH & EVERY ONE OF US CONTROLS HIS/HER OWN
DESTINY. You may not know at that particular moment, but an action or conversation that you
may have had with somebody – could have indirectly effected them in a positive direction. You
could possibly have provided a more positive perspective on their career path, a friends’ family
situation at home, or a personal self-worth issue. This certain “somebody” may not have felt
ready at that time – but after your effective influence, they are now ready. Ready to take action.
Ready to take more control of situations. Ready to make a success of their lives. And to live their
lives to the fullest. Now the question is – “Are you ready”? Are you ready to make this summer a
positive one, full of inspiration and positive outcomes? It’s up to you. You control your own
destiny. No one but you, can know the answer to this question; "Are you ready?”
Just a reminder that we at the Al-Sahafa Newspaper office will be taking our annual “Summer
Break”. We’ll be back in full force, bringing you the latest in Middle Eastern news and features
in our next issue due out in the fall – in the month of September 2007. Stay tuned, and have a
wonderful summer!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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MAY 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
May 13, 2007
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
(Written by a former child)
A message every adult should read, because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking , I saw you make my
favorite cake for me and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always
talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you t hought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take
care of our house and everyone in it and I learned
we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come
from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you
cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you
and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw
when you thought I wasn't looking."
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APRIL 2007
The Time Has Come for the U.S. to Step-up the Peace Process
Today the Arab-Israeli conflict remains the world's central challenge. Israelis and Palestinians
both need an end to its bitter violence. So do the global millions who suffer the collateral
damage: ongoing extremist violence and deep cynicism about international justice.
In 2002, Arab countries took a bold step forward, committing themselves to a two-state solution
that includes security guarantees for Israel to live in peace with its neighbors; a sovereign and
democratic Palestine; and a process that leads to a comprehensive settlement, addressing the
Syrian and Lebanese tracks.
The two-state solution recognizes what I have long argued. For lasting peace, Israel must be fully
integrated into the entire region, from Morocco to Yemen. But this depends on creating an
independent Palestinian state, whose people are, at last, able to live in dignity and hope. Unless
this happens, there will be no region-wide acceptance of Israel and no real peace.
In 2003, the parties agreed on the road map to peace. The United States and the eight leading
industrialized nations were also on board. But the process has been trapped in an ongoing cycle
of violence. Now, events provide fresh opportunities. New Palestinian leadership can carry
forward the vision of a viable, independent Palestine by delivering on the reforms that statehood
involves: competent governance, investments in public welfare, fighting corruption, tougher
security against terrorism and a real partnership at the peace tables.
In Israel, the government can recommit to the road map and take confidence-building measures
that will refute the charge that its recent policies are intended to sideline the peace process and
further divide people. Both sides can now make the compromises that a comprehensive, lasting
and just peace requires.
Just as important, with its 2008 Presidential campaigns underway, the United States can now
refocus on this critical issue. The world's most powerful, most visible democracy has a chance to
send a strong message to the region's people, especially its youth - a message of deeds, not
words. That means fulfilling the promise of a rebuilt, violence-free, democratic and sovereign
Iraq. And in the spiritual heart of the region, it means leading the peace process and insisting that
both sides engage in genuine dialogue and live up to their commitments spelled out in the road
map - one that President Bush has said could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state once
again.
At the end of the day, the success of regional reform depends on a renewed commitment to
peace and progress, supported by a courageous America. That achievement will bring global
healing. Perhaps now, in a moment shaped by both loss and hope, the time has come.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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MARCH 2007
Jerusalem Belongs To The World...
“I feel so sorry that you children will never get to experience what my eyes have seen. The
ancient city of Jerusalem is such a historically rich, sacred, and spiritual place, that everyone in
the world needs to partake in and experience, sometime in their lives.”
These words so often said, expresses my father’s complete distress and disappointment in the
ceaseless turmoil of the Middle East. Specifically speaking about the hopeless ongoing Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, with the city of Jerusalem eyed as the “prize” of the citizens of these two
countries.
Jerusalem is the focal point of the on-going Power struggle between Israel and Palestine, yet it
belongs to the world – so why doesn’t every country get involved in this city’s peace process?
Why do I believe this city belongs to the world? Well – for starters this city contains MAJOR
HOLY SITES for Christians, Muslims, and Jews combined. When you pray at your respected
place of worship (Synagogue, Mosque, or Church), you are praying to those whom God chose to
make Holy, on the Holiest of ground. That sacred ground being the one and only city of
Jerusalem, located in heart of Arabia; better known as the Middle East. You know - that place
far far away where the American media has relentlessly negatively portrayed Arabs, their land,
traditions, customs and their religion(s), to nothing more than terrorists and peace haters…
Now back to Jerusalem; I believe that both Israelis and Palestinians need to find another capital
city for their respected countries. I have faith in the idea that the United Nations should control,
protect and operate the Holy city of Jerusalem. In this manner, the United Nations will secure its
Credibility and give purpose back to this important and respected international organization. The
United Nations should provide Jerusalem’s safe day-to-day operations, security for this city, its
inhabitants, as well as its visitors. It wouldn’t hurt for the United Nations to also take
responsibility for Jerusalem’s tour facilities and guides, provide its very own international airport,
and build special travel accommodations, while developing a suitable media/publicity department
to accommodate every language that belongs to the United Nations.
Through the United Nations, the world basically has an accountability in the control of this rich,
vast city containing the holiest sites on earth. Jerusalem should be its very own entity- just as the
Vatican in Rome, and like our very own nation’s capital; Washington D.C. (District of
Columbia).
This is a personal ideology of mine towards how I view the city of Jerusalem and its “belonging
to the world” concept. Every theory begins with an idea. If more and more persons begin
endorsing this logical concept, it will then become a strong belief, and in turn (with the world’s
support), this principle can be achieved. Developing Jerusalem into a civilized, safe place of
sanctuary for the world’s worshippers. Just think how peaceful the Middle East could be, if this
notion is attained in the near future.
Readers, this month's Cover Story centers on the SABEEL Conference which took place recently
in Cleveland Ohio. The main theme of the conference centered on the Holy City of Jerusalem
and the plight of the Palestinian struggle, through a Christian perspective. It is in hopes that you
finish reading this issue with a deeper understanding of the complexities within the Holy City of
Jerusalem.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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FEBRUARY 2007
This month, we focus on Lebanon, as we approach former Lebanese Prime Minister Mr. Rafik
Al-Hariri's assassination anniversary, on February 14, I feel that he too is crying as he watches
what is happening to his dear Lebanon.
We are all crying for Lebanon. Prayer and love for one another and respect for the right for
Lebanon's citizens to live in peace is all that we have left....we pray for divine intervention to
save this dear country of Lebanon.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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JANUARY 2007
Warmest Wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR's 2007!!!
Over the past six years, the Al-Sahafa Newspaper has taken a major leadership role in educating
the public about the vast, rich Arab culture, of which Arab Americans proudly come from and
represent. This Newspaper has been a great tool of self-expression from our active readers, as
well as helped inform the community of events, programs, and functions taking place each
month, concerning Arab Americans and Middle East culture, and politics.
The Al-Sahafa Newspaper been very active Locally in Ohio's Middle Eastern community(s),
Business and Political leaders, and well-known respected publications, as well as Ohio's Media
TV outlets and their personalities.
We have also been heavily involved Nationally by communicating and connecting with various
Arab American Chambers, Organizations, Conferences, and Middle Eastern Embassies.
Proudly, the Al-Sahafa Newspaper has earned accreditation Internationally by high profile
international Business, Media and Political Leaders, not forgetting to mention international
magazines and award-winning publications!
We've been fortunate enough to have captured these moments on video and on picture stills.
Please take some time out of your busy day and check out our web site www.al-sahafa.us . Make
sure to read Al-Sahafa ONLINE - as well as - click on the "Scrap Book" button, and view our
Published Articles, Photo Album, and Multimedia pages.
And most importantly, get involved! Please share with us your opinions, thoughts, articles,
personal stories, and editorials - on our READER's FORUM. (I might proudly add, that our web
site averages 195,000 clicks a month - so your feedback is well read by local, national and
international visitors to Al-Sahafa)!
There is an Arabic saying that goes a little something like this; One hand cannot clap alone.
.....which basically means; You need two hands to clap. The entire community needs to work
together in order to achieve unity. The Al-Sahafa Newspaper is here for you. Please use this
Newspaper as a tool. It is a very powerful thing when something is achieved by many!
Stay in touch!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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DECEMBER 2006
2006 YEAR IN REVIEW
The Current State of the U.S. & the Middle East
The end of 2006 is only weeks away. As the days brings us closer to its finale - I want to share
my thoughts about what state the world is currently in… and hopefully evoke and inspire some
readers to aid in the world’s much needed damage control, in the upcoming year of 2007.
Currently, there is continued turmoil in the Middle East. We have Iraq in shambles – with the
majority of its citizens wishing that their former dictator Saddam Hussein (awaiting his death,
from a recent court sentencing of death by hanging) were still in power – instead of this nonsense
war of senseless suicide bombers, turning wedding receptions and funerals into a massive blood
bath. All in the name of “religion” – when in actuality, in the name of “All I want is attention
and power”. At the incredible misfortune of so many innocent lives taken in a split second of
pure terror in the unfortunate continued Iraqi civil war.
Then there’s the dismal and unresolved struggle of independence and plight for land and
freedom for the Palestinians – with no credible emphasis of peace, stability and security between
the populace of Israel & Palestine. The leaders on both sides refuse to meet and decide on a fair
two-state solution for once and for all. The atrocious wall – that has been built by the Israeli
government– represents a jail sentence to many Palestinian homeowners, business owners and
neighbors. They feel confined, as the wall restrains freedom to live without restriction on their
own land, due to the complicated entry to see their families and denied access to food, water
supplies and medical attention.
In Lebanon, we have the Lebanese still demanding the truth, with the pending Mehlis Report on
the United Nation’s investigation into the still unbelievable February 14th 2005 assassination of
former Lebanese Prime Minister and billionaire Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri. As well as dealing with
the Shiite Lebanese members of parliament demanding more seats and power within the
Lebanese government, and yet refusing to be a part of the PM’s Siniora led governments’
decision to allow the U.S. and U.N. to be a major force into the investigation of Hariri’s and
other former members of Lebanese Parliament and well-known media personalities’ deaths –
aimed at silencing free speech and ceasing Democracy. Sadly, Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre
Amine Gemayel was added to the list of Lebanese martyrs this year, killed on the eve of
Lebanon’s Independence Day when he was gunned down in his car in broad daylight. The
Lebanese economy is also a major dilemma being at a devastating standstill. Still trying to
recover from Israel’s destruction of Lebanese infrastructure, during the month-long Israeli-
Hizballah conflict in July of this year.
The country of Syria has had its fair share of controversies this past year as well with the United
Nations’ threatening sanctions, and with its internal government shake-up from dealing with
extreme pressure and opposition from the U.S. led war on Iraq – to better protect its borders
from crossing insurgents. As well as being labeled “Hizballah’s financial backer, with neighboring
country, Iran.
Speaking of Iran, Iranians have had to deal with quite a controversial President; Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. From his nuclear program being threatened by U.N. sanctions, to this past year’s
U.N. General Assembly’s appearance, this President definitely evokes opinionated rebuttals.
This year also marked the oil rich country of Kuwait for allowing women to vote and run in their
respected elections, and to the dismay of females all around the world, there were no Kuwaiti
women winning any seats in Kuwait’s government.
This year also marked the United Nations turning 61 years. We all are celebrating sixty-one years
of what, you may ask? Well folks, I’m the type of person who looks forward, and not so much
backward on the faults of an organization. What I personally believe that an ideal UN
organization should bring to the world in the upcoming year, is a stronger more effective push for
reform. A new human rights effort. We need political coalition building. What we need is a true
United Nations “abode” for the world to call its “home”. A place where criticism and scandal is
replaced by credibility.
And with America’s recent Democratic take-over of both the House and the Senate, and too
many disappointing “broken promises” from political leaders– I want to end this year with a
challenge for 2007. Our beautiful country; the United States of America, here and around the
world, is at the lowest point of prestige it has ever been. It seems befitting to say that we are not
“The United States of America” anymore, but more appropriately referred to as “The Divided
States of America”. Until the war in Iraq, we in America were not just the most powerful nation
on earth, we were also the most respected and influential. And we squandered that. The world
cringes at us because of Iraq. And with good reason. We NEED to get America’s “Fair &
Honest Peace Broker” image back. We need to put the broken pieces of the United States
together again. And to restore our values around the globe. And to favor negotiation over
invasion.
I want to challenge our nation’s political, business, and organization leaders to right the wrongs
of 2006. To end the suffering of the world’s oppressed. To provide a platform for those who
have important things to say to the international community about today’s children and stopping
the spread of disease such as Aids, Cancer, Bird Flu, famine, and religious, cultural and ethnic
genocide.
I challenge YOU readers of Al-Sahafa, to support and press on these consequential issues that
affect our daily lives. While keeping in mind the saying; “What goes around, comes around.” I
challenge you readers, to make this world a promising upcoming year of 2007.
* And on that note, I want to wish all our readers the very best of what the New Year’s 2007
brings. A very happy and safe New Year’s Eve to all.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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NOVEMBER 2006
Elections and the Middle East Policy
The Time Is Right For Change
The topic I’d like to discuss with you all this month is about "Reformulating Policy in the Middle
East," an issue that is critical to get right. We need to get our Middle East policy right. If we
don't get it right, it's become clear that we can't have security in the United States. So it's
important for U.S. citizens to get it right. Our allies need us to get it right because they can't have
security, and the people of the region need us to get it right because the destruction that we saw
in Lebanon, the destruction that we're seeing in Iraq, we don't want to see that continue to
expand to other countries in the region. So, this is a critical moment to really look at this issue of
reformulating policy in the Middle East. It's important that we begin to have a very honest and
frank discussion about it.
So how do we make a more sensible Middle East policy? I think when you start to look at the
Middle East you have to start with the obvious - the question of oil. There's no question that
controlling the oil and the profits from oil is a top priority in the Middle East, particularly as we
are competing with China and India for that resource. As it gets more precious and more
expensive, that becomes a higher priority. So if you want to talk about reformulating policy in the
Middle East, it starts with reformulating our energy policy at home and by becoming a leader in
the world for a more sensible energy policy. We have the technology to change our energy policy
away from the dirty, nineteenth-twentieth century fossil fuel economy toward a twenty-first
century clean, sustainable energy economy. A review of the wind resources, for example, in the
United States by the federal government found that three states alone could provide enough
energy through wind to satisfy all of our electricity needs. Three states alone. One of those is
Texas. Even oil-rich Texas can profit and continue to profit from the wind resources. And that's
just one source. What's great about the moment that we're in right now is that we're reaching a
tipping point where the public is ready for this. The public is ready for this transition. They know
it's needed. It's needed for a variety of reasons. There'll always be a need for some oil. So, the
Middle East will still be an issue, but it won't become a national security issue if we can break our
addiction to oil. It's also an environmental urgency.
So we have a combination of economic and environment and national security coming together
with the same conclusion. It's time to break our addiction to fossil fuels. It's urgent. There's no
time to waste on it. The missed opportunity of 9/11 for our oil-based economy was to say, "We
need to get all these old, dirty fossil fuel cars off the streets within ten years. We could do it."
Imagine the Midwest (OHIO) with the explosion in new automobile sales and new automobile
production. The Midwest would have been growing. We'd also change the way our buildings
operate, both personal, commercial and government buildings, because there's a lot of waste there
as well. The United States wastes half the energy that it has, and so we can have a lot of room in
there for that change. I think once we break our oil addiction, which I think is very doable and
essential, then we can really look at the Middle East in a much more sensible way.
So I hope that people hearing this will run for office themselves, because we really need
leadership. We need people to get up and say that we need to change direction because that is
the role of us as civic players and we need to start to be civic participants in the government. As
civic participants we need to not just run for office, we need to be advocating these issues
because I think the time is right for change. I repeat, the time is right for change. You can see it
in the polling. You can see it in the votes we've had around the country. Currently, so far, this
election season, people are ready to see a different direction in government, and once we get a
different direction in government with an emphasis on breaking away from a fossil fuel-based
economy which I think is the key for so many war and peace issues, like the Middle East; and the
issue of our economic environment. And once we get these key issues right, I believe things will
start to fall in place.
Oh...and by the way, Happy Thanksgiving on November 23rd! ...Gobble Gobble :))
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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OCTOBER 2006
How the Images of the Middle East & Persia Have Transformed…
The Old Persian stories are worthy of the headlines. A sultan beheads his wife for cheating on
him and vows to marry and kill a virgin every day thereafter. Then along comes the woman who
cunningly devises a plan to save her own life. These fabulous fairy tales, fables, romances, and
legends as told by Scheherezade, and known as “The Arabian Nights,” are set in Baghdad, Cairo,
Damascus, China, Greece, India, North Africa, and Turkey. Recognized as the most famous
literary product of a classical Islamic civilization, the stories stem from Persian tales with Indian
influence dating to the tenth century. There are beautifully written stories passed down from
generation to generation from Baghdad dating to the 10th through 12th centuries, and stories
from Egypt dating to the 11th through 14th centuries. And “My Oh My” readers, how the
enchanting images of the “Middle East” and “Persia” have changed at present time…
In this month’s Cover Story, we focus on the vast cultural history of Iran. Readers, it’s so easy
these days to get caught-up in the negative political media-hype of targeting Iran. It seems that
everywhere one looks; an article negatively portraying this country can easily be found. So that’s
why Al-Sahafa decided to make an extra effort to bring more focus on Iran’s rich and ancient
civilization in this issue’s Cover Story, minus the present tensions involving politics. We hope to
shed some insight for our “American” readers, as well as give our “Persian-American” readers a
chance to re-discover a part of their rich and fascinating culture that they hail from. It is in hopes,
that after reading this issue our readers will re-think where the Persians are coming from, and
appreciate what all they have added to our diverse world, that which we all share, magnified of
coarse by yours truly; Al-Sahafa.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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SEPTEMBER 2006
When Lebanon was Created
On the sixth day, God turned to the Angels and said:
"Today, I am going to create a land called Lebanon,
it will be a land of outstanding natural beauty.
It shall have tall majestic mountains full of snow, beautiful
sparkly lakes, cutting forests full of all kinds of trees,
high cliffs overlooking sandy beaches with an abundance
of sea life." God continued, "I shall make the land rich and enviable
so to make the inhabitants prosper! And I shall call these
inhabitants Lebanese, and they shall be known as the
most friendly and most beautiful people on earth."
"But Lord", asked the Angels, "don't you think you are
being too generous to these inhabitants you call Lebanese ?
"Not really", replied God, "just wait and see the neighbors
I am going to give them !"
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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SUMMER ISSUE 2006
Summer is in the Air... Are you ready?
O’kay Ohio – are you ready? Summer weather (as usual) took its time to finally get to us in the
good ole’ Buckeye State, but now that it’s here…. Are you ready? Ready for the daylight
savings time to change one more time – making the day longer, and it seem like forever for the
work-day to end? Ready to make sure that car of yours is clean, and free of all those “wash me
please” art work designs - compliments of passers by?
I am a firm believer in that EACH & EVERY ONE OF US CONTROLS HIS/HER OWN
DESTINY. You may not know at that particular moment, but an action or conversation that you
may have had with somebody – could have indirectly effected them in a positive direction. You
could possibly have provided a more positive perspective on their career path, a friends’ family
situation at home, or a personal self-worth issue. This certain “somebody” may not have felt
ready at that time – but after your effective influence, they are now ready. Ready to take
action. Ready to take more control of situations. Ready to make a success of their lives. And to
live their lives to the fullest. Now the question is – “Are you ready”? Are you ready to make
this summer a positive one, full of inspiration and positive outcomes? It’s up to you. You
control your own destiny. No one but you, can know the answer to this question; "Are you
ready?”
Just a reminder that we at the Al-Sahafa Newspaper office will be taking our annual “Summer
Break”. We’ll be back in full force, bringing you the latest in Middle Eastern news and features
in our next issue due out in the fall – in the month of September 2006. Stay tuned, and have a
wonderful summer!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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APRIL 2006
Before You...
Before You Speak,
...Listen
Before You Write,
...Think
Before You Spend,
...Earn
Before You Criticize,
...Wait
Before You Pray,
...Forgive
Before You Quit,
...Try
Words of Wisdom to live by...
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MARCH 2006
This Journey Called Life
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.
"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a
mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:
"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raise her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a
grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a
mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but here
is nothing I can about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in
the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it is no skin off my nose."
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap
alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house-- like the sound of a mousetrap
catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a
venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows
you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the
soups main ingredient.
But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the
clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came to her funeral, the farmer
had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you,
remember---- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey
called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one
another.
REMEMBER: Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry; our lives are woven
together for a reason. One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a friend.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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JANUARY 2006
Lebanon’s Strong Advocate of Independence;
Gebran Tueni Assassinated
By Fatina Salaheddine
Lebanon endured the loss of another fearless visionary on Dec. 12, 2005 when Parliament
member and veteran journalist Gibran Tueni was assassinated by a massive car bomb. The list of
martyrs in Lebanon continues to grow while the Lebanese await the verdict of the murder that
started it all, on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2005, with the assassination of former Lebanese
Prime Minister Sheikh Rafik Al-Hariri.
You had to meet Gebran Tueni. He was a cross between the hard-hitting journalists of legend
and the courageous democratic politicians who do in fact stand up in today's Middle East only to
end up jailed, exiled or killed for their beliefs. He played one of the leading roles in the
democratic Cedar Revolution that swept Lebanon this spring (March 14), and was elected this
year to the Lebanese Parliament.
I met Gebran Tueni in early Spring of 2003 in Doha Qatar. We had both been invited
participants by the government of Qatar, to Doha’s Forum on Democracy & Free Trade. A brisk,
tall man with a neat mustache, Tueni welcomed me to a seat beside him, during the crowded
opening session of the Conference, where the Emir of Qatar was about to begin his speech. I can
recall fondly how neither of us remembered anything from that opening session, due to the
constant whispering and note passing that we did with each other. I was secretly so ecstatic in
meeting Gebran Tueni that morning (and later confessed to him), because months before, I had
admired him on a popular Lebanese Entertainment Show on LBC, called “Sa3 B urb El Habeeb”
(translation of show; “An hour in the Presence of Someone Dear”). Later on that day, during the
conference, Gebran Tueni introduced me to his Uncle Ali Hamaidi, a prominent Lebanese Media
personality. He was coordinating a special show for Future Television, to feature some of the
prominent attendees of the Doha Conference, in discussing Middle East issues. It was soon
afterwards, that Gebran Tueni and I delved into a strong fascinating and journalistic friendship.
Many meetings in many international cities later, our bond of companionship and trust grew.
Then ubruptly, my treasured friendship was taken away from me, when he was horrifically
assassinated on the early morning of Dec. 12, 2005.
In trying to maintain any form of sanity in dealing with the murder of my friend Gebran Tueni, I
have fixated my grief on all the good memories I feel privileged to have shared with him. Even
as I am typing this, it’s hard to choke back the burning tears. My memory is constantly jogging
from our many phone conversations, to all the text messages and e-mails we exchanged – to my
last memory of physically seeing him in Paris. It was during my invitation at the Four Seasons
Hotel Paris, as guest of HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Tallal, (just three weeks before his
assassination), that I last met with Gebran Tueni. I have to say, Gebran left a very deep and
poignant mark on my mentality as a journalist, and as an American of Lebanese descent. He
constantly kept me mentally stimulated on Lebanese, Middle East and U.S. affairs. It was
always a trial, where I had to present my case to “Judge” Gebran, when I was discussing any
story ideas for Al-Sahafa, or when pertinent Arab issues, were at the helm of American Foreign
Policy. He had a knack of fierceness when he discussed politics. Any viewer could hear it in his
voice during a television interview, or even sense it in his writings in An-Nahar Newspaper. But
all who knew him personally, could see that this fierceness was fueled by the biggest heart of
gold, in his love for justice for the Lebanese and for his dear country of Lebanon.
Tueni’s Life & Vision through An-Nahar Newspaper
A rooster being the logo of his newspaper, An-Nahar, an Arabic name which means, "The
Morning." Founded by Tueni's grandfather in the 1930s, and passed from father to son for three
generations, An-Nahar was for Gebran Tueni not only a family business, but a vital trust. Seated
behind his grandfather's desk, speaking in fluent English, French and Arabic, he often explained
that his aim was to cover the full spectrum of Lebanese news and debate, to give voice to
"Muslims, Christians, leftists, rightists." "We try to have an independent paper."
The sole heir of a line of journalists and politicians who had, since the end of the Ottoman
Empire, struggled to preserve the unique character of Lebanon in the region, Tueni had recently
established himself as a fearless, intelligent and persistent champion of his country’s
independence as a tiny but democratic state conscious of its roots in the Crusader kingdoms of
the Levant in the 12th century, and an even older history in ancient Phoenicia.
He and his family also championed communal tolerance in a tragically fractious society. His
father, Ghassan, a Greek Orthodox Christian, married a Druze, the late poet Nadia Hamadeh,
when such unions were rare, and his grandfather, also Gebran, had founded the liberal newspaper
An-Nahar in 1933 under the French mandate to inspire the emerging nation with the ideals of the
European Enlightenment. Under their care, the paper has become what many observers regard as
perhaps the only credible daily journal published on Arab soil. Tueni himself managed and edited
it for the past decade, but he had previously been shaped by it as much as it had been shaped by
his family.
Gebran Ghassan Tueni was born in 1957 when his father was both An-Nahar’s publisher and a
member of parliament, at times in government and at other times in prison. But amid the risks
and the excitement, young Gebran’s life as the elder son of the family was both comfortable and
inspiring. He spent time in France and, from 1977 to 1980, obtained two degrees at the Ecole
Supérieure de Journalisme and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Internationales. But previously, at
the start of the Lebanese civil war in 1976, he had come close to dying. He was shot in the legs
by Palestinian gunmen and, a year later, abducted for 36 hours by right-wing Christian
militiamen. In 1987 the death of his sole surviving sibling, his younger brother Makram, in a car
accident in France made him the only heir to the publishing house, as well as the only custodian
of the family’s political future. In 1990, when Syrian forces occupied Beirut and ended Prime
Minister Michel Aoun’s attempt to expel them from the country, Tueni fled to France and
established a political weekly, An-Nahar Arab and International. He also took another degree,
this time in management, from CEDEP-INSEAD in Fontainebleau. In 1993 he returned and
joined An-Nahar as a journalist. This coexistence with the Syrian occupation continued until
March 2000, in the dying weeks of the former President, Hafez al-Assad, when Tueni published
an editorial calling on Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon after 24 years, in the name of
keeping its peace. The daring outburst brought him to international prominence.
In the wake of the assassination in February in Beirut of the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,
Tueni played a central part in mobilizing the public’s demonstration of grief and anger. In May
2005, he was elected to parliament for the Greek Orthodox constituency in Beirut in alliance
with Saad Hariri, the late Prime Minister Hariri’s son, and Walid Jumblatt, the Druze leader.
However, while the new coalition succeeded in forming a government, opposition to its central
strategy of making Lebanon completely free of Syrian influence continued in the form of the
incumbent President Emille Lahoud and the two Shia militias, Hezbollah and Amal. In August
Tueni fled to France once more. His name had been found heading a list of more Lebanese
figures to be eliminated, and in his evidence to the UN commission investigating the Hariri
murder, he testified that the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri had told him he had been directly
threatened in Damascus by the new President Assad. Tueni also stated he received "accurate"
information that his name was on an assassination hit-list and had spent much of his time abroad
since then citing security fears. (Tueni’s uncle, Druze Telecommunications Minister Marwan
Hamadeh, survived an assassination attempt in a car bomb in 2004).
Gebran Tueni’s daughter, Nayla Tueni is proof that Gibran is still alive and well. In her speech,
the morning of the funeral church service of her father she said: "I, Nayla, daughter of my father
Gibran, daughter of my grandfather Ghassan, daughter of my grandfather's father Gibran, I, the
daughter of Tueni, am the daughter of freedom. I am the daughter of a martyr, and a martyr
never dies...In the names of all those martyrs I solemnly swear our freedom will never die...My
father is not dead! He will live through me. I will be the eye of the rooster [An Nahar symbol]
which will follow the murderer until the last grave, until we know the truth...An-Nahar will never
die, Lebanon will never die...My father always wanted to die for his country and he did. I call
upon you all never to forget the oath that he taught you on March 14."
I swear to God
As a Muslim and a Christian
To defend my dear country
‘till the death
And to stay united with my brethren (to stay muwahadeen)
Until my last days on earth
Defending my great Lebanon (Al A3zeem)
- Gebran Tueni (March 14, 2005 – during Lebanon’s biggest Independence March in Downtown
Beirut. Marking one month exactly to the day of former Lebanese Prime Minister; Sheikh Rafik
Al Hariri’s assassination)
The Assassination
A car bomb killed Lebanese newspaper magnate lawmaker Gebran Tueni in Beirut, a day after he
returned from Paris, where he had based himself in recent months in fear of assassination.
Several Lebanese politicians immediately blamed Syria, which has denied any role and said the
killing was timed to smear it. Police said Tueni, publisher of An-Nahar daily, was among three
people killed in the explosion that destroyed his armored sports utility vehicle as it was driving in
the Mekalis area of mainly Christian east Beirut. Some 32 people were wounded. The bodies of
Tueni, 48, his driver and a bodyguard were found in his car, charred beyond recognition. Assault
rifles and military bags laid beside them inside the wrecked vehicle. A previously unknown
group calling itself "Strugglers for the Unity and Freedom of the Levant" claimed responsibility
for the killing in a statement faxed to Reuters, saying the same fate awaited other opponents of
"Arabism" in Lebanon. There was no way to verify the authenticity of the claim, whose wording
appeared designed to cast suspicion on Damascus. Security sources said a parked car packed
with up to 100 kg (220 pounds) of dynamite was detonated by remote control as Tueni's car
passed by. Tueni's car was hurled from the road and landed in a different street, dozens of
meters away. "I heard a deafening explosion and when I looked up I saw a car flying in the air,"
one passerby said. The blast set several cars ablaze and damaged nearby shops and buildings.
Police and soldiers cordoned off the area as rescue workers ferried casualties to hospitals. Tueni
was killed just hours before the U.N. Security Council was due to receive a report by chief U.N.
investigator Detlev Mehlis, who has been trying to identify those behind the February 14
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
The Funeral
Tens of thousands of Lebanese bid farewell on Dec. 14, to publisher and lawmaker Gebran
Tueni, turning his funeral into an outpouring of anger. Tueni's assassination, the third political
murder since former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was killed in February of 2005, has caused
serious political rifts in Lebanon, bringing the government to the verge of collapse. Over 50,000
people, many waving Lebanese flags, answered a call by Lebanese politicians for a large turnout
at Tueni's funeral. A group carried his flag-draped coffin on their shoulders through the streets of
central Beirut to the Greek Orthodox church where an emotionally charged service was held. "I
call on this occasion not for revenge or hatred but for us to bury with Gebran all our hatreds and
to call on all Lebanese, Muslims and Christians, to unite in the service of great Lebanon and its
Arab cause," said Tueni's father, Ghassan, a distinguished journalist and diplomat.
Church bells rang as the crowds carried the coffin, covered with flowers, to the family cemetery
in east Beirut. In Martyrs' Square, the crowds also repeated the vow Tueni led them in making
on the same spot at a March 14 rally: "We swear by God Almighty, Muslims and Christians, to
remain united and defend great Lebanon forever and ever." A Lebanese flag was draped over
Tueni's seat in parliament, which held a session in his honor, later that day after the funeral. Also,
a large banner hung from the headquarters of an-Nahar in downtown Beirut bearing a picture of
Tueni.
May God Bless his soul. (Allah Yirhamou)
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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DECEMBER 2005
The Current State of the World
The end of 2005 is only weeks away. As the days brings us closer to its finale - I want to share
my thoughts about what state the world is currently in… and hopefully evoke and inspire some
readers to aid in the world’s much needed damage control, in the upcoming year of 2006.
Currently, the entire region in the Middle East & Asia is in chaos. We have Iraq in shambles –
with some of its citizens actually wishing that their former dictator Saddam Hussein was still in
power – instead of this nonsense war of senseless innocent deaths of civilians, that is effecting
those on all sides of the violence. And like a time bomb, waiting to rupture at any day now…the
country faces an unfortunate continued Iraqi civil war.
Then there’s the dismal and unresolved struggle of independence and plight for land and
freedom for the Palestinians – with no credible emphasis lately of peace, stability and security
between the populace of Israel & Palestine. The leaders on both sides continue to meet – but with
no real results. The wall – that is being built – represents a jail sentence to many Palestinian
homeowners, business owners and neighbors. They feel confined, as the wall restrains freedom
to live without restriction amongst themselves on their own land.
In Lebanon, we have the Lebanese still demanding the truth, with the pending Mehlis Report on
the United Nation’s investigation into the still unbelievable February 14th assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister and billionaire Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri. As well as dealing with the
continued targeted car bombs at members of Lebanese Parliament and well-known media
personalities – aimed at silencing free speech and ceasing Democracy.
The country of Syria has had its fair share of scandals and revelations in its internal government
shake-up. Brought on by the UN’s resolution 1559 – that demanded the withdrawal of the
Syrian troops and all governmental control of Lebanon, soon after Hariri’s assassination. And as
the world watched the Lebanese spill out onto its streets, as one of the largest Demonstrations in
Lebanon’s history calling for Liberty, on March 14th - Syria was also dealing with extreme
pressure and opposition from the U.S. led war on Iraq – to better protect its borders from
crossing insurgents. And recently, with one if its top Army Generals committing suicide, the
country is also facing sanctions for not fully abetting into the UN investigation.
We have suicide bombers in the Kingdom of Jordan, turning a Wedding reception into a massive
blood bath. All in the name of “religion” – when in actuality, in the name of “All I want is
attention”. At the incredible misfortune of so many innocent lives taken in a split second of pure
terror.
The citizens of both Egypt and Iran had to deal with quite controversial Presidential elections
this past year. Egyptians electing Husni Mubarak for his fifth term as President, and Iranians
electing a new conservative leader; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, (though plagued by allegations from
former hostages, that he was one of their captors at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran over a quarter
century ago). The world media coverage did not help to encourage the citizens of Egypt to stay
confident in their voting process. Exactly how can Egyptians believe that their votes were going
to be counted –with News broadcasts constantly degrading their system of Elections? And yes,
Egypt may be dealing with shortcomings in their internal Election process – but may I remind
readers about our own controversial 2000 Presidential Election that took place right here in the
U.S. of A not so long ago?
This year also marked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia experiencing a hand over of Royal power.
With the passing of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Saudis
are now looking to new King Abdallah bin Abdulaziz to bring reform and more civil rights for
Saudi women, as well as a share in the booming economy with its growing population and work
force (over half being under the age of 30).
We cannot ignore the Asian people that are still dealing with the aftermath of the Tsunami’s
ravage that despoiled Asia. And the same goes for America’s Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri
and Alabama citizens, who are still suffering from Hurricane Katrina that wiped out America's
South. And as if Americans couldn’t suffer enough – soon afterwards the state of Louisiana and
parts of Texas were to be re-visited and re-devastated by Hurricane Rita.
This year also marked the United Nations turning 60 years. We all are celebrating sixty years of
what, you may ask? Well folks, I’m the type of person who looks forward, and not so much
backward on the faults of an organization. What I personally believe that an ideal UN
organization should bring to the world in the upcoming year, is a stronger more effective push for
reform. A new human rights effort. We need political coalition building. What we need is a true
United Nations “abode” for the world to call its “home”. A place where criticism and scandal is
replaced by credibility.
And with so many disappointing “broken promises” from political leaders this year – I want to
end this year with a challenge for 2006. A challenge for the world’s leaders, which includes the
Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the America’s, along with the United Nations. A challenge for
our local political, business, and organization leaders. A challenge to right the wrongs of 2005.
To end the suffering of the world’s oppressed. To provide a platform for those who have
important things to say to the international community about stopping the spread of Aids, bird
flu, famine, and religious and ethnic genocide.
I challenge YOU readers of Al-Sahafa, to support and press on these consequential issues that
effect our daily lives. While keeping in mind the saying; “What goes around, comes around.”
And yes, it has been a tough year of 2005 full of tears, anguish and despair at what our world has
been dealt with, but we have to hang in there and hopefully everything will turn out for the
better in the New Year to come. I challenge you readers, to make this world a promising
upcoming year of 2006.
* And on that note, I want to wish all our readers the very best of what the New Year’s 2006
brings. A very happy and safe New Year’s Eve to all.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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NOVEMBER 2005
Giving Thanks
The point of Thanksgiving is to remember the things we have to be grateful for. It's our special
time to give thanks... not just for the obvious, like the big family Thanksgiving dinner, but for the
thousands of fortunate moments, the multitude of blessings that we receive throughout the year.
That's not always as easy as it sounds. We tend to remember the bad things much more easily
than the good. You can easily make thankfulness an everyday habit. It's a skill that will benefit
you throughout the year. Begin by keeping a gratitude journal. Don't write down negative things;
only positive ones. For example, "I'm grateful that I made it through that heavy rush hour traffic
safely." "I'm grateful that I got to see a beautiful sunset." "I'm grateful that I have a class at
school that I really like."
Think of all the good things that happened because something bad happened first. For example,
"If that slow driver hadn't pulled in front of me, I would have gotten a speeding ticket." "If I
hadn't experienced unemployment, I would never have acquired the skills that got me a more
fulfilling job."
Don't focus on what you don't have. Focus on what you do have. For example: "I'm so fortunate
to have a warm place to sleep in the winter." "I'm so fortunate to live in a safe neighborhood
where I can take walks." "I'm so fortunate to be able to see the beauty around me."
Think about people you've known that have made you thankful for their existence. They can be
family, friends or simply people that you've read about or seen on television. Imagine how many
other people there are who might be equally as wonderful. You just haven't met them yet.
Think about people who have made life hard for you. Now think about the things you
accomplished because of them. Did you finish something because they said that you couldn't?
Did you get better at something because they made fun of you when you did it badly? Did their
cruel actions make you vow never to treat others that way? Even the negative forces in your life
can be hidden blessings, worthy of your gratitude.
Think about the animals that have given you joy: Dogs that love you with every inch of their
hearts, cats that think your lap is the best place to nap in the whole world, birds whose songs
uplift your spirit, squirrels whose antics put a grin on your face and so on.
Think about the places that make you smile: A favorite hangout, a wooded trail, an exciting city,
a great spot from which to view the sky, a hill that you once rolled down. Give thanks for all
these things. Now pass it on. True gratitude involves action. Lend a hand. Pitch in. Make a gift.
Give your time. Listen. Give back as often as you can. Even a friendly greeting can make all the
difference in the world.
Create your own opportunities for gratitude. Do you know someone who never seems happy? Be
ready with a smile and a kind word each time you see them. It may require patience, but
eventually, they'll smile first when they see you. Your interactions with them will be much more
pleasant. Guess what? You'll have a new reason to be thankful! Let others know when they've
done something that you're thankful for. An attitude of gratitude spreads like ripples from a
tossed pebble, benefiting all it touches.
Remember that hard times make good times sweeter. Also keep in mind that obstacles and
challenges not only make you stronger, but they force you to explore outside of the comfortable
routine that you've settled into. Without challenges, there can be no progress. Without obstacles,
there can be no achievement. Be thankful for the opportunities that they provide.
Oh...and by the way, Happy Thanksgiving on November 24th! ..Gobble Gobble :))
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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OCTOBER 2005
A Water Bearer in China had two large pots; each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried
across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of
water to his house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. Perfect for which it was made. But
the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to
accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the Water Bearer one day by
the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all
the way back to your house."
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path,
but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I
planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've
watered them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table." "Without
you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Blessings to all my crackpot friends and readers… :))
~ Fatina Salaheddine
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SEPTEMBER 2005
Change Your Strategy for the Better
One day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a sign
that read: I AM BLIND, PLEASE HELP.
A creative publicist was walking by him and stopped to observe he only had a few coins in his
hat, he dropped a few more coins in his hat and without asking for his permission took the sign,
turned it around and wrote another announcement.
He placed the sign by his feet and left. That afternoon the creative publicist returned by the blind
man and noticed that his hat was full of bills and coins. The blind man recognized his footsteps
and asked if it was him who had re-written his sign and he wanted to know what he wrote on it.
The publicist responded: Nothing that was not true, I just rewrote your sign differently. He
smiled and went on his way. The blind man never knew but his new sign read: TODAY THE
AUTUMN SEASON BEGAN, AND I CANNOT SEE IT.
*MORAL OF THE STORY: Change your strategy when something does not go your way and
you'll see it will probably be for the best. Have faith that every change is best for our lives.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
June July August 2005
ADC Convention Leaves Remarkable Impression!
ADC’s 25th Anniversary Convention that was held on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. over
Memorial Day Weekend and was an enormous success! In a true tribute to ADC’s tireless
efforts, hard work and unwavering commitment to civil and human rights, over 2000 members,
friends and supporters from across the United States and the World gathered in our nation’s
capitol over the holiday weekend to celebrate ADC’s quarter century of Arab American
advocacy.
This year's convention was held again amidst many challenges that have faced ADC and the
Arab American community that it represents and serves. The success of the three-day event
served as a testimony to ADC’s leadership and instrumental role as the premier civil rights
organization in the nation on behalf of Arab Americans and as the National Association of Arab
Americans.
The highlight of the convention was the impassioned and inspirational keynote address by His
Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saoud, the Chairman of the
Kingdom Holding Company. His decision to attend the ADC National Convention was historic,
as it marked his first return to the United States since the national tragedy of September 11 and
was his first appearance at an Arab American setting. His unwavering commitment on behalf of
peace, justice, freedom, reform and human rights across the globe was inspirational. Most
admirable was His Royal Highness’ announcement of a landmark contribution to ADC. His
generous support to ADC captured the audience as they rose several times to their feet in
appreciation. Al-Sahafa Newspaper extends its heartfelt gratitude to His Royal Highness on his
commitment to the cause of civil rights in this country. (See Cover story page 4-5)
Are You Ready?
O’kay Ohio – are you ready? Spring weather (as usual) took its time to finally get to us in the
good ole’ Buckeye State, but now that it’s here…. Are you ready? Ready for all the sinus
problems that comes after the April/ May showers? Ready for the daylight savings time to
change one more time – making the day longer, and it seem like forever for the work-day to
end? Ready to make sure that car of yours is clean, and free of all those “wash me please” art
work designs - compliments of passers by? …. Well, it sounds like it’s time to share one of my
favorite “motivational” Quotes:
Being in the right place at the right time, won’t make you a success – unless you’re ready.
The important question is: “Are you ready?”
- Johnny Carson
I am a firm believer in that EACH & EVERY ONE OF US CONTROLS HIS/HER OWN
DESTINY. You may not know at that particular moment, but an action or conversation that you
may have had with somebody – could have indirectly effected them in a positive direction. You
could possibly have provided a more positive perspective on their career path, a friends’ family
situation at home, or a personal self-worth issue. This certain “somebody” may not have felt
ready at that time – but after your effective influence, they are now ready. Ready to take
action. Ready to take more control of situations. Ready to make a success of their lives. And to
live their lives to the fullest. Now the question is – “Are you ready”? Are you ready to make
this summer a positive one, full of inspiration and positive outcomes? It’s up to you. You
control your own destiny. No one but you, can know the answer to this question; "Are you
ready?”
Just a reminder that we at the Al-Sahafa Newspaper office will be taking our annual “Summer
Break”. We’ll be back in full force, bringing you the latest in Middle Eastern news and features
in our next issue due out in the fall – in the month of September. Stay tuned, and have a
wonderful summer!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
May 2005
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY (SUNDAY MAY 8, 2005)
By the time the Lord made woman, he was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel
appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?" And the Lord answered,
"Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have
over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that
can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a
broken heart-and she will do everything with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the
standard model? That's too much work for one day Wait until tomorrow to finish." But I won't,"
the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She
already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days." The angel moved closer and
touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord." "She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but
I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish." "Will she be
able to think?", asked the angel. The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be
able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks
like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a tear!" What's the tear for?" the angel asked. The
Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment,
her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride." The angel was impressed. "You are a genius,
Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing." And she is! Women have strengths
that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and
joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they
are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to
injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go
without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love
unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no
strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show
how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to
their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
* HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR
WORTH.
~ Fatina Salaheddine
============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
APRIL 2005
A TIME FOR TOLERENCE
In the current International political strife of Lebanon’s chant for independence verses Syria’s
reign of control, Ohio’s Lebanese and Syrian communities must keep in mind and separate the
political issues intervening the two countries, and focus on reality and co-existence between the
two nationalities. I’d like to remind both the Lebanese and Syrian community of readers and
supporters of the Al-Sahafa Newspaper, that our purpose in publishing this monthly publication is
to serve as only a bridge of communication between the Middle Eastern community of readers,
and their freedoms to exercise their right to speech. The intention is in no way shape or form to
cause a ridge between the peoples of Syria and Lebanon. Syria and Lebanon have for centuries
shared a rich history and love for life, culture and family. So please keep this in mind during the
current unfolding POLITICAL events between these two beautiful countries and its peoples.
GIVING THANKS
A colossal thank you, to the awesome staff at Northern Ohio Live Magazine, who highlighted
and recognized this Newspaper’s achievements in the Middle Eastern community. (Specifically
Ted Schwartz, and Kathryn De Long). Thank you for believing in us by positively portraying the
rich Middle East culture – and for making me the March “Cover Girl” on your respected
publication! We got tons of feedback from people who enjoyed the feature!
Also, to our friends at the Cleveland International Film Festival, whom Al-Sahafa proudly
sponsored and supported– a huge thank you to Mr. Patrick, Ms. Andrea, and the one and only
Bill – you are all price-less! …Until next year folks!
And lastly, but certainly not in the least, I would like to thank in advance our newly formed PR
Crew, led under the guidance of their PR Captain - Ms. Nour Abdallah. I can’t wait for all the
upcoming events. Go Team Al-Sahafa!
~ Fatina Salaheddine
============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2005
Lebanon Has Lost its Father, H.E. Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri
Born November 1st, 1944 and horrifically assassinated February 14, 2005.
I personally knew and deeply loved and respected the Lebanese legend and phenomenon of our
time; H.E. Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri. Anyone who knows me personally, can see how my eyes light
up, when I am talking about my mentor, my complete advocate and my dear friend Mr. Rafik Al-
Hariri – Lebanon’s former Prime Minister, the pride of Lebanese abroad, and the envy of many
Middle Eastern countries who wished they had someone as Mr. Hariri to claim as their country’s
own.
He was an excellent story-teller, and he told the Lebanese the most profound story of how they
could recover from years of civil war and foreign invasion. Since the Phoenicians 2000 years ago,
he said, the Lebanese had been businesspeople, and doing what they did best would make them
forget their sectarian differences. In the potent and threatening world of Lebanese politics, Mr.
Hariri was a courteous, approachable and surprisingly humble man. He was engaging company
and at ease in the company of the poorest laborer or in the company of the Royalty, Presidents
and Heads of State.
I had the honor of meeting His Excellency Mr. Rafik Al-Hariri during a Middle Eastern Business
Conference in Beirut, Lebanon, in which he exclusively had one of his body guards relate to me a
request concerning a private meeting between myself and him. Of coarse I was both humbled
and ecstatic, when the question from the bodyguard was proposed to me. Earlier on in the
morning session of the Conference, I had the fortunate opportunity to propose a question to the
Prime Minister (during a question and answer session between the Conference participants and
Mr. Hariri), about the image of Lebanon abroad, and what was being done for the appeal of
tourism to Lebanon. I delivered my question as more of a statement combined with a few
suggestions, rather than just a inquisition, and little did I know that my attendance sparked a
great intrigue by the Prime Minister, resulting in him later requesting to meet the Lebanese-
American publisher who was concerned about the revival of Lebanon’s image and tourism! (To
view my question and answer with the Prime Minister- Go back to main website www.al-
sahafa.us and click on the Black Button labled: Al-Sahafa Making News/ Al-Sahafa Multimedia/
and hit the play button on: Lebanese Prime Minister H. E. Rafik Hariri (Beirut, Lebanon) - May
22-23, 2003).
During our meeting, I truly felt as if I had known the Prime Minister all my life. He had a very
warm and canny charisma, that made me feel instantly at ease. He expressed complete joy at my
enthusiasm for Lebanon (a country that bore my parents’ ancestry for generations). And related
to me the importance of keeping that flame burning and carrying it out always throughout my life
and through my work as a publisher of the Al-Sahafa Newspaper, and all unfolding endeavors
that lay ahead in my path of life. That Lebanon is a great and proud country, with a tremendous
past, and an optimistic destiny, dependent on its future prospective Lebanese leaders and
advocates. (To view photos- Go back to main website www.al-sahafa.us and click on the Black
Button labled: Al-Sahafa Making News/ Al-Sahafa Photo Album/ and click on: Iktisaad Wa
Amal Middle East Conference in Beirut, Lebanon - May 22-23, 2003).
The Prime Minister and I also talked deeply about our family and business life. To my complete
tranquillity, my thirst was quenched in all my curious questions I had for the Prime Minister, and
vice versa. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and was struck by my familiarity with the
Lebanese language, habits and culture – He repeatedly said to me “you are as if you’d been born
and raised in Beirut my dear”. He displayed complete confidence and assurance in my approach
of the Al-Sahafa Newspaper and offered words of encouragement and great advice – that I will
take with me always in my years to come. From that moment, I am humbled to say that the Prime
Minister and I have shared an incredible and mutual friendship – cut short of his savage and
unutterable recent assassination.
To this second, as I am typing this…. I am still in denial that Mr. Rafik Al-Hariri is gone, and
that I will never get a chance to hear his voice again, or see his proud friendly wave of welcome.
I speak for all the Lebanese, and myself that the Prime Minister’s assassination was a great loss to
the country of Lebanon and to its citizens. He so loved his country – and his love for this
beautiful homeland was so contagious to all around him. This is truly the essence of what made
Mr. Hariri. He was the zest that added to the flavor and image of Lebanon abroad. Mr. Hariri
had the gift that allowed him to connect with the world’s power players. He made them feel that
they needed to be Lebanese, that something in their lives was missing – if they weren’t a part of
Lebanon. Through his charming persuasion, Mr. Hariri was able to entice multitudes of Middle
Eastern and international investors to financially have a stake in Lebanon. For the ultimate goal
of securing the Lebanese economy and a viable healthy future for its Lebanese inhabitants. To
think; that if this is what Mr. Hariri was able to accomplish in just the short, post-civil war period
in Lebanon - just imagine what 10 more years of Hariri's dreams for Lebanon would have
brought to the world. Lebanon, known as the "Pearl of the Orient" would have been known as
the "Diamond of the Universe".
Mr. Hariri’s sudden and tragic death, has now brought to the world’s attention the long, overdue
credit and realization of all his great philanthropical work, and accomplished dreams for Lebanon
to re-gain its reputation as the Paris or Switzerland of the Middle East. Why is it that we are
appreciating this icon, after his death? Where does Lebanon and its citizens go from here?
Lebanon indeed has lost its Father, H.E. Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri.
"Oh father we cry out from our bosoms to thee. God has taken you from us, and still you are so
young. Snatched from our life, we must carry on with what you gave us, and learn strong from
what you taught us. Oh father, Lebanon indeed cries out for you…"
* His wife, Mrs. Nazik Al-Hariri, and six children survive H.E. Sheikh Rafik Al-Hariri. May God
Bless his soul.
(Allah yirhamou).
====================================================================================================
The Nightmare:
A massive bomb tore through the motorcade of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in Beirut
Lebanon, (who resigned last fall following a sharp dispute with Syria), killing him and at least
nine other people. About 100 people were also wounded in the assassination, which raised
immediate fears that Lebanon would be plunged into a new cycle of violence.
Hariri, (who resigned from office in October), had the wealth and the prominence to maintain
some independence without defying Lebanon’s main power broker, Syria, which keeps about
15,000 troops in the country and influences virtually all key political decisions. At least 20 cars
were set on fire in a blast that damaged a British bank and the landmark Phoenicia Hotel along
the Mediterranean waterfront. The 12:55 p.m. (5:55 a.m. EST) explosion was so powerful that
Hariri’s motorcade of bulletproof vehicles was left a burning wreck and a 30-foot crater was
gouged in the street. More than 650 pounds of TNT explosives were used in the bombing,
security officials said on condition of anonymity. They did not say whether the explosives were
placed in a vehicle or on the side of the street. There were no credible claims of responsibility,
although a previously unknown group, calling itself “Support and Jihad” in Syria and Lebanon,
said it had carried out the bombing. It said the attack was a suicide operation and would be
followed by more attacks “against infidels, renegades and tyrants.” The claim, which could not
be authenticated, appeared in a video aired on Al-Jazeera satellite television.
Former Economy Minister Bassel Fleihan, (a member of parliament in Hariri’s bloc), was severely
wounded and admitted to the intensive care unit of the American University Hospital. Hariri’s
own- Future TV reported that Fleihan was in critical condition and the hospital was preparing to
transfer him abroad.
Mr. Hariri, had moved toward the opposition camp after leaving office in October. Hariri had
rejected a Syrian-backed insistence that a rival politician, President Emile Lahoud, remain in
office as president for a longer period. (New elections are expected in May, but no date has been
set).
Mr. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, served 10 of 14 years in the postwar period starting in 1992. His
assassination removes a main political buffer in a country divided among an opposition strongly
opposed to Syria’s role, and the pro-Syrian government camp. Under Hariri, European
investment in Lebanon had been rebounding in recent years, and tourists, particularly from the
Arab world and to a lesser extent Europe, also have been coming back to the rebuilt country.
The White House paid tribute to Hariri as a man who “worked tirelessly to rebuild a free,
independent and prosperous Lebanon.” “This murder today is a terrible reminder that the
Lebanese people must be able to pursue their aspirations and determine their own political future,
free from violence, and intimidation and free from Syrian occupation,” White House spokesman
Scott McClellan said.
Syrian President Bashar Assad said he “condemned this horrible criminal action,” according to
SANA, Syria’s official news agency. Assad urged the Lebanese people to reject those who plant
“schism among the people” during this “critical situation.”
In Paris, Lebanon’s most prominent exile, former army commander Gen. Michel Aoun, blamed
Syria for the bombing and what he called the “feeble regime imposed by Syria” for the
assassination. “I think all these together are behind this crime,” Aoun told Al-Arabiya TV, which
is based in Dubai.
French President Jacques Chirac, a friend of Hariri, condemned the attack and demanded an
international investigation, saying he represented “the indefatigable will of independence,
freedom and democracy” for Lebanon.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier suggested that the democratic process was the real target
of the attack. “What is targeted is probably the democratic process and the political process that
must be undertaken” in Lebanon, Barnier said in an apparent reference to upcoming elections
there.
Lebanon’s Supreme Council for Defense instructed the army and internal security forces “to take
all necessary measures to control the security situation.” The council, which groups the president,
Cabinet ministers and military officials, declared three days of national mourning.
President Emile Lahoud, a longtime rival of Hariri, called the killing “a dark point in our national
history.” He promised the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
The Lebanese National News Agency, quoting a statement from American University Hospital,
said Hariri was dead on arrival, his body mutilated in the massive explosion that shook buildings
in the city center and was heard in outlying hills overlooking the Lebanese capital.
Nine other people were also killed in the massive blast and 100 were wounded, the news agency
said. Several of Hariri’s bodyguards were among those hurt or killed. Hariri’s supporters quickly
took to the streets, chanting praise for him outside the hospital. In his hometown of Sidon,
supporters blocked roads and burned tires.
====================================================================================================
Mr. Hariri’s Life, Obstacles & Vision for Lebanon:
For the Lebanese, Mr Hariri was a larger-than-life figure. They told jokes about him in shared
taxis, on comical Lebanese programs, and liked to imagine his financial tentacles in unlikely
places, but they held him in warmth and even affection. A self-made billionaire, Hariri became
Prime Minister in 1992 under the terms of a 1989 peace deal that required the premier to be a
Sunni Muslim. He served until 1998, and again from 2000 until his resignation in October. A
devout Sunni Muslim, he saw religion as a matter of conscience rather than political affiliation
but he proved a skilful operator in a Lebanese system that doled out all public posts through
religious quotas. When Emile Lahoud, Lebanon's lacklustre and Syrian-allied president, helped
remove Mr Hariri from power in 1998, he was soon confronted on nightly television by his
adversary's face and trademark bushy eyebrows as he mixed with leading international figures,
working, even in opposition, to keep Lebanon on the world's agenda. It was barely a surprise
when Mr Hariri swept back to power in the landslide election win of 2000.
Hariri, a construction tycoon who made his fortune in Saudi Arabia, held joint Lebanese-Saudi
citizenship. A French firm he later acquired, Oger, became one of the largest construction
businesses in the Middle East. His personal wealth had been estimated at $4 billion.
During Lebanon’s civil war, Mr. Al-Hariri funded charitable ventures, and, when the violence
subsided, used trucks from his construction company to clear the country’s debris. His interests
extended across banking, real estate, oil, industry and telecommunications. In 1979, he founded
the Hariri Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides educational, health, social and
cultural services to the needy in Lebanon and abroad. He also has bought and re-financed many
Lebanese Grade Schools, High schools, and Colleges. Not forgetting to mention running a
Lebanese orphanage for the children who lost their parents during Lebanon’s civil war.
Mr. Al-Hariri also founded a television station, Future TV, in Beirut and purchased stakes in
several Lebanese newspapers. He founded his own newspaper, Al-Mustaqbal five years ago. His
construction company designed a state of the art Airport and expansion, in which tourists and
Lebanese alike would feel welcomed and encouraged to keep re-visiting and investing in
Lebanon. Al-Hariri was the biggest shareholder in Solidere, the joint-stock company that sent
bulldozers to revive central Beirut after Lebanon's 15-year civil war. But politics remained a
fixation for the burly businessman. In 1982, he donated $12 million to Lebanese victims of
Israel's devastating invasion and helped clean up Beirut streets with his own money. Al-Hariri
also used his personal wealth to finance the Taif national reconciliation accords in 1989 which
put an end to the civil war.
When Lebanon faced a financial crisis in 2002, Al-Hariri persuaded France to host an
international summit of lenders who pledged enough cash to avert a meltdown. The construction
tycoon's ties with European, Asian and Arab leaders helped keep Lebanon out of an abyss of
debt run up during efforts to rebuild Beirut, including an expensive downtown area that rose
from the ruins to become a top-end property and international destination resort hub for tourists
and the Lebanese alike, (Lebanon regained its pre-war reputation as a party zone with tourists last
year topping 1million). Businessmen praised him for cutting through a paralyzed Lebanese state
bureaucracy and rebuilding war-shattered Beirut. He presided over a revival in Lebanon's tourism
industry, largely thanks to hundreds of thousands of visiting Gulf Arabs.
While Mr. Hariri was accused by some Lebanese of driving the country into debt with his
ambitious rebuilding plans, he was also praised as the architect of its rebirth and renewed
confidence after the devastation of 15 years of civil war, from 1975 to 1990. He was a well-
known figure in Washington and European capitals, where he was largely successful in obtaining
Western help to overcome Lebanon's intermittent financial crisis. Yet his political fortunes were
always hostage to his up-and-down relations with Syria's presidents, now Bashar al-Assad and
before him his father, Hafez al-Assad. For the most part, he appeared to steer an even course.
Unlike some of the more impetuous Lebanese clan and religious leaders, Mr. Hariri carefully
avoided direct criticism of Syria's role as Lebanon's overlord.
Yet his frustration with the limits that Damascus set sometimes showed. In an interview with The
Boston Globe in 1993, he was asked whether the ubiquitous portrait of the elder Mr. Assad on
every wall of the old Beirut airport was a problem for him. "It's not a problem to put it up," Mr.
Hariri said. "It's a problem to take it down."
====================================================================================================
***To the memory of Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri,on the day of his funeral. (Wednesday February 16,
2005)
The Earth Opens and Welcomes You
The earth opens and welcomes you. Why these cries... these tears... these prayers? What have
they lost? What are they looking for? ….those who trouble your re-found peace? The earth
opens and welcomes you. Now you will converse without witnesses. O you have things to tell
each other and you'll have eternity to do so. Yesterday's words tarnished by the tumult will one
by one engrave themselves on silence.
The earth opens and welcomes you. She alone has desired you without you making any
advances. She has waited for you. Her patience was but goodness and it is this goodness that
brings you back to her. The earth opens and welcomes you. You are naked. She is even more
naked than you. And you are both beautiful in that silent embrace where the hands know how to
hold back to avoid violence where the soul's butterfly turns away from this semblance of light to
go in search of its source.
The earth opens and welcomes you. Your loved ones will find you again some day. Your
legendary smile and the tearfull mourning will be over. Your children will grow up. Your country
will heal as if by a miracle. When the men exhausted by illusion - will go drink from the fountain
of your goodness. O my dear friend, sleep well. You need it, for you have worked hard as an
honest man.
Before leaving, you said your good byes to your friends and family. You turned off the lights,
said a nice word to the guardian. And then as you stepped out- you looked at the sky.. its near-
painful blue. You elegantly smoothed your mustache telling yourself: only cowards consider
death to be an end.
Sleep well my friend. Sleep. The sleep of the just. Let us for awhile carry the burden. (Allah
Yirhamak Sheikh Rafik).
~ By; Fatina Salaheddine
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