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March 2009

Ameen Rihani

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* Founder of The Arab American Literature
* First Lebanese Arab to:
– Introduce free verse to modern Arabic poetry
– Write and publish a novel in English Writer And Author of:
*
– 29 volumes in English
– 26 volumes in Arabic

Biography

Born in Freike, Lebanon, on November 24, 1876, Ameen Rihani was one of six children and the oldest son of a Lebanese Maronite raw silk manufacturer, then a flourishing local industry. His father had commercial ambitions which beckoned him to America. In the summer of 1888, Ferris Rihani, the father, sent his brother and eldest son, Ameen, to the United States and followed a year later….

read on

A few quotations :

My wish is to live without disliking anyone,
To love without being jealous of anyone,
To rise without being elevated over anyone, and
To advance without stepping on anyone or becoming envious of those above me(translated from Arabic)

THE RIHANI ESSAYS
(Ar Rihaniyat)

I am the East,
I am the corner stone
Of the first temple of God
And the first throne of Humanity…

I am the East,
I possess philosophies and creeds
So who would exchange them with me for technology
(translated from Arabic)

HYMNS OF THE VALLEYS
(Hutaf-ul Awdiya)

Like the seasons of the year, like history, truth always repeats itself…THE PATH OF VISION

….And especially to my friends, the writers, I invite you to travel with me to a land that is magical despite its poverty, to a people that is generous despite its conflicts and disagreements, and to a nation that is free and dignified despite its limitations.
(translated from Arabic)
Introduction to KINGS OF ARABIA

(Muluk-ul ‘Arab) Source

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‘SOUAD VIVA PALESTINA’

Viva Palestina Convoy Update
19.00 (GMT) Friday 6th March 2009

After a long rest at Matruh, the Viva Palestina convoy started the day late by heading east. Apparently, some were so exhausted that they slept on till late morning.

Divided into groups to make the drive and escort manageable, they were planning to stop for Friday prayers along the way. Some groups were delayed and could not make it.

They are driving to JEMSA (GEMSA) on the coast, their next location for the night. I am told that it is looking like midnight by the time the last vehicle reaches the coastal town. A reception and dinner is being organised by the local authorities.

On that note, Akhbar Elyom newspaper reported today that the General Secretariat of the National Party is overseeing the reception and monitoring the progress of the convoy across various provinces. Working groups have been set up to ensure the various services are provided to the convoy such as accommodation, food and fuel. Young guides and helpers will be on hand to assist convoy members when they stop in their cities.

According to AlJazeera.net today, a source from the convoy confirmed that the name of the convoy has been changed to ‘SOUAD VIVA PALESTINA’ as a sign of respect and commemoration for the Libyan journalist Souad Abu Shiba after her tragic death whilst travelling to cover the convoy story.

Some extra good news arrived today from Egypt where the SCOTISH MEDICAL AID CONVOY arrived this morning in the Red Sea port of Nuweiba. They will be heading north through the Sinai.

The ‘Souad Viva Palestina’ convoy is expected to set off in the morning for the East El Salam Bridge where they will stop for lunch, then a long drive will follow for the town of El Arich where a rally is expected to take place from 7.00pm.

Translated and prepared by Farid Arada

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Gaza stories: The doctor’s grief

The BBC’s Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen visited Gaza to hear the stories of some of those whose lives were affected by Israel’s war with Hamas.

He visited the home of Dr Izzeldeen Abuelaish who lost his daughters and niece when two Israeli tank shells hit the building. Watch the video here

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My dream come true

Only problem, I have two eyes and I am not about to sacrifice one to lodge that camera.

EYEBORG– The Two Week Trial from eyeborg on Vimeo.

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A SMOOTH CROSSING INTO EGYPT

vivapalestinaViva Palestina Convoy Update
19.00 (GMT) Thursday 4rd March 2009

The convoy was over 3 miles long and contained about 220 vehicles. So it was an awesome sight when finally, at about 1.00pm local time, the first vehicles rolled into Egypt, where they were met at the borders by officials and a jubilant crowd.

The Egyptians organised the convoy into smaller groups and set off towards the town of SALUM, their first stop. The convoy was handled with military precision by the army and the police. I am told and everyone was relieved at the speed of the crossing.

In Salum they were met by children, who handed them flowers, and they were warmly welcomed by the people. Then they were taken to a huge tent where a press conference was held and a reception ceremony took place.

Lunch was on the menu, before being whisked away to continue their journey towards the beautiful coastal town of MATRUH.

A lavish reception awaits them in this picturesque part of Egypt where they are expected to enjoy the sea breeze after experiencing the beauty and quietness of the desert.

Overall, a good start to the final leg of the journey. Gaza is getting ever so close and the mission is close to being accomplished.

The Gaddafi Foundation for Charity and Development sent a message to Viva Palestina expressing its sorrow and offering its condolences for the family of the deceased Journalist Souad Abu Shiba and wish a quick recovery for her colleagues Ibrahim Hania, and the photographer Salah Nejm after the tragic car accident which occurred yesterday.

Prepared and translated by Farid Arada
Source : by e-mail

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Tittle Tattle in The Guardian – George Galloway’s office responds

From Rob Hoveman, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A0AA

Re: Guardian article March 3, ‘ Galloway’s Gaza mission runs into protests’

It says everything we need to know about cynical journalism (March 3) that the first time the Guardian chooses to cover the Viva Palestina convoy of aid to Gaza – an epic journey of over 5,000 miles – it is to repeat as fact tittle tattle culled from the blogosphere.

Two hundred and eighty people have driven through eight different countries to deliver over a million pounds of aid to the stricken people of Gaza. Everywhere we have been, the convoy has been greeted with thousands of well-wishers who have provided food, fuel and accommodation.

The Algerian government allowed passage across the border with Morocco for the first time in 15 years. In Tunisia we were joined by six of the people who the Lancashire police wrongly arrested and detained, preventing them reaching London for the start of the journey.

In Libya we were celebrated by thousands on the streets and a Libyan charity, inspired by the convoy, has established its own convoy of trucks to Gaza.

We are currently negotiating entry into Egypt and passage through to Gaza. The Egyptian authorities are doing everything they can to assist the process and we are in their hands, as we have been with all the other governments whose countries we have crossed in order to take these vital supplies into Gaza.

The Viva Palestina convoy and the achievements of the 280 volunteers who have driven so far deserve celebration, not denigration by The Guardian.

Rob Hoveman
Assistant to George Galloway MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

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TRAGEDY SO NEAR TO THE END

19.30 (GMT) Wednesday 4rd March 2009

This afternoon, a Libyan female journalist on her way to join our convoy, was involved, along with her colleague and a photographer in a road traffic accident, which unfortunately resulted in her death. Her two colleagues were also injured ain the crash, but the extent of their injuries is (at the time of writing) still unknown.

The leader of the Manchester contingent Talat Ali and Rabah Abdulramuz would like, on behalf of the Viva Palestina British convoy, to pass on their condolences and prayers to the families of the young lady and a speedy recovery for the injured.

They would like to reassure the families back home that all of the British members are safe. However, understandably the mood is very sombre and a Janaza (funeral ceremony) prayer has been organised by the convoy members this evening.

The Convoy are now about 20km from the border with Egypt. The Egyptian government has taken charge of the arrangements to ensure a smooth and comfortable crossing of Egypt by Viva Palestina starting tomorrow morning.

An official delegate from The National Party is in the border area preparing the welcome. He has informed the leaders of the route they will be taking and of the program of events awaiting them.

Source : by e-mail

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When Israel accepts the war waltz and when it doesn’t

waltz-with-bashir-scnsht

Israeli director Ari Folman’s Waltz With Bashir took Best Foreign Film at this year’s Golden Globes, reigniting a debate about Israeli public support of war. As the Gaza war rages on with a 90 percent public approval rating despite horrific scenes of civilian death, MENASSAT’s Tania Tabar asks why an ‘anti-war’ film like Waltz With Bashir is still not addressing the root causes of war in Israel.

By TANIA TABAR

READ ON

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Tareq Aziz acquitted

Former Iraq Deputy Prime Minister under Saddam Hussein, Tareq Aziz, has been acquitted of involvement in mass killings by a court in Baghdad.

The judge said there was not enough evidence to convict Aziz over a military crackdown against Shi’ites in Baghdad’s Sadr City in 1999 in which dozens died.

But, in the same case, one of Saddams’ closest aides, Ali Hassan al-Majeed, was given a third death sentence.

Majeed, a cousin of Saddam, earned his nickname for his role in using poison gas to kill thousands of Kurdish villagers.

His previous sentences were for masterminding a campaign against Kurds in the 1980s and killing thousands of Shi’ites after an uprising in the 1991 Gulf War. The execution has been held up by political wrangling.

SOURCE

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