FREE PALESTINE02/16/19
The occupation in Palestine has surpassed 50 years. In 1948, the state of Israel started the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. In 1967, Israel captured several territories in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in six days. At the end of the 1967 war, over 300,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes, not to mention the 130,000 Palestinians were kicked out in 1948. The daily lives of Palestinians isn't how it used to be before the Occupation. Putting your child at risk of getting hurt just by sending them to school or getting your water shut down for no reason, waiting in long lines to cross a checkpoint or getting denied entrance in the Holy City of Jerusalem are just some of the few ways Palestinians live in oppression everyday. As a Palestinian who left to live in America, it humbles me to know that I do not endure the daily struggles of the life in Palestine. Whenever I visit my homeland, I witness how much the Palestinian people suffer and it often brings sadness into my heart. The least we can do for these people is to feel for them and appreciate the tranquility we take for granted. -Remah Masalmah |
The extensive Israeli occupation of Palestinian land from 1946 till 2012.
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02/14/19
"Make America Great Again!" This four-word political slogan causes nationwide fear for most minorities in America. These words insinuate hate, racism, and change for some, and a "better America" for others. When I hear these appalling words, I can only think of a time where my ancestors had to literally toil America on their backs after forcefully being taken from their countries in Africa. I think of a time when my ancestors fought for the "dream" of equal rights during the civil rights movement and not only paving the way for African-Americans, but as well as for other minorities in this country. To go back to a past America, means to go back to an America infused with genocide, colonization, slavery, racism, sexism, etc. If this is what the "great" in "Make America Great Again" refers to, then we have a long road of progression we need to tend to. Being a Black-Muslim woman in this country, I am fortunate enough to have not experienced first-hand racism, disregarding the long stares and the snarky rude comments said under people's breath. However, after Trump's election a stream of fear filled the air when I would leave my house. "Trump scares me..." says, Sarah, a Muslim American from the video on the right who was told to go back to "her country" after a switchblade had been pulled on her. Trump's rhetoric has fed the minds of the ignorant with more ignorance, and has made racist Americans come out of their closets and become more vocal in their racist beliefs. Instead of receiving the reaction that I had feared most from Trump supporters when I go out, I get comforting smiles, compliments on my hijab, and enlightening small talk with some who recognize their privilege as a white American.There was a sense of unity I felt with other minorities that weren't Black or Muslim after Trump's election which felt comforting knowing we were on the same end of things and our love and unity would trump hate. The Muslim ban, government shutdown, the wall, Mexican concentration camps, dreadful health insurance policies, and much more have thankfully led to the election of the first Muslim women in congress: Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. Our newly elected democratic congress is more diverse than ever with members willing to fight for the rights of ALL Americans. There is always light at the end of the tunnel and yes, Trump's presidency has taken a toll on a lot of Americans, but I've learned we must be united for a better change toward progression.
-Aishah Aidoo |
A poster from the 'We the People' series by Shepard Fairey, designed to protest President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration.
Illhan Omar (Left) and Rashida Tlaib (Right) both pictured in their traditional attire being sworn into US Congress with a Quran.
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ORIENTALISM
02/13/19
“Orientalism: a way of seeing that imagines, emphasizes, exaggerates, and distorts differences of Arab people and culture as compared to that of Europe and the US. It often involves seeing Arab culture as exotic, backward, uncivilized, and even dangerous.” Orientalism started in the 19th century and lasted up until WWII. The Orient represents the East: Middle East, Northern Africa, and Asia. The Occident represents the West: Europe and the United States (creator of orientalism). The Occident describes the East as exotic and barbaric and feels the need to have dominance over the "inferior" Eastern world. As a person from the East, it can be hard when Americans view us as a threat or as people who are uncivilized. However, we can change this unrealistic orientalist view into something that accurately represents us. We can change it to humility.We can educate people into having more positive views about the Eastern world. We can show them that we are proud of our beautiful countries and will not allow ignorant people's attitude affect our happiness. -Remah Masalmah All information was obtained from the following website: http://arabstereotypes.org/why-stereotypes/what-orientalism |
Aladdin is a popular 1992 American musical fantasy film released by Walt Disney Pictures which is an example of Orientalism.
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HIJAB SAVES LIVES02/12/19
This unforgettable story about a brave women and her refusal to take off her headscarf raised attention in 2018. The photo on the right is a lady named Hala. This precious story was revealed in 2016 by Marwa Atik, Hala's niece. Hala and her family were traveling to the United States from Syria in 1979. Hala's father had already traveled to California before and asked his family to come live in the US. All immigrants were told to apply for green cards in New York before the next destination. Hala and her family were planning to go to California on the American Airlines Flight #191. As Hala was applying for her green card, officials asked her to remove her headscarf, also known as hijab, for the photo. She refused to take her hijab off and after 3 hours officials allowed her to take the photo with her hijab. However, this caused the family to miss their original flight. The family purchased new flight tickets an traveled to California the next day. The family arrived safely in LAX and Hala's father greeted them with happiness and praise to God. He said "Hamdulilah (praise be to God) you’re alive! Hamdulilah you’re alive!" The family was shocked to hear him say the following, "The original flight you were supposed to get on crashed, and all 271 passengers died." The moral of the story is to stick up for what you believe in and to never settle for less. If it wasn't for Hala and her love for her hijab, there wouldn't be a first generation of her family in America.
-Remah Masalmah All information was obtained from the following article: https://ilmfeed.com/how-my-aunts-refusal-to-remove-her-hijab-saved-my-familys-lives/ |
Pictured above is Hala's passport photograph that saved her and her families life.
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CONCENTRATION CAMPS01/19/19
Imagine being trapped behind a prison-like facility surrounded by barb wires, barricaded by tall white concrete walls, being patrolled by police cars and guards outside what's known as a 'camp'. A banner on a building stating: "Safeguard ethnic unity." Why would anyone be forced into this facility? China holds 1 million ethnic Uighurs in the self-governing northwestern province of Xinjiang, despite being confronted with evidence that they have forced most of the Muslim population into harsh camps for forced ethnic brainwashing. "These Muslims are forced to denounce Islam, adopt atheism, and pledge allegiance to the Chinese state." says, Aydin Anwar, an Uyghur American activist in the video displayed on the right. When brought up to the United Nations, Chinese officials defended themselves claiming that these allegations were completely false, when in fact many Chinese have protested for the returning of Muslim Uyghurs. In order for this to change, it is vital for awareness to be spread about this brushed aside issue. In response to the pleads, The Uighur Human Rights Policy Act of 2018 was introduced with U.S. politicians who have called for the response of Xinjiang to take action on Chinese officials responsible for the human rights violations.
-Aishah Aidoo All information was obtained from the following article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/china-is-creating-concentration-camps-in-xinjiang-heres-how-we-hold-it-accountable/2018/11/23/93dd8c34-e9d6-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html?utm_term=.7d9ff76ff990 |
About a million Muslims are held in ethnic-cleansing concentration camps that China now portrays as 'humane'.
One of the thousands of Uighur Muslim Women that are treated as Mentally ill and sent to Concentration Camps for Brainwashing Programs.
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