Shorty Awards celebrate excellence in social media – NYU Washington Square News

Lew and anyone who makes the 'change is good' argument — and YES, change IS good — I posted today an entry which I think addresses these arguments that are missing the point, at least in relation to what's transpired over Washington Square Park's redesign and what people opposed to it are really saying:

Thanks for stopping by the site.

best,
Cathryn
Washington Sq Pk Blog

Report on Qld Palestinian solidarity (QPSC) discussion and film night
Held on Human Rights day (the UN declaration of human rights was made in 1948 at the same time the Palestinians were driven from their land) Wednesday 10th December, at Queensland Council of Unions T&LC Building,

There were a diverse group of 14 people in attendance at this event organised by the QPSC.

There was a round table discussion about why the people present are concerned about what is happening in Palestine today. Here is a brief report of the main points raised in the discussion. Apologies if I have left anything out or misunderstood anyone. I did not take notes. The comments below are not placed in the correct order.

Ray Bergmann said that he could not understand why Zionists wanted to set up a medieval state based on religious prejudice.

Both Ray and Ann Aboud suggested that after the film we go to the Human Rights function organised for celebrities (Phil Adams & Stephen Keim) and ask why Palestine has not been mentioned and why there has been such bias in the ABC coverage of recent events in the region.

There was brief discussion of a formal reply that Kevin Rudd had sent to the group, in support of Israel and (by implication) Zionism. (Ray, can we post his letter on WBT?)

Kahlil replied that the reason was that Europeans were guilty about what happened in the holocaust and were keen to give Zionism a homeland.

Dina Saleem said that she could not understand why Hamas had not participated in the talks between Olmert (former Israeli PM) and Abu Abbas (head of the Palestinian Authority). She said that she had experienced the the suicide bombings in Israel and felt that religion was behind them. She had been raised in the Greek Orthodox Church and felt that Jewish people had suffered as well as Palestinians. She had left Israel for Lebanon. She was critical of Hamas for being closed and not joining in the Palestinian Authority.

A husband and wife, Eileen & Jamie Brown, said that they were grateful that this discussion had been organised and that they follow what is going on, but have been unable to do much else. They are on the QPSC email list.

Owen from the Revolutionary Socialist Party said that the Palestinians were an oppressed people as a result of colonialism and that he and his party supported their struggle.

John Swanston said he is an evangelical Christian and he takes the bible seriously but could not accept the interpretation placed on the bible and events by fundamentalist Christians who had been allowed into Israel by leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu. He said that the settlers were extremists. He said that he had been in trouble with the church becasue he had supported Hanan Hashwari's right to come and speak in Australia about the Palestinian situation.

Richard Buckhorn said that he was a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggles and that he and others ran a stall in Boundary Street West End every Saturday morning about what is happening in Palestine. He said that it was small things like this, where people's prejudice is challenged, that change came in the anti-apartheid struggle. He believed that the same would happen in this struggle.

Other speakers expressed concern for the plight of people in Hebron and Gaza. Some were there as individual and others as representative of a group.

Louay Alzaher introduced himself as a journalist from Iraq and spoke to the issues raised by the people at the discussion.

Louay outlined that the reason for the conflict over Palestine were not caused by religion.

That this superficial account ( the religious interpretation of the struggle) was the propaganda of Zionists and the US (imperialists).

He said that the reason was strategic to the interests of the US and its outpost in the middle east, Israel. Their reason was oil. The American military were protecting the interests of capitalism.

He questioned how people could accept the word 'Israel' as describing a country. He said that Israel was an (armed) camp with no borders and no flag. He said that he challenged the accepted (wisdom) and looked at things from their cause and roots. He said that the idea of Israel was conceived long ago. There was a time during the British mandate over Palestine that the British had planned it (I think he was referring to the Balfour Declaration and the work of the early Zionists, but I am not sure).

Kahlil had mentioned earlier that he was from Jaffa (Al Jammasin) and that his family grew oranges there since before 1948 and that they had title to the land but could not return. He said that the Zionists had outnumbered the Palestinians and had been well armed. His point was that they were well organised. [They had bombed the King David hotel and the British Embassy in Rome].

Louay went on to describe his own beliefs and background. He said that he is a communist and regarded Jewish people as his brothers (and sisters) because they came originally from the same flesh and blood. He said that he regarded Ray Bergmann as his best friend in Australia. He had come from Iraq where he had taken up arms and political struggle against Saddam Hussein and had been persecuted (with the sentence of execution on three occasions). He said that he did not believe in religion but would join with anyone who opposed the aggression of the US and Israel.

He apologised for speaking loudly but he and his people did not live a relaxed life style like Australians they had to struggle against the US occupation.

Louay received warm applause from the audience and Ray played the film La Terre parle Arabe (The Land Speaks Arabic) by Maryse Margour.

Earlier in the meeting Don Wilson proposed that we help organise a Palestinian film festival. This was met with some support. Ray and Don will report back on this.

Summary
My personal feeling is that people at the meeting spoke well and from the heart; there were things that we all could learn from the discussion. People were in agreement over the bad influence of zionism that has produced much of the problem. However I thought the criticism of Hamas and Hezbollah was superficial. Hamas in Gaza is closed for a reason, they are under siege. Hezbollah (the party of god) in Lebanon has, as Louay implied, been more open and has engaged with Christians, socialists, communists and others. Lebanon is a more open society as shown by the numbers of palestinians that have sought refuge there. Hezbollah have been successful in mobilising many people onto the streets in Lebanon. But are they opportunist? Are they popularist? Are they using islam to gain political power? The accusation of opportunism is more accurate than the one of being terrorists & fundamentalists as implied by Dina Saleem.

However, it is not in the world of ideas that we are lacking, we are lacking in organisation and ability to change the terrible situation and help bring about social justice for the Palestinian people.

The world may be changing. In Greece there is an uprising against a government that has introduced austerity and repression. China's economy – the one that was supposed to save the global economy – has faltered. There are six economies in Europe that are insolvent and without foreign cash reserves, even Russia has small foreign cash reserves because of the collapse in the price of oil.

Obama may turn out to be the ultimate political opportunist, winning power through corporate handouts and greed; and now, his backers think that they can print money and that will save the American economy.

Change may well be on the way, but where is the workers political organisation that will turn it as a force for good?

Ian Curr
13 December 2008

“THE LAND SPEAKS ARABIC” – directed by Maryse Gargour (DVD DOCUMENTARY) which reveals the history of Zionist ethnic cleansing and spoliation of Palestinian land. Note: “Spoliation” means “/intentional/ or /negligent/ withholding, hiding, alteration or destruction of evidence”.

In the case of Palestine it refers to the ‘buried history’ of one of the most bitterly contested landscapes in the world.

LOL RT rel=”nofollow” Siempre que hago zapping y veo man vs. Food, lo dejo…

Hello I just have a question. I have a daughter her name is Jamie Turner. Jamie has never been married no children It just took some time for her to figure out what she wanted to do in life. Jamie is going to Loyola university in the fall her major ..forensic science. Jamie dad is James Ralph Turner who was killed on the line of duty in Port Isabel Texas. Is Jamie eligible for a scholarship? Thank you

Yeah, agree with u

Hey Levi
Are you including all the books you've read for school. If I had to include all the education articles I've slept through I'd lose count. I'm just about finished Stephen Lawhead's Hood and even though the Celtic theme he used all throughout his Arthur Trilogy is used again it is a nice familiar read.

Operations Associate-Part Time-Washington Square –

Atomische : Washington Square Park –

Just to add to what I said above. Revelation states a 1,000 year reign; there is no reason not to take this literally. I agree that some take allegorial liberties with Scirpture, especially in numbers to alter and change its true meaning. There is no reason not to take Revelation literally……. I like the way Zuck explains interpretation of this difficult book in such manner. -Jamie Brown

Genre simply means the type of work: letters, historical account, etc…. However, here it seems to be used to categorize and warp the meaning of Scripture, especially in Revelation. This is tragic. Also, I liked the comment that Revelation is a book that is avoided and preaching it is seen like snake handling. I agree that is seems to be avoided. Many Christians have very little understanding of this book. However, especially in this age, Revelation must be preached and taught extensively using a normal literal interpretation. I commend David Ford's pastor (mentioned above) for his efforts. Thanks, Jamie Brown

Probably from all the units, it's both race and education. In the articles about race, there was a lot of stories about how people struggled with thier color and idenity. Stories like Isn't Watermelon Delicious where Lauren Carter didn't know if she felt more white or black and that other story Teaching, and Learning Racial Sensitivity where Jerald Walker got a better understanding about the people in his college. As for education, it is something that is getting weaker these days due to many people slacking offwhich leds them to knowing less. Stories like How Dumb We Can Get and The Pursuit of just getting by really describe the best.

Spending the day with Gwen and Jamie. looking forward to being able you have conversation.

Zorlu Aray?? izle –