“Even if one is troubled by the idea that one could be invited or disinvited because of their politics, it’s very different than saying that someone should be barred because they’re Israeli,” said Kenneth Stern, the American Jewish Committee’s director on antisemitism and extremism. “One thing is an error of judgment,” he said, “and the other is tarring a whole society.”

I’m pretty sure it’s the criminal occupation of Palestine that is tarring Israeli society, not the boycott.

Tags: Current Events by yaman
No Comments »

It is interesting to see how the “War on Terror” is playing out in different contexts. I am especially amused that its victim last summer is now its chief executioner. Is that how it works, then? And they tell you it is for Rafiq al-Hariri, or for democracy. If this is what democracy means, if this is the cost of Hariri’s investigation, then to hell with them both. The worst lie is that this is for “Lebanon.” What will be left of that country, when this has all taken its course, I wonder?

Support the innocent refugees at the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp.

Tags: Current Events by yaman
1 Comment »

According to a translation by Mideastwire.com, Hasan Nasrallah, in his–very good–speech on May 25, the 7th anniversary after the partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, said this with regards to the Lebanese Army’s indiscriminate attacks on the Nahr el Barid refugee camp, ostensibly to destroy the Fath al-Islam group:

There was talk that this happened in Tripoli. Of course, investigations will clarify the truth. You are a state and should act as a state. You must issue a warrant of arrest, carry out arrests, and respect the procedures governing the arrest. Trials should be held, people should be prosecuted, lawyers appointed and witnesses summoned to testify. War on terror should not be carried out in the US Bush-like manner, meaning that people get killed on roads and the security men become the public prosecutor, the defence lawyer, the witness, the judge, and the hangman.

This is very serious and threatens peace and stability in Lebanon. When we deal with a camp, we have to be patient. In the early days, on Sunday, I heard some of the heroes speak about storming the camp. How can this take place? There is a camp that houses 35,000 to 40,000 inhabitants who are there including women, children, elderly people and many people who have nothing to do with what is taking place. If there is a group that one wishes to call as an armed group, criminals, killers, or you want to call them as you want - I am not a judge today - how can I attack 40,000 people and destroy a camp while I want to enter the camp and arrest a group of armed men? From a humanitarian and ethical point of view, the camp is a Palestinian camp and is like any Lebanese village from a legal point of view.

So, who is this “terrorist,” and why does he sound more like a democrat than the vast majority of politicians in this country?

Tags: Current Events by yaman
No Comments »

Fiction is the unraveling of God. To imagine one situation in which what was once thought to be wrong, appears with certainty to be right, is to create a world outside of and opposed to God’s law–and thus, also, to disprove it.

More importantly it is the co-optation of God’s only talent. For if this life is anything, it is nothing more than a work of fiction, an imagination gone wild with creations, and a storybook that will end at the author’s discretion.

To create fiction, then, is at once two things: it is to disprove and devalue God; and, at the same time, it is to become Him.

And so, while the selfish artist will command you to Read!, the true lords of this world will gently advise: write!

Tags: Journal by yaman
No Comments »

I hate it when people say something like “each religion has its extremists,” as if “extremists,” whatever they are, actually need to work under the umbrella of a religion. In any case, I know that’s not why they say it. But it doesn’t put all religions on equal ground, if that is what the intent is.

Tags: Journal by yaman
No Comments »