Copyright © 2003-2011, Aishah Schwartz. Permission granted to circulate among private individuals, groups, or in not-for-profit publications in full text and subject title. All other rights reserved.

February 20, 2010

VIDEO: Aishah Schwartz and Gaza Freedom Delegates in Gaza, Dec. 30, 2009 - Jan. 2, 2010

Please take a few moments, approximately 7 minutes actually, to view the video found under the link below. It is posted via FaceBook, so you might have to be logged in to view it. I've asked Freedom March delegate, Angela Sevin (who created and posted the video) about download access; when or if it is available I'll repost, insha'Allah.
Erez Border Crossing, Gaza, Dec. 31, 2009. (Photo: Child of Gaza, Aishah Schwartz and photographer/Gaza Freedom March co-delegate, Angela Sevin.)

February 18, 2010

MWA Joins in Recognizing February as 34th Annual Celebration of Black History Month

Commemoration Information Here.

February is Black History Month. This important focal event presents a special opportunity to recognize the bold and daring achievements of African Americans. 2007 is the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High, a pivotal event in the Civil Right Movement that challenged racist segregation and moved history forward for all Americans.

Fifty years ago, the doors of Little Rock’s Central High School became gates of change, when on September 4, 1957, nine African American students came to school for class — for the first time. Turned away by Arkansas National Guard soldiers under orders from the Governor, the students finally entered safely three weeks later when the President of the United States sent the 101st Airborne to enforce the Supreme Court’s desegregation rulings.

The historic events of the integration of Central High School and the re- opening of all of Little Rock’s schools a year after the governor closed them are quintessential women’s history. Women’s bold actions made both events possible.

Civil Rights activist, Daisy Bates, gave the nine students (two boys and seven girls) the information, encouragement, and support they needed to enroll in Central High School. When the governor resorted to closing the schools in Little Rock to prevent integration, it was the women of the “Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools” who with daring courage organized the effort to open the schools and in so doing changed themselves and the community.

One of this year’s Honorees, Minnijean Brown Trickey, was only sixteen years old when she became involved in the integration of Little Rock’s Central High School. Along with eight other black teenagers who defied death threats, hostile white demonstrators, and even the Arkansas National Guard to attend the all-white Central High School in 1957. Rising above the adversity, they took a courageous step that not only changed their lives and education but the lives and educations of African Americans around the country.

African American history is essential to American History and needs to be merged in the telling of the story. Until that time, we need to use this important focal celebration of Black History Month to inform and expand our society's knowledge of African American history.
WARRIORS DON’T CRY: Drawn from her diary, the author writes a riveting account of her experience integrating Central High School.
THE LONG SHADOW OF LITTLE ROCK: A MEMOIR BY DAISY BATES: Daisy Bates guided and advised the nine students, known as the Little Rock Nine, when they attempted to enroll at Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
THE GIANTS WORE WHITE GLOVES video: When racism closed the schools in Little Rock, a group of respectable, middle-class white women were faced with the prospect of no schools as well as the further loss of their city’s good name. They turned militant and changed themselves and he community in the process.

Celebrating Black History Month Resources.

Celebrating 50 Years of Integration: The Memory Project. Central High students today are collecting the personal stories of family and neighbors who lived through historic and current civil rights struggles, not only at Central but across Arkansas, America, and the world. Students are creating this website, The Little Rock Central High Civil Rights Memory Project, to serve as a permanent online resource for students, teachers, historians and the families of those who share their stories. It is the hope of Central's students that this website-and these personal narratives-can open a door into history and encourage students today to continue the process of change in race relations and civil rights in their own lives and communities. The Memory Project.

Voices from the Days of Slavery

The Library of Congress's American Folklife Center online collection: Voices from the Days of Slavery: Former Slaves Tell Their Stories, available at Library's American Memory.

Memory Project

Standing on My Sisters' Shoulder. An award-winning documentary about courageous women in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Check out www.sisters-shoulders.org for additional information.

February 11, 2010

Join Muslimah Writers Alliance in Support of Ending Domestic Violence - Purple Hijab Day Feb. 13

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC (MWA) Feb. 11, 2010—Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) urges the Muslim community to join Director, Aishah Schwartz in wearing purple on Purple Hijab Day (Feb. 13). The event, sponsored by Baitul Salaam Network, Inc., a national, non-profit domestic violence awareness organization based in Stone Mountain, Georgia and co-founded by Hadayai Majeed, aims to unite the Muslim community in speaking out against domestic abuse.

Focal to the timing of this year's event is the tragic February 12, 2009 beheading of Aasiya Zubair Hassan, 37, at the hands of her husband, Muzzammil S. "Mo" Hassan, 44, in the Village of Orchard Park, New York. Aasiya's alleged crime? Seeking her legal and religiously mandated right to be divorced from an incompatible spouse.

"It is of the utmost importance that the Muslim community continues to advocate in supporting victims of domestic violence, and seeking an end to violence of any form against women in any circumstance, particularly when it is alleged to be perpetrated in the name of Islam–as many have been led to believe–in the case of Aasiya Zubair Hassan," stated Schwartz.

In addition to MWA, Purple Hijab Day is supported by a host of national and internationally-based organizations and activists, including: the Rhode Island Healthy Families Initiative; the Peaceful Families Project of VA; Muslim Men Against Domestic Violence-Atlanta, GA; Masjid Al-Islam of East Atlanta; HARIM, a Muslim women's artists and writers collaborative, and more.

February 08, 2010

MWA Director Receives Honorary Invitation to Bridges Foundation 'Objective Thinking' Workshop in Cairo, Egypt

WASHINGTON, D.C. (MWANET) Jan. 30, 2010 - Muslimah Writers Alliance Director, Aishah Schwartz, has been extended an honorary invitation to attend the February 11-13, 2010 Bridges Foundation workshop, 'Objective Thinking' in Cairo, Egypt.

The 'Objective Thinking' workshop to be presented by Dr. Tarek Abou Ghazala, Founder and Chairman of The Circle for intellectual Revival of Concept Learning and Education. The Circle is an intellectual organization dedicated to producing a moderate Muslim mind that can reason using objective or value thinking. It's work is based on the Quran, the Sunnah and the scientific foundation of the early Islamic scholarly work. His workshops have been presented at Universities, Intellectual Institutions, National Libraries and Think Tanks in locations such as Syria, Morocco and the American University in Washington, D.C.

The primary target audience intended to benefit from training received through the 'Objective Thinking' workshop, is the Muslim Youth community, who represent the fresh hope that the Muslim community at-large will awaken from its mental stagnation.

The workshop is offered in both Arabic (Feb. 11, 12 & 13) and English (Feb. 12 & 13).

LEARN MORE HERE
FEE SCHEDULE, PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, DATES
SHARE LINK FOR FLYER
BIOGRAPHY DR. TAREK ABOU-GHAZALA
BIOGRAPHY AISHAH SCHWARTZ

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Standing in Defiance of International Law; Israel Continues Construction of Apartheid Wall


Palestinians and Israeli dissenters are getting together to fight Israel's plan to build another section of the separation wall in the occupied West Bank.

According to environmentalists, the wall will stop water flow to the natural springs and thus threatens to dry out much of the Palestinian land.

They also see the wall - illegal under international law - as a part of long-term Israeli policy to take more and more Palestinian land in the West Bank.

But the Israeli government says their separation wall is for security reasons, in order to stop Palestinians carrying out attacks in Israel.

Al Jazeera Sherine Tadros reports from Wadi Fukin, the village that is now at the centre of the legal battle.

[February 7, 2010]

VIDEO: Follow-Up to Announcement of Congressional Support on Behalf of Gaza


A large number of US Congressmen have petitioned to lift the crippling Siege of Gaza by the Israelis and the Egyptians. In a scathing letter, they have said in no uncertain terms that the Siege is something that will do and indeed does do more harm than good, and needs to be immediately lifted. Special Analysis by Dr Franklin Lamb. Recorded on January 30, 2010 at 0900GMT.

SEE ALSO:
MWA NOD ON OPENCONGRESS BLOG OF CONGRESSMAN BRIAN BAIRD
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVIST, AISHAH SCHWARTZ COMMENDS ACTION OF 54 US CONGRESSMEN IN SUPPORTING END OF SIEGE AND EMARGO ON GAZA
INITIAL REPORT ON FOUR-DAY GAZA SIEGE BREAKING VISIT OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVIST, AISHAH SCHWARTZ

February 07, 2010

Facebook Wouldn't Bring it to You, but I Can! Introducing the 'DISLIKE' Option!

Kudos to Blogger for offering customizable "reactions" on blog posts! That means, even though FACEBOOK won't provide an alternate to the "Like" option, I can! Introducing DISLIKE!

Visit my blog today and chose between "Like", "Dislike", and "Way to go Aishah!" at the bottom of each post!

Also, in case you hadn't noticed, Blogger has an automated "Share" link available at the top left of each page offering the option to (1) email a post, (2) share it on Twitter, (3) share it on FACEBOOK, and (4) share it via Google Reader. Pass by today and check it out!

And if you're tired of only having a "Like" option on Facebook, join the UNLIKE Fan Page on Facebook!

Happy blogging!

GAZA: What you didn't know...

UPDATE! NAME CORRECTED! Al-hamdulillah! [If You're a Man...GeT yOuR oWn FACEBOOK pAgE!!!]


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ORIGINALLY POSTED 4 FEB 10

February 04, 2010

February 02, 2010

Can You Help Me Say, 'Somebody Stop This Man?!' Contact Facebook NOW!


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TAKE ACTION!
OFFENDING POST HERE
 
STATEMENT OF MUSLIMAH WRITERS ALLIANCE DIRECTOR, AISHAH SCHWARTZ

It is of the utmost importance that as Muslims, we continue to advocate in support of the victims of domestic violence, and violence of any form against women in any circumstance.

We must also strive to support our advocacy with education. There are people out there, such as the likes of Facebook personality and King Saud Univeristy Alum, 'Calif Namazifard', who, on January 23, 2010 posted a topic on "The Largest Islamic Group on Facebook" page, titled "US Courts Discriminate Against Muslims!" - the purpose of which was to bring attention to the "plight" of Aasiya Zubair Hassans murderer!

Namazifard's statement the comment, "he [Muzzammil S. "Mo" Hassan] acted as any respectable Muslim would do [who's wife sought to divorce him] and cut her head off - Allah Akbar!" And goes on to urge readers to write to the Governor of New York requesting that Aasiya's murderer be pardoned! This message has been circulated within a group consisting in excess of 660,000 members! This is the kind of garbage we are up against!

Violence committed against women in the name of Islam, at the hands of men blinded by the kind of self-empowering, false doctrination supported by extremist teaching, such as that propagated by Namazifard, is inherently wrong - and its perpertrators must not be supported in their belief that they are above the law.

The Largest Islamic Group on Facebook
Namazifard's Post
How to Respond
Purple/Lavendar Hijab Day in Memory of Aasiya Hassan

INTERVIEW: Professor Hatoon al-Fassi in Riyadh on Reversal of Al-Timani Forced Divorce


The BBC's Robin Lustig speaks to Professor Hatoon al-Fassi at King Saud University in Riyadh.
See also: MWA Welcomes Saudi Reversal in Forced Divorce of Fatima Azzar and Mansour Al-Timani