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Hojin Choi

ISLAM DOMINATED RELIGION COVERAGE IN 2010. - 0 views

  • Islam was the most frequent topic of religion news coverage in 2010, as the media doubled the amount of time and space devoted to religion compared to 2009
  • plans to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero
  • Florida pastor's threat to burn the Quran
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  • commemorations of the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • religion tended to get more coverage in the blogosphere than in traditional media; religion ranked among the top five stories covered on the Web for 12 of the 48 weeks studied.
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    Research Question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation: "ISLAM DOMINATED RELIGION COVERAGE IN 2010." States News Service 2 Mar. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=CJ250426352&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This article shows that the Islam have the many issues in 2010. The study, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life research the News that more than 40 percent of Islam cover the whole religion. There are three main topic about the Islam: Plans to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero, a Florida pastor's threat to burn the Quran, and commemoration of the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The analysts found that the religion tend to get more coverage in the blogosphere than traditional media. Reflection: This article contain the important material; the writer obviously show people that the Islam religion dominated the entire religions during 2010. There are two aspect for the Islam in 2010. Some articles are positive, but the negative articles are dominated. The articles prove the characteristic Islam; if the Islam prefer to take the peace, at least the positive articles are dominated than the negative. Hopefully, the Islam leader read the article about what they did during 1 years in order to feedback themselves. Question: 1) What is the Islam original purpose to everyone? 2) Why they still continue the violence material? 3) What is the result to Islam during 1 year? 4) What is the opinion for the other religions?
Hojin Choi

We can't point fingers on Muslims, violence - 0 views

  • We can't point fingers on Muslims
  • For Christians to call Islam a violent religion takes unbelievable amounts of neglect about our history.
  • Christianity has caused more than its fair share of death and suffering between the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, Colonialism
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:Ronk, Sam. We can't point fingers on Muslims, violence. N.p., 11 Apr. 2011. Web.1 Apr. 2011. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110411/OPINION04/104110304/-1/GETPUBLISHED03scripts/We-can-t-point-fingers-Muslims-violence Summary:This article contains the strong opinion about the Islam. Sam Ronk insists that the Christians make the Islamists to be violence. People think that the Islam is more violence than the Christianity from the death and suffering between the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, Colonialism. Therefore, he think that the Americans and Christians need to refresh in order to convert the statement of the Islam. Reflection:I love this article because it is really fresh at least to think about the purposing of the religion specially Islam. This article have aggressive opinions against the christianity. I am christian who never regret my decision; however I agree that the christians need to rethink about what we did for the other religions. I believe that the Islam originally purpose to show the violence; they have wrong ways to spread the spirits. I guess that the Christianity seldom did the violence either. According those facts, we don't need to emphasize the Islam is the violence. Question:1) What is the main idol purpose to the Islam and Christianity?2) Why people think that the Islam is always violence that peace?3) What is the violence reaction from the Christianity?4) Why Christians disagree about this article?
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Local Muslims condemn acts of violence in name of their religion. - 0 views

  • One local Muslim, Mohamed Salih, is clear in his feelings toward the Muslim man who allegedly went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood last week.
  • He deserves to be at the "bottom of the biggest hell," Salih said.
  • There is a misconception among many non-Muslims that Islam, the religion that Muslims follow, encourages hate and violence. Really, it teaches the opposite
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  • "(Violence) has no place in this religion," he said. "There is no god out there that would accept killing innocent people."
  • Terrorists have misunderstood the Islamic duty of jihad, which means struggle.
  • Any person who commits an act of violence in name of Islam gravely misunderstands the religion
  • The "greater jihad" is within one's self, Salih said, against egos and evil within. The "lesser jihad" means actions to defend one's self and family.
  • In some Islamic countries, women are not allowed to own property, divorce or have the same rights as men. But the religion allows women equal treatment and rights.
  • they haven't encountered hostility from the local community. In fact, they've felt welcomed.
  • The religion is already misunderstood by many, and every time a Muslim kills in the name of Islam, it undoes the work that many have done to dispel myths and misinformation.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? "Local Muslims condemn acts of violence in name of their religion." Wyoming Tribune-Eagle [Cheyenne, WY] 14 Nov. 2009. Student Edition. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=CJ212039947&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This article was about one local Muslim's opinion of violence of Muslims. He actually was against them. He said that violence has no place in Islam religion and there is no god that would accept killing innocent people. He thinks that muslim who acts out violence in name of Islam, misunderstands the religion and thus he says terrorist misunderstood the Islamic duty of jihad, the struggle. In jihad, the greater jihad is with in one's self, against egos and evil within, and the lesser jihad is the action to one's self and family. He also says that Islam allows women to get an equal treatment and rights. He acknowledges that Islam is already misunderstood every time a Muslim kills in the name of Islam, but he says the Islam religion itself teaches the opposite of violence.
Hojin Choi

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Tribal leader killed in Pakistan - 0 views

  • A tribal leader who opposed the head of the Taliban in Pakistan has been shot dead in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan, police said.
  • Qari Zainuddin
  • Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a gunman in his office early on Tuesday.
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  • South Waziristan.
  • Zainuddin hit out at Mehsud for recent attacks in which civilians have been killed.
  • The fresh violence comes as the Pakistani army is preparing to launch a new offensive against Taliban fighters under Mehsud's command.
  • Zainuddin was taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
  • Not a jihad'Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque which killed 33 people.
  • "Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism,"
  • Mehsud is thought to head the most powerful group of militants in the country, with a network of alliances with other militants.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:Tribal leader killed in Pakistan. BBC, 23 June 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8114104.stm Summary: This article announced about the Pakistan. A trivial leader, Qari Zainuddin, 26,  who opposed the Taliban; as a result, he was assassinated in the north-western Pakistani town. He usually blamed Baitullah Mehsud who was the head of Taliban, and also most powerful group of militants in the county. Recently, Zainuddin attacked to the Mehsud; therefore, a guard who was under controlled by Mehsud entered the room at Zainuddin's office and fired.   Reflection:This article is what I want for my research question. For the reason, this is the evidence or reference to show people that Islam refer to maintain violence than peace. Since I have known the Pakistanis' violence, I recognize that it is worst than what I guess before. I can realize why they killed  between Pakistani and Taliban, but I need to consider about the initiation of the conflicts; it should be demarcation dispute of the Islam. According the article said,  "the Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism"; however, having many happenings between two sides don't make any sense of the Islam purpose.  Questions:1) What is the initiation of the conflicts between them?2) How can we solve sensitive problems?3) What is the Islam main purpose?4) Was Zainuddin's behavior for the Islam or just his authority? 
Hojin Choi

Boy in Pakistan tells police of school for suicide bombing - 0 views

  • A sorrowful Pakistani teen suspected of collaborating in this week's deadly suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine is claiming to police that scores of his young peers at a camp in the nation's perilous tribal region are being trained to stage attacks.
  • Fidai was arrested alive after the suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine on Sunday killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 100
  • he got suicide bombing lessons for six months, including training to use pistols, grenades and a suicide jacket.
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  • Ahmed Mubarak, the police chief of the Dera Ghazi Khan district, said the teen told police that more than 300 boys between ages 12 and 17 are being trained in North Waziristan's Mir Ali area to stage suicide bombings.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? CItation:Habblb, Nasir. Boy in Pakistan tells police of school for suicide bombing. CNN, Apr. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2011http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/pakistan.teen.bomber/index.html?iref=allsearch Summary:The Pakistani teenager suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine with his young peers at a camp.Fidai was arrested alive even though he tried to suicide bombing himself.On sunday, at least 41 people and wounded more than 100 at a Sufi shrine because of Fidai. In his interview, he had been trained in order to use the pistol, suicide jacket and grenades lesson for six months, but he said that he never miss his family because Qaru Zafar who is the Taliban leader persuade him that Fidai would go to heaven if he suicide for the Taliban. Reflection:This article show how extreme Islamists are stupid. Unfortunately I can not understand that why Islamists have chosen the young people to suicide bombing for their authority. I believe that they will know their reaction bringing the violence image to the Islam. My research topic is Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? I found my answer for this article. During I research the paper for the Islam, I barely find the article about the peace of Islam. The violence reactions of Islam news are dominated in Newspaper. According this facts, the extreme Islamists need to convert their image for the peaceful Islamist. Question:1) Why the extreme Islamist  use young people to suicide bombing?2) Why Islamist hardly try to covert their image?3) How many people scarified for Islam?4) Why people easily believe that they can go heaven instead of their life?
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Muslims Asked to Be Peaceful. - 0 views

  • Muslims to avoid violence in the name of religion.
  • the religious values of Islam are best promoted and nurtured through peace and understanding, not violence.
  • "Religious values of tolerance and compassion, both within the Islamic community and in relations with others, can go a long way in inculcating the much needed culture of peace,"
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  • the efforts of the Acholi Religious Peace Initiative, which brings together Christian and Muslim leaders in search of peace in northern Uganda.
  • "Such collaboration among various social and religious groups in Uganda will foster national unity,"
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? "Muslims Asked to Be Peaceful." Africa News Service 23 June 2004. Student Edition. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=A118509071&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This article was about the United Nations Development Programe advising Ugandan Muslims to avoid violence. One of the representer, Toure, said that the value of Islam is best promoted and nurtured through peace, not violence. He kept stressing that peace is the key for better religious values and peace will bring foster national unity. Reflection: I think he is absolutely right. Violence is never an answer for anything. Peace might not always work out as we think, but peace is the ultimate key for incorporating all other religions and achieve better value of Islam. By reading this, Muslims asked to be peaceful, it tells me that still people's view of Islam is violence. Even though it's only a small group of people being violence, it's impact is enough to get this kind of advise. I think Muslims should remind themselves of the foundation of Islam.  Questions: 1)Why are they asking Muslims to be peaceful and not other religions? 2)What is the relationship between Muslims and the advisor? 3)What is Muslims view of this advise?
Hojin Choi

Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?(Opinion)(Viewpoint essay). - 0 views

  • Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?
  • American combat troops have officially left Iraq, but religious factions there continue to jostle for power in the still-unformed government seven months after the March election failed to elect new leaders.
  • Sunni, Shiite, Sadrist, and Kurdish political leaders are struggling to negotiate a coalition government.
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  • When religion goes wrong
  • When religion goes wrong, it goes very wrong.
  • Archbishop William Temple
  • When people slaughter the innocent believing that they are doing it in God's name, the effects are catastrophic.
  • If 9/11 showed us the power of religion to cause tragedy on an epic scale, the aftermath should teach us something else. When religion is at the heart of the problems in a country, religion also needs to be at the heart of the solution.
  • Relationships of trust
  • I first visited as a peace negotiator in 1998. My commitment to Iraq over such a long period has enabled me to develop relationships of trust with nearly all of the most senior religious leaders.
  • Through religious leader engagement, we have been able to negotiate the release of many hostages, both expat and Iraqi.
  • Making
  • ake war
  • hose who m
  • peace with t
  • This work has been difficult.
  • Members of my church have been kidnapped or killed. I have lost many friends. But if you want to work for peace, you need to be willing to work with people who make war. Nice people don't cause conflict.
  • the warmakers need to be encouraged to become peacemakers.
  • Peacebuilding requires relationships.
  • A Sunni/Shiite fatwa against violence
  • Long-term commitment
  • This is religious reconciliation at a grassroots level, and gives standing to negotiate at the highest level.
  • raq needs this religious reconciliation if it is to survive. And so we remain committed to a long term, relational program of religious leader engagement.
  • Andrew White, an Anglican reverend and canon, is president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:White, Andrew. "Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?" Christian Science Monitor 20 Oct. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=CJ239979945&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary:This article about the perspective of Andrew White, the president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. He discussed about the Islam after the Iraq War; although there are some political leaders attempt to negotiate a government, the Islam still have a power at the government during seven months. The author quotes Archbishop William Temple saying that " When religion goes wrong, it goes wrong." He suggests 4 different solutions to prevent for abusing the islam: 'Relationship of trust', 'Making peace with those who make war','A Sunni/Shiite fatwa against violence', and 'Long- term commitment'. 
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    You are missing your questions and reflection sections
Ji-Yoon Jeon

BBC News - US Muslims seek to change on-screen image - 0 views

  • US Islamic groups say Muslims are too often painted as extremists by Hollywood
  • US Islamic groups have long complained about how Muslims are portrayed by the media.
  • Now Hollywood is moving to change that: at a screenwriters' workshop in Los Angeles, young Muslims are encouraged to offer their own stories as a more authentic voice, the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani reports.
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  • Films like True Lies (1994) and Rules of Engagement (2000) are often cited as portraying Muslims as violent extremists
  • Rules of Engagement (2000) are often cited as portraying Muslims as violent extremists
  • A Muslim is a terrorist, that's how they used to be portrayed,"
  • S Islamic groups say Muslims are
  • She points to her headscarf: "When I walk into job interviews, they see this, they don't see me.
  • "It's offensive and disconcerting but I think it's something that's accepted in the Muslim American experience."
  • "We need to diversify those images if those images are troublesome."
  • "The Muslims that I know, the Arabs that I know in my life are not the people that I see on the screen and I think there needs to be something done to change that.
  • "I love it here, most people are open and friendly, but still when [I] go to the grocery store, there's someone who tells me 'go back to your country',
  • "I know within my own community, there's a great deal of misinformation, and I think it's because of an information gap,
  • but it's going to have come from the perspective of it being a universal story, not a typical Muslim story," he says. "It has to be something that has universal appeal to a broad audience."
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? BBC News: US Muslims seek to change on-screen http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12856708 Summary:Muslims who lives in US, is trying to change their stereotype characters that are portrayed by the media. Muslims and Islam religion itself has been portrayed in lots of negative ways; violent, terrorist, and extremists. And this gave Muslim's a stereotype to other people. Muslims in US also complained about their disadvantages they get just because of that view toward Muslim. At the job interview, they only sees that they're the Muslims and not trying to see what is in their heart. But, now Hollywood is trying to show real Muslim's life on the screen. One student said that "The Muslims that I know, the Arabs that I know in my life are not the people that I see on the screen. So right now, they are moving to change something as a universal story, not a typical Muslim story. Reflection: This article shows a great evidence to prove that Islam is a religion of peace, not violence. This is a real Muslim telling about their story. They have been misjudged by the people in US because of their false portrayed stereotype. It would be really bad if you are judged by someone negatively because of the few extremist in your group. We need to know that not all, and even most of the Muslims are not like we see them on screen. We really need to see what's in their mind. There are so many people who are just like us with their faithful belief. I also thin there needs to be something done to change this.  Questions: 1.What do 'real Muslims' think about 'Muslim extremists'? 2. What kinds of story can they share to prove that Islam is a religion of peace, not violence? 3. What does non Muslim think about the upcoming movie about Muslim? 4. What are some information gaps, or misinformations within muslim community?
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Mobs attack 3 churches in Indonesia. - 1 views

  • Three churches in Indonesia were attacked by Muslim mobs upset over what they deemed a light sentence against a Christian in a blasphemy case
  • Violence erupted Tuesday in the town of Temanggung in Central Java after a court sentenced Antonius Richmond Bawengan to five years on charges of blaspheming Islam in books and articles he distributed in October 2010
  • Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
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  • the crowd set fire to one church and stoned two others in the town, where shops remained closed.
  • courthouse also was attacked by some of those attending the trial, forcing the evacuation of the judges.
  • The latest violence follows a similar incident Sunday in which members of the Ahmadiyah sect were attacked, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several more.
  • The Ahmadiyahs are not accepted as a part of Islam by mainstream Muslims.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? "Mobs attack 3 churches in Indonesia." UPI NewsTrack 8 Feb. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=A248610396&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This article was talking about three churches in Indonesia being attacked by Muslim mobs. Antonious Richmond Bawengan had sentenced to 5 years for blaspheming Islam in book and articles he distributed. And this upset the Muslims and the mob put fired on one church and threw stones to two other churches in the town. Also the courthouse was attacked by some of those attending the trial. They broke windows and set fires on cars. The article also says that before similar case had happened. Reflection: By looking at this news article, I could see that why people consider Islam religion as violence. It's not just Muslims being angry at the trial result, they are taking far more steps next. Since Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, this can be happen more often than any other countries. And also in the article, it said the similar case happened not too long ago, which was the members of the Ahmadiyah sect being attacked. And the Ahmadiyahs are not considered as a part of Islam by mainstream Muslims, so we can see that Muslims are very violent toward non-Muslims. There are always death and injuries when they act out their violence. Questions: 1. Why were the mob so mad at the trial's result? 2. Why did they attack the churches not other buildings? 3. What happened to the m
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Fault line of faith: six pastors killed, 40 churches razed in Jos's most recent violence - 0 views

  • NIGERIA Murderous rioting reportedly sparked by Muslim attacks on Christians and their property in late November destroyed 40 churches and left six pastors and at least 500 others dead, according to Nigerian church leaders.
  • What began as outrage over suspected voting fraud in local elections quickly crossed over Jos's religious fault line between the Islamic north and Christian south.
  • When angry Muslims took aim at Christian sites (rather than at political targets), Christian gangs responded in self-defense
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  • Islamists in turn killed more than 100 Christians.
  • Among the Christians killed was Joseph Yari of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), who died helping other Christians repel Muslim fanatics bent on burning down Christ Baptist Church.
  • the pastor's widow, said she had forgiven the killers.
  • In 2004, an estimated 700 people died in Yelwa, also in Plateau state, during Christian-Muslim clashes.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Fault line of faith: six pastors killed, 40 churches razed in Jos's most recent violence." Christianity Today Feb. 2009: 11. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A193452567&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summery: A suspected voting fraud in local elections made Muslims in Nigeria furious, and there began the bloody fight between Islamic north and Christian south. The Muslims took their angry and started off to explode their anger to Christians, rather than the political targets. They killed each others and more than 25000 persons were displaced in the violence. Among the killed Christians, there were Joseph Yari, who died helping other Christians repel Muslim fanatics. And his widow said that she had forgiven the killers, because they didn't know Jesus and had no idea of their deeds. Reflection: This article show that Islam is a religion of violence. Muslims got angry and wrong people. Their fraud of election wasn't Christian people's fault. They should have argued to political people instead of attacking Christians. They burned down the churches and properties and killed hundreds of pastors. They wasn't thinking deep enough before the situation got out of the hand. This shows that Muslims are extremists and Islam is the religion of violence. Questions: 1. Was there any killed Muslim's widow saying that they have forgiven the killers? 2. Who was the leader in this riot? 3. Does other Muslims also think that the voting fraud is Christian's fault? 4. What was the aftermath of
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Yes, He Is a Terrorist.(The Take; Religion)(Major Nidal Hasan ). - 1 views

  • Yet when under threat, real or imagined, we want religion to be definitive. Despite our intimacy with the heterogeneous nature of belief, we allow ourselves to be seduced by cartoon characterizations.
  • it's that there is no definitive religious interpretation.
  • The Quran does condone violence: "Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward."
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  • It also advocates peace: "Those who invoke not with God, or any other god, nor slay such life as God has made sacred in vain."
  • Muslims to see terrorism as a selfless and righteous act for the greater good of the global Muslim community.
  • Sixty percent of Americans believe that "there is a lot of discrimination" against Muslims, according to the Pew Forum. Thirty-eight percent say they think Islam is a violent religion,
  • while a small number of dangerous Islamic terrorists continue to wage war on the West, the majority of American Muslims are simply trying, like the rest of us, to get by.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Miller, Lisa. "Yes, He Is a Terrorist." Newsweek 23 Nov. 2009: 24. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A212141335&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary:This article was about Major Nidal Hasan, a Muslim, who murdered 13 people at the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas. It said that there is no definitive religious interpretation, but we try to limit our religion to be definitive, when under threat. Then, is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? In the Quran it supports for both. It condone violence while it advocates peace. But for Hasan's case, the article says he might be suffered from PTSD, but was more awake of the idea of Jihad and convinced by the cleric who said the terrorism is selfless and righteous act for better Muslim community. On the other hand, as statistically, lot's of Americans believe that Islam is a violent religion, when the actual number of terrorist is small and majority of them are just trying to get by.
Mark De Haan

The Grass Roots of Success - 0 views

  • Hezbollah won eight seats in Lebanon 's parliamentary elections in Aug and Sep 1992.
  • HIZBOLLAH HAS come a long way from its origins in 1982 as a rag-tag group of guerillas fighting the Israelis. It is now a tightly-organised group with an impressive military structure, a television and radio station, and an extensive programme of social services.
  • A major reason for Hizbollah's successful move into the political mainstream is the backing it has procured through an extensive programme of social services for the Shia population, in place of the scant assistance provided by the Lebanese government.
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  • When Hizbollah seized control of the suburbs from rival Shia group Amal in 1988 it embarked on an aid programme to improve daily life for the residents of the woefully-deprived area.
  • The Beqaa, an agricultural region traditionally neglected by the state authorities in Beirut, is Hizbollah's birthplace and springboard from which the group has spread its influence into other areas of the country.
  • Hizbollah finances a wide-ranging welfare system in the region which includes: a free taxi service for farm hands to reach remote fields and villages; sponsored supermarkets which sell food at reduced prices and where particularly impoverished families can get free food packages with ration cards; and low-cost or even free medicine and hospitalisation at one of two hospitals in Baalbek built and financed by Hizbollah.
  • The electorate in the mainly-Shia area of Baalbek in the Beqaa region, which voted overwhelmingly for the Hizbollah list of candidates, remembered the help rendered by the Islamists during the previous winter's snowstorm which engulfed the area. Hizbollah organised teams of relief workers to open roads and distribute food and blankets to cut-off villagers.
  • Hizbollah provided badly-needed drinking water to the area's residents, organising the daily replenishment of local reservoirs
  • Education is another arena in which Hizbollah is active.
  • The Islamic group pays school fees for children of poor families, thereby ensuring ample recruitment of young Shias into its ever-swelling ranks in the future. One sublime irony is that many Shia students who are Hizbollah sympathisers are sponsored by the Islamic group to study a Western-style education at the American University of Beirut.
  • When Israeli troops moved out of their so-called "security zone" in south Lebanon last February and smashed their way into two villages, it was the Jihad al Baniya (Holy Struggle for Reconstruction), an offshoot organisation of Hizbollah, that financed the repairs of over 1,000 homes and shops once the Israelis had pulled back.
  • Hizbollah's outcry for an improvement in the daily life of the thousands of deprived Shias in Lebanon was a call picked up more by Iran, which forsees the strategic opportunities that could arise from supporting fellow Shias in Lebanon, than by the Lebanese state itself.
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    The grass roots of success (Lebanon's Hezbollah Islamic fundamentalist group) The Middle East - Giles Trendle Trendle, Giles. "The grass roots of success." The Middle East Feb n220 1993: 12+. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: This article tells of how the group Hezbollah evolved from a smaller Islamic fundamentalist group to a political power in Lebanon in the 90s. The group was not always hurting and attacking Israel and the US, but also looking to make life better for the poor and down-trodden in Lebanon. Reflection: We often think of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization who does nothing but attack Israel with their rockets and their suicide bombers. But at one time, at least in the early 90s, the group was improving the living conditions for the poor in Lebanon, providing education and clean water as well. This group is not strictly terrorists. Questions:  1. How long as Hezbollah able to keep these programs? 2. Do they still hold a majority in Parliament? 3. Have living conditions changed/improved overall since the early 90s?
jeni bouwman

BBC News - Egypt country profile - 0 views

  • The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
  • The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
  • But the historic step by President Anwar Sadat to make peace with Israel in the 1979 Camp David agreement led to Egypt being expelled from the Arab League until 1989, and in 1981 Mr Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists angry at his moves to clamp down on their activities.
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  • resident Hosni Mubarak has taken a more moderate line, but Islamic groups have continued their campaigns sporadically.
  • Although Egypt has changed its constitution to allow the opposition to contest presidential polls, potential candidates must meet strict criteria for participation.
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    Summary: This article talks about how Egypt used to be having wars with Israel and no becoming more peaceful. Egypt is trying to do all they can do to compromise with the people and make it a better place that it ever was before.  Reflection: I think this was a good article about whats going on in Egypt because it let me know the update for what rules have been changed and why all this is happening. If it wasn't for this article I would never been informed and I'm glad I was. Because it makes me know how good we have it here in America. I think we American's take living here for granted.  Questions: 1.Why is Egypt so strict about all there rules, such as religious political parties?  2. Why is Egypt all of a sudden such a big deal, that ever before? 3. Is president Muhammah Hosni Mabarak making good decisions for Egypt?  4. Why did it take Egypt so long to realize what they needed was to make peace? 
Hojin Choi

Christian And Muslim Killed in Sectarian Clash. - 1 views

  • Muslims set fire to a church in the village of Sol, south of Cairo, a security official said.
  • The violence was triggered by a feud between two families
  • a group of Muslims headed to the village church and set it on fire.
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  • Marriage between a Christian man and a Muslim woman is illegal in Egypt unless the man converts to Islam.
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    Research Question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation: "Christian And Muslim Killed in Sectarian Clash." Africa News Service 5 Mar. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&docType=IAC&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=A250689034&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&source=gale&infoPage=infoMarkPage Summary: This article is the break news that the Muslim had been conflicts with the Christian; they set fire to a church in the village of Sol, south of Cairo. On the Friday night, Christian and Muslim fought each other; the couples' fathers were killed. Furthermore, at the Saturday, a group of Muslim attacked to the village church and set it on during the funeral for the woman's father. Reflection: It is such a impact news to me that the two religions have fought because of the conflicts. I always believe that the main ideal of the religion is peace; no violence and argument against the devils. Unfortunately, this news make me doubt about the religion. I insist that we need to respect their cultures and religions; why they need to fight each other for the religions. I guess that Muslim need to know shame what they did for the Christian. I am a Christian, but my perspective of this news is objective. It is not right to destroy the holy place because of the conflicts. Hopefully they realize their sin and prevent never happen this again. Questions: 1) Why both religions have to fight each other? 2) Is any solution to release their conflicts? 3) what is the Christian reaction to Muslim's behavior? 4) How many people have scarified from the conflicts?
Joy Merlino

Testing the water - 0 views

  • THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR national liberation lacks leadership and is currently on hold. What's left for Israel to sort out now are its Palestinian citizens, who comprise 20% of the population in Israel and are increasingly treated as a fifth column, discriminated against at every level.
  • The call for a state for all its citizens, for equality and full democracy, are demands that threaten the Zionist project of a Jewish state with exclusive rights for Jews, preferably without the indigenous Palestinian population.
  • The silent and semi-visible system of segregation, apartheid and racist policies placed against them since the establishment of the state of Israel is taking more aggressive, visible and vocal expression, both within the government and Israeli media.
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  • We are also witnessing an unprecedented and alarming rise in the submission of overtly racist bills that target Palestinians individually and collectively; calling for revoking their citizenship, limiting their political freedoms, banning them from marking the Palestinian Nakba (1948 catastrophe) and banning them from residing in Jewish towns, amongst other things.
  • Racist right-wing activists not only thrive in such an atmosphere but are also given the means to publicly target Palestinian citizens, frequently inciting violence and racism and provoke yet more dehumanising campaigns.
  • he march of the fascist group in Umm AL Fahem on 27 October was a case in point. The march was called for by the extreme right-wing organisation, Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and supported by Michael Ben-Ari, an Israeli Knesset member from the National Union, an extreme far-right party.
  • He is a leading figure in the colonial movement in the West Bank, and has been sentenced to several prison terms for physical assaults on Palestinians.
  • Marzel is a former member of Cakh, a Jewish terrorist organisation headed by Rabi Meir Kahane, which called for the forced expulsion of the Palestinian population.
  • The 'performance' in Umm Al Fahem was a message to all Palestinian citizens and their leadership warning them to beware, telling them "you either accept Israel as a Jewish state, with exclusive rights for the Jews, and live with gratitude as second-class citizens, or we will crack down mercilessly", with transfer remaining a looming option.
  • According to the organisers, they wanted to impress upon the residents of the town that they "are the landlords of the State of Israel" and called not only for outlawing the Islamic movement, which happened to be their chosen Arab 'enemy' of the day, but also for its expulsion from Israel.
  • Viewed by many as a deliberately provocative act, the march was nevertheless authorised by the Israeli Supreme Court, despite its history of incitement to violence.
  • In the online version of Yediot Aharonot, the second-largest daily publication in Israel, Marzel is quoted as saying: "nothing is more symbolic than the fact that on the day of the 20th anniversary of his murder, Rabbi Kahane's followers will continue his struggle against the Arab enemy."
  • The problem facing Palestinian citizens is not what Marzel and his ilk say: they are merely articulating what the government is not yet able to say. These small, partisan, fascist groups achieve their purpose by successfully organising media stunts such as the event in Umm AL Fahem. However, the real 'performance' was the one choreographed and directed by the official authorities, including the police.
  • Was the Israeli Supreme Court decision and the thousand-strong police presence, including their brutal confrontation with fellow citizens, only intended to protect the freedom of expression of a group that publicly incites violence against Palestinians and Arabs, and calls for the expulsion of Palestinian citizens? No, not entirely.
  • Cakh was outlawed in 1994, following the massacre of 29 Palestinians in Hebron by one of its members, Baruch Goldstein.
  • n Umm AL Fahem, Marzel and his group were simply doing a job for the government with their attempt to demonise the Palestinian citizens as terrorists, this time taking the Islamic movement as their cause celebre, to 'legitimise' future government actions against them. In Umm Al Fahem, just as in Israel's operations in the West Bank and Gaza, where it has been escalating violence against the Palestinian communities in incremental doses, Tel Aviv is testing the ground in preparation for future, more aggressive operations to come.
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    Shiekh, Awatef. "Testing the water." The Middle East Jan. 2011: 22+. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article is talking about the racism that exists for the Palestinians living in Israel. It states that they are "discriminated against at every level." The government as well as the media are taking part in this visible discrimination. The freedom of Palestinians living in Israel is being limited by racist bills. Right-wing activists are publicly targeting Palestinians. An example of this is the group Umm Al Fahem.  Reflection:  We have heard about the seizing of Palestinian land, and the Israelis living in Palestine, but we do not often hear about the Palestinians living in Israel. According to this article, the treatment of Palestinians in Israel is horrible. There is open discrimination, not openly supported by the government, but definitely not stopped by it. In reality, the actions of the Palestinians towards the Israelis are not the only acts of violence. The Israelis act out as well, it is simply not brought to our attention as often.  Questions: 1) How will this affect the peace treaty negotiations? 2) How will this attitude of hatred affect the future generations? 3) Will the refugee negotiations be affected by this treatment? 4) How does this compare to how the Israelis living in Palestine are treated?
Mark De Haan

Lebanon's Hizbullah: The Quest for Survival - 0 views

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    Lebanon's Hizbullah: the quest for survival World Affairs - By: Adham Saouli Saouli, Adham. "Lebanon's Hizbullah: the quest for survival." World Affairs 166.2 (2003): 71+. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article speaks of the rise of Hizbullah from a small group affiliated with Khomeini regime in Iran to a large Lebanese Shiite militia that was known for its anti-Western stance and for abducting Western hostages. This article speaks of how Hizbullah began in Lebanon in 1982, but was supported mostly by the Iranian government. The article then goes on to talk about how Hizbullah has grown politically since that time. Reflection: I found it interesting how Hizbullah has changed since 1982. I also found it interesting how we see Hizbullah only as a terrorist organization when it is a political group trying to change the government of Lebanon while also a militia who is trying to force Israel to the point of non-existence. Questions: 1. Has Hizbullah gotten any closer to reaching its goal for Lebanon to become an Islamic state? 2. Has Hizbullah's "victory" over Israel encouraged other militant organizations toward fighting larger, oppressive governments? 3. Does Hizbullah have any specific feelings toward the Americans after their invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan?
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Yes, He Is a Terrorist.(The Take; Religion)(Major Nidal Hasan ). - 1 views

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    sorry there is nothing here to give you credit for.
Mark De Haan

Why they hate us - 0 views

  • The mass-based Hezbollah (Party of God) is centered on a core group of militant Shiite clerics, who, like all successful Lebanese politicians, employ armed bands to underscore their message.
  • Hezbollah was formed in 1982, at iranian urging, as aradical alternative to Lebanon's mainstream Shiite movement, Amal. The clerics who founded Hezbollah objected to the secular goals of Amal's leader, Nabih Berri, who opposed the establishment of a separate Shiite entity. Hezbollah's leaders and Iran consider Lebanon, where the Shiites are the largest religious sect, fertile ground for a second Islamic Republic. Last March 15 the now famous Lebanese magazine al Shiraa described Hezbollah as a "branch" of the Iranian revolution, which received "guidance" and "orders" from the Islamic Republic.
  • Hezbollah made its antipathy for the West clear in its 1985manifesto, which proclaimed, "America, France and their allies must leave Lebanon once and for all," and vowed, "We are for dealing with evil at its roots and its roots are in America." The document reserved special hostility for the Phalangist Party, a largely Maronite Christian organization founded by Lebanese President Amin Gemayel's father. Hezbollah declared that the Phalangists "must be subjected to justice . . . for their crimes against Moslems and Christians, with encouragement from America and Israel," a reference to the slaughter of hundreds by the Phalangists and the closely related Lebanese Forces during the civil war. The conduct of the United States and Israel in Lebanon has helped create the present atmosphere, in which anyone from the West is fair game.
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  • Although the Maronites are estimated to compose only 16 percent of teh population, since 1943 they have been guaranteed the presidency, command of the armed forces and a 6-to-5 Christian to Moslem ration in Parliament.
  • But instead of urging change, the United States and France provided Gemayel with about a billion dollars' worth of weapons, which he turned first on the Druze and then on the mainly Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut. The presence of the U.S. marines and the shelling of Druze and Syrian positions by U.S. warships indicated Washington's commitment to a minority Christian regime against its rivals.
  • To make matters worse, U.S. intelligence became involved with some of the mst unsavory elements on the Lebanese scene. According to newspaper accounts, a Lebanese unit undergoing counterintelligence training with the C.I.A. had planted, though without U.S. authorization, the car bomb that on March 8, 1985, killed ninety-two persons and wounded 200 more outside the home of Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who is considered the spirtual guide of Hezbollah. This sequence of events, argues Rashid Khalidi, "enabled the Lebanese partisans of Iran to turn a lot of people violently against the United States."
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    Why they hate us (Lebanese Shiites) - Stanley Reed The Nation Reed, Stanley. "Why they hate us." The Nation 244 (1987): 168+. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: This article is an editorial as to why Hezbollah and Muslim Shiites have such hatred for the United States. Most of it is in regards to Israel. The United States continues to back Israel, and Hezbollah as a group despises this. They see America as the root of all evil.  Reflection: Back in 1985, when this article was written, we seemed to be totally anti-Hezbollah. We supported the Christian government that had won office, we then supplied the Lebanese government with weapons which they used to oppress the Shiite Muslims in Beirut. This only created more and more hatred against the United States and Israel, as well as Western culture as a whole. Questions: 1. Where there any violent reactions from Hezbollah after the attacks by the Lebanese President in 1985? 2. Does Hezbollah's hate for Israel come from the Western culture or the opposing religion? 3. How much support does Hezbollah receive from Iran, and how much from Lebanon?
jeni bouwman

Hosni Mubarak News - The New York Times - 0 views

  • For close to 30 years, Hosni Mubarak was Egypt's modern pharoah, as he was often called. He became president in 1981 after Anwar el-Sadat was slain as Mr. Mubarak stood beside him.
  • ar el-
  • y's economy crumbled.
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  • In the face of a mass movement inspired by the revolution in Tunisia in January, Mr. Mubarak tried violence and lost the support of his military, which promised to protect the demonstrators.
  • of any Egyptian president since the ouster of the king in the 1950s — longer tha
  • n that of Gamal Abdel Nasser, a pioneer of Arab nationalism, and longer than that of Mr. Sadat, who was slain after making peace with Israel.
  • He maintained peace with Israel and close ties to America
  • position parties and rigged elections. Under a veneer of public apathy, anger grew as the cou
  • after 18 days of massive public protests against his rule, he resigned and turned power over to the military.
  • rak’s three-decade rule. The detention was a breathtaking reversal for Mr. Mubarak, whose grip on the country had seemed so unshakable just three months ago that some thought he could hand over power directly to his son Gamal, who is now being held along with his brother, Alaa, in Tora Prison in Ca
  • month had ended the 23-year-reign of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who, like Mr. Mubarak was a former military man turned autocratic ruler. The
  • rotesters in Egypt spoke of the same deep-seated frustrations of an enduring, repressive government that drove Tunisians to revolt: rampant corruption, injustice, high unemployment and the simple lack of dignity accorded them by the state.
  • chief, as the country’s new vice president. It is a post once occupied by Mr. Mubarak and not filled since he took power.
  • he Egyptian Army announced on Jan. 31 for the first time that it would not fire on protesters, even as tens of thousands of people gathered in central Tahrir (Liberation) Square for a seventh day to shout for Mr. Mubarak's ouster
  • In the wake of Mr. Sadat's death, Mr. Mubarak -- who was at Mr. Sadat's side -- continued a policy of maintaining ties with Israel, and cracked down on Islamic militants. His support for Israel won him the support of the West and a continuation of hefty annual aid from the United States.
  • Egypt has long been a leader of the Arab world, and Mr. Mubarak, successfully negotiated the complicated issues of regional security, solidifying a relationship with Washington, maintaining cool but correct ties with Israel and sharply suppressing Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism.
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    Summary: Hosni Mubarak has been Egypt's modern pharoah for close to 30 years now. Mr. Mubarak stood by his side. Hosni Mubarak now resigned and he turned his powers over to the military. When president Mubarak tried violence he lost a lot of his support from his military. Mr. Mubarak coming into be the president, thought he had grip on the country but found out he was very shaky- and he thought he could just hand over his power to his son Gamal who is now in prison in Cairo. Response: I thought this article was very interesting because it shows how easy the president thought it was going to be going into it with his head all high and nothing could break. But found out everyone is protesting against him and no one is happy with him being the president.  Questions: 1. Why did he turn his power over to the military? 2. Why would president Mubarak want to keep fighting to e president if he's doing such a bad job? 3. How is he loosing grip so fast? 4. Why is he trying to hide from his people when Obama was there? 
Laurel Ackerman

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Effects on Israel - 0 views

  • Avoidable because there was a reasonable chance that the conflict might have been resolved long ago, had the Israelis acknowledged the inevitable harms done to the Palestinians by the creation of Israel as well as the subsequent expulsion of some 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and villages, and resolved to do everything possible to make up for these injustices in any manner possible, short of abandoning the Jewish state in one part of the land of Palestine
  • he real goal of Israeli policy has been, at a minimum, to unilaterally annex some 40 percent of the West Bank, including the most productive lands and most of the water resources of the area. Beyond that, Olmert is continuing the process of what Reinhart openly calls "ethnic cleansing" that began with the expulsion of some 750,000 Palestinians in 1948.
  • The tactics used to achieve this goal include the killing of more than two thousand innocent Palestinians as the result of Israel's indiscriminate attacks on "militants" or "terrorists" via bombs, missiles, artillery fire, and the like.
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  • Beyond even that, other measures seek to destroy the Palestinian economy and ordinary life, including the destruction of Gaza's main electrical power plant; the severe restrictions placed on Palestinian drinking and agricultural water; the daily humiliations and often severe hardships imposed by draconic Israeli laws against the free movement of Palestinians throughout the West Bank; the disruption of the private and public health systems--and more.
  • Reinhart focuses primarily on the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. She might well have added that the Occupation and repression have had devastating direct and indirect effects on Israeli institutions, society, and quality of life.
  • The judiciary in general, and the Supreme Court in particular, have largely abandoned their imperative role of upholding law and human rights against widespread governmental abuses, so long as the government cites "security needs" as its justification. Not surprisingly, the power of the military and security services in Israel are greater than in any other Western democracy.
  • There are many Israeli commentaries about the radical decline of values and ordinary moral norms and constraints. Among the consequences are the growth of (1) class and intra-Jewish ethnic and religious conflict; (2) organized and unorganized crime, including routine intra-Jewish violence; (3) anti-Arab sentiments and other forms of racism; and (4) the abuse of women, including white slavery. As academics like Aviad Klein-berg and journalists such as Tom Segev have concluded, "interest in human rights has never been so negligible," and Israeli society, gripped by "moral and political paralysis," is "gradually coming undone."
  • Israel has completely abandoned its earlier goal of creating a democratic socialism in favor of "rampant capitalism." Consequently, while some Israelis grow fabulously wealthy, other sectors of the society suffer through high unemployment rates, high inflation, and continuously widening income inequalities.
  • Sharon and his successors has created an environment in which academic freedom is under severe attack, Israel's intellectuals are increasingly regarded with scorn, and the education system as a whole has radically declined, becoming increasingly government-controlled, politicized, and ineffective
  • As Rein-hart puts it, Israel is a "small Jewish state ... surrounded by two hundred million Arabs," and it "is making itself the enemy of the whole Muslim world. There is no guarantee that such a state can survive. Saving the Palestinians also means saving Israel." Sooner or later the most fanatical of the Islamic fundamentalists by one means or another are likely to acquire nuclear weapons--and they may very well use them against Israeli cities, regardless of the obvious consequences to the Muslim world from Israeli retaliation. And that will be the end of Israel, and much of the Middle East.
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    How does the conflict in Israel affect the futures of Palestinian children compared to Israeli children? Slater, Jerome. "The need not to know: the American Jewish community and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.(The Road Map to Nowhere: Israel/Palestine since 2003)(Book review)." Tikkun Jan.-Feb. 2007: 65+. Student Edition. Web. 13 Feb. 2011. Student Edition Infotrack searched "Israel Palestine Conflict" http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A156555584&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: The conflict between Israel and Palestine does not only negatively affect the Palestinians, but it also negatively affects the Israelis. The Israeli Democracy, Human Rights, Economic Justice, Education, and Culture are all declining leading Israel to a future where it is the enemy of the whole Muslim world. This may lead to some cities being blown up and the future for the Israelis is very grim if things do not change.  Reflection: What we've been learning in class is all about how the Palestinians have no future, but here, it actually talks about how the Israelis also do not have too much of a future. More research on each thing that Slater says needs to be furthered in my research because we could use them as negative aspects of the Israeli children's futures.  Questions: What are specific things that are on the decline for the Israeli children's future? What are positive things? Do the Israeli negatives affect the Palestinians?
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