Religious Fact ... a poem

            Religious Fact

Jewish- Christian- Muslim ALL
of the book ALL Abraham's
heirs... ALL of faith
somewhere on our
family tree.

A branch with branches
and twigs and seasons
bringing forth new leaves.

One branch on one tree
in a large orchard of life.

Some where some one
long long ago choose
to believe, to have faith
and to name that faith.

That human being
told true stories to
others. And others
helped spread the word.

Minds and hearts opened
communities grew
and yet
so did divisiveness as we are all
                            only human,

with many loving children
teaching each in turn
phrases to say
and habits to have
shaping human history.

Jewish- Christian- Muslim ALL
of an elaborate world where one by one,
each in our own exclusive way,
we are empowered to decide
who and what to notice
& who and what
to forget.

American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) congratulates Arab America for the outstanding accomplishment in organizing a highly successful event that featured “Arab Idol” Mohammed Assaf and Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury on May 11 2014

Virginia concert حفلة فيرجينيا (42 photos)

***

ATFP Congratulates Arab America

for the Success of Mohammed Assaf Concert

American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) congratulates Arab America for the outstanding accomplishment in organizing a highly successful event that featured “Arab Idol” Mohammed Assaf and Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury on May 11 in Washington, D.C. area. 

ATFP co-sponsored the event in support of the concert’s message of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their steadfastness and perseverance. 

Watch a video of the sponsorship acknowledgment read by Warren David, Arab America President, here.

The 800 attendees of the concert responded enthusiastically to the talents and message of Assaf and Khoury.

Dr. Ziad Asali, ATFP President, and "Arab Idol" Mohammed Assaf meeting after the concert

***

Over 850 Guests Attend Arab America "Ya Hal Arab" Event with Mohammed Assaf and Ziad Khoury


"Ya Hal Arab: A Call for Unity," took place on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at the Waterford-Springfield Banquet Facility in Springfield, Virginia.

Over 850 guests attended the sold out event which featured the Arab Idol and Palestinian Super Star, Mohammed Assaf and the incomparable Lebanese vocalist and Arab Idol finalist, Ziad Khoury.

In addition to Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, attendees from as far away as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina were present.

The evening began with introductions from Emcee Darik Kristofer, On-Air Host at CBS 94.7 Fresh FM. Kristofer who is originally of Palestinian heritage, spoke about his passion to connect with his heritage and there was no better place than the evening’s event. He also spoke of the importance of Arab America and its mission to portray an accurate image of Arab Americans in wake of the negative Arab images portrayed in the media.

He then introduced Arab America President Warren David who spoke of his vision to see Arab America as a place where all Arab Americans regardless of their ethnicity or religion could come together united under one identity. He added that Arab America not only serves Arab Americans but all peoples of diverse backgrounds in America.

David then went on to say, "Tonight we celebrate the unwavering Palestinian unity and determination to see a Palestinian homeland after more than 66 years of occupation!" he concluded, "We hope tonight’s event symbolized through our spirit of unity will bring peace and justice and human dignity to our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Finally, he thanked the many sponsors and advertisers who helped to make this event possible.

Emcee Kristofer then introduced Dr. Amal David, director of community relations at Arab America. With the event falling on Mother's Day, Dr. David read a poem dedicated to mothers by the late renowned Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Each Mother was presented a flower as a symbol of love and respect. She also thanked the 21 volunteers which comprised the host committee for the event.

Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury opened the program with renditions of popular music from Lebanon and the Levant.. His repertoire included several selections of Lebanese folkloric music featuring unparalleled "attabas" which were easily identifiable by the audience and reminiscent of music affecting the richness of Arab music.

Prior to his performance, the Arab Idol, Mohammed Assaf was escorted by a group of community members who jubilantly chanted "zeffi" (a celebration chant) accompanied by Arab drummers.

Assaf's program included a resounding selection of Arab and Palestinian musical selections. Known for his "mawals," the audience witnessed breath taking melismas for which he is famous.

The highlight of his performance was the vocalization of the newly released hit "Ya Halali Ya Mali," The song recently released as a video was filmed at the Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp in Lebanon; it reflects Assaf's commitment to the Palestinian diaspora and his passion to salute Palestinian determination and unity through his music. His performance of the song was accompanied by the "Faris El Layl" dabke troupe coordinated by Mohammad Abou-Elhawa.

Prior to and after the concert, there were numerous exhibits of literature and cultural artifacts from many of the Arab American organizations in the Washington DC area--reaffirming a call for unity and cohesiveness in the Arab American community.

Arab America (www.arabamerica.com) is a national (for-profit) organization founded with the purpose of promoting an accurate image about the Arab American community and the Arab world through digital media, cultural and educational events.

View photos from the event.

Watch video from the event.

***

Mohammed Assaf is UNRWA's first ever Regional Youth Ambassador

As a "child of UNRWA," Mohammed Assaf is the ideal individual to be the first goodwill ambassador in the more than six decades of our history. A Palestine refugee himself, he grew up in the Khan Younis camp in Gaza. Not long ago, he was one of the over 220,000 students attending the Agency's 245 schools in Gaza. For him, the connection continued at home: His mother, too, was an UNRWA teacher. Throughout his childhood – at school, at the doctor's, at community centres – he saw firsthand the work that UNRWA does for Palestine refugees.

Since his appointment in June 2013, by Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi, as the Agency's Regional Youth Ambassador for Palestine Refugees, the 23-year-old Arab Idol winner has used his voice and his talent to help UNRWA give other young people the same support it gave him. With the universal language of his music, he carries the message of UNRWA and young Palestine refugees to new audiences, including in the region – to Dubai and Kuwait – and even further. In November 2013, he took that message to the United States, bringing the voice of Palestine refugee youth to the United Nations in New York City.

UNRWA is unique among UN agencies, both for its long-standing commitment to one group of refugees – the Palestine refugees - and for its direct provision of services including education, health care and relief to those refugees. But being unique doesn't mean that UNRWA can act alone: We have always depended on our partners, including our hosts and donors, to help us best serve Palestine refugees. Now, we are proud also to work with individuals who can add their voice to ours, spreading the word about Palestine refugees and reminding people who may be far away that they are not just a regional concern or a relic of the past.

"And it's up to all of us together."... a Spring poem for Palestine & peace

    
    "And it's up to all of us together."
                 A Spring poem
                                  for Palestine & peace 
 
Young bright things are coming-
stirring the ground, stretching,
reaching into the light and air
youth blossoming
everywhere
for Palestine

Young bright things
being gardens
of and for peace,
of and for decency, dignity and dialogue.

Young bright things
perfecting diplomacy
and Golden Rule thinking
in a modern age
where a whisper here
is heard there and echoed.

Young bright things
mentored by quiet heroes
and the kindness of strangers
through the years
finding the right words
to convey what is and shape
what will be...

Young bright things
infusing beauty with their being
character with their contributions
passion with their energy
imagination
and empathy
for Palestine
and peace.

 poem by Anne Selden Annab

inspiration by ATFP 

& accountability

 "There are innumerable ways we can mobilize for peace.... The most important thing is that these ideas are just the beginning of what is possible. What's really needed is for each and every one of us that prefers a future of peace over conflict to contribute our own individual or collective initiatives to help that make happen. It's up to me. It's up to you. And it's up to all of us together." Tala Haikal

Free to Fund Palestine ... a Growing Gardens for Palestine poem by Anne Selden Annab

'I can see Palestine"

  
    Free to Fund Palestine

Zionism is not my business
and Israel
is not ours to take...
there are citizens there
not all are bigots
not all are cruel.

Zionism belongs to Israelis
whatever Zionism becomes is theirs
to translate or abandon,
to redeem or reject
argue for against about... obsess

Let me be free please
to fund Palestine
and peace...

Free and able to understand
& respect international law
universal human rights
diplomacy
dignity
grace...

Free from religious tyranny
of every type... free from harassment
free from hate campaigns

free from home demolitions
free from forced exile...

Free to influence negotiations
in positive pro-Palestine ways,

free to expect firm borders
where Zionism must stop.

Two sovereign
separate states:

Let refugees return or relocate
with dual citizenship a bridge
between narratives

let Palestine
be Palestine

let Israel
be Israel

and let every citizen
old and new
rise to the challenge

of building community
and a just and lasting
inclusive, fully secular
fully sovereign
fully real
two state peace.

Ibrahim's Estate .... a poem by Anne Selden Annab

       The Promised Land: In Celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
  & Peace Day  

       Ibrahim's Estate

Recognizing rights
basic human rights
the People of the Book-
the Christians and Muslims and Jews
and the People of Outside the Box
looked... They
looked to homelands
looked to citizenship
looked to fair and just laws
to compassion
and empathy
and the Golden Rule...

looked for ways
to make peace
and diplomacy
a daily practice.

Some went astray.
Some waged war
instead of waging peace.

Some grew ugly thoughts
instead of gardens with flowers
to delight the soul and fruit to feed
the hungry.

Some grew selfish and paranoid.
Some grew angry and cruel
Some grew violent.

Bigots & bullies tried to own the story-
to tell it in ways to diminish
and alienate "others"...
to tell it in ways
to spark rage
and arguments...

But the People of the Book-
the Christians and Muslims and Jews
and the People of Outside the Box
taught their children to read
and to think...  to stop look and listen...
and to invest wisely
so that country by country
community by community
we all might be free
as one epic nation
free to flourish
enjoying
Ibrahim's Estate...

This then is the nation
the promised land-
the real estate
agents of Good
keep safe for all to inherit...

No border, no book, no line, no letter
no brick or stone can contain it. No passport
can define it. No one sect
can own it... it is ours
in the largest sense 

It is ours for all
eternity.

I ask you not to bomb ... a poem by Anne Selden Annab

President Barack Obama meets with Members of Congress to discuss Syria in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Sept. 3, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

       I ask you not to bomb

I ask you not to bomb-
all of you
I ask you to pause
think... savor value
treasure life
and the things we have built
the art we have saved
and made part of every day
the books yet to be written
the gardens yet
to be planted

I ask you not to bomb-
all of you
abandon violence
as a tactic... as a goal
be gentle with children-
and cities
be kind to women
and landscapes
be true to men
and diplomacy
be careful with history
and interpretations...

Lead by example

Lead us away from war
away from terror
away from tyrants
who find power
in lies told
to frightened people.

Lead by example
listening
learning dialogue

and calmly walk away
from those who don't.

Lead by example
investing in peace
& hopefully Palestine.

Palestinian Wedding Singer Enchants the World...

Palestinian singer Mohammad Assaf holds a Palestinian flag after he won the title of the television talent show “Arab Idol,” in Beirut, Lebanon. (EPA/MBC PRESS OFFICE)

From the Washington Post: "JERUSALEM — It was a most improbable story of a moonlighting wedding singer from a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, who barged his way into an audition and went on to win hearts across the Middle East — and on Saturday night was declared the winner of the “Arab Idol” singing contest.

Fireworks exploded over the West Bank city of Ramallah and people poured into the streets there and in the Gaza Strip to celebrate what fans called a dream come true for Mohammad Assaf, the fresh-faced 22-year-old college student from Khan Younis.

He closed down his competitors by singing, in English, the Backstreet Boys hit “I Want It That Way.”" Palestinians find an unlikely hero in ‘Arab Idol’ contest show winner

Nominating a hero... Ziad Asali of the American Task Force on Palestine

 
 The 2013 Citizens Medal will recognize “citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” Executive Order 11494 (Nov. 13, 1969). It is generally recognized as the second highest civilian award of our Government.

Explain why your nominee should receive the Citizens Medal based on the criteria outlined here:

Dr. Asali first and foremost sets a good example. He came to this country as a Palestinian refugee and has spent his life becoming a successful and loyal American citizen.

Dr. Ziad J Asali's primary job and career was as a physician. A very successful physician. When he retired he could have chosen to live a private life of leisure, enjoying the pleasures of a loving family and respect from many friends and peers. But instead he stepped up to do something much harder than it might appear- diplomacy for  Palestine and peace. Dr. Asali founded the NGO The American Task Force on Palestine in 2003 http://www.americantaskforce.org/  in hopes of generating mainstream American interest in supporting a two state solution to once and for all end the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Describe the impact that your nominee’s service has had on individuals and/or communities:

The challenges of advocating mainstream support for Palestine here in America are huge. Many who know and care about Palestine have been lead astray by cynicism and negativity and bad arguments.  Far too many wrongly believe that Israel should be or will be destroyed. Some foolishly become puppets and pawns for Islamists and anti-America radicals pretending to care about Palestine. Few have the strength of character and the courage and the wisdom to be both pro-Palestine as well as pro-America.  Dr Asali is very much both pro-Palestine as well as pro-America. 

Dr Asali's leadership and his organization offer a safe harbor and good advice and direction for Americans like me who are sincerely concerned about the very real plight of the Palestinians and American investments abroad.  His focus is on empowering public support for state building efforts for Palestine and negotiations so that Israel and Palestine will be able to live side by side in peace and security. 

I'd also nominate ATFP's Senior Research Fellow Hussein Ibish for the citizen's medal- but Ibish's brilliant work and outreach are his career, a career made possible in part because of Dr. Ziad Asali's valiant efforts and organization.

 

***********

"The only way to honor our tragic histories is to create a future for our children free of man-made tragedy. This means making peace fully, completely and without reservation, between Israel and Palestine." ATFP's Ziad Asali: To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace 

Facebook LIKE ATFP - The American Task Force on Palestine

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To Rise to the Challenge

To Rise to the Challenge

Easy though it is
to idolize the unknown
and unknowable

Easy though it is
to get totally swept up
by clever hype and spin

Easy though it is
to follow a crowd rallied

I'd rather carefully choose
my own heroes...
preferring to pause to admire
men and women of words
and acts
that stand the test of time
& meritocracy...

Role models working hard
examining actual evidence
Listening learning thinkers
who make clear points
sharpening
my own thoughts

Story tellers who step away
from stereotypes...

Honest people
honorable people
real people
who rise to the challenge
of every day
being a little bit different
newly nuanced...

Golden Rule people
who practice what they preach

poem & photo copyright ©2012 Anne Selden Annab

To be clear: Return... a poem by Anne Selden Annab

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

To be clear: Return

How many ways
can analysts & experts
(& echo chambers)
misinterpret- misconstrue-
misrepresent
and mangle
a refugee's inalienable
natural, legal, moral
and necessary
right to return...
and the right to live
free of religious tyranny
and institutionalized bigotry
wherever the individual
might chose to go

How many ways
can the idea of return be bullied
into a bellicose demand on both sides
with idiots itching to impoverish
and erase 'the other'

To be clear: Return
to original homes and lands
or resettle elsewhere.

It really is totally civilized
and right: Return
or relocate...

End the plight and impoverishment
of Palestinians... stop disenfranchising
yet another generation.

End the largest,
longest running refugee crisis
in the world today

Stop the Israel/Palestine conflict

To be clear: Return
or relocate, resettle elsewhere

People need passports
and job opportunities
People need peace
and security

People need the protection
of fair and just laws
and true equality
with the ability to earn respect
and a decent living
no matter what their name
no matter what their religion.

To be clear: Return
or resettle elsewhere
one by one in turn

Return and rebuild a new life
or relocate and rebuild a new life
a private life- a personal life
not as a pawn for war
but as a vital seed for peace
and progress... growing gardens
for Palestine...
A person with roots
and rights- and responsibilities:
One by one, family by family
Man and wife
Return to be Israeli
or relocate to be Palestinian
or move on and away: End the conflict
accept two states and many choices
of nationality.

To be clear: Return...
Return or relocate
to help build a Golden Rule Peace
worldwide where do unto others
as you would have them do unto you
is the guiding principle and goal
for our parents, for ourselves
for our neighbors
for civilization itself
and for all our children
no matter what their name.

poem copyright ©2012 Anne Selden Annab

A Spider Silk Cape... a series of three poems by Anne Selden Annab

To create the textiles, spiders are collected each morning and harnessed in specially conceived silking contraptions. Trained handlers extract the silk from 24 spiders at a time. The spiders are returned to the wild at the end of each day Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

A Spider Silk Cape

If humankind
can conceive of
and make
a spider silk cape...

A million times
lithe Golden Orb spiders
living in the forest in the highlands
of Madagascar carefully-gently caught
for a day, harnessed to spin
their bright golden threads
then released alive
as evening falls...
year after year
eventually
a glorious golden
brocade embroidered.

If humankind can cherish art
and build museums for all to enjoy

If humankind
can sow and harvest wheat
make bread, grow grapes-
make wine

If humankind can remember goodness
and create jobs each with a living wage

If humankind can carefully, conscientiously craft
a Universal Declaration of Human Rights

If humankind can raise our children
to nurture their gifts and good relationships

If humankind can envision
and invest in environmentally friendly cities
with greenbelts and rooftop gardens

Surely we can also somehow shape
a just and lasting peace
in and for the Middle East

PART II
Two States: One Israel, One Palestine

Two states
One Israel, One Palestine
to be a modern marriage
making dreams come true:
Two individuals able to each
speak their own language
pursue their own dreams
build their own sanctuaries
and museums and news...

Two states
to be the Golden Rule
whereas do unto others
as you would have them do unto you
is the guiding principle
and cherished goal.

Two states to explore the compelling wisdom
of we, and the pivotal importance of us (and them)
working side by side each in our own sphere
to lovingly parent a future together... or weave a spider silk cape...
or repair a stairway... or build a car... or harvest an orchard...
empowering full and equal citizens and progress as civic rights
and responsibilities become more and more inclusive
and important.

Two states sovereign
each in their own realms
each in their own spheres

Two states to respect
the need for borders
the need for compromise
the need for language
the need for kindness
the need for compassion
the need for diplomacy
the need for honesty
the need for civilized conversations
the need for decent jobs
and the need for the rule of law
fair and just laws... the need for peace
and security
for every home and family.

Let the refugees return
to either be Israeli
or Palestinian
or Israeli-Palestinian or Palestinian-Israeli
or Palestinian-American...etc...
each in turn choosing
who they want to be
and where they want to build a life
for life moves on continuously changing
and our parents' choices
can make all the difference.

PART III
A Golden Rule Peace

In an interconnected
global world
we are the spider silk cape
we are the golden glow
of good intentions
and careful craftsmanship
appreciated...

Art and history and math and science
in dialog- to be synergy
and dedication
as glorious dreams are caught
and recreated
for today's world
with today's tools
sharing bits of light
and shadow
to reveal
the best that we can find
in our own memories
fingering a fabric
and recalling a mood

The forest is in the weave
and the airlines it took
to transport, the sunrises and rainbows
and oceans and streets, the accents
and languages and all
and all earth's beauty caught
strand by strand
woven
and embroidered
to entrance
an audience
willing to believe.

Our parents' choices
(and our own)
can make all the difference.

poem copyright ©2012 Anne Selden Annab