I Will Not Hate, I Will Hope

By Bill Sorem

Dr. Izzaldin Abuelaish appeared at a book signing at the University of Minnesota last Thursday for his book I Will Not Hate. Dr. Abuelaish, now an obstetrician at the University of Toronto, was a physician at a Hospital in Tel Aviv, making him the first Gazan MD to practice in an Israeli hospital. In January 2009, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shell hit his home in Gaza, killing three of his daughters, Bessan, Aya and Mayar, and his niece, Noor. This was in response to a Hamas rocket firing.

As the reality hit him he cried out, “Why did they do this?” He had dedicated his life to medicine and was a one-man force to bring Gazans for treatment in Israel in addition to treating all of his Israeli patients. He was one of the few Gazans with a permit to enter Israel. Abuelaish realized his pain could not be expressed as hate, and continues his bridge building. Thus, his book, I Will Not Hate. His website, “DaughtersFoLife.com,”eloquently tells his story and the good he believes will come out of his experience.
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Mustafa Returns Home With New Leg, New Hope

By Bill Sorem

Mustafa Al-Tameeni, an energetic 8-year old, returned to his home in Najaf, Iraq, and to his father and five siblings. Mustafa has a new leg and a new hope for his life in the war-torn country. He and his mother, Shaymaa Hasan, came to Minnesota last September for help in repairing his body. His departure was delayed two days until a friend from Iraq went to the airport in Dubai, and bought him two tickets for the final leg from Dubai to Baghdad. Delta Airlines needed proof that Mustafa and Shaymaa had ongoing passage from Dubai before they would let them board in Minneapolis. While here, Mustafa captured the hearts of all who met him, and his bubbling personality denied the severity of his physical damage. However, a one-legged man faces a grim outlook in today’s Iraq.

In 2009 Mustafa was injured in an electric fire caused by Iraq’s crumbling power grid — collateral damage from the U.S. war there. He was treated by the decimated Iraq medical system (more collateral damage) and his right leg was amputated, he lost two toes from his left foot, and his left arm was severely damaged by the fire and the care he received afterward. … Continue Reading

Snow Pyramid Honors Egypt Revolution

By Bill Sorem
When a group of Egypt supporters arrived at the Minnesota State Capitol on Friday to celebrate the fall of Hosni Mubarak, they were greeted with a snow pyramid on the Capitol lawn. A rough snow mound had been converted to a pyramid by some energetic friends of the Arab world’s largest country. The crowd reflected the joy in the accomplishment of some very dedicated Egyptian people and optimism in the continued spread of democracy throughout the world.

In just 18 days, a few hundred thousand dedicated and brave but ordinary Egyptians succeeded in overthrowing a dictator who had maintained power for 30 years. Contrast that with the U.S. wars to spread democracy that have cost us trillions of dollars, killed thousand,s and have yielded few tangible results after over nine years. Thoughtful people know this is just the beginning. The road to true democracy is long and arduous, but it has begun for the Egyptian people.

Trying To Shut The Door On Torture…One Postcard At A Time

By Bill Sorem
Minneapolis, MN, February 7, 2011. The Tackle Torture at the Top committee of WAMM (Women Against Military Madness) set up shop in the Hennepin Country Government Center and offered post cards to people to sign, The cards were addressed to a variaety of public figures, President Obama, Attorney General Holder, Senator Al Franken, Representative Keith Ellison etc. The objective was to keep the pressure on our government to repudiate torture as an instrument of national policy and to prosecute those guilty of ordering torture. This was the ninth anniversary of the George Bush order setting aside the Geneva Conventions and opening the door to torture. Bush recently bragged about this decision while on his book tour.

At the end of the lunch hour about 250 cards had been collected and they will be sent on by mail.

Minneapolis UK Consul Ducks Assange Letter

A small group of peace activists from Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) had an appointment at 4:30 p.m. today with the British Honorary Consul at US Bancorp Center, 800 on The Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The appointment had been reconfirmed several times. When the group arrived at the building they were met by 12-15 police and security guards who barred their entry into the building. A security fence had been set up on the sidewalk. The group was told that the entire 26th floor had been evacuated at 4 p.m., making theor 4:30 appointment null and void.

The purpose of the meeting was to deliver a letter with over 750 signatures asking the British Government to observe their own laws prohibiting political extradition in the case of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange. Various news sources have claimed that the proposed extradition is being pushed by the United States so that, once Assange is in Sweden, the U.S. can grab him for rendition or for trial with a possible death penalty. Other reports, Reuters.

Apparently, the fear of this letter provoked the over-reactive security response by the Consul and the building’s management. Instead, the letter with signatures will be personally delivered at some future time without advance appointment. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., a copy of the Minnesota letter was delivered directly to the British Embassy at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time today.

Minnesotans Continue to Support Egyptian People

Sensing they were taking part in a monumental moment in history, Minnesotans gathered on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol on Friday afternoon to show solidarity with the people of Egypt. Many Americans are puzzled by the events transpiring in the Arab world’s most populous nation. There is a realization of the historical magnitude of what is happening, but Americans have become accustomed to our support of ruthless dictators. Egyptian-Americans and others from the Arab world have a clearer understanding of the underlying forces in play in the region — to a large degree through the coverage of the Gulf television station, Al Jazeera. Watch Al Jazeera in English, online, here.

The speakers in St. Paul reflected the commonality of the peace campaigns and the struggles for freedom in Iraq, Palestine and other countries in the Arab World as well as Egypt. The Egyptian government succeeded last week in temporarily shutting down Internet access — with the aid of Boeing subsidiary Narus of Sunnyvale, Calif. Nevertheless, attendees at the rally reported that they were once again able to contact their families in Egypt. The world continues to watch the resilience and courage of the Egyptian people and remains apprehensive about the communication control methods now available to any government, including that of the United States.

President Obama and Prime Minister Harper Speak to the Press

President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks to the press on the topic of trade between Canada and the United States, as well as the situation in Egypt, where Obama has reportedly pressured dictator Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately.

Minnesotans Join “Million Man March” in Solidarity with Egypt

A diverse group of protesters rallied in front of the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul yesterday to demonstrate solidarity with the Egyptian people and to participate in the worldwide Million Man March. The Egyptian revolt started Jan. 25 in Cairo, and it has grown every day since. The people demand an end to the 30-year reign of Hosni Mubarak. The protests are the largest in Egypt since the bread riots in 1977, four years before Mubarak came to power. As the largest Arab country, the outcome in Egypt may have ramifications across the Arab Middle East. Mubarak is reportedly willing to step down but not until September — and that doesn’t satisfy the demands of the protesters in Egypt.

Today, Mubarak’s armed gangs have attacked. There are reports of hundreds injured in Tahrir Square and at least six killed, one of them a cousin of a demonstrator here in St. Paul. Whereas the previous Minnesota protest at the State Capitol was comprised largely of Americans of Middle Eastern descent, yesterday’s rally attracted many different groups, all of whom supported the Egyptian people’s action.

Gibbs Addresses White House Press About Egypt Demonstrations

As pro-Mubarak gangs attacked demonstrators in Tahrir Square in Cairo, White House press spokesperson Robert Gibbs addressed the unfolding situation in Egypt and faced a barrage of questions about how far the Obama administration will push Hosni Mubarak.

Humphrey Institute’s Ragui Assaad Discusses Egypt

What’s next for Egypt? Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs professor Ragui Assaad (who’s been quoted extensively in the New York Times’ Egypt coverage in recent days) leads a discussion at the University of Minnesota.