Arabs Archives

Journalists and elected officials celebrate Arab American Heritage Month

April 22, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Journalists and elected officials celebrate Arab American Heritage Month The Arab American Democratic Club hosted a forum of journalists and elected officials and community leaders on Thursday April 22, 2021 to discuss both Ramadan and Arab American Heritage Month (April). The panel included a video message offering both Ramadan Kareem messages and a celebratory salute…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

New poll shows Lipinski leading in March 17 Congressional battle

January 25, 2020January 26, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

New poll shows Lipinski leading in March 17 Congressional battle A recent poll by a national polling company shows Dan Lipinski leading challenger Marie Newman in the March 17 Democratic Primary election, and two other candidates, Rush Darwish and Charles Hughes trailing far behind with 2 percent and 1 percent of the vote respectively. By…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

I don’t need a day to remember my father

June 18, 2019July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

I don’t need a day to remember my father George John Hanania was a great guy and a phenomenal father, for the 16 years that I knew him. My dad fled the Holy Land in 1926 to get away from the hatred that consumed both Arabs and Jews. An older brother Joseph drowned in the…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Features, Opinion, rayhanania, Veterans

The “Ricketts affair,” double standards and media hypocrisy

February 16, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

The “Ricketts affair,” double standards and media hypocrisy The criticism of Joe Ricketts and the attacks against the Chicago Cubs reflect the twisted, distorted form of public justice that has corrupted today’s society. It also displays the hypocrisy of some of the politicians like Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who have exploited the incident for personal…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil

December 18, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil Protestors have been disrupting meetings of the Palos Township board for nearly 18 months as a part of a political strategy devised by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to undermine her anti-tax critics led by County Commissioner Sean Morrison. They are targeting Sharon Brannigan out of…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

The Israeli Palestinian Comedy Tour overview

July 30, 2018April 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Israeli Palestinian Comedy Tour overview The Israeli Palestinian Comedy Tour was co-founded by Palestinian Ray Hanania and Israeli Charley Warady. It included Jewish American comedian Aaron Freeman and Israeli comedian Yisrael Campbell. The group performed comedy shows before live audiences throughout Israel in 2007 including in West Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Jaffa, Hebron, Tel Aviv,…

Entertainment, Features

Pretend interview with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

July 21, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pretend interview with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel I’ve covered six Chicago Mayors since 1976 including Mayors Richard J. Daley, Michael A. Bilandic, Jane M. Byrne, Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley. But I have yet to get Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to allow me to interview him, despite numerous requests. What’s the excuse…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Nearly every congressman, candidate has taken money from AIPAC

March 23, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Nearly every congressman, candidate has taken money from AIPAC In the heated battle for the 3rd Congressional District in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary, which has one of the largest concentrations of Arab American voters in the country, incumbent conservative Dan Lipinski squeaked out a slim victory over liberal challenger Marie Newman. For the…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, National, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Brannigan vows to stand up to bullies, work for Township

March 22, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Brannigan vows to stand up to bullies, work for Township Palos Township Trustee distributes newsletter vowing to stand up to the small group of bullies who have been disrupting Township board meetings over opinion comments she posted on her Facebook page critical of immigration that some accused of being “racist.” Brannigan apologized for the comments…

Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pritzker, Brannigan and the “politics” of apologies

February 8, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pritzker, Brannigan and the “politics” of apologies Some Arab American and Muslim activists have launched a vicious campaign against Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan who expressed opinions critical of the “Middle Eastern” community that they claimed were racist. Brannigan apologized three times but they refused to accept her apology. However, J.B. Pritzker slammed Muslims as…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs?

December 9, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs? The recent personal attacks against a trustee in Palos Township has sparked a discussion about who are the Arabs of Chicagoland. I have spent most of my life studying and writing about the American Arab community, authoring dissertations and studies on them at Northern Illinois and the…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Features, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Kennedy will respect Arabs, Muslims as Illinois governor

September 16, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 6 Comments

Kennedy will respect Arabs, Muslims as Illinois governor Illinois gubernatorial candidate Christopher Kennedy told a gathering of influential Arab and Muslim community activists Saturday that he would defend their rights as Americans and respect their cultural and religious identities. Kennedy said when his family immigrated to America, they faced the same racism and discrimination now…

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