altmuslim

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Monday, January 10, 2005

Buying Into HBO's Hard "Cell"

After the September 11th attacks, many couldn't be faulted for thinking that it was only a matter of time before Hollywood dealt with the American psyche by creating a series of Jerry Bruckheimer-style revenge fantasies. Instead (and thankfully), the reaction from major film studios has been muted... Sign in to see full entry.

As Tsunami Death Toll Rises, Muslims Respond To Call For Aid

Sixty-year-old Soltima Bibi's hut, like every one of the 400 huts in this predominantly Muslim fishing hamlet on the southern India coastline, was flattened by Sunday's tsunami that has killed nearly 70,000 people. Indonesian fisherman Muktarudin Daud watched helplessly as village children roamed... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, December 27, 2004

The I-Economy: Any Substance Behind The Show?

This week, construction began in Dubai on the ultimate minaret: the Burj Dubai, a 160-story skyscraper that hopes to be the world's tallest building by far - twice as high as Chicago's Sears Tower and 1000 feet taller than New York's Freedom Tower (and they're digging extra deep foundations in case... Sign in to see full entry.

The First Annual Brass Crescent Awards for the Islamic Blogsphere

In recognition of the growing talent and creativity of the Islamic blogosphere, alt.muslim and City of Brass are hosting the First Annual Brass Crescent Awards. The Brass Crescent Awards are named for the Story of the City of Brass in the Thousand and One Nights. Today, the Islamsphere is forging a... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Despite Popular Belief, Islam's Not The Grinch That Stole Christmas

"Merry Christmas" has given way to "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings", and many Christians aren't too happy about Christmas' increasing secularization. They cite the banning of public nativity displays, curtailing of Christmas carols with religious themes, and even the banning of the "C-word"... Sign in to see full entry.

Window Display Brings Muslims & Jews Together

The Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Anti-Defamation League have spent much of the past decade sniping at each other, but the emergence of a hateful window display by a member of the Jewish Defense League brought the two groups together last week for a common denunciation. Of... Sign in to see full entry.

Will Record Terrorism Judgement Make A Difference?

A court awarded a record $156 million in a summary judgement against an Illinois based group, the Quranic Literacy Institute (although only $4-7 million may ultimately be collected by the government). The judge, Arlander Keys, tripled the $52 million award after adding three other defendants... Sign in to see full entry.

Dropping Bombs of a Different Sort

This year, as tensions have increased in southern Thailand between the government and regional Muslims, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been criticized for his heavy handed approach to the problem, as evidenced by the deaths of over 80 protestors in October. Shinawatra dismissed such criticism... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, December 5, 2004

Kashmir Still Boiling On The Back Burner

In the background of continuing Middle East violence, the 50+ year-old conflict in Kashmir continues to languish in the back pages of the world's newspapers. This, despite being a potential powder keg between two nuclear powers, not to mention another terrorism " honey pot ". However, there has been... Sign in to see full entry.

">New Network Builds Bridges By Cable and Satellite

Three years in the making, American Muslim-oriented Bridges TV began broadcasting this week with an initial 50,000 cable and satellite TV subscribers (there is a live internet stream if you want a preview), following a press conference in Buffalo, NY where organizers invited both Christian and... Sign in to see full entry.

Shakespeare In The Service Of Islam?

If all the Muslim urban legends were compiled into a book (and a very big book that would be), the heart of it would be the claim that Shakespeare was a "secret Muslim", whose real name is something like "Shaykh Zubair" or "Shaykh Al-Sapir" or a variation thereof. But regardless of Shakespeare's... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, November 26, 2004

Born In Controversy: The Progressive Muslim Union

They're mostly young, mostly urban, and they're tired of the traditional Muslim leadership in North America. They've worked on issues of women's access in mosques, debated homosexuality within Islam, and addressed international issues where Muslims aren't necessarily on the "good" side. They share... Sign in to see full entry.

Shakespeare In The Service Of Islam?

If all the Muslim urban legends were compiled into a book (and a very big book that would be), the heart of it would be the claim that Shakespeare was a "secret Muslim", whose real name is something like "Shaykh Zubair" or "Shaykh Al-Sapir" or a variation thereof. But regardless of Shakespeare's... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Fallujah Metal Jacket: A City Sacrificed For... Something

Nearly two weeks after US forces surged into the Iraqi city of Fallujah, purported hiding place of arch-beheader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the city is under US control (or maybe not?) and in ruins. Aid supplies have been prevented from reaching helpless civilians (men aged 15-50 were not allowed to... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, November 14, 2004

So The Election Is Over - Now What?

The presidency is officially a moot issue until 2008. But it wasn't the only race I cared about. In California we wrestled with a senate seat, our congressional delegation, every seat in the assembly, stem cell research, gambling expansion, three-stikes reform, local tax initiatives, mayoral races,... Sign in to see full entry.

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