Issues in Politics
Muslims in the US and abroad praise Barack Obama’s speech in Turkey
US President Barack Obama is winning praise from many Muslims across the Middle East, United States, and elsewhere for his outreach to their religion and its people. For the Islamic world, Obama’s comments are like “a fresh breeze” and are ushering in a new wave of optimism concerning US-Muslim relations. In his visit to Turkey,…
The San Francisco Gate examines: Will Obama’s words matter to the Muslim world?
President Obama has been criticized for his approach to the Muslim world prior to his visit to Turkey, by those who see Obama’s promise to open a dialogue with the Muslim world as endemic of being soft on terrorism. Yet, others wonder why the president would waste time on words and glowing speeches, when imported…
German-born woman runs for Indonesian Parliament
A German-born woman is running for parliament in Indonesia. Petra Odebrecht has lived in Indonesia for 20 years and wants to represent the resort island of Bali. The 42-year-old, blue-eyed blond from Hamburg called the world’s third-largest democracy “a work in progress.” When Odebrecht recently visited a factory, workers asked her for money, the candidate…
Behind Obama’s speech to the Muslim world
When President Obama visits Turkey early next month, some observers are expecting he will use the occasion to deliver on his promise to deliver a major foreign policy speech from a Muslim nation in his first 100 days. But indications are that he will not give the speech in Turkey. The White House and State…
Muslim candidates in Southeast L.A. County objects of defaming, vandalism
The cities of Bell and Cudahy in Southeast Los Angeles county, which have fought with corruption and bruising politics for years, are now suffering from defamatory attacks towards Muslim candidates for city council. Hussein Chahine and Ali Saleh are two of such candidates, who have been smeared as terrorists in addition to having their homes…