Stories about North America from September, 2009
USA: Use of the Term “Illegal Immigrant”
Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista takes a look at President Obama's recent use of the term “illegal immigrant,” and his change from earlier usage of “undocumented immigrant,” and what the ramifications.
USA: 30 New York Mosques in 30 Days
Two young men in New York City, Aman Ali and Bassam Tariq, are nearing the end of their journey to document visits to "30 mosques in 30 days" on their blog of the same name.
Arab Diaspora: Shall I Marry a Non-Arab?
Arab women living in diaspora have hard questions to answer. Should they marry non-Arabs, non-Muslims or converts to Islam? Palestinian blogger Mona, who lives in Canada and blogs at Rebellious Arab Girl, opens a can of worms when she asks these questions in a post, which has attracted 162 comments so far.
USA: Latinos on the passing of Ted Kennedy
Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy’s passing on August 25, 2009 has stirred a flurry of blog posts among the Latino community in the United States, since the late Kennedy was a vocal ally on immigrant rights.
Arab World: Healing the Rifts of 9/11
As the United States remembers the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001, the rest of the world is remembering too. For many Arabs, that day marked a change in mutual perception. It fundamentally changed how the world perceives Arabs and how Arabs see the world.
Palestine: The 9/11 Industry
While Katrina is a distant memory, the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks on the US is being used to fuel a “9/11 industry,” writes Al Falasteeniya.
Bahrain: Remembering 9/11
American Vernishia Renee, who is based in Bahrain with the US military, reflects on the anniversary of 9/11: “Today, it’s a new day in Bahrain…they say it’s safe enough for dependents to come back to stay BUT it’s not safe enough to commemorate the events and the fallen from 9/11...
India: Lisa Ray's Blog On Living With Cancer
Santosh informs that Bollywood celebrity Lisa Ray has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and has started to blog about her battle with the disease.
Tribute To The Bangladeshis Killed in 9/11
M. Tawsif Salam at The Writers Club pays tribute to the Bangladeshi victims of the September 11 (9/11) attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City by publishing their photos and short biographies.
Trinidad & Tobago: “Soccer” Warriors
As Trinidad and Tobago's hopes of making it to the 2010 World Cup are further dimmed by the team's loss against the U.S.A. yesterday, B.C. Pires says: “It’s not so much a cry of, ‘Ye of little faith!’ as one of ‘We of much experience’.”
Palestine: Travelers Say Israel is Illegally Denying Access
Travelers to the Palestinian West Bank are now facing new restrictions. Visas obtained from Israeli consulates for their visit are stamped "Palestinian Authority areas only" in violation of the 1995 Oslo II Accords which allow unhindered movement for foreign travelers to Israel. Jillian C. York reports.
Jamaica, Barbados: Sandiford Speaks
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp features writer Robert Sandiford in his own words.
Egypt: US “Activist” Travis Randall Deported
American journalist Travis Randall has been denied entry to Egypt and then deported. Bloggers react to his treatment in this round up of posts by Marwa Rakha.
Barbados: Hearings on Tourist Murder Begin
As the preliminary hearing into the murder of tourist Terry Schwarzfeld begins (to no local press coverage), Barbados Free Press says it is a “poor show all around by our police, government and tourism authorities.”
France: Secularity, Required for Democracy and Human Rights
The French concept of the secular seems so distinctive that even the English-language Wikipedia's entry on the issue uses the French term, laïcité, worded in French, to describe it. Suzanne Lehn explains the very different ways bloggers in the US and France view the separation of church and state.
A Guide to Blogging about Life with HIV/AIDS
In recognition of the hundreds of HIV-positive bloggers chronicling their lives worldwide, a group of online activists affiliated with Rising Voices have created a new guide to blogging about HIV/AIDS.
Trinidad & Tobago: Get A Plan
Trin wonders whether an approach like Florida's 10-20-Life Program, which proposed the toughest gun-crime law in the U.S., could work as a viable part of Trinidad and Tobago's crime plan.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Obama's Order
Writing for Havana Times, Circles Robinson reports that U.S. President Obama has finally signed the order allowing Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba and send money more easily to family members – but adds: “Nonetheless, the Obama administration maintains the nearly 50-year economic blockade on Cuba that has greatly hurt the...
USA: Deportations Feared as New School Year Begins
A proposed bill that would resolve the legal status of approximately 65,000 undocumented students in the United States is still in limbo as another school year begins this month.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Sanctions & Human Rights
Along the Malecon and Repeating Islands both refer to an Amnesty International report which calls for the lifting of US sanctions against Cuba.
Korea: Kim Jong-Il's “kitsch” taste in art?
Ask a Korean! questions the bias interpretation made by Wall Street Journal on Kim Jong-Il's “kitsch” taste in art.
