Protest President Bush by mailing your shoes to the White House

I just came back from the post office and mailed an old pair of shoes to President Bush at the White House in protest of his policies.

Arab journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Kanye West of the Arab World, has started a trend that I think is great. Let's face it, he didn't go there and blow himself up. That's progress in a region where violencebecomes the protest form of choice.

But al-Zaidi, who was brutalized by guards (one reportedly yelling not to kick him in the face"), is a hero. Instead of violence, he used a cultural form of protest that is popular in the Arab World, and that one many American came to know when American soldiers during the invasion of Iraq, pulled down the statue of Saddam Hussein in front of one of the dictator's palaces in Baghdad, (trying to make it look like the "people" did it) and then those civilians who were brought there by the military started to express their disdain for Saddam Hussein in the way they knew best, by throwing their shoes at the statue.

How ironic that more than five years later, Iraqis are now throwing their shoes at President Bush?

And I want to help, as a fellow Arab American journalist who believes that violence is NEVER the right choice, NEVER a good choice, and NEVER a strategy for success, the symbolic throwing of my shoes at Bush (courtesy of the US Postal Service) is the most powerful expression of free speech today against the Iraq war possible.

I hope you will join me and others.

Here is the information on the White House, where to mail your packages:

The White House
President Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington DC., 20500

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Cab drivers to protest Daley and city demanding "fare reforms"

WHAT: Cabdrivers gather to demand “fare” reforms, meeting with Daley
WHERE: City Hall, 5th floor (In front of Daley’s office)
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST – Cabdrivers Media Statement AT 11:30 AM
ATTN PHOTO EDITORS: ROLLING OUT 40 FOOT CARPET OF PETITIONS – “DALEY, DON’T TREAD ON CABDRIVERS”


For Immediate Release Contact: Prateek Sampat, AFSC – 847-340-1658 (cell)
Facing long hours & low wages, Taxi Drivers threaten strike over “fare” reforms
Drivers submit petitions to City Council for 16% fare increase & demand Mayor Daley meet cabdrivers to negotiate on key reforms in the taxi industry

CHICAGO- With skyrocketing fuel costs, costs of living, and maintenance costs, taxi drivers are demanding a 16% fare increase, amongst other reforms. The cabdrivers will be announcing the possibility of a strike at the press conference, if Mayor Daley refuses to meet over the proposed reforms. They will be also be submitting petitions representing more than a thousand cabdrivers, on Wednesday, initiating a legally-binding process that will lead to hearings at City Hall within 60 days. (MCC 9-112-510(c))

“The taxi industry needs to be reformed from the bottom up- and nobody knows about the taxi business more than the cabdrivers,” says UTCC’s Chair Fayez Khozindar. “If the mayor will not give us the opportunity to be partners, then we will call the strike.”

Drivers say that the current Daley-backed gas surcharge of $1, which has been in effect since May, has done little to provide relief. “It does not sufficiently address our needs- what we face is not just the gas prices- our everyday cost of living is skyrocketing,” says Ron Florence, spokesman of UTCC.

Drivers favor a solution they believe adequately addresses their concerns- a permanent fare increase. Driver group United Taxidrivers Community Council (UTCC) favors a more comprehensive approach to the fare problem. The group calls on a permanent 16% fare increase that would provide some income for the cash-shorted drivers.

“We’re fed up with the working conditions we face which are making us work 12-16 hour days to make the same money we are making 3.5 years ago when we got our last increase,” says Peter Enger, another member of UTCC. It has been documented by UTCC that cabdriver income averages a $5.77 an hour, well below minimum wage, and the average shift is 12 hours and 20 minutes.

Florence insists that the Mayor Daley can stop a potential strike: “The decision maker, here, is the city- the city should provide a seat at the table for the taxi drivers to negotiate about matters affecting their jobs.“

Another key reform drivers are demanding is a biennial (every two years) review of rates of fare, based upon cost of living and cost of driving, and incremental fare increases on the basis of the findings. Other key reforms are a freeze of their lease rates & investigation of illegal leasing practices, restoration of meter & half rates to Skokie, Burbank & Elk Grove Village.
CABDRIVERS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
Fayez Khozindar – Chairperson, UTCC – 312-343-5831; Peter Enger – Member, UTCC – 773-550-7921;
Ron Florence – Spokesperson, UTCC – 773-682-0265

WHAT: Cabdrivers gather to demand “fare” reforms, meeting with Daley
WHERE: City Hall, 5th floor (In front of Daley’s office)
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST – Cabdrivers Media Statement AT 11:30 AM
ATTN PHOTO EDITORS: ROLLING OUT 40 FOOT CARPET OF PETITIONS – “DALEY, DON’T TREAD ON CABDRIVERS”

Revisiting the Orland Park Mosque Controversy

About four years ago on June 21, 2008, residents of Orland Park crammed the Orland Park Civic Center when the Village Board convened a meeting to discuss a proposal to build an Islamic house of worship, a Mosque, in Orland Park. This was one of several meetings that had been held to allow public input that ranged from anger to understanding.


It was one of the most ugly scenes I had ever witnessed. Residents who "testified" against the Mosque plan said that if they build it, Osama Bin Laden would come to Orland Park and murder Americans there.


The Mosque was built. No one has been murdered. But the anger is still alive.


Here is a video news documentary that I produced, in two parts, that examines the controversy from all sides and documents testimony delivered at the public meeting that day.


Part I: "Eyes of the Beholder: The Orland Park Mosque Controversy"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-450509063223866911


Part II: "Eyes of the Beholder: The Orland Park Mosque Controversy"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5880089403176906085

Ray Hanania
www.TheMediaOasis.com