Riverside Edition

October 2001

Arab-American magazine bridges East & West

by Elaine Klaassen

    I am reading an Arab-American literary publication called MIZNA. In an issue published at the beginning of the year 2000, Steven Salaita, born in West Virginia to a Jordanian father, writes about the day the government building in Oklahoma was bombed. “I recall with an almost unbearable guilt, for instance, that when hearing about the Oklahoma City bombing, my first thought was, ‘Please, for the grace of God, don’t let an Arab be responsible for this.’”
    (And it wasn’t. It was a white guy from Kansas. Did everybody get scared after that every time they stepped into an elevator full of white people? Did they think, “Maybe there’s a Timothy McVeigh in here?”)
    To be Arab American is not the same as being Arab or being American. The stories of the unique Arab-American experience are spun out and set down in the pages of MIZNA, which has been published in Minneapolis three times a year since 1999. Poetry, short stories and essays are by writers of Arab descent born in the United States, writers born in Arab countries who now have U.S. citizenship, writers born in Arab countries who come to live here for extended stays, and writers who have consciously decided to join the Arab world such as converts to Islam or activists for justice in Palestine and Iraq. Not all of them know the Arabic language, some are Christian, some are Muslim. Countries of origin or influence represented are Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, India, Syria, Palestine, Pakistan, Jordan and Morocco. They reflect an enormous variety of knowledge.
    For Americans of all kinds who want to get closer to the complexity of the Arab world, MIZNA is a good place to start. For Arab Americans who struggle to balance the East and the West within themselves, MIZNA is an ideal forum. One of the salient themes presented is identity—the question of how and where an Arab American will belong. Susan Bassam Muaddi describes her solo visit to Palestine, the land of her parents, in 1998: “So my story is neither that of a ‘lost Arab American’ discovering her roots nor of an uncaring Arab embracing her history and the legacy of her people. That would be a far too simple tale. Mine is one of a Palestinian American finally understanding what ‘exile’ means and discovering whether or not Palestine would ever accept her.”
    Stories about being accepted in the United States are by far more frequent in MIZNA entries. In “The First Memory: A Bluefield Boyhood,” Steven Salaita describes the prejudice he experienced because he looked different and he brought grape leaves for lunch instead of bologna sandwiches. Alia Yunis’ desire to fit in is recreated in a very funny story, “A Minnesota Christmas,” in which she longs for processed packaged foods and tries to convince her parents to buy into a commercial Christmas. While her mother doesn’t approve, she also defends her daughter’s desires. “It’s this overindulged, materialistic society we live in. I don’t want her to feel like she’s not a part of it.” The most scathing indictments of prejudice in its most subtle forms—what it feels like to be on the receiving end—are by Nahid Khan, “I Speak English, Therefore I Am,” and “To Be a Muslim in Minnesota.”
    Since Sept. 11, to be Arab American—or an Arab in America—is unsettling, to say the least. Kathryn Haddad, executive director of MIZNA, who teaches nonwestern literature at John F. Kennedy high school in Bloomington, said an Arab friend of hers wondered why he had to preface everything he said with a comment about the travesty and tragedy of the World Trade Center. It should go without saying that every decent human being considers it a travesty and a tragedy.
    Haddad said there is fear among Arab Americans. Not only are Arab Americans vulnerable, but anyone who even looks Arab is vulnerable. She has noticed that an Asian Muslim woman whom she has seen walking to and from the bus for several years has removed the scarf that identifies her as a Muslim. There is fear all around. Haddad knew of two instances where the widespread fear of Arab terrorists was translated into violence. An Arab friend of hers said a longtime co-worker told him, “Shut up you dirty Arab,” when he offered a suggestion in a problem-solving session at work.
    More seriously violent was the shooting death in Arizona of an Indian Sikh who was wearing a turban and taken to be an Arab. There have been reports throughout the country of attacks against Indian Sikhs who stand out because of their traditional turbans and beards.
    Although Haddad is an American born U.S. citizen, she said she feels like the flag-flying means “they want to go to war and we are the number one target here.”
    Haddad has been to Palestine twice (where she studied Arabic), to Egypt once and, finally, just this past summer, to her father’s homeland, Lebanon, where he lived through the civil war as he was growing up. She was surprised by how emotional the trip was.     She maintains strong ties to family in Lebanon and to friends in Palestine. Occasional phone calls from Palestine give her cause for thankfulness. “Oh good, that person’s still alive.”
    Haddad is a playwright and essayist who has won numerous grants and awards. Her short story published in MIZNA, “Kathreen Beiruti,” portrays an Arab American teenage girl imagining what her life would be like as a Lebanese girl.
    Besides identity, suffering and familial tenderness are strong themes in the MIZNA writings. For example, a poem, “Coming to the city,” by Mohja Kahf is quietly tragic. Sidi Cherkawi Benzahra, a doctoral candidate in nuclear physics from Morocco who writes for fun, presents two stories, peculiar, funny tributes to an amazing mother, “Death of a Witch” and “Of Turkey and Chicken.”
    MIZNA was incorporated in 1998. Before that, Haddad was president of the Minnesota American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee. One of her jobs was to put out a newsletter of events. People started writing literary pieces for it and the newsletter got longer and longer. The national office always wanted to review it before it went to press but the Minnesota ADC didn’t want the intrusion. So they started a literary magazine. It is the only magazine of its kind in the United States. Its supporters are political activists, scholars, literature lovers, people of color and religious people such as priests and unitarians.
    Lisa Adwan, editor of MIZNA, is an Italian American who adopted the Arab world as her own a long time ago. As a college French major in the early ‘90s, she spent a year in Paris where there is a huge Arab population. She is now head over heels in love with the Arab world and, as editor of MIZNA, wants other people to feel the same way. She wants people to know about the things she values in Arab culture: hospitality, sincerity, frankness and passion. Her essays in MIZNA have been about her two trips to Iraq: “Iraq’s Agony, My Shame” and “Abu Hassan.”
    I first met Lisa at the beginning of the year 2000 when I wrote in Southside Pride about the weekly vigil for Iraq held on the Lake Street Bridge. The striking part of the story that stays with me is the message she brought back from the Iraqi people. They expressed faith that once the American people knew what was happening to them (because of U.S. and U.K. sanctions), things would change. People begged her, “Please tell my story to the American people.”
    Lisa would like to see the events of Sept. 11 “seized as an opportunity to discuss America’s foreign policy in the Middle East,” a discussion she has pushed the U.S. to have for years.
    Her husband Jehad Adwan, a Palestinian Ph.D. nursing student with a Fulbright scholarship to the U of M ., said, “With this wave of patriotism, will anyone listen? The Congress and population say they’ll stand behind whatever the president does.”
    Jehad and Lisa have personally experienced no backlash since Sept. 11. They attribute it to the fact that they both move within an academic setting which, in general, is more open-minded.
    Jehad obviously loves his culture very much. He displays a Palestinian flag in the living room and recalls the Palestine of yesteryear “when Palestine was the home of all nations, religions and races—when no one claimed ownership.”
    He also loves the Arabic language and has learned to write five beautiful, distinct styles of Arabic calligraphy. The thought struck me, as he graciously explained the meaning of his name, “for the one hundred thousandth time,” that the intricacies of the letters in the alphabet match the intricacies of thought and feeling in the language.
    Jehad said he chose to spell his name in English with an e instead of an i. Most Westerners are familiar with the word “jihad” which we translate as “holy war.” It’s not that simple.
    “The root of the word means to strive or to do a sincere effort. It can refer to many things such as to win a game, pass an exam, be away from your family improving yourself, fight the enemy, defend your country, prepare to serve people, look after and provide for your children, be closer to God or fight the evil in yourself. Mohammed said the major jihad after coming home from battle was the battle against evil in oneself. It’s not a crusade. Muslims abhor the word ‘crusade.’ They still remember the 70,000 Muslims massacred in a mosque in Jerusalem during the Middle Ages.”
    Jehad, who created and maintains MIZNA’s Web site, also elaborated on the word “mizna,” translated as “cloud of the desert.”      “When desert caravans went out for a month at a time, a cloud provided a kind of refuge, shade, and once in awhile, rain. Any little bit of cloud was a big blessing. The magazine is a refuge for Arabs—to get some of that special bounty.”

The next issue of MIZNA is scheduled to come out at the end of October. To reach MIZNA call 612-706-6125 or e-mail Mizna@mizna.org. The Web site address is http://www.mizna.org .

RIVERSIDE

Community Forum
The Greater Longfellow Ministerial Association, Minnehaha United Church of Christ, Longfellow Community Council and the Hiawatha YMCA invite the community to participate in a community forum on the question: "What Does It Mean To Be An American?" The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Tue., Oct. 16, at Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S. The forum will include input from several different perspectives and the discussion will attempt to begin to engage community members in thinking about how this neighborhood can address community building issues proactively in light of recent world events.

Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network
The Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network is committed to promoting dialogue and encouraging cooperative action between religious communities and organized labor for the promotion of social and economic justice. A dialogue will be held Wed., Oct. 17, 10 - 11:30 a.m. at Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S. Call 612-729-7556 for more information.

First Century Judaism and Christianity
A three-part seminar, open to the public, will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Sundays, Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 11 at Temple of Aaron, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul.
Dr. Steven Derfler, director of Educational Resources, Inc., will discuss Judaism of the first centuries and the ministry of Jesus on Oct. 28. The discussion on Nov. 4 will focus on the revolt of 66 CE and the destruction of the second temple in 70 CE. The final session will discuss Constantine and the 4th century. The total cost for non-members is $25. FFI call 651-698-8874.

Special Worship Services
Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S. will join the 9th annual National Observance of Children's Sabbath on Sun., Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. Thousands of Jewish, Christian and Muslim congregations across the nation will unite in a common witness for children and their families.
On Sun., Oct. 28 at 10:30 a.m., All Saint's Day will be celebrated. The service will include an opportunity to light a candle and celebrate the life of anyone who has died.

Sunday Gatherings
St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, E. 29th St. and 33rd Ave. S., invites the community to hear a presentation on men's spirituality by former Jesuit Stephen L. Daniel, chaplain at Abbot Northwestern, Sun., Oct. 21, after 9 a.m. Mass.
On. Nov. 4, after 9 a.m. Mass, storyteller Julie Goldstein, will give the last of three presentations, "Weave the Magic, Spin the Tale: The Art and Joy of Storytelling."

Children at Temple of Aaron
Temple of Aaron Synagogue, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, will hold an informal special Young Family Sabbath service from 7 to 7:30 p.m., Fri., Oct. 26. Families are invited to bring children from infancy to age seven for Torah stories, songs, dancing, cookies and birthday celebrations for October. The Sabbath service follows at 8 p.m. Babysitting is available at no charge.

CoAM Concert
Bethlehem Covenant Church, 3141 43rd Ave. S., will host the CoAM fall benefit concert featuring the Calvary Lutheran Church Choir, the Barbershop Singers and the Nordkap Male Chorus Sun., Oct. 28, 4 p.m. The audience will join in a sing-a-long led by Roger Tenney, director of the Roger Tenney Chorale. The $6 tickets can be ordered at 612-721-5786. FFI call 612-721-5786.

Women's Weekend
St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, E. 29th St. and 33rd Ave. S., invites women to meet for the weekend of Oct. 19 - 21 to focus on God's peace in these trying times with meditation, song and discussion. The cost is $25. For more information call 612-724-3643.

Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner
Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church, 4101 37th Ave. S., will hold a lutefisk and meatball dinner on Sat., Nov. 3. Seatings will be at 4, 5:15 and 6:30 p.m. Reservations are needed. The cost is $12. Call 612-722-9527.

Fall Festival and Roast Beef Dinner
St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, E. 29th St. and 33rd Ave. S., is having its fall festival Sun., Oct. 28. Booths open at 10 a.m. and food is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Halloween Party
The community is invited to an intergenerational Halloween Party at Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S., from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 26. Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume and bring a food staple for the Minnehaha Food Pantry.

Health Fair
Bethany Lutheran Church, 2511 E. Franklin, and the Parish Nurse will host a Health Fair on Sat., Nov. 3, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Many health care providers will be present, both traditional and alternative. Flu and pneumonia immunizations will be available (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) As well as blood pressure checks. Other attractions are an arts and crafts festival, a huge bake sale and a healthy lunch. Everyone is welcome. FFI call 612-332-2397.

Senior Cards and Aerobics
St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, E. 29th St. and 33rd Ave. S., offers aerobics and conditioning for seniors ($2.50 per session) at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays in the Social Hall.
Senior card parties (the game is usually 500) are held the first and third Tuesdays of the month from noon to 3 p.m.

Tutoring and Activities for Youth
Ebenezer Fellowship Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3418 E. Lake St., offers tutoring by trained teachers every Wed. from 6 to 7 p.m. for students in elementary and middle schools.
On Saturdays, the youth ministry offers a place for youth to participate and feel good about themselves. Call 612-722-1890 for more information.

Simple Living
Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S., hosts a simple-living group to celebrate and support one another in living more simply, frugally and in harmony with creation. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Call the church at 612-729-7556 for more details.

PHILLIPS
POWDERHORN

Celebration Concert with Deacon Elige Brown
Deacon Elige Brown, of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church at 3805 3rd Ave. S., will celebrate his 30th anniversary with a concert at 7 p.m., Fri., Oct. 26, at the Ramsey School Auditorium, 50th St. and Nicollet Ave. S. Featured performers will be Sister Elsie Sellers, the Greater Friendship Baptist Church Combined Choir and the Elbethel Baptist Church Choir. Special guest artist will be the Gatlin Staff Mass Choir of Chicago. A donation of $5 is requested. FFI call 612-869-8697.

"The Bait of Satan" Book Study
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1901 Portland Ave. S., has scheduled a Sunday book study of "The Bait of Satan" by John Bevere from Oct. 28 - Dec. 9, 10:45 a.m. The book examines a radical alternative to responding to the intentional pain in our world.

Leiv Eriksson International Festival
During October, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (Mindekirken) at E. Franklin and 10th Ave. S. will host the 14th Annual Leiv Eriksson International Festival (under the patronage of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway). On Sun., Oct. 27, 2 p.m., Jim Reilly, tenor, and Beatrice Giere, piano, will perform Nordic art songs in Finnish, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic and Norwegian.
For other events in the festival call 612-874-0716 or visit www.mindekirken.org/LEIF.htm.

Free Community Meal
Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 3701 14th Ave. S., is starting a free community meal to be held at 5:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 612-824-9768.

CoAM Health Fair
Bethel Lutheran Church, 4120 17th Ave. S., is the site for CoAM's annual Health Fair and Immunization Clinic Mon., Oct. 29, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. There will be nutrition and blood pressure screening, flu and pneumonia immunizations, pharmacists to answer questions about medications, plus exhibits of community health resources and other demonstrations. The fair is free and so are the flu and pneumonia immunizations for seniors with Medicare Part B who have not assigned Medicare benefits to an HMO. For others the flu shots cost $13 and the pneumonia shots, $25. Forms and information will be available in both English and Spanish. Seniors should consult their doctors before having the inoculations.

CoAM Life Enrichment Series
The Cooperative Adult Ministry's (CoAM) fall Life Enrichment series opens Oct. 1 and runs for eight consecutive Mondays. Programs, covering a wide variety of subjects such as national issues, health topics and world faiths, start at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, 4120 17th Ave. S. Single day fee is $5. Call 612-721-5786 for more information.

4-H Group at Calvary Lutheran
A 4-H group (the 4 "H"s are head, heart, hands and health) for city kids is held at Calvary Lutheran Church, 3901 Chicago Ave. S., one or two Saturdays a month. So far, the group has been made up of upper elementary and middle school age children but 4-H is for all ages from kindergarten to 12th grade. At the meetings they prepare a meal and do some kind of activity. In the summer they show projects at the fair such as arts, crafts, cooking, inventions, woodworking, demonstrations or sewing. Anyone interested in getting involved is invited to call Linda Bowers at 612-823-3767 for more information.

Donate Vehicles to New Hope Center
New Hope Center, 2739 Cedar Ave. S., a successful ministry for people suffering from chemical addiction, is looking for used cars or trucks in order to help a recent graduate get a good job or to help New Hope residents get to medical and other appointments. A generous tax deduction may be gained by donating a used vehicle. Contact Will or Lyn at 612-721-9415.
Call Vickie at the same number for information about New Hope's 75th Anniversary Celebration and banquet to be held Fri., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m. at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills.

NOKOMIS

Evensong Service to Honor and Remember
The bell and vocal choirs of Mount Zion Lutheran Church will lead in an evensong service Thu., Nov. 1, 7 p.m., in remembrance of Sept. 11.

Luther College Concert Band
The Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) Concert Band will play a concert at Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 5645 Chicago Ave. S., on Fri. Oct. 19, 8 p.m. The band was established 130 years ago and has performed internationally and throughout the United States. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door, $5 for students and free for 8 and under. Call 612-824-1882.

Wednesday Suppers
Asbury United Methodist Church, 4501 Bloomington Ave. S., serves free community suppers on Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. right before evening activities at 6:30. Programs are as follows: "Senior Housing Options, Suzanne Slattery, Oct. 17; a video in the Great Stories of Faith series, Oct. 24; Halloween, Oct. 31.
FFI call the church at 612-721-5025.

Free Community Meal
Epiphany Lutheran Church, 1414 E. 48th St., invites its neighbors to share a meal and learn from each other 6 - 8 p.m., Mon, Oct. 15. This month's topic will be how to talk to your child about tragic events. FFI call 612-823-7879.

Infant Sign Language Class
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4537 3rd Ave. S., holds an infant sign language class (learning to communicate with your baby using American Sign Language) for new and expectant parents 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 20. The cost is $30 per baby/parents. To register call 612-823-8205. FFI call teacher Denise Meyer at 651-210-1288.

Mount Zion Youth
Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 5645 Chicago Ave. S., has organized Jesus Company, formerly called Good News Bearers, for children in grades 3 through 6, 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information about the exciting things to do after homework, call Terry and staff at 612-824-1882. Teens in grades 7 through 12 are welcome to JAMZ (Jesus at Mount Zion) Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
A Music Café will be held Sun., Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m. Proceeds from the light supper go to support the youth. The music is by local musicians Matt Carlson, Paul Curtiss, Wayne Hartley and Norton Lund.
For more information call 612-824-1882.

Silent Auction
St. James on the Parkway, 3225 E. Minnehaha Parkway, will hold its second annual Silent Auction Sat., Oct. 20, 6 p.m. Featured items for sale are gift certificates, coupons from parishioners and tickets to sports events. Proceeds will support St. James' ministries including the Adopt-a-Family Christmas program. For more information call 612-724-3425 or visit www.stjames-episcopal.com.

METRO AREA

Gateways to Justice
The Saint Paul Area Council of Churches invites the public to several environmental justice events:
On Tue., Oct. 23, two events will take place at the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches office at 1671 Summit Ave., St. Paul.
From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a Gateways to Justice Forum focusing on three issues from a faith perspective: nuclear waste storage at Prairie Island, global climate change and Manitoba Hydro. John Poupart, director of American Indian Policy Center will be the keynote speaker. This is a brown bag lunch. Lunch can also be ordered in advance for $7.50.
From 7 to 9 p.m. there will be videos and discussion concerning global warming and Prairie Island nuclear power waste storage.
On Sat., Oct. 29, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., there will be a bus trip to Prairie Island to find out more about the Prairie Island nuclear power plant and nuclear waste storage. The cost is $15. Call 651-646-8805, x 22 to RSVP for any of these events.

Jewish Mind and Body Series
"Rashi and Racquetball" is the second program of the St. Paul JCC's new Jewish mind and body series and takes place from 10 a.m. - 12 noon, Sun., Oct. 21 at the JCC, 1375 St. Paul Ave. Participants will learn about the commentator Rashi and why his teachings are still a force in Talmudic studies today. The class will be followed by racquetball on the JCC courts. The cost is $8 for non-members.

Special Taize Services
Special Taize prayer services will be held at 10 a.m., Thu., Oct. 18, at Luther Seminary, the Chapel of the Incarnation and at 7:30 p.m., Fri., Oct. 19, "Taize Prayer Around the Cross," Basilica of St. Mary, Mother Teresa Hall.
For more information about the Taize Pilgrimage in Minnesota, consult www.gustavus.edu and click on Taize 2001 in the Upcoming Events box.

Peace Vigil
Every Wednesday, a nonviolent silent witness for peace meets at the St. Paul side of the Lake Street & Marshall Avenue Bridge in St. Paul from 5 to 6 p.m. FFI call Friends for a Non-violent World at 651-917-0383.

Women-in-Black
A peace vigil, part of a larger movement throughout the United States, Europe and elsewhere, calling for the end of Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, is held every Friday at Summit & Snelling Avenues in St. Paul from 5 to 6 p.m.

Compiled by Elaine Klaassen