The Ray Hanania Radio Show-Arab News

Growing popularity of Arab Food, Restaurants in America 8-23-23 S3E17

The Ray Hanania Radio Show

August 23, S3E17

Welcome to the Ray Hanania Radio Show ... we are brought to you by the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News the Voice of a changing region. Arab News at ArabNews.com is an award winning newspaper covering the Middle East, with bureaus in Paris, London, Islamabad, Tokyo and coverage in the United States where I am the US Special Correspondent ... Our radio show focuses on the Arab American community and issues, and also Middle East coverage from a US Perspective ...

We have two guests today

In segment 1, we will speak with Marissa Ziyad marketing director for Ziyad Brothers Importing, one of the nation's largest distributors of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food items. Ziyad will talk to us about the increasing popularity of Middle East/Mediterranean foods among Americans and how Ziyad became one of its main distributors since 1966

In Segment 2, we have Matthew Jaber Stiffler is the Director of the Center for Arab Narratives (CAN), a new national research institution through ACCESS, the largest Arab American community non-profit in the country. Matthew is also the Research & Content Manager at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and we will speak with him about the growth of the Middle East restaurant industry across America.

Let's take a quick break and when we come back we can speak with our guests, on the rising popularity of Middle Eastern / Mediterranean foods in America ... we'll be right back ... right after these messages.

You can listen to this podcast and all of our past radio shows on podcast by visiting Arab News newspaper the voice of a changing region at ArabNews.com ... there are so many great podcasts you should check out including the Mayman Show with host Hussam al Mayman, and Frankly Speaking with host Katie Jensen

You should check them all out

And you can get more information on Arab Journalism by visiting www.NAAJA-US.com and on me, Ray Hanania, by visiting my personal website hub at www.Hanania.com

I look forward to joining you next week when we have more interviews and great guests here at the ray Hanania Radio show on the US Arab Radio network at ArabRadio.us and sponsored by Arab News, the voice of a changing region at ArabNews.com

Visit the Arab News Newspaper to listen to all the podcast at: ArabNews.com/podcast

 

Worsening Refugee Crisis and a look back at the Beirut Bombing S3E16

Worsening Refugee Crisis and a look back at the Beirut Bombing

August 16, 2023

S3E16

Welcome to the Ray Hanania Radio Show ... I am Ray Hanania ... it is Wednesday August 16, 2023 and this is Season 3 Episode 16 ... we are brought to you by the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News the Voice of a changing region. Arab News at ArabNews.com is an award winning newspaper covering the Middle East, with bureaus in Paris, London, Islamabad, Tokyo and coverage in the United States where I am the US Special Correspondent ... Our radio show focuses on the Arab American community and issues, and also Middle East coverage from a US Perspective ...

We have two guests today ...

In segment 1, we will speak with Dr. Zaher Sahloul the president and founder of MedGlobal, an international medical organization which sends teams of medical volunteers in response to refugees crisis around the world including in the Middle East. Dr. Sahloul will help us look at the situation of refugees today and the significant presence of Syrian refugees and the role that the United States is taking and needs to do to help

In segment 2, we will speak with Jean AbiNader a political commentator who has been involved with understanding and analyzing the politics and government of Lebanon for many years, working with leaders of several national organizations and diplomats on the 3 year anniversary of the Beirut port explosion and why nothing has been resolved in the investigation ... is it a symptom of Lebanon's continued turmoil?

The Ray Hanania Radio show is brought to you by the US Arab Radio network at ArabRadio.us in Detroit on WNZK AM 690 and Washington DC WDMV AM 700 and online, and is sponsored by Arab News, the voice of a changing region at ArabNews.com.

08-09-23 Iowa Legislator Sami Scheetz and Kyle Melinn on Hamtramck elections

08-09-23 Iowa Legislator Sami Scheetz and Kyle Melinn on Hamtramck elections

S3E15 August 9, 2023

Welcome to the Ray Hanania Radio Show ... I am Ray Hanania ... it is Wednesday August 9, 2023 and this is Season 3 Episode 15 ... we are brought to you by the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News the Voice of a changing region. Arab News at ArabNews.com is an award winning newspaper covering the Middle East, with bureaus in Paris, London, Islamabad, Tokyo and coverage in the United States where I am the US Special Correspondent ... Our radio show focuses on the Arab American community and issues, and also Middle East coverage from a US Perspective ...

We have two guests today ...

In segment 1, we will speak with State Representative Sami Scheetz of Iowa's 78th District ... who will discuss how he got elected as Iowa's only Arab American legislator and how he focuses on Iowa issues over Middle East politics to win the hearts and minds of voters ...

And, in segment 2, we will speak editor of Mirs a Michigan News and Information Service Kyle Melinn joins us to discuss the elections in Michigan including in Hamtramck which is the nation's only all-Muslim government, mayor and 6 city council members. MIRS.news

Three incumbent council members in Hamtramck, Michigan are seeking re-election, Muhammed Hassan, Nayeem Leon Choudhury and Muhammed Alsomiri.

The six challengers are are Sari Ahmed, Ruhel Amin, Nasr Saleh Hussain, Muhtasin Rahman Sadman, Yousuf Osman Saed and Lynn Blasey. Three incumbent council members who are not facing election in the City Council currently include members Muhith Mahmood, Abu Musa and Khalil Refai.

Blasey is of European ancestry and Christian with along history working in the Arab American community including at the Arab Museum in Dearborn.

Let's take a quick break and when we come back we can speak with our guests, Iowa State Rep. Sami Scheetz and Michigan Political consultant Kyle Melinn ...we'll be right back ... right after these messages.

08-2-23 Rep. Cyril Nichols says Arab & African Americans need balance; Author Ramsey Hanhan

08-2-23 Rep. Cyril Nichols says Arab & African Americans need balance; Author Ramsey Hanhan

S3E14 August 2, 2023

SEGMENT 1: Illinois Legislator Cyril Nichols (Democrat 32nd DIstrict) says that Arab Americans need to do more to balance the relationship with African Americans. Nichols’ 32nd DIstrict represent a large segment of Arab Americans including in Bridgeview. Blacks have done much to help Arabs in America, Nichols noted citing the historic support Arabs received from the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson. Nichols noted he has introduced legislation to help Arab American businesses in Illinois qualify for a special status to share in 30 percent of the state’s billions in annual contract awards, under the Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) program, and he was instrumental in securing $150,000 grant to support the food pantry of the Bridgeview Mosque/The Mosque Foundation, which is Chicagoland's first mosque built in 1981.

SEGMENT 2: Author Ramsey Hanhan discusses his new book “Fugitive Dreams,” a novel based on his own life detailing the challenges he faced growing up in the Israeli occupied West Bank and the challenges he faces as an American Palestinian in America.

Both guests appeared on The Ray Hanania Radio Show Wednesday August 2, 2023 broadcast live in Detroit on WNZK AM 690 Radio and in Washington D.C. on WDMV AM 700.

 

 

7-12-23 Interview with State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, and Journalist Steve Metsch S3E11

Interview with State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, and Journalist Steve Metsch

Welcome to the Ray Hanania Radio Show ... I am Ray Hanania ... it is Wednesday July 12, 2023 and this is Season 3 Episode 11 ...

We are brought to you by the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News the Voice of a changing region. Arab News at ArabNews.com is an award winning newspaper covering the middle east, with bureaus in Paris, London, Islamabad, Tokyo and coverage in the United States where I am the US Special Correspondent ... Our radio show focuses on the Arab American community and issues, and also Middle East coverage from a US Perspective ...

 

Our interview today is with Illinois State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, who will share with us his harrowing experience of having visited his heritage homeland of Turmus ayya Palestine in the Israeli occupied West Bank with his family and children ... I say harrowing because while he was there, his family and the village came under assault by armed extremist Jewish settlers who have been rampaging through Muslim and Christian villages urning down buildings, cars, beating civilians and vandalizing cars and property ... several homes were burned down to the ground. Dozens of civilians were injured in beatings and settler shootings and several were killed.

 

Then, we will speak with Steve Metsch, a freelance journalist in Illinois who recently covered the killing of two Arabs in New York city ... one the victim of wild wonton violence, the other attacked in his store ... plus we'll loo at the increasing violence across America in city's like New York and Chicago which has been ravaged by unprecedented levels of violence ...

the Ray Hanania Radio Show is brought to you by the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News Newspaper. For more information visit ArabNews.com

For more information on Ray Hanania visit his website hub at www.Hanania.com

 

 

07-5-23 | Mayor of Hamtramck says banning LGBTQ flag ensures fairness, as all groups must be equal

The mayor of an all-Muslim city council in Michigan says the recent controversy over the banning of the LGBTQ community flag on public buildings is being misrepresented by them for “political reasons”. 

Amer Ghalib, who was elected mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, in November 2021, said that the decision to ban the LGBTQ flag, which is used by gay and transgender rights activists, was not an act of discrimination but rather an effort to treat everyone equally and fairly.

06-28-23 The Hajj, a look at Saudi Arabia’s services to pilgrims and the meaning in Islam S3E9

06-28-23 The Hajj, a look at Saudi Arabia's services to pilgrims and the meaning in Islam S3E9

And welcome to our radio show today. It is June 28, 2023 and this is Season 3 Episode 9 of The Ray Hanania Radio Show

Eid Mubarak ... a blessed Holiday ... to our Muslim friends during this important holiday week ... The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all ... it began Monday evening June 26 and ends Saturday July 1

I am going to explore the experience of the Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and the important role that the Kingdom pays in accommodating more than 2 million worshippers this week

In segment 1, we'll talk with Lama Al Hamawi a reporter with Arab News on the mechanics and experience of the Hajj that is now taking place in Saudi Arabia and explore the massive operation that is required to accommodate and provide food, water, assistance and places to stay during the week long religious event.

And in segment II we'll speak with Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, the founder and president of Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (CECF) which provides religious & cultural training, consultation and support to the Youth Exchange Studies (YES) for students from more than 70 countries in a program co-sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Imam Arafat will talk about the Hajj, it's meaning and also look at how the Muslim community has grown and achieved greater acceptance from Americans.

06-21-23 Arab Radio NASCAR racer Toni Breidinger Standup Comedian Ahmed Ahmed S3E8

06-21-23 Arab Radio NASCAR racer Toni Breidinger Standup Comedian Ahmed Ahmed S3E8

The Ray Hanania Radio Show for Wed June 21, 2023 features two interview segments:

SEG 1 - Lebanese American Toni Breidinger an American professional NASCAR driver who competes in the ARCA Menards Series, East, and West, driving the No. 55 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports and in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup North America competition.

Breidinger has become one of the racing industry's most dominant female competitors ...  she's won more than a dozen victories in the US Auto Western Midget Series, had a top 10 finish in the ARCA Menards Series East in four starts, and 9 top 10 finishes in 35 races on the main ARCA Menards Series circuit ... and on top of that, you became a Victoria's Secret Model last September ... all before the age of 24

In May, she became the first Arab American to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Kansas Speedway ... racing for Tricon Garage and the No 1 Victoria's Secret Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.

SEG 2 - Egyptian American actor and standup comedian Ahmed Ahmed who began his career in Hollywood movies and then expanded to Standup Comedy with the highly successful Axis of Evil Comedy Tour ... Ahmed Ahmed's standup comedy career opened the door for so many other Arab Americans to enter the standup comedy profession which is today more recognized than it ever was ... Instagram @AhmedAhmedComedy

The Ray Hanania Radio Show is broadcast on WNZK AM 690 Radio in Detroit and WDMV AM 700 Radio in Washington DC at 5 PM EST, on the US Arab Radio Network sponsored by ArabNews.com newspaper.

For more information on the host visit www.RayHanania.com

 

6-14-23 The Ray Hanania Show | Future of US-Saudi Relations special S3E7

The Ray Hanania Show | Future of US-Saudi Relations special

S3E7, 6-14-23

Special Panel on the Ray Hanania Radio show discussing the future of the US-Saudi relationship given recent geopolitical developments. 

Discussing the topic are three highly respected experts on the matter:

- Rob Sobhani | Professor in Georgetown University and Author

- Salman Al-Ansari | A Saudi political analyst specialized on Saudi-US relations & Middle Eastern affairs

- Brian Katulis | Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress

- Host: Ray Hanania | Special US Correspondent for Arab News

Broadcast on WNZK AM 690 Radio in Detroit, WDMV AM 700 Radio in Washington DC, on the US Arab Radio Network.

06-07-23 Arab American Christians with Mayor Mary Basta & Sir Rateb Rabie S3E6

06-07-23 Arab American Christians with Mayor Mary Basta & Sir Rateb Rabie S3E6

The Ray Hanania Radio Show

ArabNews.com/rayradioshow

Wed June 7, 2023, S3 Ep6

Welcome everyone and thank you for joining us on live radio in Detroit and Washington D.C., and live streaming on the US Arab Radio Network at www.ArabRadio.us, and on the Facebook Page of Arab News Newspaper, the Voice of a Changing Region at https://Facebook.com/ArabNews

We're going to explore two issues during today's radio show

First, we're going to explore the identity and challenges facing Christian Arabs in America, with a Christian American Egyptian elected official, Mary Basta, who is the Mayor of Bolingbrook in suburban Chicagoland in Illinois ...

Mayor Basta immigrated with her family when she was very young and settlement in Nashville, Tennessee ... but in 2003, she and her family moved to Bolingbrook Illinois, the 16th largest municipality in the State with nearly 75,000 residents ... In 2019 she successfully ran for and was elected a Trustee in Bolingbrook ... and was then appointed Mayor by her board colleagues in August 2020 ... in 2021, a year later, she was elected by a large majority of Bolingbrook voters to a full term of four years as Bolingbrook Mayor.

How does an Arab American with no experience in politics, rise up so quickly to become the mayor of an important city like Bolingbrook. She showed a great interest and concern in her community ... Mayor Mary Basta will tell us ... and I am telling you Mary Basta's story is a great story ...

https://www.bolingbrook.com/?SEC=0506393A-9DFE-4C7C-905C-C4D2609F079A&DE=0D89AE7E-8639-4C4E-8A3D-7A6FA65D1EF2

Then, we will speak with Sir Rateb Rabie ... a Palestinian who was born in Jordan ... Sir Rateb is the founder of the Know Thy Heritage foundation and the Holyland Christian Ecumenical Foundation, which advocate for Christian Arab rights and Palestinian Rights in America.

Sir Rated has been working with the Christian Arab Americans and Middle East communities for many years and will help us understand some of the challenges they face today... the title "Sir" comes from prestigious honor of Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre (KCHS), a Vatican chivalric order.

... Arabs are still an immigrant community in America ... but their population numbers continue to grow

https://www.all4palestine.org/ModelDetails.aspx?gid=8&mid=1918&lang=en

For more information on Ray Hanania visit his website hub at www.Hanania.com or the website of the National Arab American Journalists Association www.NAAJA-US.com 

Read his stories at www.ArabNews.com