Opinion – Page 3 – Alex Shams

Opinion

Yara Shahidi, the Iranian-American Star of ‘Black-ish,’ Is Breaking Stereotypes On & Off Screen

June 3, 2016 by alexrezashams

Originally published on Muftah. Over the last two years, the hit ABC sitcom “Black-ish” has deftly explored issues of race, class, and gender in the United States through the eyes

Iraq Opinion

What’s The Difference Between the Iraqi Military And ISIS?

June 3, 2016 by alexrezashams

Originally published on Huffington Post. Despite this, however, around 50,000 Iraqi civilians are estimated to be stuck in the city, alongside approximately 1,000 ISIS fighters in control. Refugees fleeing Fallujah

Opinion

Hamas bloc wins over student vote in Birzeit University elections

April 28, 2016 by alexrezashams

Originally published by Ma’an News Agency on April 28, 2016. RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — A student bloc of the Hamas movement on Wednesday came out on top in the closely-followed elections

Opinion

‘Broad City’ Didn’t Just Go on Birthright — It Spent 21 Minutes Mocking It

April 25, 2016 by alexrezashams

Originally published on The Forward and Mondoweiss. When Ilana and Abby from “Broad City” announced last week that they were going on Birthright Israel, my heart sunk. For those who haven’t

Opinion

Bahrain’s Detention of American Journalists Reveals Ongoing Assault on Freedom of Speech

February 17, 2016 by alexrezashams

Originally published on Huffington Post. On Sunday, police in the tiny Persian Gulf monarchy of Bahrain arrested four American journalists as they were reporting on the political situation in the

Opinion

Neither Taharrush Gamea Nor Sexism Are Arab ‘Cultural Practices’

January 25, 2016 by alexrezashams

Originally published on Huffington Post. In recent days, a new term has suddenly appeared in the media to describe a supposedly Arab cultural practice: “taharrush gamea.” The term, which

Opinion

Killing of Mentally Ill Palestinian Swimming Off Gaza Coast Highlights Maddening Effects of Israel’s Siege

December 28, 2015 by alexrezashams

Originally published on Huffington Post. In the video, a naked young man slowly swims in the ocean, wading his way bit by bit through the waves to reach the other

Opinion Palestine

This Christmas, Remember the Embattled Little Palestinian Town of Bethlehem

December 24, 2015 by alexrezashams

Originally published in the Huffington Post. This week, more than 1.5 billion Christians around the world will celebrate the Christmas message of hope. But in the little hilltop town where

Opinion

Congress Is About to Pass a Dangerously Racist Bill. Our Response Must Be Solidarity Against Islamophobia.

December 14, 2015 by alexrezashams

Originally published on the Huffington Post. The last few weeks have seen a dangerous escalation of rhetoric targeting Muslims and Middle Eastern-Americans, as the national media and Republican presidential hopeful

Opinion Pakistan

Exhausted Geographies: Mapping the Dream of Pakistan in the Streets of Karachi

November 12, 2015 by alexrezashams

Originally published by Ajam Media Collective on November 12, 2015. In Karachi, the dream of Pakistan – in all of its glory, misgivings, failures, and triumphs – has become reality.

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