Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/globallocal/page/12/)
A new climate of fear hovers over the Twin Cities’ Somali community after the FBI said last week that it’s investigating Minnesota Somali men who may have gone to fight with Islamist groups in Syria.
The door was open. I dropped in, of course. It became a gallery. Paper, paint, textiles— all scattered across tables and floors. I quietly called across the room, hoping to not wake anyone up but still intrigued to step in like the curious explorer mae always scolded me as a child. No one answered back. I walked through a maze of art pieces hoisted along the walls from top to bottom and rows of old books and sheets of paper tightly and neatly stacked high on broken tables. The pieces spoke of an artist who had more than one love. There were influences of Monet, Picasso, and Van Gogh in the impressionist brush strokes and style of bright colors. This was an artist who was privileged enough to have studied from a Westernized paintbrush, but held a Lao eye to what the pieces had to say about the Lao consciousness. I sat on a bench, the only bench, and waited in anticipation. After 20 minutes of sitting and observing, no footsteps in the distance was heard. No artist. I walked out, but I was already inspired. Continue Reading
It didn’t take long for Qais Munhazim to learn about the misconceptions many Americans have about his home country, Afghanistan.
Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom has the highest regard for the folks who organized his recent group tour of Israel.
Since April 25th, thousands of high school and university students across Ethiopia’s largest region, Oromia, have turned out in peaceful protest against a government land grab that stands to displace millions of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. Even though the country’s constitution theoretically allows for peaceful demonstrations, the student protesters, along with local populations in many cities and towns, have faced a ruthless crackdown from Ethiopian Special Forces, known as the Agazi Commandos. These forces have used excessive violence by indiscriminately shooting into crowds in an attempt to quash the protests. Children as young as eleven years old have been killed, according to statement issued by Amnesty International on May 13, and reports of fatal injuries, torture, imprisonment, disappearances and killings have been coming out of Ethiopia since then.
10,000 journeys to 10,000 lakes: that’s the theme for this year’s annual Twin Cities World Refugee Day celebration. [TCDP editor’s note: Twin Cities World Refugee Day is June 14.] With over 100,000 refugees resettled here, Minnesota has a rich diversity of cultures and stories from these communities.This week’s guests explore concepts of home, belonging and community in Minnesota. How do we frame positive narratives about refugees while acknowledging the tragedy of forced migration? How does Minnesota celebrate its large refugee population, beyond Minnesota Niceness? How do we celebrate Minnesota’s refugee community’s culture?Guests are: Vichet Chhuon, an assistant professor of Culture and Teaching at the University of Minnesota, Sousada Chidthachack an education activist and Jamal Adam, also an educator and a 2014 Bush Fellow. Continue Reading
Much of the Fifth Minne-Faire occurs inside so the rainy weather was not too much of a factor on Saturday, the 31 of May. I wonder how food trucks cope? Continue Reading
Hundreds are expected at Parkers Park Community Playfield in Plymouth this Sunday, June 1, as Minnesota’s Kenyan-American community celebrates Madaraka Day, which marks the day Kenya attained internal-self rule from the British on June 1, 1963 in the run-up to full independence on December 12, 1963.This will be the 51st celebration by independent Kenya. The Minnesota event will feature soccer, music and children’s activities and “lots of food”, according to the organizaing committee.Activities will begin at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday and conclude at 7:00 P.M.This article is reposted from TCDP media partner Mshale. Check out the links below for other recent Mshale stories:Single Visa for Kenya, Rwanda and UgandaSenators Klobuchar, Franken and Congressman Ellison write to President Kenyatta over treatment of SomalisMwanyagetinge Foundation which draws membership from the Gusii community of western Kenya is the lead organziation organziaing the celebration, in collaboration with other Kenyan associations in the state including AKIA, GOTABGAA, MEGA and KCM. The annual Madaraka day celebration draws visitors from around Minnesosta and surrounding states.By good timimg of the calendar this year, Kenyans in Minnesota will be able to celebrate Madaraka day the same day as people in Kenya. It is a public holiday in Kenya but diaspora Kenyans have traditionally celebrated it the first weekend following the actual June 1.Minnesota is home to over 10,000 Kenyans, among the largest in the United States.Madaraka Day in Minnesota When: June 1, 2014 Time: 1:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Location: Parkers park Community Playfield, 15505 County Road 6, Plymouth, Minnesota Continue Reading
On Monday, May 25, Ohio based cardiologist, Dr. Mehdi Ali was assassinated in Pakistan. According to a report in the New York Times:”An American doctor volunteering at a hospital in eastern Pakistan was shot to death on Monday in front of his wife and 3-year-old son in the latest attack on a follower of the minority Ahmadi faith at a time of rising intolerance across the country. …”Dr. Qamar had arrived in Pakistan two days earlier as a volunteer at a hospital in Rabwah that has been a target of an extremist hate campaign in recent months.”Two Minnesota Muslims responded to this assassination with letters to the editor. Here are their letters: Dear Editor,Murder in the Name of GodAn American on a charitable medical mission to Pakistan was targeted on the basis of faith – his ‘crime’ being a member of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. An Ohio based cardiologist, Dr. Mehdi Ali, was killed in front of his 2-year-old child and wife while visiting the graves of his deceased loved ones.His noble mission ended with the loss of his life, a loss for all those who seek to serve humanity.Being an American Ahmadi Muslim of Pakistani origin, I appreciate the ability to practice my faith with freedom and live according to the motto of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community- ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’. Touba Khurshid Dear Editor,I always wonder how a country like Pakistan – which has so many resources and the potential to be a great country – isn’t flourishing. Continue Reading
Just when we thought there was no hope of sunny warm weather ever returning to Minnesota, a bunch of Swedes drove into town and brought summer with them. Sweden on the Road is a bus tour of Swedish ambassadors seeking to promote Swedish and American collaboration, and showcase Swedish ingenuity in issues of sustainability, music, and cuisine. They began their summer tour of America in Minneapolis at the American Swedish Institute. Continue Reading