Trip to Washington DC and New York on 9-11-08

I flew to Washington DC through New York city to perform standup comedy at the Washington DC Improv Comedy Club on behalf of the Funniest Celebrity Contest (http://www.funniestcelebrity.org/) where politicians like Mike Huckabee, Bob Barr and journalists like CNN's Jamie McIntyre and al-Jazeera's Riz Khan performed comedy. Huckabee won the contest.

Here are some photos of New York City and also the Washington monument:

This first photo is of the shadow of the airplane I was traveling in on the clouds below, encircled by a rainbow. And amazing image and picture:

From NewYorkCity9-11-08

Here is a shot of the Washington monument from Reagan National Airport:

From NewYorkCity9-11-08

Here is a shot of Manhattan and New York City on Sept. 11, 2008, seven years after the al-Qaeda (had nothing to do with Iraq) terrorist attacks:

From NewYorkCity9-11-08

And here is a shot of the Statue of Liberty, which for many generations, had a powerful meaning that has since been cast aside because of anti-minority sentiments in America. It was the first image my mom and dad saw whem my mom came to this country from Bethlehem, Palestine in 1952:

From NewYorkCity9-11-08

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