Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel: American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community Activism
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    Arabs and Muslim blast Mayor lightfoot for racist store closings American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host “forum” to explore Mayor Lightfoot’s racist crackdown on Arab stores Activism
  • Imam Jamal Saad leads the more than 1,000 muslim attendees in payer at SeatGeek Stadium's open grounds at the Eid al-Fitr celebration May 2, 2022 in Bridgeview
    Local Illinois officials join Chicagoland Muslims for Eid Celebration at SeatGeek stadium American Arabs
  • DCEO Panel discussion on business support opportunities for all businesses including Arab American businesses, April 26, 2022
    DCEO Access to Capital: Arab American Heritage Month business workshop American Arabs
  • DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) American Arabs
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez addresses the gathering at an Iftar hosted by Radi Abuhashish Thursday April 21, 2022 joined by Dr. Willie Wilson and other candidates for Chicago Mayor.
    Political candidates join local Arab leaders for Iftar Activism
  • U.S. Congressional Candidate Rob Cruz in the 6th District GOP Primary election June 28, 2022
    Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress, Rob Cruz, Opens a Dialogue with the Palestinian Community American Arabs
  • Peak Rock Capital affiliate completes acquisition of Ziyad Brothers, a leading provider of brander Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot American Arabs
  • April 24, 2022 Illinois DCEO American ArabChamber event
    American Arab Chamber and DCEO host online panel to help Arab Businesses secure funding Activism
  • Oussama Jammal presents Congresswoman Marie Newman with the Courage Award during the USCMO Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner. Photo courtesy of Marie Newman Facebook Page
    Newman endorsed by major Arab and Muslim leaders Activism

When will the Arab World get off its lazy rich ass?

Posted on April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 By rayhanania No Comments on When will the Arab World get off its lazy rich ass?
SHARE ...
5         
 
  
5
Shares

  • Tweet

The Arab World is a shambles caused through its own poor leadership. A combination of religious fanaticism built around Islam, and oppression of its people through brutality and oppression, the Arab World has cornered itself in a tight squeeze of irrelevancy

By Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania covering Chicago City Hall (1976-1992)
Ray Hanania
covering Chicago
City Hall
(1976-1992)

In 2007, a billionaire American Jew named Sheldon Adelson took profits he made from his extensive investments and his casino industry in Las Vegas and launched a small little Hebrew language newspaper called “Israel Hayom.”

The purpose was obvious, to influence and reforge how Israelis perceived themselves and insulate them from the mounting criticism of their continued occupation of the West Bank and the growing brutality and violence against Christian and Muslim Palestinians there and also against non-Jewish citizens of Israel.

Rather than use the newspaper to increase his profits, Adelson poured money into the publication and gave it away for free. Every weekday Sunday through Thursday. Two years later, he expanded it to include publication of a weekend edition.

Today, Israel Hayom is the most influential newspaper in Israel, in Hebrew. And the growing power of the rightwing fanatics who control Israel’s government stand on Israel Hayom’s fringes to tighten their grip on repression, apartheid-like discrimination against non-Jews and the expansion of illegal settlements throughout the West Bank and in occupied Jerusalem.

And Adelson is in fact probably one of the most influential people in American politics. His beliefs, his politics and his money decides elections, and those elections have a direct impact on the lives of billions of people in the Middle East. We criticize him often, but is that criticism merely a reflection of our own disgust with the pathetic leadership that infects the Arab World?

English: Sheldon and Miriam Adelson recieve Wo...
English: Sheldon and Miriam Adelson recieve Woodrow Wilson Awards Español: Sheldon and Miriam Adelson reciben Woodrow Wilson Awards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s not that the Israelis needed their own rightwing news media to reenforce their power. They already have the mainstream American news media in an affinity headlock. American Jewish writers who way outnumber American Arabs in journalism, hold sway over what the newspapers and broadcast media cover, soft-peddling criticism of Israel and exaggerating criticism of the Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians.

The American news media plays such a crucial role in distorting the Middle East conflict. It is so influential that American foreign policy is based on the false perceptions, distortions of history and outright lies that have become Israel’s political narrative over the past seven decades.

Yet Adelson did it anyway because he knows what the Arabs are too stupid to know, that the pen is mightier than the sword. It is more powerful than truth, accuracy and Democracy. Controlling and owning the news media is more important than being elected president of the United States, the greatest and most powerful nation in the world.

This past week, Gannett, the largest circulation print media group in the country, made an offer to purchase the vast newspaper holdings of the Tribune Company (10 newspapers including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Hartford Courant and the Orlando Sentinel). The price, $12.60 a share (63 percent higher than the share value) for a total bid of $815 million.

Sounds like a lot, right? Well, not really. At least not to the Arabs.

In 2012, before he became King, Prince Salman (a “prince” only) spent $30 million to cover the cost of a month long vacation in the Maldives for his entourage.

This year, King Salman has agreed to spend more than $3 billion to build ab ridge that will link Egypt and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea.

They built a ski resort in the middle of the desert in Dubai for $400 million in 2005, and the worlds largest shopping mall right next door.

The tallest building in the world, nearby, is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which cost a cool $1.5 billion (built by an America firm, of course).

What’s $815 million to the Arabs? A lot of glitter.

The Arabs will spend $700,000 for a car, drop a million dollars on designer labeled clothing during a shopping spree in London and Paris, but no one in the Arab World, not one person, is smart enough to slap his forehead and say, “Wow.Why don’t we buy the Tribune company? It just might make a difference in how the world sees our people.”

That’s because they don’t care about the people. They don’t care Palestine. They don’t care about Islam. They don’t care about the poor, or even giving during the Holy Month of Ramadan to help the poor. They care about themselves. And the conflicts and the terrorism and the violence and the uncertainty actually keep them in power.

Yes, conflict and turmoil keep the people distracted, screaming at Israel and “the Jews,” about everything while having no time left to ask themselves why they are living in filth and poverty while their governments and kings and queens drop a million dollars like it is one penny!

When will the Arab World get off its lazy, rich asses? When will they become accountable and responsible? When will they commit at least some of their wealth to doing good in the world for their people and their causes, rather than just for themselves?

When?

And people wonder why there is this extremist crazy element out there called Daesh (ISIS and al-Qaeda)? The reason why the fanatic terrorists exist is that they feed off of the reality that sets in for many Arabs who see their leaders squander power and wealth for nothing.

It doesn’t take much to do something, to change the world in a good way. It won’t take much to change how Americans view the Middle East and issues like Palestine, Syria and Iraq, if they only put a fraction of their wealth into trying.

All they have to do is put aside a small fraction of their enormous wealth towards changing the news media, publishing OUR STORY as Arabs and Muslims, and using just a little common sense to promote strategic communications.

There’s nothing strategic about ignorance driven by the bonfire of the vanities in the Arab World.

When will a Billionaire American Arab do even better? That sad question has no real answer in our world today.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday - May 15, 2022
  • Arabs and Muslim blast Mayor lightfoot for racist store closings - May 7, 2022
  • Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential - May 7, 2022

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
5         
 
  
5
Shares
 
5
Shares
5         
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Israel, Journalism, News, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Ray Hanania, religion, Syria, Terrorism Tags:Arab World, Iraq, ISIS, Islam, Muslims, oil profits, Palestine, Palestinians, Syria, wealth

Post navigation

Previous Post: Israel’s Nuclear Time-Bomb, Vanunu Humanrights #LetsTalkNukes
Next Post: Christians celebrate Easter in Palestine

Related Posts

  • ArabiaWeather (PRNewsfoto/ArabiaWeather)
    ArabiaWeather Among Google’s ‘Best of 2017’ Apps Arab World
  • Alderman Pawar Speaking at the Dedication of Honorary Lee Sandlin Way. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Muslim candidates running for offices in Chicago and Suburbs American Arabs
  • Syrian refugees make their way through Hungary in Sept. 2015 to Europe. Photo courtesy of Seth J. Frantzman
    Israeli journalist reports on challenges of Syrian refugees Arab World
  • PEW poll shows most Americans oppose bans on Muslims American Arabs
  • President Trump at UN Sept 25 2018. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Personal Reflections of a Lebanese American on Trump Power and Civil Discord Bloggers
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential Arab World

More Related Articles

Dingell to Facebook: Eradicate Anti-Muslim Content On Your Platform American Arabs
Boston protests against Israel's brutality in the Gaza Strip and the massacre of thousands of civilians. Courtesy of an attendee Podcast: Hollywood movies and the Palestine Conflict American Arabs
Stop Blaming ‘The Arabs’ for Oil Problems Arab World
In Honor of Ron Grantski USS Liberty Survivor of The Six-Day War Arab World
Soccer: Jihadists seek to exploit widespread sense of abandonment Arab World
What Arab Americans Need to Know about Standing Rock and MSM American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • Chicago's racist Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered more than 150 Arab owned stores closed in 2021 in a racist effort o fight street gang crimes
    Arab Daily News launches Arab American Network to fight racism
    March 12, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday
    May 15, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme