By Meena Nanji

By Tamim Ansary

Review by Tara Marie Good

A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes: your purchase benefits in part Levantine Cultural CenterIn 1940 Walter Benjamin wrote, "To articulate what is past does not mean to recognize ‘how it really was.' It means to take control of a memory, as it flashes in a moment of danger." For the German-Jewish Marxist philosopher that moment of danger was the Nazi march on Europe. The moment of danger that inspired Afghani born Tamim Ansary to articulate Islamic history in Destiny Disrupted was September 11th.

Destiny Disrupted is a historical narrative of the Islamic world addressing the chasm seen to separate Western and Middle Eastern histories. The main thesis presented by Ansary is that the history of Islam and the West are two parallel histories, which overlap at points, but are fundamentally separate. Claiming to represent a general Muslim perception, Ansary charts Middle Eastern history from the ancient world to the western colonial and economic expansion in the modern era.

Afghanistan's Untold StoryOn Friday evening, May 15, Levantine Cultural Center hosts a salon devoted to discussion of Afghanistan, past and present. Authors Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould will be talking about their new book Invisible History: Afghanistan’s Untold Story (City Lights 2009) including a DVD presentation. They’ll be introduced by a prominent Afghan-American attorney and activist, Mariam Atash Nawabi, and the evening will wind up with live music by  young Afghan-American singer/songwriter Ariana Delawari. Read more about them here.

In reality, many of us are already asking ourselves if Afghanistan wasn’t the Soviet Union’s Vietnam—and many have begun to wonder if it will become Obama’s Iraq.

Book Party and Concert May 2Reza Aslan presented his new book How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror May 2, at Café-Club Fais Do-Do, at 5257 W. Adams Blvd., LA 90016. Also appearing were Turkish indie rocker Kutsal and Arab hip hop artist Omar Offendum.

check out a few pix from the event:

Reza Aslan's new book: what's a book party without cool music?Join Reza Aslan when he debuts his new book, How to Win A Cosmic War on Terror, God Globalization and the War on Terror, at Fais Do-Do, Saturday, May 2, 2009. Doors open 7:30 pm, show starts at 8:30 pm.

Joining Reza are indie rocker Kutsal and her musicians, and later in the evening, the hip hop innovator Omar Offendum. Tickets are $28.50 and include a complimentary copy of How to Win A Cosmic War. Get them online at Ticketweb. Hurry, tickets will sell out.

This cultural happening is brought to you by Book Soup, BoomGen Studios, Largo and Levantine Cultural Center.
More info at 310.657.5511.

Advance Praise for How to Win A Cosmic War

April 24 Playwrights' Forum

 

April 24 Playwrights' Forum

 

Friday, April 24, 7-10 pm, Levantine Cultural Center

Is there such a thing as Arab/Muslim theatre? Or are Arab/Muslim playwrights doing work just as universal as, say, “Waiting for Godot”? What are the challenges facing Arab/Muslim playwrights working in the United States, and how does religion either contribute to or conflict with art?

On Friday, April 24, Levantine Cultural Center welcomes visiting playwright Wajahat Ali, whose play “The Domestic Crusaders” will open in New York at the Nuyorican on 9-11-2009. Ali will present “Crusaders” with select readings and discussion. Joining him in conversation is Lebanese playwright and director Elie Karam, who will engage the debate, and also talk about his most recently-translated play “Tell Me About the War So I’ll Love You.”

Tickets $10 (members and students with i.d. free). Reservations are strongly advised as space is limited. Call 310.657.5511. Visit levantinecenter.org.

Playwright Wajahat AliIs there such a thing as Arab/Muslim theatre? Or are Arab/Muslim playwrights doing work just as universal as, say, “Waiting for Godot”? What are the challenges facing Arab/Muslim playwrights working in the United States, and how does religion either contribute to or conflict with art?

On Friday, April 24, Levantine Cultural Center welcomes visiting playwright Wajahat Ali, whose play “The Domestic Crusaders” will open in New York at the Nuyorican on 9-11-2009. Ali will present “Crusaders” with select readings and discussion. Joining him in conversation is Lebanese playwright and director Elie Karam, who will engage the debate, and also talk about his most recently-translated play “Tell Me About the War So I’ll Love You.”

Tickets $10 (members and students with i.d. free). Reservations are strongly advised as space is limited. Call 310.657.5511. Visit levantinecenter.org.