Review by Dina Abou Salem

"Family lines are not as straight as they could be, but they are continuous,

By Mischa Geracoulis

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.

Dismantling the Axis of Evil (new)The Iranian American Bar Association and Levantine Cultural Center present "Dismantling the Axis of Evil: Reforming Middle Eastern Representations in Hollywood & Seeking Sounder Public Policy after 9/11 in the Age of Obama."

This program includes a brief review of roles in film and television, followed by a spirited dicussion, and questions from the audience. Panelists include Ahmed Ahmed, comedian and actor, Reza Aslan, author of No God, but god and How to Win a Cosmic War; John Tehranian, attorney and author of Whitewashed: America's Invisible Middle Eastern Minority; Maz Jobrani, actor and comedian ("Axis of Evil Comedy Tour"; "The Interpreter"); and Shiva Rose, actress ("David & Layla," "CSI Miami"), activist and playwright.

ALOUD and the Vesper Society present Irene Khan, on "The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights." She will in conversation with David Kaye. Executive Director, UCLA School of Law International Human Rights Program

with Drs. Nubar Hovsepian and Gabriel PiterbergThis program intends to encourage intellectual discussion surrounding the history and present political landscape in which Palestinians, Israelis and Lebanese find themselves, in the context of the nation-state, "peace," "war," "justice" and other such terms often bandied about in the mainstream media without the time to closely analyze just what is meant. In a progressive yet playful spirit, professors Hovsepian and Piterberg examine the region and open the conversation to your questions and comments.

7:00 pm social
7:30 presentations
8:30 moderated Q & A
9:00 pm book signing & close of event

An engaging talk with slides and live music on the recent Yuval Ron Ensemble tour to Morocco.

Last June The Yuval Ron Ensemble completed its first peace mission tour to a Muslim country—Morocco, bringing to tears both Muslim and Jewish audiences. Hear the story from musical director Yuval Ron who will share slides and music from the musical meetings with the tribal Sufi musicians and dancers of Morocco, and the search for the disappearing Jewish life in Todra, Marakech and Fez.

The Yuval Ron Ensemble became a media sensation at the Sacred Music Festival in Fez, Morocco. CNN, National Geographic, Mundomix.com and French TV Channel 5 all focused their stories about the Fez Festival on the Yuval Ron Ensemble. See the CNN special report.