Ella Shohat and Robert Stam

133 Greene Street, New York, New York 10012

Tel: (212) 260-4014

www.pomgallery.com

You are Cordially Invited to Attend:

Taboo Memories, Diasporic Voices and Flagging Patriotism: Crises of Narcissism and Anti-Americanism

Book Reception: Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m.

The Pomegranate Gallery is proud to announce a reception Thursday, April 26 at 6 p.m. to celebrate the publication of Ella Shohat’s Taboo Memories, Diasporic Voices (Duke University Press 2006) and Ella Shohat & Robert Stam’s Flagging Patriotism: Crises of Narcissism and Anti-Americanism (Routledge 2007).

Flagging Patriotism explores the interconnected issues of patriotism and Anti-Americanism. Drawing upon their extensive experience with Latin American, European, and Middle Eastern societies, the authors place the “why do they hate us discourse into a transnational context. While criticizing the right wing’s “Pentagonization” of patriotism, they also question the Francophobia of the right, along with certain culturalist forms of Anti-Americanism. Dedicated to Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart and other “patriotic clowns,” the book uses humor and wit to discuss the most controversial issues of the day. Neil Smith writes: “A triangulation in the best sense between French and Brazilian and American exceptionalist skews on the United States, this book bores into the conundra of Anti-Americanism and American patriotism… Comprehending anti-Americanism while rejecting it as decisively as it rejects American exceptionalism, 'Flagging Patriotism' points toward a new, transnational patriotism. Easily the most thoughtful book on the subject, it packs accessible analysis alongside gut common sense and is excitingly and exquisitely written.” For Doris Sommer, “Stam and Shohat combine a shared flair for interdisciplinary analysis and also complementary perspectives on two hemispheres. Their book is a compelling account that calls for re-framing legislation and loyalties.”

Taboo Memories, Diasporic Voices brings together for the first time a selection of trailblazing essays by Ella Shohat, an internationally renowned scholar of Iraqi-Jewish background. The essays trace a powerful intellectual trajectory as Shohat rigorously teases out the consequences of a deep critique of Eurocentrism. Taboo Memories, Diasporic Voices not only illuminates many of the concerns that have animated the study of cultural politics over the past two decades; it also points toward new scholarly possibilities. Lisa Lowe writes: “From her keen observations about the politics of knowledge production in the U.S. university, to her canny elucidation of the gendered geographies of colonial cinema, to her critical engagements with post-Zionist discourse, Ella Shohat’s bold intelligence is unparalleled. This volume collects her key interventions that have shaped and illuminated the debates we have come to know as multiculturalism, postcolonial discourse, and transnational feminism.”

Ella Shohat is Professor in the departments of Art & Public Policy and Middle Eastern Studies at NYU. Her publications in the areas of cultural studies and postcolonial theory have also included developing critical approaches to the study of Arab-Jews. Her books include the award-winning Unthinking Eurocentrism (with R. Stam), Israeli Cinema: East/West and the Politics of Representation, Talking Visions: Multicultural Feminism in a Transnational Age, and Multiculturalism, Postcoloniality and Transnational Media. A recipient of Rockefeller grant, her writings have been translated into various languages, including, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Hebrew, Polish, German and Turkish.

Robert Stam is University Professor at New York University and author of over sixteen books, among them Subversive Pleasures, Tropical Multiculturalism, Unthinking Eurocentrism (with E. Shohat), Film Theory: an Introduction, Literature through Film and Francois Truffaut and Friends. His work has been translated into French, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, Farsi, Swedish and other languages. He has lived and taught in Tunisia, France, and Brazil, and received Woodrow Wilson, Guggenheim, and Rockefeller grants.

Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Reception attendees are invited to view current art on display. Artists currently featured include Farah Nosh, Ismail Khayat, Hana Mal-Allah, Hayder Ali, Qasim Sabti, Mohammed Shammerey, Nazar Yahya, Naziha Rashid, and gallery owner Oded Halahmy.

This event is supported in part by the Oded Halahmy Foundation for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural organization created to fund original artistic expressions that promote a greater cultural understanding of the Middle East, thereby fostering peace and hope around the world. The Foundation has already supported a number of Middle Eastern writers and poets by bringing their translated works to an American audience.

Virginia Tech Tragedy and Waleed Shaalan

From: Muslim Family Services
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:24:11 -0700 (PDT)

On behalf of the Virginia Tech Muslim Students Association we would like to
express our sincere gratitude to all of the MSAs and Muslims that have
contacted us here in Blacksburg, VA in the midst of this tragedy.
Alhumdulillah we have a national Muslim community that is supportive of each
other, like you all have been to us these past few days. Unfortunately we
lost a brother from our MSA here in Blacksburg. His name is Br. Waleed
Shaalan and he was a graduate student here at Virginia Tech. Waleed left
behind his wife of three years, Amira, and his one-year-old son, Khaled.
With the help of MSA National, we have set up a fund to support his family
during these difficult times. The link in which individuals and MSAs all
over the US and Canada can donate is below. Please keep the brother (may
Allah have mercy upon his soul), his family, and all of us here at Virginia
Tech in your duas.

Jazakumu Allahu Khairan for all of your duas and support.

Wa'alaikumu Assalam waRahmatu Allah,

Nassiba Adjerid
Virginia Tech MSA President

Please donate to support the family of Br. Waleed Shaalan

http://www.msanational.org/finance/vt07donate.html
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ional.org%2Ffinance%2Fvt07donate.html&id=preview>

Narration by a student in the classroom with Waleed:

The student mentions that Waleed saved his life and wants to convey this to
Waleed's family. Apparently, the murderer came into Norris 206 and shot Dr.
Loganathan and a number of students injuring Waleed. Waleed was sitting in
the front row where he always sat. Everyone jumped to the floor after
hearing the gun shots including the person narrating the story. The murderer
then left Norris 206 to go to another classroom. The student that narrates
the story was not shot but pretended to be dead and lay on the ground beside
Waleed who at that time was only injured. The murderer then re-entered the
classroom and was checking for alive victims. He had approached the person
narrating the story who mentions that his heart was pounding out of fear.
Waleed at that instant made a movement to distract the murderer's attention
and was shot for the second time. At that time Waleed died and the murderer
left the narrator to search for other victims.

Ina Lillahi wa ina Ilayhi rajeoon. We ask Allah to forgive Waleed all his
sins and grant him paradise.

"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in
goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those
who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We
belong, and to Him is our return":- They are those on whom (Descend)
blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive
guidance. [Quran 2:155-157]


F. Hafeez
Program Coordinator
Muslim Family Services
mfs_adm1@yahoo.com
http://www.muslimfamilyservices.org/