Friday, June 05, 2009 CHICAGO: For eight years, US Muslims cringed at the rhetoric coming out of the White House and the divisions created at home and abroad by terms like "Islamo-fascism" and "Islamic terrorists." On Thursday, many here breathed a sigh of relief at the major shift marked by President Barack Obama's call for a new beginning with the Muslim world in a much-anticipated Cairo speech. "The speech has done more to undermine Al-Qaeda than anything (former president George W.) Bush did," said Ahmed Rehad, executive director of the Chicago branch of the Council on American Islamic Relations. "The greatest fodder Al-Qaeda had in the past was to say, 'the US hates you.'"There is a power to language, Rehad said. But Obama's speech contained more than just promising rhetoric and a shift from cowboy diplomacy to a display of "humility" and respect. Obama also offered concrete plans to work with the Muslim world to fight polio and expand cultural exchanges and economic development projects. "There is a clear feeling within the Muslim audience that President Obama is genuine," Rehad told media as he fielded calls in his bustling Chicago office where employees crowded around a television set to watch a replay of the speech. "President Bush at times said the right things but he never seemed genuine."Amina Sharif was touched by Obama's recognition of the contributions of Muslim Americans and his willingness to acknowledge the suffering of the Palestinian people."What he's doing will help to break stereotypes Americans have of their Muslim neighbors and of Muslims in other countries," said Sharif, who coordinates communications for CAIR."There will always be demagogues who try to criticize all his actions," she added. "But I think the American people are intelligent enough to ignore those rabble rousers and understand he's bridging the gap and he's enabling us to mutually understand one another and forging partnerships that will make our country safer." Similar sentiments were expressed across the country.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 HAVANA: Hundreds of wealthy merchants and cigar aficionados from all parts of the world gathered in Havana this week to bid high stakes for humidors full of premium cigars. Cuba's annual Habanos festival ended on Friday night with an auction of ornate humidors of cedar and mahogany stacked with hand-rolled stogies that raised 800,000 euros ($1.09 million dollars). Habanos S.A. executives this month said cigar sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 10 percent of customers for Habanos. But even with the creation of the Julieta, Garcia said Habanos has only modest hopes for 2010 sales, due largely to a weak economy in Spain, the biggest market for Cuban cigars. The flavor of premium tobacco relies on the soil and climate in which it is grown. The western province of Pinar Del Rio, famous fo...
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