Category: Politics

Former Iraq minister: Corruption, foreign intervention fester country

by Ted Regencia, posted in Foreign Affairs, Politics

Web Exclusive
April 01, 2011

Text and photo by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — Addressing a crowd of foreign policy experts, former Iraqi finance minister Ali Allawi warned corruption and overt meddling by neighboring countries threaten his Iraq’s young democracy.

Allawi told members of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs that “the continuous involvement of foreign powers in the internal affairs” of Iraq “is a very dangerous phenomenon,” pointing to Turkey, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States as the culprits.

He said the “weakness” of Iraq’s political leaders created a vacuum for foreign interference.

“Everybody, in one way or another, got involved in the Iraqi political scene mainly because, I think, of the weakness, to some extent cowardice, of the Iraqi politicians,” said Allawi, who now serves as a fellow at Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.

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Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day 2011

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Lifestyle, Politics

March 12, 2011

Text and photos by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — In a day full of pageantry and traditions, Chicago’s influential Irish-American community honored on Saturday, March 12, its heritage and Catholic roots with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, who is retiring in May after 22 years in office, led the festivities alongside his wife, Maggie, who was seen greeting the crowd from a convertible car in the traditional Irish color. Walking with them was U.S. Senator and Majority Whip Richard Durbin.

A sea of green dominated Chicago’s Columbus Drive, with parade participants and spectators, young and old, decked in various costumes, from funky to fashionable and bizarre. They greeted the mayor and first lady with cheers thanking them for their service to the city, and Daley acknowledged by raising a traditional Irish cane called shillelagh.

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Emanuel is Chicago’s mayor-elect

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

Text and photo by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — For the first time in more than two decades, and following five months of high political drama, Chicago has a new mayor.

Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama’s former Chief of Staff, won a decisive victory Tuesday, February 22, becoming the 46th mayor of America’s third largest city.

Emanuel received 55.25 percent of the vote, well above the 50 percent cut-off, which would have forced him into runoff, against the second highest vote-getter Gery Chico, former board of education president, who got 23.97 percent. Continue reading “Emanuel is Chicago’s mayor-elect” →

Arab-American Scholars: Mubarak’s Time is Up

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics, Religion

Patch.com
Feb. 01, 2011

Text by Ted Regencia

SKOKIE, Ill — As opposition groups in Egypt prepare to mount a million-person march on Tuesday, two professors of Middle Eastern studies at Oakton Community College’s Skokie campus say the time has come for President Hosni Mubarak to end his 30-year reign.

Egyptian-born Jaleh Sherbini and Middle East political analyst Ribhi I. Salhi said given the current political atmosphere, quitting is Mubarak’s only option. Staying in power, they added, is like “committing suicide.”

“It is time for him [Mubarak] to leave,” said Sherbini, whose family still lives in Cairo. “I would think that he would not only be committing suicide by deciding to stay. He has reached a point where no matter what he does, people are not willing to accept him anymore.”

“The heat is on, and the house is burning,” noted Salhi, a graduate of the University of Jordan and an expert on Muslim societies and cultures. “Mubarak has to understand that the time is up. I think in a couple of days, Mubarak is going to give up the ball.”

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Gay Civil Union Now Legal in Illinois

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics, Religion

Balitang America and Patch.com
Jan. 31, 2011

Text and video by Ted Regencia


CHICAGO — In what is seen as a victory for the gay rights movement, Gov. Pat Quinn signed today, January 31, a landmark legislation that recognizes same-sex unions in Illinois.

Quinn signed the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act before an excited crowd at the Chicago Cultural Center.

“Today is an important day in the history of our state because today we are showing the world that the people of Illinois believe in equality for all,” said Governor Quinn.

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Schakowsky predicts victory, forsees standstill in Congress

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

Patch.com
Nov. 02, 2010

Text and photos by Ted Regencia

EVANSTON, Ill — After a long and heated campaign season that saw candidates trade barbs on issues from abortion to taxes to support for Israel, the 2010 Election Day comes early in the 9th District as polls open at 6 a.m.

In Evanston, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is facing a strong challenge from Harvard-educated Skokie resident Joel Pollak, cast her vote at 6:25 a.m. at the Nichols Middle School.

“I feel pretty confident that I will win,” Schakowsky said. “The question is the margin.”

The six-term Democratic congresswoman said it is her “routine” to vote early and spend the rest of the day going around to other precincts.

Nichols Middle School election judge Robert Wilson said there was a “rush in the beginning” of the voting. He expected it to “slack off” after a couple of hours and pick up again in the evening.

Like all the others statewide, the polling station is open until 7 p.m.

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Skokie rabbi rails at Obama’s terrorism policy

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics, Religion

Patch.com
Nov. 01, 2010

Text and photos by Ted Regencia

SKOKIE, Ill — Three days after the failed attempt to ship explosive materials from Yemen to two Chicago synagogues, a senior rabbi of the Skokie-based Ezra-Habonim Jewish Congregation is calling out the Obama administration for its counterterrorism policy.

“We need the U.S. administration to understand we are in a battle vs islamic extremism,” Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg wrote in an e-mail sent to Skokie Patch on Sunday.

Ginsburg, who heads the conservative reconstructionist congregation, cited a Washington Post article that reported President Barack Obama’s advisers were planning to drop terms like “Islamic radicalism” from a document outlining national security strategy.

According to the newspaper story, the move is an effort to emphasize “that the U.S. does not view Muslim nations through the lens of terrorism.”

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