Articles
Washington Report, July 2006, page 79
Bulletin Board
Upcoming Events, Announcements, Obituaries
—Compiled by Matt Horton
Upcoming Events
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) will hold its annual convention from June 15 to18 at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC. For more information, visit the ADC Web site, <www.adc.org/conv06>, or call (202) 244-2990.
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship of the Episcopal Church in the United States will host its annual banquet at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio on June 17. Rev. Naim Ateek of Sabeel will receive the 2006 John Nevin Sayre Award. For more information, call (312) 922-8628 or visit <www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org>.
National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus (NMEPC) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will hold its annual banquet at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham, AL on June 18. For more information call (800) 728-7228 ext. 8264.
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the Muslim American Society (MAS) will hold its Annual Joint Convention, “Living Islam, Loving Humanity,” in Hartford, CT from June 30 to July 2. For more information, call (718) 658-1199 or visit <www.icna.org>.
The Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs will host its Annual Convention July 1 to 5 in San Antonio, TX. For more information, visit <www.sfslac.org>.
The National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) will hold its annual convention July 1-6 in Amman, Jordan. For more information, visit <www.naama.com/home.html>.
“Sovereign Threads: A History of Palestinian Embroidery” will be on view at the Craft and Folk Art Museum (CFAM) in Los Angeles from July 16 through Sept. 17. The exhibit will feature costumes from different regions of historic Palestine from the collection of Farah and Hanan Munayyer, founders of the Palestinian Heritage Foundation, as well as contemporary embroidered works using traditional motifs created by women in refugee camps in Lebanon. CFAM is located at 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information, hours of operation, and admission, please visit its Web site, <www.cafam.org>, or call (323) 937-4230.
In August, cyclists from all over the world will leave central London and embark on an amazing journey across Europe to the Middle East, on the second historic Peace Cycle to Jerusalem. Cycling through 12 different countries, the riders will meet with politicians and the public to raise awareness of Israel’s 38-year occupation and call for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. Peace Cycle is calling for individuals, charities, peace groups and faith organizations to support this unique event. For more information visit <www.thepeacecycle.org/>.
The International Society for Iranian Studies (ISIS), the Iran Heritage Foundation (IHF), and the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) will hold its Sixth Biennial Conference on Iranian Studies Aug. 3 to 5 at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. For more information, visit <www.iranheritage.org/sixthbiennial>.
The Bethlehem Association will hold its Convention 2006 from Aug. 3 to 7 in Whippany, NJ. For more information, call (610) 353-2010 or visit <www.bethlehemassoc.org>.
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) will hold its 43rd Annual Convention, “Achieving Balance In Faith, Family and Community,” from Sept. 1 to 4 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. For more information, visit <www.isna.net> or call (317) 839-8157 ext. 241.
Announcements
United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) is currently raising funds to send a shipment of 20 containers of food supplies to Gaza. In cooperation with other NGOs, UPA will send rice, lentils, sugar, powdered milk and flour to the most vulnerable of Palestinians—children, women, the aged, wounded and ill. Tax-deductible donations payable to “United Palestinian Appeal” should be sent to UPA, 1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20036. To make a secure online donation visit <www.helpUPA.com>. For more information, call (800) 982-6183.
Obituaries
Thomas James Abercrombie, 75, died April 3 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore from complications of open-heart surgery. Born in Stillwater, MN, he graduated from Macalester College, where he developed a passion for photography. He was a photographer for the Fargo, ND Forum and the Milwaukee Journal, where he received the 1954 Newspaper Photographer of the Year award, before finally settling at National Geographic, where he was named 1958 Magazine Photographer of the Year—becoming the first photographer to win both awards. During his years at National Geographic, Abercrombie covered Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, becoming the magazine’s expert on the region. As a traveler to remote places and war photographer, he was known for his creative expense reports, such as one submitted for his coverage of civil war in north Yemen. With paper currency useless, Abercrombie had to weld a stash of gold to a vehicle, listing two AK-47s on his expense report as “auto insurance.” Fluent in German, English, French, Spanish and Arabic, he was so impressed by Islam that he became a Muslim, and made hajj four times. In Mecca, he took the first photographs of the city made for the Western world. In the latter part of his career Abercrombie switched primarily to writing, and worked closely with his wife of 53 years, Marilyn, also a National Geographer photographer. According to his Washington Post obituary, “he griped in a 1995 oral history that ”˜probably the best story I ever wrote’ never saw print. It was an exploration of the Palestinians, titled “Defiant Diaspora,” which he said was spiked because of an excess of political correctness.”
In addition to his wife, Abercrombie is survived by two children, Mari Abercrombie of Newburgh, ME, and Bruce Abercrombie of Shady Side, MD; a brother; and two grandchildren. A son, Jon, died in 1958. His life is documented in the recent film “White Tiger” by Patricia A. Leone.
