That “Open Letter to Maureen Dowd?”  That’s what I was talking about at the conclusion of my last post over at InterFaith21.

Our increasingly discredited “mainstream” news organizations continue feeding a diet of Faux News from the right and the Dowds and Tom Friedmans on the left.

But the Internet is making accessible such folks as the knowledgeable Juan Cole. Also the ladies of Muslimah Media Watch where, on the subject of far-right politicians’ thinly veiled obsession with defining how Muslim women should dress, see here and here.

Can’t say enough for MMW, whose About page states:

“Muslimah Media Watch is a forum where we, as Muslim women, can critique how our images appear in the media and popular culture. Although we are of different nationalities, sects, races, etc., we have something important in common: we’re tired of seeing ourselves portrayed by the media in ways that are one-dimensional and misleading. This is a space where, from a Muslim feminist perspective, we can speak up for ourselves.

“As Muslim feminists we aim to locate and critique misogyny, sexism, patriarchy, Islamophobia, racism, and xenophobia as they affect Muslim women. Furthermore, we believe in equal opportunities, equal respect, equal freedom, and equal value — regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, and ability.

“This blog is meant to be inclusive to all people, with a special focus on Muslim women. MMW strives to create an environment in which our writers and readers feel safe and welcome. We ask that you be considerate towards others and their opinions. This is a respectful forum for dialogue, not argument or personal attacks.”

Imagine that: articulate Muslim women, speaking for themselves. Seen that regularly — even lately — in a daily newspaper or local TV station near you?

MMW even offers a list of organizations designed to serve the needs of Muslim women. In contrast, our biased, confused, or lazy Western journalists seem to think that misguided, suffering, self-serving Ayaan Hirsi Ali somehow is supposed to help.

Back to Dowd:

Given this kind of illuminating er, journalism (note the reader comments), it’s no wonder so many Americans were so clueless about Islam and Muslims that we could be frightened into invading a sovereign nation for its oil, and killing untold numbers of innocent people in the name of freeing them — while sacrificing our patriotic servicemen and women, and ruining our economy in the process. And Dowd happened to be a critic of the invasion and of then-President Bush.

Alas, such is today’s wisdom from the s0-called liberal media. With friends like that, who needs Faux.

“Lessons of Petraeus’ Iraq for Petraeus’ Afghanistan”

Iraq cannot be a model for victory in Afghanistan, and it isn’t even clear that there has been any meaningful ‘victory’ in Iraq. — University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole, “Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion”

A Caspian Sea and street view in Baku.

For those who have been asking, yes I plan to be back with more on my journey to Baku, Azerbaijan for the Organization of News Ombudsmen. Thanks for the encouragement. For now here’s the always informative Aaron in Azerbaijan with links underscoring the serious journalism concerns I heard there. Meanwhile I’m gearing to fulfill commitments made before I went. They include speaking engagements (increasingly with nice honoraria, for which I’m also thankful), that have picked up since the first of the year.

In January, for example, I was keynote speaker for the wonderful Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration organized by the outstanding Caribbean American for Community Involvement group in collaboration with the Village of Royal Palm Beach.

During CAFCI's MLK Day celebration...

...officers and committee members take a bow.

With CAFCI President Genieve White (L) and Cultural Exchange Committee Chairwoman Elet Cyrus.

Last month I was invited to share additional insight during Abbey Delray South’s series on Islam and Muslims, which featured the impeccable scholarship of John L. Esposito, Georgetown University professor of Religion and International Affairs.

Also last month, during the Interfaith Memorial Service hosted by the Palm Beach County Haiti Relief Coalition, I had the honor of sharing some thoughts along with fellow members of the Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association.

Haiti Interfaith Memorial Service photos courtesy of the Rev. Waymon T. Dixon.

Rabbi Howard Meridy.

Your correspondent.

With clergy and Haitian officials.

This month, there’s more. Tomorrow, thanks to an invitation to speak at Harbour’s Edge in Delray Beach, I Plan to cite University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole to debunk some inexcusable fallacies from New York Times columnist Tom Friedman.

On Thursday I’m due to share some of my own hajj experiences as the “Understanding Other Cultures” discussion group at the Delray Beach Public library entertains a book that I  recommended — Michael Wolfe’s 1,000 Roads to Mecca.

Next Thursday the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches, home of many dear friends, has me participating on a panel that is scheduled to address the subject of death and dying from various faith perspectives.

In between I’m due to serve on a panel regarding marriage during the Florida Conference of Muslim Americans’ regional conference in Miami.

Next month, our Interfaith Clergy Association of the Jewish Community Relations Council hosts our annual Institute Day, with me serving on another panel to help address the topic, “Promoting Civil Discourse in a Polarized Nation: People of Faith Respond.”

Meanwhile, since returning from Azerbaijan, I’ve been busy: last Thursday helping judge the 27th annual Pathfinder High School Scholarship Awards; and Saturday assisting with the annual Men’s Cookery scholarship fundraiser hosted by one of my dear wife’s social service groups, the Greater Palm Beaches Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Still, my buddy Chuck Keefer just told me over on FaceBook that I should write more. I’ve been working that in too; including over at Interfaith21, while also freelance writing and editing, picking up needed multimedia journalism skills and building a consultancy in this Internet age.

“Remember,” Chuck added, “the only content that is worth a damn is local.”

But there’s also something to be said for writing about what you care about. Which is why I plan to be back with more on Baku.

Outside a trendy Baku shop.

The constant contrast of modern and Soviet-era cars, in this case in Masalli in the country's southeast.

The Azerbaijanis consistently were warm and hospitable, as at this roadside stand between Masalli and Lenkeran.

Baku's ancient city wall.

— 30 —

What a week.

Between writing, editing, interviews, research, configuring social media sites, a class and a few public events, I’ve yet to recover from meeting the impressive array of folks at last week’s Census Bureau summit. But here are some notable items since then about which I expect to share more:

• The week really got rolling at the 9 a.m. Monday swearing-in of now-former Florida state Rep. Priscilla Taylor as the new District 7 Palm Beach County commissioner. I’ve known Ms. Taylor since she was a Port of Palm Beach commissioner. The Democrat seems an inspired appointment by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist

• 

  Former Florida state representative Priscilla Taylor, at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in West Palm Beach two years ago, with Gov. Charlie Crist, who has appointed her to the Palm Beach County Commission.

• .
• The next evening, I also dropped by the kickoff of former Rep. Henry “Hank” Harper’s campaign to replace Ms. Taylor for the state House District 84 seat he once held. He’s one of several candidates such as Delray Beach Commission Bernard “Mack” Mackenson. As with “Monday Morning At the Commission,” it was good to catch up with folks I hadn’t been seeing elsewhere.
• The talk of African-centered education takes on different tenor depending on who’s talking. Amefika is walking the talk from his Joseph Littles-Nguzo Saba charter school in West Palm Beach to Washington, D.C. To be around this school’s kids, parents and teachers is to know they’re something special. Watching the youth head out for the first several blocks with him and other adults was more than special. I plan more on that too. For now there’s a blog at school’s web site, and Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/jlnscswalkathon.
• Tarra Pressey, the CEO of Tarra Pressey Enterprises, owns and manages food and beverage concessions from South Florida to Atlantic City. She just won another contract for the Fort Lauderdale airport. She’s busy encouraging girls to excel her. Yet she’s in her early 30s and hardly slowing down. She spoke at a Black Chamber of Commerce-sponsored session at her Sam Snead’s Tavern at the Palm Beach International Airport. I hope to share what she had to say, and more.
• As always, the monthly Focolare meeting on Saturday was inspiring. I’ll share more on that over at InterFaith21.
• On the national front, another classic: President Obama’s speech to the NAACP. I highly recommend reading or watching that one, and his Ghana speech. I’m not expecting to agree with all of his policy positions, much less expecting perfection. But I agree with countless other Americans, and folks around the world, that he is the best mind, and the most mature, balanced spirit to have occupied the Oval Office in lifetimes. Given that our country’s problems are daunting enough without the divisive shenanigans from the other side of the aisle (latest exhibit: Senate’ Judiciary’s Sotomayor hearings), we should stand with him even more strongly now.
• International? Thanks to the abominable media coverage of the Mideast, there still are people who think we invaded a certain sovereign nation, sacrificed or defaced the lives of thousands of our young people and millions of Iraqis, while squandering trillions of dollars and running our economy into the worst rut since the Depression, because “Saddam wouldn’t disarm.
• To help round out the perspective, some sites are must reading. Richard Silverstein’s Tikun-Olam is among them. So is Juan Cole’s Informed Comment. The University of Michigan professor of history is the most authoritative voice I know on “the Middle East, history and religion.”

Just that quick shout-out for now. I hope to catch up on all that, and more as time allows.