ACT for America

ACT for America

The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Oct. 14. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. The group meets on second Tuesdays of the month at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Sycamore B Room, Mission Viejo.

The Oct. 14 speaker will be Nonie Darwish, author and human rights activist. Her topic will be “Understanding the Turmoil in Syria and Egypt: an Egyptian-American’s perspective on the Arab Winter.”

From the announcement:

Are you confused by the speed and complexity of changes going on in the Middle East? Do you wonder what's going to happen to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the "rebels" in Syria? Who will win and who will lose? What does that turmoil in the Middle East mean for the United States and Americans?

The guest speaker grew up in Egypt and has family and friends there. She has an "on the ground" perspective and deep insights into the politics and culture of Arab countries. 

What You Will Learn:

  • Beyond the headlines in Egypt and Syria.
  • The root cause of the violence and instability in the Middle East.
  • The challenges facing "moderate Muslims" in stopping Islamic extremists.  
  • How U.S. foreign policy is impacting the conflicts, and how to improve our approach. 

Nonie Darwish is a Middle East expert and author of "Cruel and Usual Punishment." Her third book, "The Devil We Don't Know," comes out in February. She has a degree in sociology/anthropology and founded the organizations Arabs For Israel and Former Muslims United. She has been published in the Guardian and Wall Street Journal, and she appeared on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, C-SPAN, BBC, Al Arabiya. She spoke before the European Parliament, members of the British House of Lords, at Oxford University and was featured in the documentary film "Obsession."

Nonie will speak for about 50 minutes and have 20 minutes for questions. A $5 donation is appreciated to help cover meeting costs. Sign up for ACT! for America chapter announcements at www.act4oc.org