Who is WAJAHAT ALI?
WHO is WAJAHAT ALI?
Wajahat Ali is a Muslim American of Pakistani descent who is neither a terrorist nor a saint. This is his blog that allows him to relate his thoughts, musings, writings and random, wanton acts of intellectual anarchy, mirth and merriment.
He would like to invite others to partake in this intellectual and creative playpen with the ambitious yet realistic hope of creating this blog into an international Toys R’ Us for intriguing, thought provoking, mind numbingly intelligent and passionate discussions.
WHO are you again?
Wajahat Ali is an American Muslim of Pakistani descent. His play, “The Domestic Crusaders [www.domesticcrusaders.com], is the one of the first major plays about the American Muslim experience originally premiering at the Thrust Stage of the Tony award winning Berkeley Repertory Theater to universal acclaim in 2005 and making its New York premiere on 9-11-09 at the world famous Nuyorican Theater.
He was honored as an “An Influential Muslim American Artist” by the State Department and invited to their Annual Ramadan dinner. He was also recently honored as a “Muslim Leader of Tomorrow” for his journalism work and invited to participate in the “Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow” conference in Doha, Qatar. He is the recipient of Muslim Public Affairs Council’s prestigious “Emerging Muslim American Artist” recognition of 2009.
He is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Counterpunch and Chowk.
His first short story, “Ramadan Blues,” was published in January 2009 in the anthology “Pow Wow” published by Perseus/De Capo Press.
His first movie, “Ms. Judgments,” was a finalist for the prestigious LinkTV Muslim American Film Contest.
His blog, “Goatmilk: An Intellectual Playground” (goatmilk.wordpress.com), is ranked in the top 7% of all political blogs and recently rated “Great” by blogged.com.
He is an Associate Editor of Altmuslim.com, the leading American Muslim online magazine; and a contributing editor to the award winning Illume Magazine (http://www.illumemagazine.org/).
He practices law in the Bay Area, California.
WHAT is GOATMILK (the name of the blog)?
Milk produced from the lactating udders of a goat.
It’s also a calcium-rich, nourishing source of refreshment, as well as a soothing and beneficial alternative to cow milk.
WHY use GOATMILK as a blog name?
Using the lactate analogy above, this blog serves as an informative, topical, unorthodox, creative and hopefully useful alternative to cookie cutter, cardboard, yogurt media sound bites, news information and punditry polemics contaminating the net.
Wajahat hopes you enjoy playing in his corner of the playground. And invites you to play along with him and the blog’s global audience.
SUBMISSIONS
Goatmilk accepts essays, fiction, poetry, art and commentaries from an international playground.
Submissions (which can include republications) must be quality in regards to its content. Goatmilk reserves the right to publish or not publish.
All proof reading, spelling, grammar and citations must be done by the submitter. Pictures and graphics, if desired, must be included or attached.
Please aim for less than 2,500 words.
Submit to: goatmilkblog@gmail.com
Peace and blessings,
Wajahat Ali, Editor of “GOATMILK”
Thanks- a very informative article. For another take on the Bhutto-loss, take a peak at this article, too:
http://doublesidedstickytape.wordpress.com/2007/12/28/real-politiking-schizophrenia-bhutto/
Rapunzelstiltskin
December 30, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Apologies- I’ve reposted my last comment under the correct post. I don’t necessarily intend for this current comment to be published but just wanted to make contact.
This is the first time I’ve encountered your work- in fact this is the first time I’ve heard of you and it is a pleasant discovery. I work with a Muslim theatre company and it’s quite difficult to find many Pakistani Muslims who appreciate the power of telling the story, so it’s always nice to find people who share the passion. I would love to know more about your work?
Rapunzelstiltskin
December 30, 2007 at 4:18 pm
uh…. is this thing on… (loud feedback) … oh okay …
you know several cheeses are made from goatmilk as well. so you could probably accurately describe yourself with some sort of cheese analogy as well. something like: “the curdling of thought condensed into a manageable block of tasty intellectual nourishment.”
you forgot to say “when is Wajahat Ali?” and “how is Wajahat Ali?” pls update for my sole amusement.
wa salaams brother,
ameer
ameer
March 9, 2008 at 4:06 am
[...] Posted on March 17, 2008 by Tariq Nelson Wajhat Ali, an American Muslim of Pakistani decent, did an excellent in depth interview with Ishmael [...]
Naming Names « Tariq Nelson
March 17, 2008 at 1:13 pm
your review on 10,000 B.C. was horrible.
ali baba
June 19, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I read your article in Counterpunch, “Obama’s Uninspired Choice for Veep”. I am certainly not any kind of apologist for the Democratic Party, or any political swarm, but I have to say that it is always disappointing to read the words of a bigot regardless of their cultural background.
You have so many seemingly important and potentially valid points, but it is lost in the hate speech and therefore non-digestible.
A bigot of any hue, is still a bigot, sir.
Robert
August 27, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Who would you have preferred as a better choice for Obama, Wajahat? Any names?
Abbas Zaidi
October 26, 2008 at 7:53 am
Personally, I’ve always found goatmilk to be too salty for my taste. I prefer kachcha dood.
Baraka
January 30, 2009 at 2:52 am
[...] in the anthology “Pow Wow” published by Perseus/De Capo Press . Also, his blog, “Goatmilk: An Intellectual Playground“ is ranked in the top 7% of all political blogs and recently rated “Great” by [...]
Wajahat Ali’s The Domestic Crusaders, first major Pakistani Muslim American play « Traditional Rebel
March 27, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Salam. i want to ask about the text of the domestic crusader . how can i get it . would u provide me with a link . i am a researcher and i think it wiil be essential in my MA thesis .
Best Regards .
Seham
August 1, 2009 at 3:42 am
Hello Wajahat
I am from Australia
I saw your play in New York on Sept 11 at the Poets Cafe on the Lower East Side. I do believe your play would be just as entertaining relevant and well attended in Australia. How can I get a copy to show it to some producer friends of mine
John M
October 21, 2009 at 11:53 pm
How about discussing racism and backlash under Obama on my radio show today around 4:35 CST.
Toll free call in is 800-580-8255
Colonel Ray 710 Talk Radio
McAllen, TX
Colonel Ray
September 15, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Great!!
So, I can create yogurt, Lassi, butter, cheese, and ghee from this milk? I’m afraid not, as for it has lower rate in fates;)
Jeech
September 25, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I saw your play on September 13 with my friend Mona Eltahawy and rabbinical student Joshua Stanton. I posted a blog entry about it at http://www.multifaithworld.org.
Thank you for writing the play and for working so hard to get it performed. I hope this is just the beginning for “The Domestic Crusaders.”
Warmly,
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer
Director, Multifaith Studies and Initiatives
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
http://www.multifaithworld.org
Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer
September 27, 2009 at 12:50 am
Hello Mr Ali,
I am interested in writing an article on post 9/11 Muslim American writing and somehow stumbled upon your name – is there a more direct way I might contact you and ask some questions?
Many thanks,
Tamara Braunstein
Tamara Braunstein
October 12, 2009 at 4:30 pm