Mohammad Ali Salih is a Sudanese American journalist, born in Sudan and, since 1980, has been Washington, DC, full-time correspondent for major Arabic newspapers and magazines in the Middle East. Since 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on the US, and President George W. Bush's declaration of "War on Terrorism", Salih started writing frequent columns in American newspapers. Most of these writings were personal experiences that related to subjects of terrorism, Islam and race. In January 2010, he wrote in "The Washington Post" about his "Silent Jihad at the White House." He wrote that, since 2008, the last year of Bush's presidency, he started a "vigil for life" in front of the White House. That, on Saturdays and Sundays, he stood alone and silently carrying a huge banner that asked, on one side: "What is Terrorism?" and, on the other side: “What is Islam." In smaller prints underneath: "Obama wants to improve America's image in the Muslim World. I want to improve Islam's image in America. I will be here until I die!" He argued that the banner was not against President Barack Obama, US government, Republicans, Democrats or any US group. Also, not against any Muslim government or leader, moderate or extreme, secular or religious Muslims, or any religion or faith. And that he was only asking his two questions to the American people whom he said he trusted their judgment after he lost hope in their politicians. He said he was not the stereotype demonstrator: did not march, shout, argue, fast, camp outside the White House, chain himself to its fence or wear jeans and T-shirts; he stood alone, silently and wearing a dark suit, believing that his appearance and behavior were part of his message. And that, if he collected enough donations through his website, would quit his job and vigil every day -- until he dies. In 1942, Salih was born in Wadi Haj village, near Argo, on the Nile River, in northern Sudan, south of the borders with Egypt. In some of his writings in American newspapers, he described his "kindergarten" for two years: a "madrassa" (Koranic school), called "khalwa" (Place of Solitude)in Arabic. There, the only reference book was the Koran which taught religion (Islam), history (of nations and prophets) and language (Arabic). Living in the village until he went to high school in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, he wrote that his upbringing was very religious and has very much influenced both, his life in the US and his writings after 9/11/2001 about what he described as a personal life-long conflict between Islam and the West. From the "madrassa," Salih went to the nearby Argo Elementary School, then Argo Intermediate School. Then, to Wadi Seidna Secondary School, north of Khartoum. Then to the University of Khartoum where he obtained B.Sc.(Political Science)in 1967 and M.Sc.(Political Science) in 1971. Between 1973-1976, he obtained M.A. (Journalism) from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. After two years in Sudan and two years in Saudi Arabia as a journalist, he started, in 1980, his current job in Washington, DC. In 2022, he published a draft contents of his auto-biography project. “WADIHAJ”: COMING TO AMERICA FROM MY MUSLIM VILLAGE PART ONE: VILLAGE YEARS PART TWO: CITY YEARS PART THREE: TRAVELS, EAST AND WEST PART FOUR: AMERICAN YEARS PART FIVE: FULL CIRCLE
PART ONE: VILLAGE YEARS 1. CIVILIZATIONS: Pharaonic Civilization. Christian Civilization. Islamic Civilization. 2. TRIBES: Kababish, Father’s Tribe. Bidairiya, Mother’s Tribe. Nubians. Falaleeh. Slave-Decedents. Gypsies. 3. FAMILY: Father, Village Shaman. Grandmother, Family Matriarch. 4. VILLAGE: “Khalwa” (Madrasa). Sufism. Culture. Westernization. Other Villagers. 5. POLITICS: British Rule. Egyptian Rule. Nationalism and Independence.
PART TWO: CITY YEARS: 1. Education. Journalism. 2. City People. 3. Westernization vs. Islam. 4. Arabism vs. Africanism. 5. Civilian Rule vs. Military Rule.
PART THREE: TRAVELS, EAST AND WEST 1.VISITING MUSLIMS: Indonesia: Dutch Colonialism. Somalia: Italian Colonialism. The Gulf: Portuguese Colonialism. Algeria: French Colonialism. Ethiopia: Islam vs. Christianity. Nigeria: Islam vs. Christianity. Uganda: Islam vs. Christianity. Kenya: Islam vs. Christianity. India: Islam vs. Hinduism. South Korea: Islam vs. Buddhism. Pakistan: Strong Islam. Iran: Westernized Islam. Saudi Arabia: Birthplace of Islam. 2.VISITING EUROPE: Russia vs. Islam. Poland vs. Islam. Hungary vs. Islam. Austria: Muslims Rule. Bulgaria: Muslims Rule. Greece: Muslims Rule. Turkey: Ottoman Empire. Italy: Reckoning Somalia. Portugal: Reckoning the Gulf. Spain: Reckoning Andalusia. Britain: Reckoning Sudan. France: Reckoning Algeria. Belgium: Reckoning Congo. Holland: Reckoning Indonesia. Germany: Reckoning Africa. Scandinavia: Reckoning Islam. Caribbean Cruises: The West Playground. Latin America.
PART FOUR: THE AMERICAN YEARS 1980’S: COVERING AMERICA: Excitement. The American Civilization. The Americans. 1980’s: FAMILY: Wife. Children. Race. Religion. 1990’s: PROBLEMS: Stay or Return? Identity. Culture. Problems. Stress and Anxiety. 2000’s: 9/11 ATTACKS: War on Terrorism. Study of Religions. Return to the Quran. 2010’s: PRIDE AND ARROGANCE: Hashtags. White House Jihad. Politicians: Corruption. Journalists: Hypocrisy. Blacks: Color Obsession. Immigrants: The “Meek.” Women Nudity vs. Men Masculinity. Crimes and Drugs. Moralism. 2020’s: FAMILY-UPDATE: Wife. Children. Race. Terrorism.
PART FIVE: FULL CIRCLE 2010’s: RETURN TO THE VILLAGE: Westernization vs. Islam. City: Westernization vs. Islam. Region: Westernization vs. Islam. 2020’s: RETURN TO SUFISM: Spiritualism. Mindfulness. Conscious/Subconscious. Universalism. My Father and My Father-in-Law. 2020’s: AMERICA’S EXCEPTIONALISM and QURAN’S EXCEPTIONALISM 2020’S: DEATH: Others. Mine. Funeral Celebration, Grave-stone Writings.
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edit1. "The Washington Post": "My Jihad at the White House": [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011503178.html 2. "The Washington Post": "My Father, Praying or Plotting?": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/19/AR2006051901762.html 3."The New York Times": "Fasting Ramadan at a Monastery": http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/opinion/05iht-edsalih.7769908.html 4. "USA Today": "Obama, My Son: Bi-Racials": http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080222/opcom22.art.htm
SOME OF PIECES PUBLISHED 1. "Washington Post": "My Jihad at the White House": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011503178.html 2. "Washington Post": "My Father, Praying or Plotting?": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/19/AR2006051901762.html 3."New York Times / IHT": "Fasting Ramadan at a Monastery": http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/opinion/05iht-edsalih.7769908.html 4. "USA Today": "Obama, My Son: Bi-Racial": http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080222/opcom22.art.htm 5. "Philadelphia Enquirer":"Muslim, Arab, then American": http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=553.0 6. "New York Times / IHT": "My Country Divided": http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/opinion/18iht-edsalih18.html 7. "Washington Post": US Image in My Village: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-america-looks-from-sudan/2011/03/04/ABjRAxN_story.html 8. "Washington Post. Com": "My First Rosh Hashanah." http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/09/a_muslim_goes_to_temple_for_his_first_rosh_hashanah.html 9. "Washington Post.Com": "My First Yum Kippur." http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/09/ali_sal.h