Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen: Thank you for those opening comments. I would like to now give some thanks of my own. I have a few comments to make on why we are supporting Smitha Rajan through the Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Fellowship Alfred Friendly Press Partners Fellow. Before, I do so, however, I would like to give some thanks. First, my sincere thanks to Susan and Alberto for having us here in their spectacular home for this special dinner. As … [Read more...]
Articles
Frank blogs regularly for the Huffington Post and writes occasional columns and articles for publications such as the International Business Times and The Economic Times of India.
Frank writes on a wide variety of topics that are critical to shaping the future of America and the American dream and to making the United States and the world a better place. These include: Business; education; poverty and inequality; politics and public policy; immigration; manufacturing; innovation; leadership; citizenship; and social commentary.
Frank’s most recent blogs are highlighted on this page. To read other blogs or articles by Frank, click on the categories or publications links on the left.
Flying The Unfriendly Skies Of United Airlines
There is an airline cone of silence relegating the customer to a captive state of information deprivation. Back in the days when air travel used to be fun and an experience to be looked forward to rather than dreaded, United Airlines advertising was wrapped around the slogan “Fly the Friendly Skies.” United discontinued its friendly skies promotion in 1996 but revived it again in September of 2013. The friendly skies ads may be back for United but the reality of a pleasurable … [Read more...]
Frank Islam column on philanthropy vs charity
In February 2017, I went to India from the United State of America to dedicate the Frank and Debbie Islam Management Complex at my Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) alma mater. At the dedication of that complex, I said: “While the bricks and mortar are important, far more important is what will go on in this setting. It will be a place for sharing of information and imparting and development of knowledge. It will be a place where faculty and students can collaborate on innovative projects. It will … [Read more...]
The Need For Deconstruction Of The Apocalyptic State
The Trump presidency has magnified and intensified the sorry nature of this state. The United States of America is in an apocalyptic state. That state must be deconstructed because it threatens the future of our citizens, country and the world in which we live. Some might blame this apocalyptic state on the Trump presidency. This would be incorrect. As evidenced by the recent moving forward of the hands on the Doomsday clock, the Trump candidacy and presidency have magnified and … [Read more...]
The Need For Reconstruction, Not Deconstruction, Of The Administrative State
Is there a need for deconstruction of the administrative state? No. Is there a need for reconstruction of the administrative state? Yes. Let’s examine why beginning with the concept of the administrative state. Before Steve Bannon’s proclamation that one of the three “lines of work” of the Trump administration was “deconstruction of the administrative state”, the phrase “administrative state” was primarily the province of academics and wonks at think tanks. Political … [Read more...]
Ahmedabad journalist chosen for Indian American-funded fellowship
Ahmedabad-based journalist Smitha Rajan has been chosen for a fellowship in the US funded by a foundation started by prominent Indian-American IT entrepreneur Frank Islam and his wife Debbie Driesman. The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation (FIDDF), whose mission is to promote education, art and culture and peace and conflict-resolution, has joined hands with the Alfred Friendly Press Partners (AFPP), a leader in transforming journalists from information hungry societies, for the … [Read more...]
Indian-American’s AMU Business School To Make Leaders For Better India
WASHINGTON: Indian-American investor and philanthropist Frank Islam hopes that a $2-million management school set up by him at his alma mater, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), will become an incubator for leaders in India. "From this Complex will come the leaders who will make India and the world a better place," said Islam, who dedicated The Frank and Debbie Islam Management Complex at the AMU in February. "That is my vision," he told IANS. "I also expect that the Complex will be a place … [Read more...]
Frank Islam interview with Hindustan Times while in India
It’s Not American Carnage. It Is An Urban Crisis.
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump called attention to the very real and serious problem of “Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities….” He was right to signify on this problem. But, as he continued to signify on an “education system flush with cash” he was wrong. And, when he ended this section of his address – after talking about crime, gangs and drugs - by declaring “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.” he was even more wrong. … [Read more...]
Donald Trump Is Building A Wall: Revisited
In June of 2016, we wrote a blog about the then-presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for President of the United States, titled “Donald Trump is Building A Wall.” It began as follows: In a recent interview with Jake Tapper of CNN trying to defend his indefensible comments regarding Gonzalo Curiel, a native born American of Mexican heritage, who is the federal judge overseeing the lawsuit against Trump University, Trump repeatedly proclaimed, “I am building a wall.” That … [Read more...]