The malicious and intentional spreading of an offensive, anti-Muslim video. The murder of an American ambassador. Protests around the world. Hate crimes against mosques in the U.S. All of these events seem to further solidify the already-entrenched narrative about Muslim-Christian relations—that Muslims and Christians are in a “clash of civilizations,” fundamentally at odds, and hell-bent …
Trends we can’t ignore (Series introduction)
The shooting at the Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisc.—and the nationwide string of hate crimes against Muslims that went virtually unreported by the media—reveals a number of disturbing, yet ignored, trends about extremism and ignorance in America. Over the next few days, I’ll be posting about issues that are not new, but that have …
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My commentary in The Indianapolis Star
I was invited to write the following commentary for The Indianapolis Star's Faith Forum column on Saturday, August 11, 2012. The positive feedback has been tremendous; I've already been told that it was discussed at length at a local Quaker meeting, and a professor at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indy will use it as required …
Why you should care about the National Defense Authorization Act
*This is a long post. But its length reflects the importance of its topic. I hope this discussion communicates the complexity of the NDAA and the significance of the law’s implications. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law by President Obama on December 31. This bill is passed yearly to determine the …
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Around One Table
A few weeks ago, I co-organized and participated in Georgetown’s annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service. Brought together by the Office of Campus Ministry and the student Interfaith Council, students representing different religious groups on campus gathered to share prayers, songs, and reflections of gratitude from their particular traditions. Diverse members of the Georgetown community were …