Editor’s Note: With the Abrahamic Program for Young Adults concluding its 2012 Season activities this weekend, the Daily asked the four coordinators to write a reflection on their experiences at Chautauqua.
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Tag Archives: Muslim
Syeed discusses the benefits of democracy for American Muslims
August 10, 2012 
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On Thursday, Sayyid M. Syeed continued the Week Seven Interfaith Lecture theme, “Creating Cultures of Honor and Integrity,” as he discussed the history, growth and optimism of an expanding Islamic community in North America. His lecture was titled “Islamic Experience in a Pluralist Democracy: Building a New Muslim Identity and Institutions in America.”
“What I am going to talk about is a new opportunity, a new millennium for humanity where those two religions are going to create a new reality of cooperation and understanding that is here in this country,” Syeed said.
That community is possible in the United States, because 250 years ago, the Founding Fathers committed to freedom of religion. Though it has taken some time for their goal to come to fruition, the society has gradually realized the interfaith vision the Founding Fathers had for the U.S., Syeed said.
Read more APYA’s pre-Ramadan dinner celebrates holy month, community
July 27, 2012 0 Comments
Last Thursday, as the rains showered from the sky onto the grounds at Chautauqua, a group of about 30 people warmed the cool night air with conversation and camaraderie as they tucked into a potluck feast on the Alumni Hall porch.
The event, a pre-Ramadan dinner sponsored by the Abrahamic Program for Young Adults, was facilitated by the organization’s coordinators but included participants from all walks of life. The tables, overflowing with samosas, hummus, quinoa, lasagna, macaroni and chocolate cake, reflected the multicultural nature of the dinner’s guests.
The coordinators called the event an Iftar, referring to the meal Muslims have after sunset to break their fast during the month of Ramadan. In the Muslim religion, Ramadan is a month of inner reflection and devotion that includes fasting — abstaining from food, drink and sex — from sunrise to sunset.
Read more ‘Children of Dust’ traces roots of Eteraz’s skeptical relationship with Islam
July 26, 2012 0 Comments
Ali Eteraz’s memoir, Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan, chronicles the author’s journey from his dedication to Islam as a child in Pakistan to his coming of age as a Muslim-American — but don’t call it his life story.
“I am hardly old enough or interesting enough to tell my life story,” Eteraz said. “Children of Dust is only about a first-generation immigrant’s evolving, sometimes loving, often skeptical, relationship to Islam and Muslims.”
Eteraz, whose book is the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection for Week Five, will be speaking on the “nexus of immigration and Islam” at 3:30 p.m. today in the Hall of Philosophy, which complements the morning lecture platform theme of “Pakistan: Straddling the Boundary Between Asia and the Middle East.”
Read more Hashwani uses business acumen to create social change in Pakistan
July 25, 2012 0 Comments
In today’s economic climate, business executives are associated more often with hubris than humility. But Amin Hashwani, who belongs to an established business family in Pakistan, never thought twice about using his leverage to create compassionate social change.
Hashwani is part of a Muslim community, so it is part of his faith practice to help others and treat them with kindness, he said.
Hashwani will discuss life in Pakistan — especially Pakistani perspectives of the American conflict — at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Hall of Philosophy. His lecture is titled “The Pakistan that We Don’t Read About.”
Read more Ahmed: To understand Pakistan is to understand its tribal societies
July 24, 2012 0 Comments
Pakistan is an integral player and ally in the United States’ war on terror. It is also, according to President Barack Obama, one of the most dangerous places in the world.
“Pakistan is a much maligned, little understood, very important country,” Akbar Ahmed said.
To understand Pakistan, and ultimately complete U.S. operations in the region with a semblance of a victory, it is necessary that those in decision-making positions understand the nature of the tribes and tribal regions of Pakistan, Ahmed said.
On Monday, Ahmed opened this week’s Interfaith Lecture Series focused on the theme “The People of Pakistan,” with a lecture titled “The Most Dangerous Place in the World — The Tribal Areas of Pakistan.” In his lecture, Ahmed analyzed the present and past conditions of the tribal areas, the ways of life and structures of the tribes and provided a prescription for how best to progress out of the current crisis.
Read more Zakaria: Choice to modernize Pakistan must be Pakistanis’
July 23, 2012 2 Comments
Violence caused by jihads is a relatively new problem, but many people associate it with Islam as a whole.
People first thought the cause of the Sept. 11 attacks had to do with Islam, a religion that has been around since the seventh century.
Despite beliefs that the religion is the cause of some violence, countries such as Indonesia and India are peaceful and democratic societies, said Fareed Zakaria, editor-at-large of Time magazine and CNN host, during Monday’s morning lecture.
Zakaria was the first speaker of Week Five, themed “Pakistan: Straddling the Boundary Between Asia and the Middle East.” He informed the audience about the history of Westernization in the Arab world and Pakistan’s deeply rooted religious nationalism.
Read more Former ambassador to US Lodhi provides insights on Pakistan
July 23, 2012 0 Comments
Maleeha Lodhi has lived a life devoted to public service for Pakistan at home and abroad.
She is a journalist, diplomat, editor, professor and scholar. She will speak at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday in the Amphitheater and discuss her experience and insights about Pakistan’s future.
“We are looking forward to an intensive study of Pakistan’s internal and external politics, foreign policy and the U.S. relationship to Pakistan,” said Sherra Babcock, director of the Department of Education.
Lodhi has experienced Pakistan externally and internally. After earning her doctorate at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Lodhi was pulled into journalism. She was eventually made editor of the leading English daily newspaper in Pakistan, The News International, for which she also regularly writes opinion articles on international affairs.
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