Author to discuss future of Islam
Ben Snowden
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: News
"I don't think Americans understand the transformation that Islam is undergoing; thus, the media tends to feed us negative stereotypes about extremists within the religion of 1.3 billion people," Simmons said. "Mr. Aslan's work raises an all-important question: 'Who has the authority to speak for 1.3 billion Muslims?' At our time in history, Islam is sorting that out, including the tensions between Sunnis and Shiites."
Meagan Greenfield, senior social work major and religious studies minor, claims that the "No god but God" presentation could create more tolerance on Western's campus.
"As people of differing cultures continue to make their homes in the U.S., it would behoove Western's students, and all people, to garner some measure of knowledge and tolerance toward these groups," Greenfield said. "It would be the best way to ensure that all individuals are allowed to adapt to a positive and productive life here in the U.S."
According to Greenfield, the presentation will also clarify misperceptions about Islam's different sects.
"If students possessed more knowledge about the cause of the rift between Sunnis and Shiites, they would be better equipped to understand the situation for many of these conflicts," Greenfield said. "I think that there is a tendency among U.S. citizens to undermine the importance of religious differences between these two sects."
In addition to working for NPR and CBS News, Aslan has written for the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Boston Globe. He has appeared on "The Colbert Report," "Meet the Press" and "The Daily Show."
Aslan was born in Iran but currently lives in Santa Monica, Calif. He recently held the positions of visiting assistant professor of Islamic and Middle East studies at the University of Iowa and the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Meagan Greenfield, senior social work major and religious studies minor, claims that the "No god but God" presentation could create more tolerance on Western's campus.
"As people of differing cultures continue to make their homes in the U.S., it would behoove Western's students, and all people, to garner some measure of knowledge and tolerance toward these groups," Greenfield said. "It would be the best way to ensure that all individuals are allowed to adapt to a positive and productive life here in the U.S."
According to Greenfield, the presentation will also clarify misperceptions about Islam's different sects.
"If students possessed more knowledge about the cause of the rift between Sunnis and Shiites, they would be better equipped to understand the situation for many of these conflicts," Greenfield said. "I think that there is a tendency among U.S. citizens to undermine the importance of religious differences between these two sects."
In addition to working for NPR and CBS News, Aslan has written for the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Boston Globe. He has appeared on "The Colbert Report," "Meet the Press" and "The Daily Show."
Aslan was born in Iran but currently lives in Santa Monica, Calif. He recently held the positions of visiting assistant professor of Islamic and Middle East studies at the University of Iowa and the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
ConstantineXI
posted 3/26/07 @ 10:34 AM EST
Its true that not all muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists have been muslim. And look how popular the suicide bombers among the muslim masses. They do not mourn nor outrage when they see one of their own blow themself up in London or Madrid but of course, as part of being a muslim means never having to say "I'm sorry" and why should they when the recieve so many apologies for islam from western leaders. (Continued…)
Roter Bush
posted 3/27/07 @ 1:11 AM EST
The use of suicide and terror as tactics of warfare
is not comimg from only Muslims. In the early 20th century, Russian
anarchists engaged in bombing campaigns
against the Czarist regime, often losing life or
limb due to the instability of the explosives. (Continued…)
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