There have been various conversations, both in real life and online, regarding the unreporting of events and behaviours that are counter to the "official" themes of violence reported (and even promoted) in mainstream news and by various governments.
What I'm hoping that we can do in this thread is provide examples of the other stories, the ones that promote equality, respect, peace, etc. In another thread, I posted some material on the Christian Peacemaker Teams, some of the work they do would fall into this category.
In other words, let's talk about those events and stories that run counter to the overarching narrative.
Muslim Groups Protect Christian Churches in Nigeria, is an example of what I'm getting at. I know there are others and will bring more to the thread but I'm hoping that we can get a much larger idea of just how much good is being done, in big or small ways, that we rarely hear about.
sighsnootles
Posted on: 01/12/2012 16:53
AWESOME.
yep, i doubt you will hear anyone on 'faux news' talk about THIS one...
Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart. If we could just remember this, I think there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world.
Frank Warren
Easydoesit
Posted on: 01/17/2012 09:40
I can only relate to what's going on locally in our community here in Burlington, On. At least once a year the local Mosque invites the community to an open house which is well attended, often by well known local religious and political figures. I have attended a couple of times and been quite impressed with their desire to explain the basic tenents of Islam. It makes the local news but nothing on a larger scale. It is nice to see people of different religions wanting to live in peace.
RitaTG
Posted on: 01/17/2012 10:14
I am following this thread and I find it very encouraging...
This is the way it should be.... protecting each other......
Many, in Israel and elsewhere, lament what they believe to be as the absence of a “Palestinian Gandhi”—an individual who can (as these critics see it) act altruistically and nobly, without violence, to “deliver” the Palestinian people from the mess which they themselves are seen as responsible for getting themselves into. However, I would contend that there is indeed already a Palestinian Gandhi. In fact, there are many. These Palestinian women activists are risking their freedom and their lives to secure justice for their people. They condemn the use of violence and they look to creative solutions to an occupation that has certainly left the Palestinian nation on the losing end. Rather than engaging in activities that reinforce a violent and unjust status quo, they are, by personal example, demonstrating the way towards a different path of justice and equality not just for the Palestinian people as a whole, but also for Palestinian women.
... click title above for full article, its worth the read.
Below are Milstein's photos of the Palestinian Women
Here is a story about a Jewish couple who were attacked by 10 Christians, for being Jewish, and the only man to come to the aid of the couple was a Muslim .
Alex
Posted on: 01/26/2012 18:19
Here is another story of Jews and Muslims working togethr in the Bronx.
Or rather, it’s housed inside a mosque. That’s right: Members of the Chabad of East Bronx, an ultra-Orthodox synagogue, worship in the Islamic Cultural Center of North America, which is home to the Al-Iman mosque.
“People have a misconception that Muslims hate Jews,” said Baumann. “But here is an example of them working with us.”
.............
The relationship started years ago, when the Young Israel Congregation, then located on Virginia Avenue in Parkchester, was running clothing drives for needy families, according to Leon Bleckman, now 78, who was at the time the treasurer of the congregation. One of the recipients was Sheikh Moussa Drammeh, the founder of the Al-Iman Mosque, who was collecting donations for his congregants—many of whom are immigrants from Africa. The 49-year-old imam is an immigrant from Gambia in West Africa who came to the United States in 1986. After a year in Harlem, he moved to Parkchester, where he eventually founded the Muslim center and later established an Islamic grade school. Through that initial meeting, a rapport developed between the two houses of worship, and the synagogue continued to donate to the Islamic center, among other organizations.
“We, people from 17 countries, speaking more than 10 languages and holding different beliefs, achieved peace at that island, so why can’t we achieve peace in one country speaking the same language, having the same religion and nationality?”
Click link above for complete article.
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/27/2012 14:09
That link above is from Peace x Peace. Some may find this a link to follow...
Voices from the Frontlines are first-person reports on what is happening around the world, how it impacts women, and how women are building cultures of peace. We encourage submissions from everyone, including YOU!
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/31/2012 07:22
I am a font of positive news these day ;-)
Here is another great article from the Washington Post
What practical initiatives can heal the all-too-common dynamic King described, which plays out in racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and other prejudices? Is there something more effective than dialogue, which can easily get bogged down in discord?
I believe the ongoing walks my community enacted, and another initiative called “sharing events,” are more engaging than programs analysing faiths or contrasting cultures, and are more easily orchestrated in communities, schools, universities, organisations and corporations. The simplicity of these initiatives undermines even entrenched separation and misinformation between those of different religions, ethnicities or backgrounds.
Sharing events — which are free and family-friendly—can take place in living rooms, community halls, faith communities, school auditoriums or corporate lunchrooms. In communities, such events can rotate venues monthly. Participants are invited to share music, art, poetry, stories of hopes and dreams, their “work-in-progress,” or even “play-in-progress,” in order to give expression to something moving, personally meaningful or evocative.
[...]
Most of us hold unacknowledged suspicions or stereotypes of other groups. However, when parents push strollers together and find themselves comparing notes on child-rearing, the fact that one wears a headscarf and another a yarmulke becomes less overwhelmingly divisive. We might even envision becoming allies who are willing to “go out on a limb” for others and imagine them taking similar risks for us.
Comments
Motheroffive
Posted on: 01/12/2012 16:49
There have been various conversations, both in real life and online, regarding the unreporting of events and behaviours that are counter to the "official" themes of violence reported (and even promoted) in mainstream news and by various governments.
What I'm hoping that we can do in this thread is provide examples of the other stories, the ones that promote equality, respect, peace, etc. In another thread, I posted some material on the Christian Peacemaker Teams, some of the work they do would fall into this category.
In other words, let's talk about those events and stories that run counter to the overarching narrative.
Muslim Groups Protect Christian Churches in Nigeria, is an example of what I'm getting at. I know there are others and will bring more to the thread but I'm hoping that we can get a much larger idea of just how much good is being done, in big or small ways, that we rarely hear about.
sighsnootles
Posted on: 01/12/2012 16:53
AWESOME.
yep, i doubt you will hear anyone on 'faux news' talk about THIS one...
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/13/2012 08:20
Egyptian Muslims Throng in Thousands to Protect Christians
And a good link to find other links ....
Religious Tolerance - Religious News
Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart. If we could just remember this, I think there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world.
Frank Warren
Easydoesit
Posted on: 01/17/2012 09:40
I can only relate to what's going on locally in our community here in Burlington, On. At least once a year the local Mosque invites the community to an open house which is well attended, often by well known local religious and political figures. I have attended a couple of times and been quite impressed with their desire to explain the basic tenents of Islam. It makes the local news but nothing on a larger scale. It is nice to see people of different religions wanting to live in peace.
RitaTG
Posted on: 01/17/2012 10:14
I am following this thread and I find it very encouraging...
This is the way it should be.... protecting each other......
Wonderful!
Hugs
Rita
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/20/2012 21:49
There are already Palestinian Gandhis — they’re women
[...]
Many, in Israel and elsewhere, lament what they believe to be as the absence of a “Palestinian Gandhi”—an individual who can (as these critics see it) act altruistically and nobly, without violence, to “deliver” the Palestinian people from the mess which they themselves are seen as responsible for getting themselves into. However, I would contend that there is indeed already a Palestinian Gandhi. In fact, there are many. These Palestinian women activists are risking their freedom and their lives to secure justice for their people. They condemn the use of violence and they look to creative solutions to an occupation that has certainly left the Palestinian nation on the losing end. Rather than engaging in activities that reinforce a violent and unjust status quo, they are, by personal example, demonstrating the way towards a different path of justice and equality not just for the Palestinian people as a whole, but also for Palestinian women.
... click title above for full article, its worth the read.
Below are Milstein's photos of the Palestinian Women
Palestine: Women First I from Mati Milstein on Vimeo.
Alex
Posted on: 01/20/2012 23:06
Lesley Hazleton, agnostic Jewish women's take on Islam.
Alex
Posted on: 01/23/2012 00:22
Here is a story about a Jewish couple who were attacked by 10 Christians, for being Jewish, and the only man to come to the aid of the couple was a Muslim .
Alex
Posted on: 01/26/2012 18:19
Here is another story of Jews and Muslims working togethr in the Bronx.
A Bronx Tale
http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/88849/a-bronx-tale-3/
This synagogue is a mosque.
Or rather, it’s housed inside a mosque. That’s right: Members of the Chabad of East Bronx, an ultra-Orthodox synagogue, worship in the Islamic Cultural Center of North America, which is home to the Al-Iman mosque.
“People have a misconception that Muslims hate Jews,” said Baumann. “But here is an example of them working with us.”
.............
The relationship started years ago, when the Young Israel Congregation, then located on Virginia Avenue in Parkchester, was running clothing drives for needy families, according to Leon Bleckman, now 78, who was at the time the treasurer of the congregation. One of the recipients was Sheikh Moussa Drammeh, the founder of the Al-Iman Mosque, who was collecting donations for his congregants—many of whom are immigrants from Africa. The 49-year-old imam is an immigrant from Gambia in West Africa who came to the United States in 1986. After a year in Harlem, he moved to Parkchester, where he eventually founded the Muslim center and later established an Islamic grade school. Through that initial meeting, a rapport developed between the two houses of worship, and the synagogue continued to donate to the Islamic center, among other organizations.
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/27/2012 10:10
Here is another counter argument ...
Can a Smile Achieve World Peace?
“We, people from 17 countries, speaking more than 10 languages and holding different beliefs, achieved peace at that island, so why can’t we achieve peace in one country speaking the same language, having the same religion and nationality?”
Click link above for complete article.
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/27/2012 14:09
That link above is from Peace x Peace. Some may find this a link to follow...
Voices from the Frontlines
Voices from the Frontlines are first-person reports on what is happening around the world, how it impacts women, and how women are building cultures of peace. We encourage submissions from everyone, including YOU!
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 01/31/2012 07:22
I am a font of positive news these day ;-)
Here is another great article from the Washington Post
In a post 9/11 world, embracing positive messages
[... click link above for complete article ...]
What practical initiatives can heal the all-too-common dynamic King described, which plays out in racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and other prejudices? Is there something more effective than dialogue, which can easily get bogged down in discord?
I believe the ongoing walks my community enacted, and another initiative called “sharing events,” are more engaging than programs analysing faiths or contrasting cultures, and are more easily orchestrated in communities, schools, universities, organisations and corporations. The simplicity of these initiatives undermines even entrenched separation and misinformation between those of different religions, ethnicities or backgrounds.
Sharing events — which are free and family-friendly—can take place in living rooms, community halls, faith communities, school auditoriums or corporate lunchrooms. In communities, such events can rotate venues monthly. Participants are invited to share music, art, poetry, stories of hopes and dreams, their “work-in-progress,” or even “play-in-progress,” in order to give expression to something moving, personally meaningful or evocative.
[...]
Most of us hold unacknowledged suspicions or stereotypes of other groups. However, when parents push strollers together and find themselves comparing notes on child-rearing, the fact that one wears a headscarf and another a yarmulke becomes less overwhelmingly divisive. We might even envision becoming allies who are willing to “go out on a limb” for others and imagine them taking similar risks for us.