Enjoy đ
I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away…
by Congressman Keith Ellison
Washington, DC – At a time when our nation is seeing a rise in intolerant behaviour, crossing every cultural line, whether based on race, religion or sexual orientation, we seem simultaneously stuck with a national news media that is preoccupied with conflict and controversy when we desperately need one that weighs facts and reports fairly. A recent national news programme reinforced these concerns. Let me explain what I mean.
Imagine a respected television show or news magazine article with the title, Should Americans Fear Black People?
Imagine staccato hip-hop music for the teaser, with clips of black gang members toting guns, hanging around urban scenes, looking scary. Imagine the zoom-in close up of a shoulder tattoo, proclaiming “Thug for Life”. read more…
Chancellor Merkel
We recently spoke about German Chancellor, Angela Merkel’s comments that multiculturalism has failed in Germany.
One of you put forth your own perspective on the debate, a blogger for Infinite Culture.
Worth a read the post has a great quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who in response to Arizona’s recent immigration law wrote the following:
âAbominations such as Apartheid do not start with an entire population suddenly becoming inhumane. They start here. They start with generalizing unwanted characteristics across an entire segment of a population. They start with trying to solve a problem by asserting superior force over a population. They start with stripping people of rights and dignity â such as the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty â that you yourself enjoy. Not because it is right, but because you can. And because somehow, you think this is going to solve a problem.â
Is declaring the death of multiculturalism tantamount to suggesting that we can only live with those who are like us? And what does “like us” even mean. Infinite Culture suggests that we might find common ground through arts and creativity.
However we find it, the borders of our world have become far too blurred to simply give up on multiculturalism.
Leena El-Ali
Tune in to the Doug Noll Show tonight to hear Leena El-Ali, Director of our Muslim-Western Relations and Middle East and North Africa programs to talk about Muslims and Islam in America, especially in the climate of the Park 51 debate.
The show airs 7-8pm Pacific Time (if you’re on the East Coast, that’s 10-11pm). It’s an online radio show so whatever your time zone you can listen here: The Doug Noll Show.
If it’s a subject that you’re really interested in call in with questions! Questions are ALWAYS good and the number to call is 877-474-3302.
Doug Noll is a former lawyer turned peacemaker and mediator specializing in intractable conflicts. His show focuses on conflict resolution at all levels from communal to international.
As most Congolese youth under the age of 30, Jenny Tuabu and Filston Koba, from Lubumbashi, Katanga, have grown up with conflict and instability. In their country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sexual- and gender-based violence are a significant humanitarian concern and schools are not spared from this type of violence. Refusing the status quo, Jenny and Filston were ready to get involved and make a difference for their school, for their community, and for their country. Their goal was clear: raise awareness and engage with the Congolese authorities to stop school sex abuse
photo credit: Filston Koba
In the DRC, the phenomenon of âsexually transmitted gradesâ is unfortunately common. Unscrupulous teachers or professors pressure female students to trade sexual favors for good grades. The victims are often unaware of their rights and of the remedies available. As a result, most of the perpetrators remain unpunished and abused youth, who report cases only to their parents, often withdraw from school, preferring to sacrifice their education to avoid harassment. read more…
image via thedailyshow.com
The Common Ground Awards are coming up (November 11). If you want to come, get your tickets now!
This week, weâve been showcasing Jim Leach and his 50-state tour dedicated to restoring civility to the national discourse. It seems like there is a growing call for civility, sanity, and common decency in the public sphere: people are becoming frustrated, not only with elected officials and government institutions, but with the way we talk about these issues, and how the conversation is conducted. read more…
