image via religionnerd.com
by Shannon Dulaney
At a meeting with the younger members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her doubts about “multikulti” (multiculturalism) in Germany over the last 50 years, saying that “this multicultural approach, saying that we simply live side by side and live happily with each other has failed. Utterly failed.” In a country with 4.3 million Muslims—the majority of them from Turkish descent—her speech has been largely interpreted as a blanket criticism of Turkish immigrants’ failure to meaningfully integrate into German society. Her comments have sparked a flurry of news coverage, from BBC News and The Guardian to CNN and Russia Today. The blogosphere is jumping in too, with Alex Moore asking, “Is [declaring multiculturalism a failure] even an option in the 21st century?”
In reading through these articles, I was struck by the contextual complexity of Ms. Merkel’s speech: while some of the things she said triggered me and my (admittedly white, American, liberal) sensibilities, she is not talking in a vacuum. read more…
The Common Ground Awards are coming up (November 11). If you want to come, get your tickets now!
“I believe that culture is far larger and more powerful than politics. Not to pay attention to the humanities, whether history, philosophy, or literature, is a costly mistake. Take relations between states: If a country respects another society, greater opportunity exists to have credible relations; if it doesn’t, there is a near impossibility of having constructive long-term relations. Culture comes first, and politics follows.” –Jim Leach, “The Gentleman from Iowa” interview in Humanities, November/December 2009
Yesterday we introduced you to Jim Leach, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. read more…
Gahini--Actress Christine Uwamahoro stakes her claim to land in a dramatization of land conflict in eastern Rwanda.
By Benedict Teagarden
Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, has stunning scenery. Perhaps even more impressive than the landscape of Rwanda, is the cultivation of this small east African country; land is farmed from the bottom of valleys to the tops of the hills. Rwanda has the densest population in Africa and relies heavily on agriculture. Therefore, land is at a premium. In this context, conflict over land can ensue.
A group of theatrical actors is touring around Rwanda, with the aim of starting conversations that seek ways of resolving conflicts non-violently. The troupe travels to rural areas across Rwanda, speaking with communities about their specific land conflicts. The troupe then improvises a play reflecting the themes of those conflicts. read more…
The Common Ground Awards are coming up (November 11). If you’d like to come, get your tickets now!
“How we lead or fail to lead in an interdependent world will be directly related to how we comprehend our own history, values, and diversity of experiences, and how deeply we come to understand and respect other peoples and societies. Citizenship is hard. It takes a willingness to listen, watch, read, and think in ways that allow the imagination to put one person in the shoes of another.” –Jim Leach, “Bridging Cultures” address to the National Press Club, November 20, 2009.
This week we are showcasing Jim Leach, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), who will be a recipient of a Common Ground Award for his national civility tour calling for respect for all and a renewal of the American spirit in public discourse.
Salon.com is asking for bloggers on OpenSalon to talk about the people and moments they think should be recognized for maintaining sanity during the course of this tumultuous year. Previous they spoke about Mayor Bloomberg‘s rousing speech in defense of religious freedom in general and Park 51 in particular.
Today they’re featured an unlikely source for bringing back sanity. But it only proves that anyone can do their part!
Watch the official Budrus trailer from Just Vision!
From the official website:
“Budrus is an award-winning feature documentary film about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier. Success eludes them until his 15-year-old daughter, Iltezam, launches a women’s contingent that quickly moves to the front lines. Struggling side by side, father and daughter unleash an inspiring, yet little-known, movement in the Occupied Palestinian Territories that is still gaining ground today.”
