Jan
7
2008
Speaking as a nerd, I have lots to learn about different experiences and beliefs.
At the convocation, I was exposed to people with lots of different experiences, that have caused me to take action and/or helped me better understand very different perspectives.
This includes meeting people serving in the armed forces in the mideast. One result is that I've started modestly supporting the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They're doing a lot of heavy lifting, providing real support for the troops, not the usual lip service.
Also, I was able to chat a bit with Yahya Hendi, an imam. He was just portrayed in an article in the Frederick News Post:
Hendi is the first full-time Muslim chaplain at the university, and possibly the first in the nation. Hendi is also the Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick and the Muslim chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. ... Nations, religious groups, political parties and neighbors are in conflict around the world, Hendi said, because they cannot listen. Everyone has blood on their hands, Hendi said. However, the belief in one creator, along with the shared values of justice and peace are what unites these, at times, disparate groups.
I think I learned a lot at the convocation, still trying to figure out just what I learned.
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Getting people to talk is the first step in finding solutions to problems. If we can get people with different backgrounds to discuss citizenship at a conference in Williamsburg, perhaps the discussion will extend to a broader audience.
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