If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Ahead of this year's G8 summit taking place in Northern Ireland, once again, poverty campaigners have been urging world leaders to tackle issues like aid, tax evasion and land grabbing. I sincerely hope their calls for justice are heard.
We are caught in a spiral of fear, leading to more violence and not leaving enough room for love. So a big real part of the 'war on terror' is one which takes place within us. It is one where we let our fears lead us to hate. 'Fighting' our own fears then becomes the war worth fighting and the way we can stop this cycle of violence. And we need to start uplifting others along with us.
The first thing to make clear is that I have every respect for Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and people of all faiths and no faith. Our beliefs, ...
Many scholars, marked by the schism between Christianity and postmodernity, respond by exploring other spiritualities. Would it not be easier to simply return to Christian spirituality? This is, after all, the spirituality that shaped the West. All westerners still carry it inside, even if in a hibernated version.
Nationally and regionally, we very much need to find creative ways to bring our diverse people together. Pragmatic political decisions by our politicians, more constructive role by our media and judicious comments by powerful individuals are what we need today to spread the message of realistic hope and allay fear of others.
When Christ was on His mission trip to earth, He met the needs of the people before He preached, whether they were hungry or paralyzed, and He encourages us to do the same. Both C and B had good intentions however only one of them showed the fruit of their good intentions
A nun spikes her drinks with sacramental wine and wears red lace underwear. A soldier's wife sits by the bed of a man whose legs have been blown off, and writes his story.
I understand that, for some, exposing their children to the non-Jewish community is unacceptable but outlawing them will help no one. Welcoming them as part of the rich variety of our society is a responsibility for those who believe in a tolerant, welcoming community.
The newly launched 'Fair Admissions Campaign' demands that all state-funded schools should be open to all children, regardless of their parents' religion. It claims that it is 'widely supported', but that seems to fly in the face of the very limited number and size of the groups who have formed the campaign.
If you were in a debate about the meaning of British identity or citizenship, one of the key values that would no doubt be highlighted is fairness. So you would expect fairness to apply especially to the educational system - but instead... it is absent in many state-funded schools which have a religious character.
Stripped of their Burmese citizenship in 1982 and subjected to shockingly discriminatory laws and practices, the minority Muslim Rohingya community in Burma has been described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
When the song finished she introduced me to the group and stated that I was a comedian. I winced, fretting that now everyone would be nervous of me, assuming me to be the woman who has come to mock their faith. They didn't judge however, simply smiled and welcomed me in.
Of course, the country must be eternally vigilant against crimes against minorities, especially acts of reprisal and retaliation. As I've argued elsewhere, there is a real threat of Islamists and far-right activists feeding a cycle of mutually reinforcing violence. But it would be terrible to allow extremists to portray the UK as an anti-Islamic country, feeding the 'us and them' narrative. It is simply not the case. It is equally true that groups like the EDL need to know the feeling is mutual: surveys have found British Muslims are the most patriotic group in the UK.
Like any country with a reputation for extremism, it's history will always be judged on the actions of extremists. The usual saying that history is judged by the victors does not yet apply to Northern Ireland, as it sometimes seems that the state of conflict has never really ended in the minds of much of its population.
We need evidence-based strategies to ensure such violence does not occur again. We must be vigilant to ensure we do not inadvertently fall into the trap of violent extremists, making our society less free, divided and suspicious of each other.
23 May, 2013, Idlib, Syria. A young British-Asian Muslim from Willesden dies while working in a field hospital. Dr Isa Abdur Rahman was volunteering as a doctor in a country where medics treating civilians have been tortured and killed. Hospitals are routinely attacked and there is a dire shortage, therefore, of medical staff willing to work under such circumstances. Isa was my nephew. He was 26. His name means 'Jesus', who is also named as a prophet in the Quran. In the Quran, Jesus' death is different but he still dies a young man striving for good. Isa felt this was his 'jihad', his 'struggle for good'.
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