Interfaith Speakers Bureau Training Tonight – 1/23/07

ING News & Information, 1/23/07

In this Edition:

• Remembering the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• News of Interest
• ING Events of Interest
• Second Interfaith Training in East Bay Tonight, Wednesday, 1/23/07
• East County United Hosts Food, Faith and Culture, 1/20/07
• Orientation on Islam and Contemporary Muslims to SIR, 1/17/08
• Thank You for Your Support!

Remembering the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As we commemorated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this past weekend, for most of us through a holiday, for others in events that recapture his message and spirit, all of us can try to live a little of his dream in our lives by trying to live his legacy of promoting change for the greater good in whatever way we can. While many of the civil rights issues he fought long and hard for have been achieved, there are still many challenges before us, and the first hurdle is overcoming our own inner prejudices towards those who look or sound slightly different than ourselves. The dream he had of an America for all people, regardless of race, religion or color, is a dream that all of us should work towards. Let us remember his eloquent words delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963:

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”

News of Interest

U.N. fund for films to promote West-Islam harmony
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnBAR544127.html

“A U.N.-backed body working to raise awareness between cultures said on Tuesday it was setting up a $100 million project to make films to promote harmony between the West and Islamic countries. Queen Noor of Jordan said the fund had already raised $10 million and would be backed by British businessman Richard Branson, video-sharing web site YouTube and the company that produced Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” among others.”

It is significant that an institution such as the U.N. now recognizes the importance of promoting understanding and harmony between the West and Islamic countries. Muslim Americans have a key role to serve in this endeavor as intermediaries between the two cultures who have a foot in each and a stake in both. Wishing this project much success.

ING Events of Interest

Second Interfaith Training in East Bay Tonight, Wednesday, 1/23/07

ING’s second Interfaith Speakers Bureau training will take place tonight, Wednesday, January 23rd in Oakland at the First Congregational Church of Oakland on 2501 Harrison St. in Oakland. The workshop will be held between 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM and is a prerequisite for joining the new program. The third program will take place in the South Bay on Friday, January 25 at the India Community Center at 525 Los Coches St. in Milpitas, CA. To sign up for either training, please contact ING’s Interfaith Programs Associate, Yasmine Khan at [email protected]

East County United Hosts Food, Faith and Culture, 1/20/07

An ING representative joined dozens of other faith members and speakers at an event hosted by the interfaith group, East County United, titled “Food, Faith and Culture,” on Sunday, January 20th. The two hour program featured presentations by leaders of five faiths on their traditions and ritual foods. The ING representative presented the Islamic view of food as a blessing and source of sustenance, and cited the many references to various foods in the Qur’an, such as olives, figs, dates, and honey, mentioning some of their health benefits, particularly of dates. In between talks, attendees were invited to partake in the various different samplings of foods from each faith which had been prepared by participants. By the end of the five presentations, audience members had experienced a diverse sampling of rich cuisine, and had broken one of the main tenets in all faiths to not overeat!

Orientation on Islam and Contemporary Muslims to SIR, 1/17/08

An ING speaker delivered an Orientation on Islam and Contemporary Muslims to a group of 150 members of Sons in Retirement, or SIR at the Sunnyvale Elks Lodge on Tuesday, January 17. The attendees asked questions and engaged in dialogue with the speaker for over an hour about a religion they knew little about.

Thank You for Your Support!