mid east best west
To celebrate Thanksgiving 2014 I visited the central-eastern Turkish city of Tokat, joining a group of Fulbrighters for a potluck dinner. While in Tokat I was able to spend some time sightseeing in the city center while spending plenty of time in fellowship (pun intended) with my fellow grantees and our Turkish guests. Before I … Continue reading Tokatsgiving
Over the first weekend in October, my K-Town crew and I boarded a plane from Ankara and flew to Malatya, a city in Central Southeastern Turkey where 3 of our Fulbright cohorts are placed. The trip also served as something of a one month reunion, as we joined over 20 other Fulbrighters there. With the … Continue reading Artwork, Adıyaman, Antiochus, and Apricots
Peter Beinart
Here is a fabulous article by Sally Steenland of the Center for American Progress about the Islamophobia present in the debate about the Cordoba House, and the ensuing debate. She makes important arguments about the risks of anti-Muslim rhetoric, and reveals hypocrisy: "It’s time to look at this problem another way. In order to truly see … Continue reading Phobic
"Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion?" Bloomberg asked. "That may happen in other countries, but … Continue reading Bloomberg speech
The uproar over the prospective building of the Cordoba House (aka "the Ground Zero Mosque") has unfortunately done a fabulous job of showcasing the double-standards, stereotypes, and unfair generalizations that result in prejudice against Muslim-Americans every day. The condemning of the sight by the ADL is the cherry on top. "Let's be clear. This is … Continue reading Decision Time
Bush was the "decider," now Palin wants "peaceful Muslims" to to "refudiate" the proposed mosque near Ground Zero. so creative. View the full story here
One day at my high school a group of boys came to school wearing skirts, tight sweaters and excessive makeup. They were following through on a creative assignment from their English class, inspired by the novel Black Like Me: live a day in the life of someone unlike yourself, and experience the world from their perspective. … Continue reading Burqa Ban
