Imam Speaks to Rhodes College Audience About "A New Vision of Islam in America"

Imam Speaks to Rhodes College Audience About "A New Vision of Islam in America"
By:  Michael G. Lander

Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf gives lecture at Rhodes College in
Memphis on "A New Vision of Islam in America"

A recognized, and self-professed moderate Muslim leader in the U.S., best known for his efforts to build a place of multi-faith dialogue, commonly referred to by some as the "Ground Zero mosque," spoke before an audience of about 250 on Monday, Feb 26, at Rhodes College in Memphis. 

Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf was invited by the Rhodes College Muslim Students Association to give a lecture, entitled "A New Image of Islam."  It was part of a Rhodes College "Communities in Conversation" that is hosted by the school to encourage dialogue and discussions on issues that affect people on a local, national, regional, and global level.

Rauf is an American Sufi Imam, author, and activist who said that he wants to improve the communication between Muslims and those who come from different walks of faith.  He is the author of "What's Right with Islam is What's Right with America," and "Moving the Mountain:  Beyond Ground Zero to a New Vision of Islam in America."  He also has written two children's books:  Quran for Children and Ahadith for Children

Throughout the hour and a half-long event, Rauf answered questions from audience members and shared details of his early life and about his own spiritual journey.  He had spoken earlier in the day at Calvary Episcopal Church.

Rauf said that he was born to Egyptian parents in Kuwait in 1948 and that he and his father emigrated to the U.S. in the 1960's, living in New York City.  It is there that he later served as the Imam of the Masjid al-Farah mosque from 1983 to 2009. 

Rauf said that he spent part of his early life in a quest for God and for the purpose and meaning of life.  After looking into his own heart, he claimed to have found God and experienced God's presence within himself.  From this, he said that he later felt led to a life of inter-faith dialogue and building a coalition of moderate voices from across the divide of all faiths.

Rauf fielded about a dozen questions that were asked of him, explaining, among other things, the differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims, and how Jesus, according to the Quran, is perceived as a great prophet in the Islamic faith.  When it comes to gender equality, Rauf said that there is still some unfinished business left to do with this in some Muslim societies.

Rauf also discussed the shared values of the Muslim faith and America's founding documents in recognizing the equality and equal value of all human beings.  This, along with a belief in a creator, inalienable rights, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are all ideals, he said, that Muslims have historically embraced.  He also pointed out that it was the Muslim nation of Morocco that first recognized the U.S. after it declared its independence.

When asked about how Muslims have been treated since 9-11, Rauf described it as being much like a football game, going back and forth.  Despite some setbacks, however, he said that he is optimistic and that the acceptance of Muslims in the country has increased.  He said that the negative experiences Muslims have had thus far have not been like what other groups have encountered in the past.  In the end, he said, America has demonstrated a unique capacity to bring in and accept people from different religions and multi-cultural backgrounds.
 
Rauf believes that America has a vested interest in maintaining a relationship with the Muslim world since they make up 23 to 24 percent of the world's population.  He also pointed to military, business, and oil interests that America has in the Muslim part of the world.

While he sees that things have improved for Muslims in America, Rauf does feel that the attacks against moderate Muslims have come from all sides within the denomination itself.  "The real battlefront is from the extremists on both sides," Rauf said.  He believes that the moderates are actually the majority and that the extremists are only a very small faction.

One of the biggest misconceptions that Rauf currently sees, among non-Muslims, is that Muslims are all perceived to be terrorists or that they are trying to impose their beliefs on everyone else.  He said that he would like to dispel that myth.

In trying to explain why his message does not always get out, Rauf blames the media.  "The media loves to cover controversy, not a message of peace, love and harmony.  That's not news," he said.

During all of the controversy of what was referred to as the "Ground Zero mosque," Rauf said that he received a lot of support from around the world.  The experience and the support that he received, he said, actually strengthened both his resolve and his faith.  As for the mosque, (known as the Cordoba House), he said that it is a place for people of different faiths to come together.  More than anything, Rauf believes that the building of this center raised America's stock in the world.   

"This couldn't happen in Malaysia, for instance, without blood on the pavement," he said. 

The name Cordoba House was meant to invoke the 8th through 11th century city of Cordoba, Spain, which was a model of peaceful coexistence between Muslims, Christians, and Jews.  The 13-story Islamic community center will be located in lower Manhattan and will be open to the general public to promote interfaith dialogue.

The Cordoba House has not been without controversy and neither has two non-profits that were founded by Rauf.  The Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement,  intended to educate the public about Islam and to combat anti-Islam sentiment have been at the center of a lawsuit in which Rauf has been accused of embezzlement.  Due, in part, to these allegations, he was reportedly removed as the Cordoba House chief religious leader in January 2011.

Rauf concluded his lecture by saying that "We can all live as one under God."  He added that we are all God's creatures and that we are all ambassadors on earth and are here to fulfill God's purpose.

One of those in attendance at Rauf's lecture was Sameer Warraich.  Warraich works in the president's office at Rhodes College.  Warraich said that, prior to the lecture, the college had received about 20 emails expressing disappointment with the college over bringing someone who they perceived as a controversial figure to the campus.  After the lecture, the feedback that he said that he received from those in attendance was positive.

"When I talked to some of the non-Muslim students.... some of them wished that the world had more people like him, especially today, when communities all over the world are going through such a dynamic shift in religious and cultural paradigms," Warraich said.

Warraich views the Imam as representing a progressive view of Islam that has been able to change the manner in which people think about spirituality, religion, and cross-cultural dialogue.

"I also believe that Imam Feisal has a very critical role to play in the U.S. today, and his plan to build an inter-faith worship center is a move in the right direction," Warraich said.

 

First Lady and Jimmy Fallon Bring Humor to "Let's Move" Campaign

First Lady and Jimmy Fallon Bring Humor to "Let's Move" Campaign
Review/Commentary
By:  Michael G. Lander

It's not always easy to attract attention to your cause, but first lady Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon may have found just the right formula to do it, and that is through humor.

A year ago, the two paired up together for a promotional video where the two supposedly faced off in a fitness challenge that took place inside the White House.  This year the two recently appeared together on Fallon's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" show  and the two did a mommy dance video that has gone viral since it aired several days ago.

Both of these videos coincided on the anniversary of the first lady's "Let's Move!" campaign.  Starting tomorrow, Feb. 27, the first lady will be on a two-day nationwide tour to promote the third anniversary of her initiative.  She will use the opportunity to publicize her cause and to champion the need for healthy eating and for more exercise.

As the first lady goes out to engage the public on her brief tour, the one thing that may resonate with people more than anything else may be what she did with Fallon.  Humor speaks to all of us at a level that is hard to ignore.  It often works itself deep into our minds and gets us to think of things that we might not otherwise give any thought to.  

It is also a stroke of genius on her and Fallon's part to create something that is funny since it is far more likely to stick with parents than anything else might.   Everyone enjoys a good laugh and this could have the greatest impact of all on parents.  After all is said and done, it could easily be the kind of thing that helps to determine whether or not her "Let's Move!" ends up being successful.

Beyond the humor of the two videos that she did with Fallon, however, is the real reason why the first lady's initiative is so important and that really is not a laughing matter.  Many Americans are overweight and a considerable amount of the population is morbidly obese.  There has never been a time in our history when it has been this bad.  Sadly, this condition is not only prevalent with adults, but it has even found its way to our youth.

With a steady diet of processed foods packed with fat, sugar, sodium, and preservatives, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle for many, it should come as no surprise that the situation has reached almost epidemic proportions. 

Recognizing the staggering number of children dealing with weight issues and obesity throughout this country, first lady Michelle Obama initiated her "Let's Move!" campaign  in Febuary 2010. This began three years ago to fight a problem that, at the time, afflicted 17 percent of American children from two to 15 years of age.

Even though it is still too early to determine the effectiveness of the initiative, the motive has been crucial to tackling a matter that has almost gotten completely out of control.  Over the last couple of decades, childhood obesity has become a serious, life-threatening concern for many Americans.

 In 2007, Forbes Magazine ranked Memphis as the most sedentary and obese city in the entire country. This ranking by Forbes was based on information that it had received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. 

The Centers for Disease Control determined, from data collected in 2006, that 32 percent of the nation was obese and that Memphis came in at the highest with an astonishing 34 percent.  A 2009 risk behavior study  by the CDC also indicated that 17 percent of Memphis high school students were clinically obese as well. 

Further reinforcement of the first lady's initiative will come in March, when it will be National Nutrition Month.

While it may still be too early to determine how effective the "Let's Move!" initiative will ultimately be, it will certainly not be for a lack of effort on the part of the first lady.  She has been out there promoting this issue to the American public in various methods, including comedy, in order to get people to start thinking and doing something about this most serious issue confronting American society today. 

New Social Media Business, 'SQ Modern Media', Starts Up in Memphis

New Social Media Business, 'SQ Modern Media', Starts Up in Memphis
By:  Michael G. Lander

Entrepreneurs, like Cheryl Hurley, of SQ Modern Media, meets
with visitors at the University of Memphis Center for
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Exposition at theFedEx
Institute of Technology.

Some people spend a lot of their lives on social media, but for Cheryl Hurley, it's all a part of her business.   Hurley recently founded SQ Modern Media.  It is a company that began just prior to the new year and is focused on harnessing the power of social media.

Hurley's newly founded business was just one of many that were showcased by the University of Memphis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI).  The center featured Hurley's company and others in their Entrepreneurship Expo that took place in the FedEx Institute of Technology on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Hurley's SQ Modern Media is based in Memphis, and she describes her business as a social media marketing and management company that focuses exclusively on the power of social media.  "We help small to medium businesses connect with current and potential future customers," Hurley said. 

Her social media company provides services to businesses that help them to target their efforts where their customers actually are.  They specialize in social media marketing campaigns and they provide daily management of a business' social media needs. 

Hurley's experience on the Internet and her interest in social media is not something that is new for her. "I have always loved technology," Hurley said. 

It is something that she said that she grew up with and she knows it quite well.  She admitted that in high school she often created HTML (HyperText MarkUp Language) code just for fun.  HTML is the computer code used in creating web pages.

Hurley also has had a strong background in writing and served as the Editor in Chief of the University of Alabama's literary and arts magazine, Marr's Field Journal.  The journal is a forum for emerging writers and artists.  She also piloted the Professional Blog Program at the Business Over Coffee International (BOCI).  The stated goal of BOCI is to work with professionals who want to optimize their business through social media, educational exchange, and through networking events.

Hurley currently maintains two blogs.  The first of these is the SQ Modern Media blog.  The website address is:  http://sqmodernmedia.com/.  A second blog that she has is called the "The Stylist Quo."  The web address for it is:  http://thestylistquo.com/.  While the first is all about social media-related topics, the latter one is about putting style back into lifestyle with posts on food and fashion. 

Hurley's interest in fashion and for vintage clothing also extends to another business that she has, which is a clothing shop on etsy.com. 

Hurley's business is one of 34 new businesses that the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at the University of Memphis has helped launch.  The staff has also serviced 208 aspiring entrepreneurs.  Some of their more other notable clients have included Coyote Case, Custom Coin Holders, Plixser, Mo's Bows, Minding Your Business, All Things Protective, Valaree's Distinctive Dressings, and Quick Fit. 

The goal for CEI is to advance the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship and innovation for U of M students to include residents of Shelby County.  It provides support in learning and collaborating through its curriculum, hands-on learning experiences, workshops, seminars, and its community outreach programs. 

To learn more about CEI, you can call them at (901) 678-5266 or you can visit their website:  http://www.memphis.edu/cei/, their facebook page:  http://facebook.com/cei/ceiatuniversityofmemphis, or on Twitter at:  http://twitter.com/ceimemphis. 

University of Memphis Art Exhibition Features Student Artwork, Photographs and More

University of Memphis Art Exhibition Features Student Artwork, Photographs and More
By:  Michael G. Lander

Inside the University of Memphis' Communications and Fine Arts Building is a collection of various forms of artwork and photographs that some might see as rivaling anything that can be found in other museums in and around Memphis. 

The Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) opened the 30th Annual Juried Exhibition to the public on Feb 1, featuring the selected works of University of Memphis students.  In the collection, visitors will find a myriad of original artwork consisting of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and photographs that may shock, inspire, or move them. 

From the simple to the complex, from the beautiful to the bizarre, the collection seems to have something for everyone.

Among the collection of photographs on display is one entitled "Support By Fire."  It was created by 36-year-old Robert Hunt.  Hunt is a senior, graduating in May with a major in history. 

He is also a combat veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq who also served in Bosnia as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

"I have been doing photography for the last four years," Hunt said.  "I started it as a way to help overcome my service connected disabilities.  While deployed to Iraq in 2006, I was shot in the head, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury that left me with vestibular system and fine motor skill problems," Hunt added.

In describing his photograph, he said that it came from a series of 13 images entitled "Child's Play."  In the series of photographs, he uses children's military toy figures along with various images to reflect both military service and military operations. 

"I wanted people who viewed the series, or single images, to think critically about how the image is portraying our military service members, challenging popular and biased beliefs of those who serve," Hunt said. 

His other goal is also to poke some fun at those who do not fully understand what it means to serve in the military or in combat.

"People often equate military service to popular movies and video games... and that's why I used the toys to represent the service members," Hunt said. 

In order to create the images that he did, Hunt used photos, many of which he took while in Iraq or Afghanistan, and printed them so that they were in proportion to the toys that he used.  The next step was to set up the background and to position the toys accordingly.  Finally, he captured the image, using some post-processing techniques, and then printed out the final product.

For Hunt, this endeavor was the first time that he used a digital camera and Photoshop in doing photography and it was the first show to which he had ever submitted his work.  He plans to donate a lot of his photographs to veterans and veterans organizations. 

He is currently working with a non-profit organization, the Jeremy Staat Foundation in Bakersfield, Calif., who gives artwork to families of service members who were killed in combat.  For any photographs that he does sell, he intends to donate half of the proceeds to charity and to use the remaining amount to continue producing more of his work.

Other photographers that have their photographic images on exhibit include those from Joseph Camp, 32, and Zachary Chase Morgan, 21.  Camp's black and white photograph is entitled, "Reflections," and was captured on 35mm film using an Olympus OMG camera and a Sigma 35-70mm lens. 

It features sunlight reflecting on water surrounded by lily pads.  Camp shot the image at F22, with a shutter speed of 1/1000, and Kodak Tri-X 400 slowed to ASA 200.  In the developing and printing process, he made his own negative carrier from a matte board.  He then used some of his own developing formula and, in the post-processing phase, he dodged the dark areas for five seconds and burned the light areas for 10 seconds. 

"I have been taking photographs since I was a teenager, however, only in the last two to three years have I really achieved a level of visual language with my photos," Camp said.

In addition to his photograph in the Juried Exhibit, Camp has had one of his other works, "The Storm Behind the Clouds," at a Via San Gallo Student Exhibition in Florence, Italy.

Camp is a junior at the University of Memphis with a major in studio arts and a concentration in painting.  While he is primarily focused on his painting, he said that he never omits other artistic venues, like photography, as an option to express himself.

Morgan's untitled work, is another black and white photograph on display at the Juried Exhibition.  It shows the burnt out shell and remnants of a building after a fire.  Like Camp, Morgan used a film camera to capture his image.  In his case, it was a Pentax. 

"I prefer working with film because it can be very personal.  You get to know your camera.... The grain of film and the contrast you can get helps add a personal feeling to each shot you take," Morgan said.

Morgan has been taking pictures for about four years and, through his photographs, he strives to get people to see something that they recognize, yet to present it in such a way that it is slightly askew and a little disturbing to them.  With the image of the fire-ravaged house, he wanted to capture the eerie feeling and the complete strangeness of it all. 

While he continues to focus on photography, Morgan plans to pursue a career in art.  This exhibition is the first in which any of his work has been displayed and he is glad to have shared the experience with his brother, John, who has two pieces (the Salt Deer and Demigod) on display as well.

All of work of these photographers and the other students, that were selected by the artist, and a guest juror, Haejung Lee.  Lee was selected by a University of Memphis Art Department Committee and Lee chose the items that were selected for the Juried Student exhibition.  Lee's own work can be found at http://www.haejunglee.com/GALLERY.htm. 

The art museum's director, Dr. Leslie Luebbers, said that Lee selected approximately 63 out of 80 works that were submitted by University of Memphis students.  Several artists won monetary awards ranging from $250 to $1,000.  Luebbers, who has been the director for 22 years, has seen most of the juried exhibitions and said that these have been very popular with audiences over the years. 

"We had a huge turn-out of about 310 in attendance for the opening reception on Feb 1," Luebbers said. 

The 30th Annual Juried Student exhibition opened on Feb 2 and will remain on view until March 16.  The museum is open six days a week, Mon - Sat, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  In addition to this, the Caseworks exhibit is also available for viewing and features the work of Memphis sculptor, Eli Gold.  There is also an African and Egyptian exhibition, which are on permanent display at the museum.  For further details, you can visit the museum's website:  http://www.memphis.edu/amum/.