tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post3243398881468138574..comments2024-03-28T03:40:29.423-04:00Comments on Passage des Perles: How might we connect?Duchessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-75436484611905576532015-01-18T18:11:00.640-05:002015-01-18T18:11:00.640-05:00One touching story about heroism and living in har...One touching story about heroism and living in harmony: Lassana Bathily, the young Muslim man from Mali who worked at the kosher supermarket and saved several shoppers there. He will receive his citizenship papers, and many are calling for him to get a Legion of Honour for his bravery and quick thinking. <br /><br />He said he never had any problem working with the Jewish store management, as a practising Muslim; they all got along and the managers let him say his prayers. <br /><br />http://www.france24.com/en/20150115-france-malian-hero-lassana-bathily-kosher-supermarket-attack-citizenship/lagatta à montréalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02610410709900333230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-47465479562979954392015-01-17T12:24:23.831-05:002015-01-17T12:24:23.831-05:00Thoughtful and well-stated post. I think that conv...Thoughtful and well-stated post. I think that conversation and relationship is the most important thing, and it is up to each of us to reach out to others around us. Unfortunately we seem to live in a world where media glorifies those who rant and rave. We must learn to let it slide by us, to not let the lunatics intimidate us into despair, and continue to reach out. Mardelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04850551308931710502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-33324898024703632322015-01-15T11:50:21.665-05:002015-01-15T11:50:21.665-05:00Sadly, most often when I read outside my sphere of...Sadly, most often when I read outside my sphere of opinion, I find so much ranting and raving. It's hard to find thoughtful and kindly conservatives in America, at least those that speak out:(. I know they exist, but the mass media doesn't value those who speak in reasonable tones.LPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209861350905135093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-32848025126834219062015-01-14T10:34:29.142-05:002015-01-14T10:34:29.142-05:00Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging word...Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging words. I also believe that it is the small steps we take to maintain connections that will ultimately make the difference in how we live together. On moving from an academic workplace in a city to a rural farming village, I was struck immediately by the almost complete lack of racial and cultural diversity. And I miss that. A lot.Swissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07401962870620859831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-50959665101426782012015-01-14T03:56:12.544-05:002015-01-14T03:56:12.544-05:00Yes, its important to reach out and be willing to ...Yes, its important to reach out and be willing to understand other people.<br /><br />I feel sad when I read a lot of the self-serving commentary in parts of the press.<br /><br />My first husband was a Muslim (from SE Asia). We met in Canberra, married and moved to his country because his career was there and after a long period of study he longed to see his family. I couldn't have been made more welcome by his family who were so loving and kind to me. <br /><br />Although the marriage didn't last and I eventually returned to Australia, I still think of him and his family with immense fondness and respect. <br /><br />They taught me so much about true love and kindness; I agree with you that it is very important to try to break down barriers of culture, language and religion by making friendships at best and fostering good will at the least. <br /><br />Easier said than done perhaps?<br /><br />Good wishes to you<br /><br />Sue Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-49612326763009347692015-01-13T17:30:54.812-05:002015-01-13T17:30:54.812-05:00Lovely post, as usual. My thoughts on this issue h...Lovely post, as usual. My thoughts on this issue have been around the topic of 'grace'. I am of the priviledged majority in my country and have the right and ability to do and say all sorts of things that wouldn't be gracious. <br /><br />I believe in the Christian ideal of being humble and thinking of others as better than ourselves. (I admit I've got a long way to go towards putting it into practice, but that's what I aspire to). <br /><br />I would like to think that I'm on the side of minorities, oppressed people, poor people and that I use my vote and my voice and some donations to try and help.Eleanorjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15458995916551328770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-4528111605400905872015-01-13T17:02:02.338-05:002015-01-13T17:02:02.338-05:00I feel that the clerics in the Muslim faith, shoul...I feel that the clerics in the Muslim faith, should vocally, and vociferously, renounce this type of behavior every time it occurs. I believe most Muslim countries have renounced this, yet I have not heard this in one broadcast by our media. I had to search for this on the internet because I could not believe that they condoned this behavior. Extremism, in the name of any religion, should never be tolerated. It is up to the heads of any religious organization to make sure that the message gets out to the population of the world, that they, and their religion, will not tolerate terrorism in the name of their religions, no matter what faith is involved. By not doing this, it exacerbates the problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-81133726228812020952015-01-13T15:34:34.167-05:002015-01-13T15:34:34.167-05:00These kinds of connections are especially importan...These kinds of connections are especially important in view of the danger of a reactionary movement gaining ground as a response. If all countries could focus on providing education and opportunities for all of their citizens, I think it would go a long way towards curtailing the problem.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03885016833329869945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-9162925655884479702015-01-13T09:49:49.210-05:002015-01-13T09:49:49.210-05:00What a thoughtful and wise response, K. And it'...What a thoughtful and wise response, K. And it's practical as well. This is something we can do, even if we might have to step out of our usual patterns. materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-77492691562693761552015-01-13T09:24:44.464-05:002015-01-13T09:24:44.464-05:00It is by stepping out of our affinity groups and b...It is by stepping out of our affinity groups and by learning about others' beliefs that we connect. I don't understand terrorism but it must grow among the marginalized and the poor. How does a country put an end to the recruitment of young people to kill and to be killed? I want to believe that education and food will help but I might be naive.Madame Là-bashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703782237948233124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-69565473507353979252015-01-13T08:06:45.052-05:002015-01-13T08:06:45.052-05:00My best friend, I have known her since I was eleve...My best friend, I have known her since I was eleven, converted to islam and is the 2nd wife of a "sheik" (he has 3). We are still very close, I have attended some of their gatherings and prayers and met many charming and interesting people through her. Is that "normal" it is certainly different. For me diversity is the spice of life. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08902418849121978821noreply@blogger.com