'A symbolic act of solidarity'

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"In 2015 in particular, and 2016 as well, we've seen an incredible uptick in violence and intimidation against Muslims," he said. "We're at an all-time high since the immediate post-9/11 era."

Photo: Review / Anthony Macuk

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Lake Oswego Review
By Anthony Macuk | February 4, 2017

Lake Oswego candle-lighting ceremony, talk by author Harris Zafar are designed to show support for immigrants, refugees

More than 100 people gathered at the New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in Lake Oswego this week for an impromptu candle-lighting ceremony that the Rev. David Alexander called "a symbolic act of solidarity" to show support for immigrants and refugees.

The center had originally scheduled the Feb. 1 event as part of its participation in the Season for Nonviolence, a campaign by the Association for Global New Thought that is "dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and communities."

But Alexander said "the last 72 hours or so sort of changed the tone of this evening a bit. Now more than ever, it's important that we — as a community and as individuals — stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters."

The candle-lighting ceremony was added as a show of solidarity with an event in Seattle. In a Facebook post, Seattle mayor Ed Murray called on residents to "shine a light" in their homes on Feb. 1 to show support for immigrants and refugees affected by President Donald Trump's recent executive order barring travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

"We begin our service tonight standing with Seattle and other cities around the nation," Alexander said. "We understand that what we're doing is a symbolic act of solidarity."

The ceremony preceeded the evening's main event, a talk by Muslim author and activist Harris Zafar. As attendees raised electric candles in the courtyard in front of the center, Alexander read a portion of the inscription on the Statue of Liberty and declared that center members affirmed its message, and Zafar concluded the vigil by reading a passage from the first chapter of the Quran.

Afterward, the group filed into the center's main hall for Zafar's presentation, which Alexander said would serve as the kickoff event for the Lake Oswego Center's participation in the Season for Nonviolence. The annual campaign traditionally begins on Jan. 30, the date of the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi, and ends on April 4, the date of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"We're excited to have Harris here speaking to help us welcome in the Season for Nonviolence," said center member Lynne Taylor. "The last week or so has been pretty shocking, so we're happy Harris is here."

Taylor is one of a group of center members who invited Zafar to the event, after hearing him speak on a panel about challenging hate and violence at a Parliament of World's Religions event in October 2015.

Zafar is the national spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the oldest Muslim organization in America, as well as the author of "Demystifying Islam: Tackling the Tough Questions." The Southwest Portland resident recently began an outreach effort at Washington Square Mall, where he wears a shirt that invites passersby to "talk to a Muslim" and takes questions for an hour each weekend. (For more information on Zafar's outreach, to to bit.ly/2kaWuEv.)

Taking the stage, Zafar agreed with Alexander's statements about the timing of the event. He began by discussing a series of recent headlines about threats and attacks against Muslims, Sikhs, Jews and other religious groups, referencing a mosque that burned down a few days earlier in Victoria, Texas, and the recent terrorist attack on a Quebec City mosque that killed six people.

"In 2015 in particular, and 2016 as well, we've seen an incredible uptick in violence and intimidation against Muslims," he said. "We're at an all-time high since the immediate post-9/11 era."

Zafar also discussed a general surge in gun ownership and a rise in gun violence — as well as increased violence against women — before turning to a discussion about the development and promotion of peace and the meaning of the word "peace" in Islam. Zafar expressed concern about the current political climate, particularly in the United States, which he described as too partisan to allow for mutual understanding.

"To have seen in the past year or two how much vitriol has been espoused (by Americans) about other Americans has been alarming," he said. "In that climate, you simply can't establish peace."

Achieving peace, he told the audience, is not simply a matter of compromise; he referenced passages in the Quran that focus on love and "universal justice," describing it as "grounded not just in tolerance, but in mutual understanding — even affection."

"As you embark on this two-month journey," he said in reference to the Season for Nonviolence event, "ask yourselves, 'What are we doing to influence this direction of bringing people together for the common good?'"

After the talk, Alexander told The Review that the audience was more than double the number of attendees the center would typically receive on a Wednesday night. He said the center planned to continue with similar events as part of the Season for Nonviolence effort.

"We'll continue to create an open space for dialog," he said. "What's happening in the world is an indication that it's time for us to stand up. As Harris said (in his talk), peace is not passive."

Other attendees expressed support for Zafar's message and said they were glad for the talk.

"It's a message we all need to hear," said center member Diane Plesset. "Nonviolence, love, peace — we need to take responsibility individually."

Connie Weiss, another member of the group that invited Zafar, said the event offered insight for individuals who might be struggling with the question of "what can I do?"

"I think it has a lot to do with just being as open as we can, with everyone we meet," she said. "In order to not just get frustrated and depressed, it's good to remember we just do what we can."

Zafar said the evening was a great way to bring together a large audience to discuss the ideas of peace and nonviolence, and that he hoped more people would be able to attend Season for Nonviolence events.

"Especially these days, these types of events are so necessary," he said. "It's just about removing prejudices and misunderstandings — and that goes both ways."


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Contact Lake Oswego Review reporter Anthony Macuk at 503-636-1281 ext. 108 or amacuk@lakeoswegoreview.com.



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