Spring Break
Panel discusses Islam in the western world as part of FAS
Issue date: 2/14/08
Students and faculty convened at the Glass Pavilion Wednesday for a panel discussion entitled "Perceptions of Islam in the Western World." The event was part of this semester's Foreign Affairs Symposium.
Among the panel was a British diplomat, a Hopkins student and former president of the Hopkins Muslim Association (JHUMA) and a leading minorities and women's rights activist.
Peter Sanders, a photographer, helped plan the event in conjunction with his exhibit The Art of Integration: Islam in Britain's Green and Pleasant Lands, which is currently at the Mattin Center.
While the event was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., there was a few minutes' delay due to prayers, which took place right in the Pavilion.
Sanders was the first to speak, describing his photographs.
"A 30-day project grew into a three-year project," he said. "It was a voyage of discovery for me and for you, I hope."
His pictures showed Muslims and other cultural groups all contributing to British society in diverse and unique ways. While describing a picture of a smiling blond woman in a judge's robes, Sanders commented, "not your typical Muslim on the outlook of it."
On another slide, he presented four pictures in photo-booth style. Two traditionally dressed women stood smiling and laughing in them. Sanders informed the crowd that the women were rappers and that he had seen "men actually weeping at the lyrics they created."
Sanders then flashed a slide of a woman completely covered in gray cloth, with only a small slit for her eyes, applying high-fashion make-up to another woman.
As he neared the end, Sanders assured the highly attentive audience.
"I'm just showing you a cross section, there are so many. It was hard to just choose a few," he said.
"Islam is like a pure river: If the rocks below it are black, the river is black. If the rocks are yellow the river is yellow," he said. "It's just like in Africa, Islam is African. If you are in China, Islam is Chinese and if you are in Britain, Islam is British."
Among the panel was a British diplomat, a Hopkins student and former president of the Hopkins Muslim Association (JHUMA) and a leading minorities and women's rights activist.
Peter Sanders, a photographer, helped plan the event in conjunction with his exhibit The Art of Integration: Islam in Britain's Green and Pleasant Lands, which is currently at the Mattin Center.
While the event was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., there was a few minutes' delay due to prayers, which took place right in the Pavilion.
Sanders was the first to speak, describing his photographs.
"A 30-day project grew into a three-year project," he said. "It was a voyage of discovery for me and for you, I hope."
His pictures showed Muslims and other cultural groups all contributing to British society in diverse and unique ways. While describing a picture of a smiling blond woman in a judge's robes, Sanders commented, "not your typical Muslim on the outlook of it."
On another slide, he presented four pictures in photo-booth style. Two traditionally dressed women stood smiling and laughing in them. Sanders informed the crowd that the women were rappers and that he had seen "men actually weeping at the lyrics they created."
Sanders then flashed a slide of a woman completely covered in gray cloth, with only a small slit for her eyes, applying high-fashion make-up to another woman.
As he neared the end, Sanders assured the highly attentive audience.
"I'm just showing you a cross section, there are so many. It was hard to just choose a few," he said.
"Islam is like a pure river: If the rocks below it are black, the river is black. If the rocks are yellow the river is yellow," he said. "It's just like in Africa, Islam is African. If you are in China, Islam is Chinese and if you are in Britain, Islam is British."
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