Moving Forward...

The conversation up until now appears to reflect a profound lack of understanding for the "other"-- a term Edward Said has used to categorize those in the Eastern regions of the world whom the West does not truly understand, but rather paints in wide strokes of ignorance aimed at propping up Western notions of ethnocentrism. Whether you agree with someone or not, the most important aspect of dialogue is to learn about his/her culture and ethos, and then attempt to put yourself in that individual’s shoes. Only then will you begin to understand that individual and why he or she acts and thinks the way he or she does. The thinking process of every person on this globe is highly complex and simply dismissing another person's point of view before genuine reflection is disingenuous. Moving forward, this blog is going to focus on presenting aspects of different religions in an effort to accentuate the oft-forgotten commonalities that exist. The greatest gift you can give someone is to be there for them and genuinely listen to what they have to say in a way that reflects true empathy. This blog will hopefully serve as a forum for people to discuss their beliefs and hopes and dreams for that meeting of the minds that is so crucial to the future of our planet.