Faith & Living

The Interfaith Amigos

jbloustein — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:11:01 -0600

They call themselves The Interfaith Amigos, a protestant minister, a rabbi and a Muslim sheik who came together in the aftermath of 9/11, each seeking a deeper understanding of the other’s faith during a frightening and uncertain time.

The differences among their religions seemed stark and potentially divisive.

Sheik Jamal Rahman, the Rev. Don Mackenzie and Rabbi Ted Falcon, all of Seattle, began meeting weekly, at first just to get to know each other.

In Memory Of...

admin — Sun, 01 May 1988 08:59:00 -0500

Each year, and especially on Memorial Day, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Back when I headed the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C., and needed a quiet place to sort out my thoughts, I would often drive out to that monument. As a Vietnam veteran, I felt a kinship with the fallen heroes who lie there.

Usually my visit would be in the early evening, and as I wheeled up the path, the marble monolith would glow a soft rose in the rays of the setting sun.

Prayer Warrior

jbloustein — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:08:44 -0500

I felt like God had abandoned me.

I was hundreds of miles away from my home, the West African nation of Liberia. I was camped outside a hotel with a few other Liberian women in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, a luxury hotel where we Liberians could never afford to stay.

Unfurling the Facts

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Here are 5 fascinating facts about our grand old flag.

Did you know?
General George Washington's first battle flag carried the British Union Jack in its upper left corner. American Revolutionaries combined the Union Jack with 13 red and white stripes to demonstrate that while loyal to England, they were also committed to justice for the 13 colonies.

Connected by Music

jbloustein — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:55:51 -0500

A music video currently sweeping the internet is serving as a source of inspiration to millions of viewers who see it as a testament to global unity.

Playing for Change gathers dozens of little-known musicians from around the world and records them playing classic or folk songs. The catch? None of them have ever met.

Los Angeles-based producer Mark Johnson traveled the world, recording each performer individually and then spliced them together to create a rich aural tapestry.

Peace Process

admin — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:35:00 -0600

The day I met the women of the Faith Club, I sat in my kitchen and read the newspaper over breakfast. The headlines were sadly familiar. Fifteen bystanders killed in Iraq. Attacks and counterattacks in Palestine. The one-year anniversary of subway bombings in London.

The Role of My Life

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:47:00 -0600

I've played a lot of characters in my more than 30 years as a professional actor, and I'm proud to say a fair number of them have been members of the military. Not a week goes by that someone doesn't refer to me as "Lieutenant Dan," the Vietnam veteran I portrayed in Forrest Gump. For the past three years, I've been Detective Mac Taylor, an emotionally wounded ex-Marine, on CSI: NY. This month marks four years since US forces went into Iraq.

Eyewitness

admin — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 08:33:00 -0500

A small dirt airstrip appeared out of nowhere in the dusty savannah. I wondered how our pilot could land on that small slash of rutted ground. The plane dropped down, bounced hard on the dirt strip and came to a halting stop at the end of the runway. I hoisted my camera bag over my shoulder and stepped outside, greeted by a blast of heat and dust.

Brave Faith

admin — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 07:26:00 -0600

On a cold, foggy day last December my husband, John, and I arrived in Flossenbürg in eastern Germany, the site of the concentration camp where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was taken more than 60 years ago. In snow above our ankles, we groped our way toward the Special Prisoners compound.

Peace Talks

admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:13:00 -0600

Most of us use the living room for TV, reading, board games...that sort of thing. For Libby and Len Traubman of San Mateo, California, it's a place for promoting world peace.