3/2-Plenary #2
Dr. Traci West, Rabbi Esther Reed, and Atiya Aftab all provided great insight on their different religious backgrounds and being women leaders. I thought it was especially interesting how Dr. West was drawn to becoming a minister because of the civil rights movement and her desire to make a change. This showed that religion can play a large role in activism and making actual changes in the world. Dr. West pointed out that although religion can sometimes be part of the problem, it also empowers and can be an impetus for change. Dr. West’s approach to how she would deal with a woman who was considering an abortion particularly stood out. She demonstrated that her religious approach is not to just tell people what is right or what they should do, but rather to guide them as they figure it out for themselves. Rabbi Reed was demeaned early on in her career by being called “cute” and having a man say he wasn’t sure whether he should kiss the Torah or the rabbi. Atiya Aftab was often the only women in a room full of men. It was inspiring to see how they were able to overcome these challenging experiences and own their positions as religious women leaders.
It is very true how Muslims are often depicted as the “other” in the media. James Morone wrote about morality in American politics and how a “us versus them” rhetoric is very effective in mobilizing people towards a certain cause. People are constantly trying to define themselves and the world around them. They are quick to blame and oppose those who seem to disrupt their lives or don’t confer with their world views. Donald Trump is using such rhetoric against Muslims and immigrants to gain supporters. It is important to be conscious that this is occurring and to combat it.
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