Like countless Americans, I was riveted today as I watched the Senate Judiciary Committee testimony by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Cavanaugh. While I clearly had other things to do, I found myself mesmerized by the day-long hearing because of its profound personal drama, its sky-high stakes for both the witnesses involved and … Continue reading Truth and Temperament
Pakistan Loses a Hero; I Lost a Friend
This week I received the tragic news of the death of Professor Hassan Murad, founder and chair of Pakistan's esteemed University of Management and Technology (UMT), in a fatal car accident as he returned from a conference at the Khunjrab border with China, the highest international border crossing in the world, where the roads are … Continue reading Pakistan Loses a Hero; I Lost a Friend
Tribute to Dr. Hasan Murad by Junaid Ahmad
A Tribute to Dr. Hasan Murad By Junaid Ahmad Director, Center for Global Dialogue Lahore, Pakistan A visionary has returned to his Creator, and I feel orphaned for a second time. Dr. Hasan Murad was like a father figure for me after my father, Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad, one of Dr. Murad's dearest friends, passed away … Continue reading Tribute to Dr. Hasan Murad by Junaid Ahmad
QAnon and You
In the early 2000’s when I was Communications Director for the United Church of Christ, I was often asked, “what is the greatest challenge facing the UCC?” Expected responses included: world peace, systemic racism, nuclear non-proliferation, the environment. But I’d often confound people with the response: “to develop tools of discernment.” The internet was emerging … Continue reading QAnon and You
How Wonderfully Strange
When I was a freshman in college, I first heard Simon and Garfunkel’s ground-breaking album Bookends. In addition to iconic songs like “America” and “Mrs. Robinson,” there was a lesser known track, “Old Friends” that contained the words: Can you imagine us years from today, Sharing a park bench quietly How terribly strange to be … Continue reading How Wonderfully Strange