Movie Night with discussion & food: Son of a Terrorist TED talk

We'll watch a moving TED talk by Zak Ebrahim and then discuss it. The goals of the evening will be to explore the personal side of peace, to talk about the ways we are influenced to be peaceful or not and to reflect on our own practices of peace in our personal lives and in our communities. What follows is the location of the talk on the web and an excerpt from Huffpost written by a person in the Peace Alliance about the TED talk.

http://www.ted.com/talks/zak_ebrahim_i_am_the_son_of_a_terrorist_here_s_how_i_chose_peace

“I’m Tired of Hating People” - A Growing Movement Based in Love
by Matthew Albracht

I recently watched Zak Ebrahim’s moving Ted Talk entitled "I am the son of a terrorist. Here's how I chose peace." In it he reveals that his father was a prominent, convicted American terrorist who had plotted to bomb tunnels, bridges and even the UN headquarters. Zak grew up in what he referred to as a “bigoted household… raised to judge people on arbitrary measures like a person’s race or religion.” As he grew and evolved on his life’s journey, Zak shares how and why he chose a more loving path. Personally experiencing bullying and prejudices growing up, as well as having models who exposed him to higher-minded thinking, helped him better understand oppression and gave him a deeper sense of empathy.

One of the most moving moments in his story came when Zak finally got the courage to share with his mother that he was feeling his worldview and values were changing, shifting away from the bigotry and intolerance he’d grown up learning -- to which his mother wearily responded: “I’m tired of hating people.”

Zak’s courage to “come out” as a more loving person, and his mother’s response are a testament to what is needed greatly on the planet now, a love revolution of sorts.

When people ask Zak why he shares his story, at potential risk, he says, “I do it in the hopes that perhaps someone, someday who is compelled to use violence may hear my story and realize there is a better way, that although I had been subjected to the violent, intolerant ideology, that I did not become fanaticized. Instead I choose to use my experience to fight back against terrorism, against bigotry… I stand here as proof that violence isn’t inherent in ones religion or race, and the son does not have to follow the ways of his father. I am not my father.”

This is a beautiful expression and example of one of the most encouraging movements happening around the world right now – one that is moving beyond hatred or even just mere tolerance -- to one that is based in love, compassion and empathy.

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We will look into the deeper and more introspective questions in life. The goal of the night is to be inspired and motivated to pursue meaningful virtues in our everyday lives. Please join us.

RSVP for address and so we know how much soup to fix!

*Vegan soup served @ 6:30pm

*Video/Discussion starts @ 7:30pm and ends @ 9:00pm