50 gather in Batavia to discuss a post-9/11 world
About 50 people gathered Saturday at the Batavia Public Library to discuss faith, race and politics in a post-9/11 world, and during an election year in which issues of race and gender are sure to influence voting for the next president.
The public forum was sponsored by the Congregational Church of Batavia; the Logan Street Baptist Church, a black congregation in Batavia; and the Batavia Islamic Center.
"We're here because this is an important topic this year and any year," said the Rev. David Foxgrover of the Congregational Church. "The Jeremiah Wright issue has prompted us to look hard at issues of race."
Foxgrover was referring to remarks by Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor that many voters find inflammatory.
The event began with Foxgrover; the Rev. Larry Spires, pastor of Logan Street Church; and Mazer Ahmed, a leader of the Batavia Islamic Center, relating personal stories concerning an experience with racial issues and stereotypes.
Foxgrover told of visiting an all-black church in Southern California when he was a youth minister. He said he was surprised when black parishioners used satire to identify what they considered to be false assumptions about blacks held by whites.
Spires recalled being a black student at a large high school in Jackson, Miss., in which there were only five whites. He took a stand to defend the white students and keep them safe.
Ahmed, a Muslim woman born in India, talked about meeting the mother of a Marine at a church gathering who wanted to talk only about Muslim terrorists.
"After 9/11, everyone wanted to find out about Islam in five minutes," Ahmed said. "Some people assume I'm a terrorist because I'm a Muslim. Yes, my faith has been hijacked, but what other faith hasn't been?"
Participants formed five small groups to discuss eight questions. One question asked if ethnic differences should be ignored.
"When white people think about blacks, they think about Tank Johnson, not Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell," said Basil Gray of Naperville. "They have trouble seeing me as an intelligent black male."
"I'm from Mississippi where I went to an all-black school," said Vella Williams of Batavia, a member of Logan Street Baptist Church. "I see white girls braiding their hair now. I never thought I would see it. And I never thought I would go to a white hairdresser, but I found out it doesn't matter."
"I think it's wonderful that we have a woman and a black man running for president," said Pat Pardee, 85, of Batavia. "I can't believe I've lived long enough to see it." Pardee is white and attends Calvary Episcopal Church in Batavia.
Several participants suggested another meeting.
"When we come back, we can bring clear thinking and focus on doing something together," Ahmed said.
For more information, call Foxgrover at (630) 879-1999.