[6] May 1, 2015
www.redmond-reporter.com
[ RASOOL from page 1]
STILL PROGRESS TO BE MADE
AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
Rasool’s message was one of inclusiveness and he advised attendees to approach conflict with the mindset of finding a win-win solution that would benefit all parties involved. Ali said this was what Nelson Mandela — South Africa’s first black president — did, making sure the country’s white population was not excluded in South Africa’s post-apartheid society. Rasool also gave examples, saying that in South Africa, there are 11 official languages and that their national anthem contains five languages and is a combination of a liberation
Mahmood Khadeer, president of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (right), introduces South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool before his speech. Courtesy of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound hymn and the last apartheid anthem. “We are probably the one country that has been able to find ways in which to affirm every religion,” he said in his speech. “Our bill of rights says all religions are equal. Some people argued with Nelson Mandela and said, ‘No. Our Christians are 80 percent of the population.’ And Nelson Mandela said, ‘It is not the number of people who fol-
low a religion. It is the equal value of God.’” Rasool also discussed the significance of last weekend to his fellow countrymen. “This weekend is a weekend when South Africans come together to celebrate 21 years since the end of apartheid,” Rasool said during his speech. “Twenty-one years ago, Nelson Mandela became the president of a free and democratic South Africa. Twenty-one years
ago, we ushered in democracy, freedom and human rights for South Africa.” Rasool highlighted some of the benefits South Africans now enjoy, such as a guaranteed government pension for those older than 60, guaranteed child support for minors so they don’t have to work to support their families and guaranteed treatment for anyone who has had a medical emergency.
[ CHURCH from page 5]
good memories — from the people she has met, to seeing the new classroom building being built about 10 years ago — but there is one particular memory that stands out for her. “My daughter was married there,” she said. Like Prophet, Elaine Price also joined RPC in 1978, though she began attending services in 1977. And having been with the church for so many years, she too has made many memories at RPC. She said she has stuck with the church because it is more than just a building — the people are friendly, inviting and accepting. In particular, Price said she always enjoyed being part of the church’s former women’s association and always had fun on church retreats, during yard sales, bazaars and other events they organized. For Carole and Ed Rich, RPC’s welcoming and friendly members are the reason they have been with the church since 1988. They said they enjoy the family environment and appreciate the support people provide for others when they need it — such as when their son was injured in an accident.
Rev. Larry Grounds addresses the Redmond Presbyterian Church while former pastors look on. Courtesy of Redmond Presbyterian Church
INCLUSIVE BUT NOT ALWAYS AGREEING
Grounds said it is their philosophy to be inclusive — even if that means a membership that doesn’t always see eye to eye with each other.
Despite these strides, Rasool also admitted during his speech that things are not perfect. He said in the last few days, there have been some “worrying signs of xenophobia” as South African blacks have been turned against refugees from other African countries because there is a “competition for scarce resources.” He said they have to examine the issue to see if this is a sign of regression or whether this is something that can be managed. During his talk, Rasool also discussed how it is important to separate principles of a system from people. Just because a person disagrees with a set of ideas, does not mean they have to dislike the person presenting them.
A SUCCESSFUL EVENT WITH MORE TO COME
Last week’s event with Rasool also included a question-and-answer portion and Ali said things went really well as people would not leave. The event was scheduled to end around 8:30-8:45 p.m., but
One of those areas in which RPC has taken an agree-todisagree attitude is same-sex marriage. Grounds said the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which RPC is part of, gives local churches and pastors the right to decide how to approach the issue. At RPC, he said, they have an open policy not to pre-judge people. Grounds said when it comes to marrying couples, he bases his decision on whether the two people are ready for marriage as well as their faithfulness to Jesus. He said their sexuality has nothing to do with it. With this open policy, Grounds said this means they do not turn away anyone from the church, so this means there are people on both sides of the argument within the RPC membership. He said their policy on same-sex marriage has also led to people — on either side of the issue — leaving the church. Grounds said he has heard strong arguments on both sides of the debate and those views — and others — are among his church’s membership. “It’s OK to disagree,” he said. “It’s OK to struggle.”
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He said this applies to MAPS because the local Muslim community is multiracial with a strong immigrant population, adding that their members represent about 35 different countries. In addition to learning how MAPS members could better get along among themselves, Ali said hearing Rasool speak could help them learn how to better get along with and contribute to society as a whole.
it lasted until about 10 p.m., he said. More than 200 people attended the event — about a quarter of which were from outside of the MAPS community and Muslim faith. “It exceeded our expectations,” Ali said about the attendance, adding that it was one of the best events MAPS has ever held. “It was well received.” Ali said they also received a positive endorsement from Rasool. He said the diverse group that attended the event, as well as the diverse population in Redmond, is what Rasool envisions for today’s society. Ali said their goal at MAPS is to bring in speakers — whether they are from the world of religion, politics, academics or elsewhere — two to three times a year. He said they also work to get speakers who are not from the Muslim community to bring broader perspectives to their members. Currently, Ali said, they are planning to have one more speaker in 2015, most likely at the end of the year, but this will depend on people’s schedules and other logistical details.
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