By Renee Larr
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church will host a community conversation with Khizr Khan from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9 called Talking Through Unity and Civility. Khan is a Gold Star father who spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. His son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed while serving in Iraq in 2004.
“Khizr Khan and his wife presented a new look for what an American or an American military family looks like. His perspective is important due to the sheer fact that at this time in our country, people are perpetuating acts of violence and hate while attempting to construe that ideology within the frame of patriotism,” said Waseema Ali, managing director of the Desmond Tutu Center.
St. Luke’s, 100 W. 86th St. in Indianapolis, is partnering with the Desmond Tutu Center, Muslim Alliance of Indiana, ACLU, Women4Change and Islamic Society of North America to host the event.
“St. Luke’s has an Interfaith Relationships Committee under the Inclusion and Social Justice Ministry. We seek to build bridges among our brothers and sisters from other faith traditions through a variety of programs. (We organize) everything from major events like this to cooking classes to dialogue groups to films about refugees,” said Betty Brandt, St. Luke’s director of the Spiritual Life Center.
Khan, who is originally from Pakistan, will discuss agreeing to disagree with civility.
“Our country is in pain. Valid, legitimate pain. And the truth, if pain is not transformed, it is transferred or consumed,” Ali said. “Can we channel our angst and fear about what is happening every day without comprising who we are, our values and principles as we grapple with the realities surrounding us? How do we keep from adding to the isolation and how do we stand united? Because divided we fall.”
John Krull, director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism, will host the event.
For more information on the free event visit stlukesumc.com.
