Yearly Archives: 2005

Salaam/Shalom/Peace

Posted on June 14, 2005 by

As I learned from the Brattleboro Reformer SIT’s Center for Intercultural Programs is having a weeklong summer program titled as above, to “to further understanding of the relations of countries in the Middle East with each other and with the … Continue reading →

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Bride & Prejudice (India-UK-USA, 2004)

Posted on June 12, 2005 by

On one hand the story of the movie follows closely Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that I re-read two years ago. At a few points I laughed out loud when the original lines were used. E.g. When Lalita’s father (Elizabeth … Continue reading →

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“The United State Since 1920″ Course Summary

Posted on June 11, 2005 by

I was quite disappointed that I had to take this course again. I already took a 20th century US history course at Cabrillo College, using the same textbook. But that was not accepted at UCSB and I couldn’t even just … Continue reading →

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Richard Polenberg: The Era of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-1945

Posted on June 10, 2005 by

After providing a short 35 page summary of the 12 years in 6 chapters the other 200 pages are filled with documents. Every single one of them has a one paragraph long introduction placing it in context. This format was … Continue reading →

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Bruce J. Schulman: Lyndon B. Johnson and American Liberalism

Posted on June 9, 2005 by

It looks like a slim volume, but is printed on the kind of paper that can pack a lot in a tome. Thus it ends up being 250 pages. The first two third of the book is written by Schulman … Continue reading →

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William M. Tuttle, Jr.: Race Riot: Chicago in the Red Summer of 1919

Posted on June 8, 2005 by

Scary. How deep racism is. There is more to it of course. The historical context cannot be discarded. The red scare at its height was both generated top-down by politicians and officials, but it also found a fertile ground in … Continue reading →

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Sufism Course Summary

Posted on June 7, 2005 by

It makes such a difference to sit in the front rows of the calls. A friend of mine was taking this same course and was sitting in the back. For him it was boring. Admittedly the 8 AM starting time … Continue reading →

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John Renard: Windows on the House of Islam: Muslim Sources on Spirituality and Religious Life

Posted on June 6, 2005 by

I didn’t read the whole book, not yet. I got through about fourth of it, 100 pages. That’s how much was required for my Sufism class. During the fast pace of a school quarter I didn’t have more time to … Continue reading →

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Carl W. Ernst: Shambhala Guide to Sufism

Posted on June 5, 2005 by

This was the main text book for my Sufism class, deservedly. We followed its section pretty tightly: What is Sufism, The Sacred Sources, Saints and Sainthood, The Names of G-d, The Orders, Poetry, Dance/Music, the Contemporary World. It’s such an … Continue reading →

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Farid Ud-Din Attar: Conference of the Birds

Posted on June 4, 2005 by

First I was frightened that I have to read a whole book written in verse. My fear dissipated when I started to read it. It is not just beautiful, but also easy to follow. I sometimes have problems with the … Continue reading →

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