NDP3
Item
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Title
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NDP3
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Type
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Interview
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Date
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April 20th, 2021
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Description
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The respondent is in his early 60s and was born in Illinois and has spent most of his life and career in an urban area in the Midwest. He recounts most of the impact of COVID-19 relating to his social life, though many of his extra-professional engagements, which include statewide interfaith dialogue and keeping in contact with various religious communities, moved easily to an online format. During the pandemic, this sustained contact with various religious communities and authorities meant informing his own local Islamic center and Muslim community of updated safety guidelines for religious gatherings and worship. Social interactions were a big part of this respondent’s life pre-pandemic, and while he has adapted especially in terms of technology in the realms of profession and religion, the lack of social interaction, especially when it came to family, has been an especially salient part of his COVID experience.
Respondent has strong beliefs about social justice: Muslim communities have to work with other faith communities and any other willing partners, to stand up for social justice. He also advocates for people getting to know each other on a grassroots basis – to counteract the hatred that is so easy to maybe come to pass when somebody doesn’t know someone, and then they’re just vilified by others or viewed by people as the ‘other’.
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Language
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English
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Subject
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Interfaith dialogue and work, family, expressions of faith (e.g., calling his mother daily, practicing social distancing, facing trials/challenges), social justice responsibilities, and breaking the cycle of hatred and vilifying the “other”., COVID-19
NDP3