CAMPUSPEAK

From South Asia to Southern California, Rob shares his family’s journey to America and the learning experiences that come from navigating two completely different cultures.

• Keynotes

• Reflections on the Muslim-American Experience

Reflections on the Muslim-American Experience

As a man with both Pakistani background and American roots, Rob knows well the colliding tensions of East and West. Since September 11, 2001, a war of civilizations has arisen, but there is debate as to whether it’s a war between democracy and despotism; between religions; or between political parties. In his keynote, Rob addresses the root causes of the Mideast conflict, which is at the heart of many international tensions and especially of anti-American sentiment in the Islamic world.

Can Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan, Agnostic, Atheists and other faiths live together in a democratic society? Yes, Rob asserts, if we begin working urgently and intentionally to build a better future through true democracy. This leads us to perhaps the biggest question of all: Is it true that Islam and democracy can’t co-exist?

Through story telling and interaction, Rob approaches these difficult subjects with honesty, experience and a sense of humor. To help resolve some of the conflicts and tensions that exist, he encourages students to go face-to-face as opposed to hiding behind technology, and challenges participants not to live in fear of offending someone. Rob’s greatest message is that we must all be willing to change and embrace change.

Rob encourages students to consider where “wars” are happening, between civilizations, religions, society, etc. They will consider where religion comes into the picture, and how that impacts peace within a democracy; and will be asked to consider their individual role in the reconciliation process: from their assumptions, to their fears, misunderstandings and the active roles they can take in building a healthier democracy.

Rob’s keynote is perfect for Current Issues series. He is happy to visit classrooms and lead small discussions groups as part of his visit to maximize the benefit to your campus. Call for more information.

Rob's Bio

Rob is a Pakistani American writer and commentator whose essays have appeared in more than 30 newspapers worldwide, including The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Jordan Times and Japan Times. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and serves as a University Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy. He is the author of Lessons from the Holy Wars: A Pakistani-American Odyssey.