Page 20 - Pakistan Link - November 15, 2019

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 15, 2019 COMMENTARY
Journey into America Re-Released on Tenth Anniversary

n By Tyler Brazitis
ourney into America, a documentary
fi lm about Islam in America by Akbar
JAhmed, the former High Commissioner
from Pakistan to the United Kingdom and
Ireland and the current Ibn
Khaldun Chair of Islamic
Studies at American Univer-
sity, is being re-released for its
10th anniversary. It features
new and never before seen
footage while engaging with
and evaluating changes in the American po-
litical climate.
Th e new footage includes appearances by
Americans including socialite Joanne Herring,
whose eff orts to aid the Afghan war against
the Soviets in the 1980s alongside Congress- From left : Dr Akbar Ahmed with Hailey Woldt during fi eldwork in Arab Alabama, with members of his research team at the Statue of Liberty, and at the oldest US mosque in Cedar Rapids
man Charlie Wilson was depicted in the fi lm
Charlie Wilson’s War in which Julia Roberts
portrayed her.
In Journey into America, Ambassador
Akbar Ahmed, a Muslim professor, sets off on
a journey into the heart of American society
with a team of young researchers. Th ey seek
to discover the Muslim community and the
nature of American identity by visiting more
than 100 mosques in over 75 cities. Th rough
this unprecedented adventure, the team con-
ducts interviews of countless Americans in
their homes, schools, and places of worship.
Viewers will embark on a journey that
reaches into the depths of the American soul Dr Akbar Ahmed with the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community in Houston (left ) and with an imam and bishop in Las Vegas (right)
and emerge with a moving picture of what it
means to be American. Ahmed and his team lith, it means something diff erent to each of its Frankie Martin, a Journey into America Barbara J. Stephenson, Deputy Chief of
assemble a remarkable narrative that weaves citizens. I taught history at the secondary level team member, remarked about his experience Mission at the US Embassy in London, in-
together the complexity of the thoughts, fears, for three years, and Ahmed’s message about rendering the re-release edition, “I re-entered troduced Ahmed in her welcome address
and hopes of Americans across the country. the pursuit of Ilm is critical in this time of great our fi eldwork through the extensive footage. I at a showing of the fi lm at the US Embassy,
Th ey visit community and religious leaders, division. It is important for people of all ages appreciated again the mammoth scale of the “I’m guessing most of you know Ambassador
representative of all the major Abrahamic to view this fi lm for precisely that fact. Ahmed project and the contribution it has made and Ahmed’s background pretty well. For those
faiths, underscoring the purpose of the fi lm- revisited Journey into America during a time will continue to make with the rerelease of who don’t, I apologize to him - because, to be
spreading knowledge and building bridges. where there is more to learn about the min- the fi lm and the new edition of the book. I am frank, it’s impossible for me to fully do justice
Ambassador Doug Holladay says of the fi lm, gling of cultures and pursuing what it means proud that a decade on Journey into America here to his countless achievements, honors
“I think you’re the fi rst that I know that has re- to be an American going into the future. is still making an impact and has much to and awards. Perhaps the easiest thing is to say
ally tried to capture the rich texture of Ameri- I felt the fi lm to be a remarkable exhibi- teach us.” that for all his other accomplishments, Profes-
ca. I think it was a brilliant idea and I think it’s tion of the plurality within America, and the Th e great American dream is to have the sor Ahmed is - quite simply – one of the great-
going to be broadly watched and it’s going to spirit of the fi lm really shines light on the ne- rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- est scholars of Islam in the world today. Where
be very infl uential.” cessity of continued dialogue between Ameri- piness. Journey into America stresses that we there is greater understanding there is not only
Journey into America is a shining exam- cans and the Muslim community. I watched live in a critical time where building bridges tolerance but - even more important - there is
ple of how building bridges between diff erent the fi lm with my mother, who noticed, “It will lead us into a better and brighter future. hope…for me, [Journey into America makes]
communities allows for a celebration of diver- seems like Americans don’t know much about I highly recommend that anyone who desires the essential discovery: that you can be an
sity, identity, and a quest for Ilm, the Islamic Islam or the Muslim community. We need to a behind-the-scenes look at American identity American and a Muslim and it diminishes nei-
ideal of Knowledge. Former American Uni- seek out ways to engage with that community watch this fi lm. Journey into America ignites ther your national nor your religious identity.”
versity President Cornelius Kerwin remarks and get rid of the fear Americans have of be- a desire for greater cooperation and under- (Tyler Brazitis is a graduate student study-
that “this is likely to be one of the most defi ni- lief systems other than their own.” Ejaz Ra- standing between cultures in America. ing peace and confl ict resolution at American
tive works to date on the Muslim experience in him, one of Pakistan’s most prominent authors For me this fi lm illustrates one of the University in Washington, DC. Tyler hopes
the United States.” noted, “Th e whole rainbow of America is (in greatest opportunities Americans have in to work in peace education and confl ict rec-
I am a young scholar of Islam, I help the fi lm), but also multiple layers of clouds of the coming years; it is integral that we build onciliation in post-confl ict communities. As a
teach and interact with other students of Is- past, present and future storms in the Ameri- bridges with the Muslim community - and young scholar of Islam, Tyler works to build
lam alongside Ahmed. Th e beauty of Ahmed’s can skies.” Th e complexity of the dialogue be- there is no better way than to engage in dia- bridges between cultures through dialogue
monumental Journey into America lies in its tween civilizations as portrayed by Ahmed is logue within our neighborhoods, towns, and and intercultural mingling)
pursuit of the idea that America is not a mono- vast and ripe for development. communities. - tb9222a@student.american.edu
n By Riaz Haq Pakistani Video Game Player among World’s Top 10 Earners Pakistani players, the country

arachi-born Pakistani
Syed Sumail Hasan, 19, is
Kthe world’s youngest video
gamer to surpass $1 million in
earnings. In fact, he has earned
$3.6 million so far as an inter-
national Dota 2 player, ranking
as the 10th biggest winner in the
world, according to esportsearn-
ings.com website which tracks
players’ earnings. Sumail started
playing Dota 2 at the age of 7. He
now lives in a Chicago suburb as
a permanent resident of the Unit-
ed States.
Arsalan Ash Siddique, 23 years
old player from Lahore, Pakistan,
caused a stir in Fukuoka, Japan, Syed Sumail Hasan Arsalan Ash Siddique (center) ranks 25th in the world for players’
when he defeated the world’s top to Japan. no exchange would accept them. Arsalan was exhausted and earnings in 2019, according to es-
players to win EVO champion- It wasn’t easy for Arsalan to Hungry and tired, he tried his luck ready to give up his dream when portsearnings.com. Ranked above
ship in February 2019, accord- reach Japan to participate in the at the food court but no one would he fi nally got through to his Japa- Pakistan are mainly rich industrial-
ing to Asahi Shimbun. In his vic- contest. He had to jump through accept the Pakistani currency. His nese sponsors who helped him out. ized nations from North America,
tory speech, Arslan acknowledged many hoops and travel through sev- next fl ight was from Narita airport Needless to say he got no help from Europe and East Asia. All South
many unknown Pakistani players eral transit countries each of which an hour away by public transport. Pakistani diplomats through his Asian nations rank below Pakistan.
who are also quite strong but could made it diffi cult for him. When he To travel he needed to buy a ticket challenging journey. Players from India rank 63rd, Sri
not join the competition because arrived at Haneda airport in Japan, but did not possess any local cur- In spite of visa denials and Lanka 98th, Afghanistan 108th,
they could not get the visa to travel he only had Pakistani rupees and rency, according to SBS Urdu. other travel challenges faced by Bangladesh 115th and Nepal 123rd.
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