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Here's a question to jump-start the week: What does it take to discuss faith, justice and politics without melting down? ![]()
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That's exactly what I'll be addressing tonight at @susquehannau. But instead of a lecture, this is going to be an unscripted, real-time, live-action experiment: three students will join me onstage. We'll be asking — and answering — taboo questions about identity. ![]()
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At certain points in our free-wheeling convo, I'll turn to the eavesdropping audience and offer tips on how to deal with moments of high anxiety, awkward tension, or outright division, so that everybody has a takeaway to practice later on.![]()
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In the final phase of this experiment, the students and I will invite honest comments and questions from the audience. Emphasize: honest. It's all on the table.![]()
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If our experiment succeeds, not only will everyone leave with more to think about, but they'll also feel better equipped to start necessary dialogues — on campus, at home, and beyond.![]()
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And if our experiment fails? Simple: We'll learn. Which is exactly what college is for.
Valentine’s Day can be tough when you’ve lost the love of your life, as I did almost 5 years ago.![]()
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Her name was Lily, aka Lilybean, Ms. Lil, and Lilikoi (Hawaiian passion fruit). On this day, I press a memento of Lil’s against my chest because that’s I keep my shattered heart intact.![]()
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The radiant graphic that you see here was created by @mbrown9401, a truly talented artist whom I met in #Kalamazoo, Michigan. Thank you for this gift, Maddy. You’ve captured my grief and gratitude in perfect proportion.![]()
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To those who are mourning today, take strength: I have it on good authority that our beloveds, human and not, don’t actually go away when they die. They reappear in various forms to give us comfort and company. ![]()
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We must now relate to our beloveds differently, but relate we still can. How? By keeping our eyes peeled, our ears pricked, and the rest of our senses alert. ![]()
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The love of your life will show up again, just not in the way you’re used to. ❤️🩹
Ok, ok, I realize that the holidays are over. 😫 But that shouldn’t stop us from cherishing our latest, loveliest memories. To wit:![]()
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1. With my little sis @fboorman enjoying a Hawai’i sunrise.![]()
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2. With my big sis @ishmanji celebrating her birthday.![]()
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3. With my tireless, peerless mama, who makes me crazy… about her, of course. 😉![]()
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Each of you: Here’s to a 2023 that bursts with memories to be treasured. 😘
Santa’s real, I swear it. ![]()
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This pic features my high school theater teacher, @jajmartens, in all his bushy-bearded glory. I reconnected with him this past year, when my childhood school district invited me to lead a day-long @moral_courage workshop. ![]()
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Mr. Martens ("Sir," as I affectionately referred to him at school) is retired from the district, yet he made a special trip to meet with me — and he brought an unexpected gift. Sir presented me with a framed compilation of posters for all the high school productions that he cast me in. With that one gesture, he magically captured some of my favorite memories evah. ![]()
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But there's to this Santa look-alike than his presents. There's also his *presence*: As a teenager, I badly needed a positive male role-model. Sir stepped up, counseling me with empathy, respect, and dignity. He — an evangelical Christian — never preached. His deeds did the talking. That's called integrity.![]()
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So is it any surprise that a man who brings such joy to kids should now play Santa in various @HallmarkChannel movies? (Swipe left to see him on set with the young stars of "Inventing the Christmas Prince," which will air throughout the Hallmark Christmas season.) At some point, I'm sure I'll have to get in touch with his agent if I want to speak directly with him. 😉![]()
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On this Christmas Eve, I couldn't be more grateful to know the real Santa. Make that, Sir Santa. ![]()
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#santa ![]()
#christmaseve![]()
#teachersmatter ![]()
#studentsuccess
Hello my priends! You read that right. Today, you’re not my friends but my “priends,” in the spirit of the tiara-rockin’, masala-marinated TikTok comedian, @pinkypatelofficial.![]()
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My sister, @ishmanji, and two of our priends went to see Ms. Pinky’s stand-up show in Vancouver. I, for one, had a fabulous time — until the show began. More about that in a moment.![]()
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Let me say off the top that I’ll always 💚 Pinky. She’s a self-made talent who’s blazing trails for all kinds of people, young and old(er). Nobody coronated her the queen of chai-swillers like me. She came by that distinction in the most Indian-American of ways: through sheer hard work. ![]()
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BUT…![]()
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During her show, I felt overwhelmed by lazy artistry. Almost from the get-ho, Pinky’s F-bombs flew fast and furious. Why?? She sooo doesn’t curse like a sailor in her videos and it’s those very videos that make her the sassy, sardonic success that she is! ![]()
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Am I a prude? Maybe. And, hey, I grant that I didn’t get a lot of the voluminous, raunchy references to het sex, being a bit rusty in that department.![]()
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But with or without a “forever peepee” (Pinky’s nickname for husbands), I think that potty-mouthing your way through a performance is reaching for the cheapest and lowest-hanging fruit, which in itself is a commentary on how intelligent (or not) you believe your audience is. ![]()
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After the show, I profusely apologized to the priends who came with me. Both of them are leaders in education and I felt ashamed about having invited them.![]()
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“Don’t worry about it,” one of them told me with a smile. “We’ve been high school principals. We’ve heard it all before.”![]()
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Which kind of reinforces my point about how an artist treats their audience. Are we still in high school?![]()
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Enough kvetching on my part. Pinky, thank you for giving my priends and me an occasion to gather while donning sparkly crowns. You remain the jewel in mine.
A+ to any university or college that makes learning fun — especially when the fun involves putting bigshots in the hot seat! ![]()
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Check out this imaginative event being held by the @leehonorscollege at Western Michigan University.![]()
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The Dean, Dr. Irma Lopez, will be competing with the Assistant Dean, Anthony Helms, to answer trivia about my book, “Don’t Label Me: How to Do Diversity Without Inflaming the Culture Wars.” ![]()
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Don’t tell anybody, but I plan to eavesdrop and possibly stump the players. Cuz I’m a sneaky geek (or a geeky sneak) that way. 🤫 ![]()
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Why would @westernmichu do something like this? Because they’re at the forefront of reconciling social justice and free speech. Since my book discusses how to unify people in divided times, they’re using it, among other texts, to teach students that a suffocating either/or mindset really can be transcended by a liberating both/and paradigm.![]()
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But rather than merely lecture students about this paradigm shift, WMU is cleverly gamifying the lesson… In doing so, it’s helping to change the game that bewilders so many campuses: eliciting honest yet respectful engagement in emotional yet nuanced issues. ![]()
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Game on, good people! 👏🏽![]()
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@wetalkwmu ![]()
@wmuwsa ![]()
@jentober
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