Brennen Brothers, news editor

On Thursday, Feb. 27, Auggies had the pleasure of attending “Revolutionary Love Is the Call of Our Times,” the third annual Interfaith Symposium with speaker Valarie Kaur, a civil rights activist who is currently on tour under the same name as the keynote. Kaur was accompanied by Afghan American rabab player Qais Essar. He played the rabab throughout the entire keynote, occasionally getting some time to perform by himself. Kaur has also published a few books, which include “See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love” and “Sage Warrior: Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory.”

Walking in, audience members each received a “compass” that had three parts to it: Others, Opponents and Ourselves. It was designed like a flower, each section having four stages. You are to point the compass at someone you want to practice love with, whether it was someone you do not know, an opponent or yourself. 

The main point to Kaur’s keynote was oneness. She walks you through the compass, starting with closing your eyes and envisioning the life of a person you do not know and how you can grieve with them. The opponents area of the compass stood out to me; Kaur would say that we should envision a world where no one is left out of our circle of care, even our opponents. This part showcases the character of Kaur; she doesn’t see people as enemies, she sees them as opponents because the word enemy is fixed and holds a harsher feeling. An opponent is someone you are opposed to, someone you may disagree with. She wants you to see the wound of your opponent and wonder about them, honor your rage and listen to them.

Kaur had such a beautiful way of speaking, singing out phrases such as, “You are a part of me I do not yet know,” talking about the other part of the compass. “Darkness of the tomb or the womb,” discussing if the darkness you are experiencing is the end or simply the beginning. The mix of music and storytelling was also so beautiful to listen to.

In an interview with the Echo, Executive Director of the Interfaith Institute Najeeba Syeed said, “We received really positive responses from students, faculty and staff who loved her weaving of music and storytelling that spoke both to the struggles of our time and the ways to build coalitions and resilience together.”

Finally, Kaur walked us through a meditation. Closing our eyes to see a charred world. Next, we were brought to see a small plot of grass, where you plant a seed and then look up and see your friends and family also planting a seed. Looking further, you see many more people planting seeds. As we die, we’ll be a part of the roots.On Thursday, Feb. 27, Auggies had the pleasure of attending “Revolutionary Love Is the Call of Our Times,” the third annual Interfaith Symposium with speaker Valarie Kaur, a civil rights activist who is currently on tour under the same name as the keynote. Kaur was accompanied by Afghan American rabab player Qais Essar. He played the rabab throughout the entire keynote, occasionally getting some time to perform by himself. Kaur has also published a few books, which include “See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love” and “Sage Warrior: Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory.”

Walking in, audience members each received a “compass” that had three parts to it: Others, Opponents and Ourselves. It was designed like a flower, each section having four stages. You are to point the compass at someone you want to practice love with, whether it was someone you do not know, an opponent or yourself. 

The main point to Kaur’s keynote was oneness. She walks you through the compass, starting with closing your eyes and envisioning the life of a person you do not know and how you can grieve with them. The opponents area of the compass stood out to me; Kaur would say that we should envision a world where no one is left out of our circle of care, even our opponents. This part showcases the character of Kaur; she doesn’t see people as enemies, she sees them as opponents because the word enemy is fixed and holds a harsher feeling. An opponent is someone you are opposed to, someone you may disagree with. She wants you to see the wound of your opponent and wonder about them, honor your rage and listen to them.

Kaur had such a beautiful way of speaking, singing out phrases such as, “You are a part of me I do not yet know,” talking about the other part of the compass. “Darkness of the tomb or the womb,” discussing if the darkness you are experiencing is the end or simply the beginning. The mix of music and storytelling was also so beautiful to listen to.

In an interview with the Echo, Executive Director of the Interfaith Institute Najeeba Syeed said, “We received really positive responses from students, faculty and staff who loved her weaving of music and storytelling that spoke both to the struggles of our time and the ways to build coalitions and resilience together.”

Finally, Kaur walked us through a meditation. Closing our eyes to see a charred world. Next, we were brought to see a small plot of grass, where you plant a seed and then look up and see your friends and family also planting a seed. Looking further, you see many more people planting seeds. As we die, we’ll be a part of the roots. Restoring the world to make it a better place is what Kaur wanted us to see and that feeling of coming together is so powerful.