Last week, I was very excited to be part of Stanford (Re)United, a response to the recent acts of religious intolerance directed at the Muslim community of Orange County, California. Organized by Stanford F.A.I.T.H (Faiths Acting In Togetherness and Hope), Stanford (Re)United invited students to stand up against hate and ignorance and honor diversity.
Stanford United was a movement that started in January 2010, when the Westboro Baptist Church made a stop on Stanford campus. It was inspiring to see our community rally together and celebrate our differences in the face of Westboro’s inflammatory message. This year, we (re)united, not only to stand in solidarity with our Muslim friends after the unfortunate events in Orange County, but to speak out against any and all religious prejudice. Passersby and members of the Stanford community were encouraged to sign a banner reminding us of the importance of acceptance and the purpose of Stanford United. I was excited to be part of the action for a few hours; it was great to talk with my fellow students about Stanford’s religious diversity and to see the banner fill up with signatures! F.A.I.T.H is planning to display the banner in a central location on campus, to raise awareness and continue to spread the message of tolerance.
