Wednesday, September 04, 2002

WILMINGTON, NC – National Public Radio commentator Bruce Feiler will lecture on “Jews, Christian and Muslims: Unity and Discord Among the Children of Abraham” at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 30, in UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium.

Feiler is the author of five critically acclaimed books and has traveled to more than 60 countries on five continents. A recipient of numerous awards for journalism, he is a regular contributor to NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Feiler’s presentation coincides with the Common Reading Program sponsored by the university’s Campus Activities and Involvement Center. The program recommends the use of Simon Wisenthal’s The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits on Forgiveness in classes and seminars. The Sunflower explores issues surrounding justice, forgiveness and faith.

“The Sunflower explores compassion, justice, and human responsibility,” said Shannon Hooker, campus activities coordinator. The UNCW Common Reading Program is designed to promote a greater sense of reading and discussion among faculty and students, she added.

Dr. Joyce Hollingsworth of the English Department is using The Sunflower in her freshmen composition classes as a complement to the textbook in her freshmen composition classes.

Hollingsworth said how the book uses forgiveness can be a parallel to the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Could a person who lost someone in the holocaust forgive an SS officer? Could a person who lost someone in the World Trade Center or Pentagon (attacks) forgive those involved with terrorism?” asked Hollingsworth.

Tickets for Feiler’s lecture are $6 for the public and free for students, faculty, and staff. They are on sale at Kenan Auditorium box office.