The Abd el-Kader Education Project

Background: History does repeat itself. The Abdelkader Education Project (AEP), stimulated by the publication of Commander of the Faithful in 2008, is taking the baton from Col. Charles Henry Churchill who first recognized the importance of capturing the greatness of the emir’s life and personality. Churchill’s biography La Vie d’Abd el Kader, published in 1869, was intended to rescue Abdelkader’s life story from becoming “alms to oblivion.”

Examples of figures like Emir Abdelkader will help us meet the challenges of living in a multicultural world.

More information can be found at www.abdelkaderproject.org.

Year Three: The Mustard Seed Grows…Iowa and Beyond

Iowa Center for the Book supports Abdelkader Essay Contest to help increase Iowans’ understanding of the Middle East and Muslims through reading. “We have a long-term commitment to encouraging Iowa students to read reflectively through our Letters about Literature reading/writing program,” noted Coordinator Robin Martin. “Introducing the Abdelkader Essay Contest and John Kiser’s book Commander of the Faithful to a wider student audience fits nicely with our mission.”

2011-12 Abdelkader Essay Contest for Iowa high schools…Principal Financial Group and individual donors support the essay contest again for juniors and seniors with focus on culture, civility and leadership. Students from 22 schools across Iowa have entered the competition.

“Reading Commander of the Faithful and writing the essay for the Abdelkader Essay Contest provided a unique opportunity for students in my AP Human Geography class to connect multiple continents, centuries, and cultures with course curriculum as well as a relevant local connection to the origin of a town's name in Iowa.” Mark Rhodes, Social Studies Teacher, Decorah High School

NEW 2011-12 Abdelkader Essay Contest for college students in Iowa…Luther College, University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa and Wartburg College all have students participating.

3rd Annual AEP Forum “Transcending Boundaries…Pursuing Knowledge and Virtue” was held at Elkader Opera House on May 14th. Afternoon discussions led to an evening celebration to honor Emir Abdelkader and students touched by his life story. The Forum featured guest speakers from around the nation and entertainment.

Iowa 2010-11 Abdelkader Essay Contest with Principal Financial Group support.
In Their Own Words: Excerpts from Winning Essays…

1st Place - Cole Crawford, Dubuque - “Assalamu ‘Alaikum (Peace be Upon You)”
“Even though he lost battles – indeed, even lost the war for freedom from French occupation – Abd el-Kader won a greater and more timeless war. He fought a struggle to capture the world’s hearts and minds, and emerged decisively victorious.”

2nd Place - Madi Johansen, Decorah - “Abd el-Kader: True Jihad”
“The Emir’s actions throughout his life showed the true religion of Islam; following the dictates of his faith made him a hero… Abdelkader’s life embodied the words of the Qur’an 5:7, “Let not your hatred of other men turn you away from Justice. Be just…that is closer to piety.”

3rd Place - Ben Bernatz, Decorah - “From Algeria to Iowa”
“I began to view his application of Islamic law in Algeria as a vehicle for establishing order and justice in his country. Abd el-Kader’s tolerance, understanding, patience, wisdom, and dedication to living a godly life are all attributes that I can emulate in my own life.”

Elkader - Bob Spielbauer - “Abd el-Kader: A Gift from the Desert”
“Abd el-Kader had the character of a leader and the morals of a saint. The strong moral guidance of his parents… taught him to be culturally tolerant very early in life. His character, especially strong humanitarian morals, has had the most effect on my life. Reading about his life has helped me come to see his people in a whole new light.”

Elkader - Joe McGreal - “Abd el-Kader and Me”
“I realized that Muslims and Christians aren’t so different. The foremost similarity between the two is that they both emphasize carrying out the will of God…which requires trust.”

Washington DC Trip Awarded by Algerian Embassy for Elkader Abdelkader Essay Contest students Joe McGreal and Bob Spielbauer.

Abdelkader Essay to Iowa State Fair when 4-H member Bob Spielbauer received honors in Personal Development for his essay “Abdelkader: A Gift from the Desert” at the Clayton County Fair.

Two-Day Teacher Workshops sponsored by Humanities Iowa: Barbara Petzen, Education Director for Middle East Policy Council TeachMideast Program in Washington, DC, presented "Tools for Teaching about the Middle East and Islam." Workshops in Des Moines, Elkader, Sioux City and Iowa City were enthusiastically received by educators. Contact bpetzen@mepc.org.

Iowa Talented & Gifted (ITAG) Conference educators learned about AEP: Barbara Petzen presented “Glocalists at Work: Opening Windows from Iowa to the Muslim World” showcasing unexpected connections between students’ lives and environment to those of Muslim societies around the world. Abdelkader was featured via Google Earth and other curriculum for classroom use.

Beyond Iowa

Georgetown University, Washington DC: Commander of the Faithful by John Kiser was adopted as main required reading by Ahmed Achrati for his 2011 high school summer course at Georgetown Arab Language and Culture Institute. Kiser addressed the class and essay winner Ben Bernatz of Iowa joined via Skype.

“Embodying Abraham Lincoln’s precepts of “malice toward none…charity for all; firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right,” Abdelkader’s life as depicted in John W. Kiser’s book is a continuous striving “to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace” with all faiths and all nations.” Professor Ahmed Achrati, Academic Director for the School of Continuing Studies

Catholic Merrimack College in Massachusetts will introduce the 2011-2012 Abdelkader Essay Contest at high schools in the Boston area. Its Center for Jewish, Christian and Muslim Relations is committed to reconnecting with its Augustinian heritage in Annaba, formerly Hippo in Roman times.

John Kiser’s Commander of the Faithful inspired noted children’s author Elsa Marston to adapt the emir’s story as a book for middle school students, stressing the experience of colonization.

U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy “Global Education Resource Guide” now includes the Abdelkader Education Project.

International Islamic Institute of Thought (IIIT) in Washington DC funds scholarship awards for Abdelkader Essay Contest for American Muslims. Students will study the importance of just and ethical leadership through the example of an Arab leader who influenced America and the West. Essay competitions are modeled in part after the Iowa essay contest in collaboration with AEP partner organization Oneblue.org. Contact sarah@oneblue.org.

Kinza Academy & Press, a homeschooling and publishing company with headquarters in San Ramon, CA, is interested in publishing a version of Commander of the Faithful appropriate for 8-12 year olds. Kinza Academy & Press, with connections to Muslim schools around the world, plans to market the book worldwide. www.kinzaacademy.com

Urdu version of Commander of the Faithful was published in Pakistan by Al-Sharia with a forward from Mr. Zaid-ul Rashadi, former head of the National Religious Council that determines whether laws passed by the parliament are in conflict with Islamic law. The book will be introduced to madrasa students to reflect on the true meaning of jihad.

Humanities Iowa Magazine “Voices from the Prairie” interviews with John Kiser about misunderstandings of Islam http://www.uiowa.edu/~humiowa/pdf/VftPApril2011.pdf (page 6); Kathy Garms about Abd el-Kader Education Project www.uiowa.edu/~humiowa//garms.

“Men We Love: Many Ways to Peace” by Mary Liepold, Editor-in-Chief of PeaceXPeace.org features John Kiser as “Bridgebuilder, Storyteller for Understanding.” http://www.peacexpeace.org/2011/06/men-we-love-building-a-culture-of-peace/

In His Own Words...

“Don’t ask about a man’s genealogy, but about his character, his life and his deeds. Drink the water. If it is pure, so is the source.” ~ Emir Abdelkader

Dr. Sayyid Sayeed, AEP supporter, addresses Lutheran Assembly: ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson welcomed Dr.Sayyid Sayeed, National Director for Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances of ISNA, to address their church-wide assembly. http://blogs.elca.org/assemblynews/post/historic-greeting-from-the-islamic-society-of-north-america-18

National Church and Synagogue Library Association: John Kiser presented the keynote luncheon address at their annual conference in Washington DC.

The National Defense University’s AFPAK orientation group invited Kiser to brief government workers and military service personnel headed to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

John Wesley Seminary in Washington DC asked Kiser to speak with military chaplains about Commander of the Faithful and The Monks of Tibhirine as part of a film screening for Of Gods and Men.

University of Montreal’s faculty of Theology and Religion organized Montreal conference around Emir Abd el-Kader and the West: Lessons of an inter-civilizational dialogue. Kiser spoke about Abdelkader’s life as an expression of virtue and Christian behavior.

Honors Seminars in Indonesia and Nigeria with support from AEP partner organization Religions for Peace in NYC: Seminars are “team taught” by one Islamic and one Christian professor and focus on Kiser’s books Commander of the Faithful and The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love and Terror in Algeria. Both books intermingle history, religion and politics to celebrate positive, authentic expressions of Muslim and Christian faiths. Final papers will be written on the relevant lessons for their respective countries.

Film Of Gods and Men based on The Monks of Tibhirine

Cannes Film Festival award-winner Of Gods and Men brought to U.S. by Sony Classics was based on John Kiser’s book The Monks of Tibhirine www.themonksoftibhirine.net, which was translated into French in 2006.

Humanities Iowa screened Of Gods and Men in Dubuque. John Kiser was invited to comment on the film and what was omitted. Expressions of Algerians’ grief and shame, he felt, could have been presented, and the fact that the Superior’s life had been saved by a Muslim during the war of independence.

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly - pbs.org: “John W. Kiser: Christian-Muslim Love” explains important missing elements of otherwise excellent award-winning French film Of Gods and Men. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/by-topic/john-w-kiser-christian-muslim-love/8476/

A Different View…John Kiser’s new website www.johnwkiser.com was launched.

To learn more, please visit our website www.abdelkaderproject.org. Thank you for following our project.

We welcome all questions and comments. Contact kathygarms@yahoo.com.

Abdelkader Education Project Team...

Kathy Garms, Barbara Petzen, John Kiser, Sara Sayeed, John Boyer, Redouane Hamza

Peace X Peace

Who could imagine that a small rural town in America’s heartland – Elkader, Iowa – would be remembering a 19th century world-renowned Muslim hero? Yet, that has become reality through the bonding of a tiny dot on a map and a book. Thanks to John Kiser’s biography, Commander of the Faithful…The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader (1808-1883) www.TrueJihad.com, a much needed message of tolerance, respect and inter-faith understanding has been delivered directly to our doorstep.

In the mid-1840's, Abd el-Kader became known throughout much of the world for his cunning yet chivalrous resistance to a French "civilizing mission" in Algeria. He later became widely known for humanitarian actions that saved the lives of thousands of local Christians and foreign diplomats in Damascus. All of his actions, in war and peace, were done in conformity with what he understood were the obligations of his deep Islamic faith.

Since 2008, promoting the message of Abd el-Kader's life and his example of moral courage, generosity, learning, and open spirit has become a passion for me because it makes sense.

Being a product of Elkader where everyone knew each other, I was afforded a safe and nurturing childhood. We were free to roam the hills and explore in a community where people cared about each other. Life’s lessons were learned from family, friends, school, and trial and error with a keen distinction between right and wrong. Recent years, however, have brought the complexity of a global society, raising questions and showing us the need for more knowledge about unfamiliar cultures.

Elkader’s founders had no way of knowing in 1846, when they named a new settlement on the banks of the Turkey River in northeast Iowa after a widely admired Arab freedom fighter, that they would set the stage for international learning experiences.

In 1984, a sister city program began between Elkader (Iowa) and Mascara, Algeria—the emir’s birthplace. As sister cities president during 2007-2008, I was able to coordinate and facilitate exciting opportunities between our countries. Being invited to speak at the Council of Nation/Emir Abd el-Kader Foundation Human Rights Seminar in Algiers to honor the 200th anniversary of Abd el-Kader’s birth and visit Mascara were both an honor and a privilege. Elkader has in turn hosted ambassadors, participated in exchanges, and continues to build cultural bridges.

Getting to know our Algerian friends has expanded our global vision of “community.” It is necessary for all of us to reach outside our comfort zones to listen, share and respond appropriately.

Our friendship with Algeria was brought even closer when, soon after a devastating 2008 flood in Elkader, Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sent a personal message of condolence to Elkader citizens, along with a generous, no-strings-attached gift of $150,000 to assist with flood recovery efforts.

In October 2008, John Kiser chose to launch his book in Elkader. As he spoke about our long-forgotten namesake, it became apparent to me and others that Abd el-Kader’s heroic life had great relevance for today. Here was a hero who was admired by President Lincoln, Queen Victoria, Pope Pius IX as well as French generals, former prisoners, Free Masons and Christian leaders.

As interest grew locally in learning about Abd el-Kader and his struggle to live righteously ("true jihad"), far from the media's image, our outreach has embraced new partners within Iowa and beyond.

What began with a book launch has spun into an annual Abd el-Kader Essay Contest, first offered locally, now statewide. The contest offers scholarship money to Iowa high school juniors and seniors to evaluate the significance of Abd el-Kader’s life in light of current events in America and throughout the world. Our intent is to revive the emir's memory and example for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

By late 2009, the essay contest evolved into The Abd el-Kader Education Project which today encourages people to learn about a different face of Islam that has been embraced by Muslim leaders in the U.S. and in Pakistan. Collaborating with the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, madrasa teachers in Pakistan are now using the Urdu translation of the book to reflect upon and discuss Abd el-Kader’s life as a model of righteous living. Pakistani essay contests have been stimulated, in part, by Elkader’s example. The Pakistan experience is inspiring similar interest in other Muslim countries.

New dimensions have been added to the Abd el-Kader Education Project. Barbara Petzen, Education Director for the Washington DC based Middle East Policy Council, will present the relevance of Abd el-Kader’s life story to the global struggles of today and the lessons to be learned at schools and conferences throughout the U.S. One Blue, a social media company founded by Sarah Sayeed and John Boyer in Washington DC, has been promoting Abd el-Kader's story on their website as part of a broader goal to educate youth across cultural boundaries via the internet for global interaction.

It has become very clear to me that we must all move forward in seeking knowledge, wisdom, and friendships across the globe. Each of us has the capacity to ignite a spark to show the rest of the world how different cultures can live together in friendship, respect, understanding, and cooperation.

“'The form of worship may change but not the Master, for the God of the Christians is also ours. We are only different in the way we address ourselves to Him.”

Emir Abd el-Kader

Kathy Garms is a volunteer for The Abd el-Kader Education Project based in Elkader, Iowa, and believes each day is an opportunity to learn and give back to the world.

090110