Photography Friday #2

Recently, I visited the Auburn's arboretum with a friend. The lighting was perfect for pictures, so we had to take advantage of the beautiful day. Armed with our cameras, we explored my favorite place on campus.

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Fun fact: It is very difficult to pick up a new habit. This is my attempt to blog: take two. I'll be successful this time, I'm sure (sarcasm).

I am currently enrolled at Auburn University as a freshman. As part of the Honors College, I am taking a seminar class called the Muslim-Christian Dialogue. The class consists of around ten highly intellectual students that enjoy discussing and debating aspects of the Muslim world and Muslim-Christian relations.

As part of our grade, we were asked to prepare a short presentation about a topic we found of interest. My friend, Parker, and I wanted to evaluate the controversy surrounding American Sniper,  directed by Clint Eastwood. We created a list of questions, then set about interviewing both friends and strangers that we found around campus. We were fascinated by the multitude of opinions found on the subject.

Here are the questions we asked.

• Have you seen American Sniper?
• If yes:
• How do you think it portrayed American Military?
• What did you think of the main character and author of the book?
• How do you think it portrayed Muslims?
• Have you ever met a Muslim?
• If no:
• This is Safa. What do you know about her faith?
• Do you have any questions for her?
• If yes:
• How closely have you known someone who is Muslim?
• How much do you think you know about the faith?
• Do you have any questions?
• If no:
• What do you know about the controversy surrounding the movie? (If something, explain. Expound on this.)
• If they don’t know about the controversy: It’s the story of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in American history.  people are divided on how the movie portrays the American military and the Muslims they were fighting, resulting in an opinion on Muslims in general.
• Critics to the movie argue that Chris Kyle’s personal views, which are often racist in nature, are made to reflect the view of the entire American military. The movie was called by Brandon Griggs of CNN to be a cultural phenomenon. How do you think this reflects American culture and society?
• What is your view about Muslim portrayal in American media and culture?
• Have you ever met a Muslim?
• If no:
• This is Safa. What do you know about her faith?
• Do you have any questions for her?
• If yes:
• How closely have you known someone who is Muslim?
• How much do you think you know about the faith?
• Do you have any questions about the Muslim faith?

• Have you seen American Sniper?
• If yes:
• How do you think it portrayain character and author of the book?
• How do you think it portrayed Muslims?
• Have you ever met a Muslim?
• If no:
• This is Safa. What do you know about her faith?
• Do you have any questions for her?
• If yes:
• How closely have you known someone who is Muslim?
• How much do you think you know about the faith?
• Do you have any questions?
• If no:
• What do you know about the controversy surrounding the movie? (If something, explain. Expound on this.)
• If they don’t know about the controversy: It’s the story of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in American history.  people are divided on how the movie portrays the American military and the Muslims they were fighting, resulting in an opinion on Muslims in general.
• Critics to the movie argue that Chris Kyle’s personal views, which are often racist in nature, are made to reflect the view of the entire American military. The movie was called by Brandon Griggs of CNN to be a cultural phenomenon. How do you think this reflects American culture and society?
• What is your view about Muslim portrayal in American media and culture?
• Have you ever met a Muslim?
• If no:
• This is Safa. What do you know about her faith?
• Do you have any questions for her?
• If yes:
• How closely have you known someone who is Muslim?
• How much do you think you know about the faith?
• Do you have any questions about the Muslim faith?