2007 Visual Highlights

Your girl's traveled far and wide this year to spread the good word of ijtihad, critical thinking, and moral courage for people of all faiths -- and of no faith. Here are some of my favorite moments from 2007, as captured on camera.

Let me start in New York City. The Economist magazine brought its celebrated debate series from Britain to America for the first time. They asked me to defend the proposition that religion and politics should always be separate. Hell, yeah.

At the podium.

"What? You don't believe me?"

Listening to my clever debate partner, Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. I love the fact that in this debate, secularism is being championed by people of faith.

Adrian Wooldridge, Washington bureau chief of The Economist, attempts to demolish us.

Adrian's blistering attacks and British accent make for an almost  winning combo.

Behind Adrian is his debate partner, Father Richard Neuhaus, renowned Catholic theologian and informal advisor to George W. Bush.

Father Richard's tactic was to interpret the resolution literally so that his side could argue that my side is trying to censor all public dialogue about religion. Barry and I repeatedly replied that discussion of faith in the public square is more than fair. After all, isn't that what we're doing now? What we oppose, we emphasized, is only the interference of organized religion in public policy.

Father Richard and Adrian didn't buy it. They continued to hammer away. So off came my own gloves. In an effort to bust his orthodox reading of the motion before us, I turned to Father Richard. "You make the classic mistake of most theologians," I said. "You assume that your interpretation is the only one that counts."

The audience erupted into applause, Father Richard raised his eyebrows teasingly and I crossed myself in a gesture of good fun.

As our debate wraps up, we all share a laugh with The Economist editor-in-chief, John Micklethwaite (at right). The audience ultimately sided with Barry and me, but Father Richard and Adrian picked up plenty of votes along the way. No wonder Adrian declared, "We win!"

"One more point. Just one more. Pretty please?"

 

The year wasn't all debating - at least not in the traditional sense. Below are my favorite moments from 2007.

Speaking at a fundraiser for the refugees of Darfur, Sudan.

With Robbie, who started his high school's chapter of STAND: a student anti-genocide coalition. Love my bro's fro.

With Raquel Evita, my new assistant and Coordinator of Project Ijtihad.

Launching the DVD of "Faith Without Fear."

At every stop, fans make me smile. Here, I'm at an Ottawa bookstore.

Enjoying the conversation at a church after speaking about "pre-emptive peace."

Just before speaking at Google's HQ, the company dispatched Meng to greet me. His biz card gives him the title, "Jolly Good Fellow." Meng lives up to his billing.

As for my Google speech? Click here to watch the video.

For more video highlights, see my YouTube Channel. For other photos captured throught the year, visit my blog archives and the photo gallery on irshadmanji.com.