Friday, Sep 14 2012 8:30AM to 11:00AM

Monthly BIG Ideas Exchange

Friday, Sept 14, 2012  

Location:    Goodmortgage.com, 3325 South Tryon Street, 28217 

                     http://www.goodmortgage.com/directions/

8:30 am to 9:00 am    Continental breakfast and networking

9:00 am to 11:00 am   Book Discussion

Free to Members and Guests of BIG: RSVP to terry@bigcouncil.com or register below.

Book: “The Last Moderate Muslim” by Osama Wazan

This promises to be one of the most provocative discussions we have ever held at our BIG Ideas Exchange!

"My journey started in Beirut, Lebanon just before reaching eleven years old. The civil war broke out. There, I was told that the world circumscribed for me, by religious differences and political affiliations, was normal. One thing was always clear: When peace treaties were signed no one reimbursed us for our destroyed homes, re-grew amputated body parts, or resurrected the dead children. The cycle of provocations and retributions continues. Today, I strive to do my part, promote joy and harmony while doing everything possible to reduce suffering, disability and pre-mature death.

After living inside the combat zone for fifteen harrowing years and twenty years in the USA, I resigned from a prestigious position in a software company. I leveraged my war stories for a better world and produced a body of work—a novel, The Last Moderate Muslim. It underscores the root causes of conflicts especially in the Middle East, the very region that divided the world. During the last revision, it occurred to me; my calling is to be a grassroots catalyst for peace, from the ground up, not politicians and/or militia and army leaders down.

I frame the stories in a Journey to Civility. Civility that is rendered through the life of the protagonist, Ziad.  He learned tolerance, acceptance, and respect of those unlike him to find solace in a war torn region.  

Osama Wazan 

As a reminder, you don’t have to read the book! The facilitator will share the main principles from the book with the group.

 The Author, Osama (Sam) Wazan, will facilitate this stimulating discussion. 

For an excerpt of this book, go to:

http://www.osamawazan.com/Osama_Wazan.html