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A Reporter Returns to Arkansas to Discuss a Mosque Vandalism and Forgiveness A Reporter Returns to Arkansas to Discuss a Mosque Vandalism and Forgiveness
(30 days later)
The Reader Center is a newsroom initiative that is helping The Times build deeper ties with our audience. Update: Read about our event in Fort Smith, Ark. on Dec.11.
In late August, the Times ran a story I wrote about the vandalism of a mosque by three young men in western Arkansas. One of the vandals, Abraham Davis, wrote a letter to the mosque from jail apologizing for what he had done:In late August, the Times ran a story I wrote about the vandalism of a mosque by three young men in western Arkansas. One of the vandals, Abraham Davis, wrote a letter to the mosque from jail apologizing for what he had done:
“I hurt y’all and I am haunted by it. And even after all this you still forgave me. You are much better people than I.”“I hurt y’all and I am haunted by it. And even after all this you still forgave me. You are much better people than I.”
The mosque then took up Abraham’s case, advocating forgiveness and actively opposing steep charges against him.The mosque then took up Abraham’s case, advocating forgiveness and actively opposing steep charges against him.
The story struck a deep chord with readers, who wrote to say that it had helped them feel hopeful about their fellow Americans at a time when everybody seems so divided. In an era of national addiction to outrage, it helped remind them that Americans are also moderate, generous, remorseful, and capable of forgiveness and redemption.The story struck a deep chord with readers, who wrote to say that it had helped them feel hopeful about their fellow Americans at a time when everybody seems so divided. In an era of national addiction to outrage, it helped remind them that Americans are also moderate, generous, remorseful, and capable of forgiveness and redemption.
Responses flooded in – to the mosque, to me, to Abraham and his family. One reader — a mother from Florida — even paid part of his court fines.Responses flooded in – to the mosque, to me, to Abraham and his family. One reader — a mother from Florida — even paid part of his court fines.
I am coming back to Fort Smith on Dec.11 to talk about my article, the response to it, and what I learned during my five months of reporting in Fort Smith. The conversation will include members of the mosque, members of Abraham’s family, and an update on their lives since the article. Daniel Maher, an associate professor of anthropology and sociology at the university, will moderate.I am coming back to Fort Smith on Dec.11 to talk about my article, the response to it, and what I learned during my five months of reporting in Fort Smith. The conversation will include members of the mosque, members of Abraham’s family, and an update on their lives since the article. Daniel Maher, an associate professor of anthropology and sociology at the university, will moderate.
I hope to have a lively question and answer session – about being Muslim in America, about poverty and class, about the power of forgiveness, about Fort Smith.I hope to have a lively question and answer session – about being Muslim in America, about poverty and class, about the power of forgiveness, about Fort Smith.
You can submit questions in advance in the comments of this article. I hope those in attendance will learn a lot. I plan to learn a great deal, too.You can submit questions in advance in the comments of this article. I hope those in attendance will learn a lot. I plan to learn a great deal, too.
RSVP here.RSVP here.
Date: Dec. 11, 2017Date: Dec. 11, 2017
Location: Windgate Theater auditorium at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith.Location: Windgate Theater auditorium at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith.
Time: 6:30 p.m.Time: 6:30 p.m.
Times correspondents, Audra Burch and Farah Stockman, will be returning to Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 6 and Indianapolis on Dec. 7. Read about our event in Athens, Ohio. Visit our public events calendar to see our full list of events.Times correspondents, Audra Burch and Farah Stockman, will be returning to Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 6 and Indianapolis on Dec. 7. Read about our event in Athens, Ohio. Visit our public events calendar to see our full list of events.