Back to School buzz spreads nationwide: Let’s end bullying

TAKE A LABOR DAY QUIZ …

• HAPPY LABOR DAY! But, how much do you know about the connection between faith and work? Test yourself with David Briggs’ 10-question quiz.

COVER STORY: A COMPASSIONATE BACK-TO-SCHOOL?

• CATCH THE BUZZ—We report on early headlines covering the launch of Bullying Is No Laughing Matter. And, we explain how you can become a part of this wave of media calling for a truly compassionate Back-to-School season.
• PARENTS? TEACHERS? Show our new comics section to your kids. Week by week, we will display comics from this new blockbuster book—along with questions that can start healthy conversations.
• FIRST THREE DISCUSSION GUIDES—In that new comic section, we’ve already provided three quick discussion guides to Broom Hilda, and Blondie and Beetle Bailey, too.
• WHY DOES THIS MATTER SO MUCH? Because we love our kids! Our popular columnist Rodney Curtis sends us a funny and colorful collection of lessons learned as his own daughters head back to school. (You’ll want to share this with friends!)
• CELEBRATE WITH THESE STUDENTS—We’re so proud of students at the Michigan State University School of Journalism! These students have produced a series of important books promoting cross-cultural understanding. Now, the MSU School of Journalism is saving a very valuable High School Journalism Program from extinction. Here’s the Detroit Free Press story reporting that news. (Bravo, MSU J-school!)

FINALLY! ROMERO CAN BE NAMED A SAINT

• INTERFAITH PEACEMAKERS—Our widely read Interfaith Peacemakers series, created by international peace trainer Daniel Buttry, responds to the news that Pope Francis has lifted the ban keeping Oscar Romero from being considered for canonization.
• MEET ROMERO—Author and peace activist Daniel Buttry profiles the heroic priest.
• HE WAS NOT ALONE—We also remember the life of Rutillo Grande.
• AND THE MOTHERS—Many Latin American women have risked their lives as well.

OUR VALUES: IS IT EASY ‘DOING GOOD’?

OUR VALUES, an exploration of American values created by the University of Michigan’s Dr. Wayne Baker, welcomes back guest columnist Gayle Campbell this week. She takes a timely look at the many challenges of actually doing good in the world.

• PART 1—Is the ALS IceBucket challenge all its cracked up to be? (While you ponder the deeper questions, we’ve got three videos you’ve got to see, ranging from Kermit the Frog to one of the most outrageous dumps we’ve seen.)
• PART 2—Not all donations are created equal.
• PART 3—What 10 percent could do.
• PART 4—Why do the poor give more than the rich?
• PART 5—You’ll laugh! And, yes, humor can be a powerful inspiration for compassionate acts.

HOLIDAYS AND HIGH SPIRITS

• ALL THE HOLIDAYS—Check out our master calendar, which you can easily remember as: www.InterfaithHolidays.com
• THE ELEPHANT GOD—Hindus love the colorful festival of Ganesh, which features the famous elephant-shaped deity. At our recent North American Interfaith Network conference, Indian visitors to a statue-filled Polish-Catholic church pointed out that colorful sacred statues are not unique to Hinduism. Read Stephanie Fenton’s column and see what you think.
• A FESTIVAL OF FORGIVENESS—Stephanie Fenton also reports on Parushan Parva, an inspiring Jain festival that focuses on forgiveness.
• HIGH SPIRITS FOR THE MOTOR CITY—Godsigns columnist shares several fascinating stories about the quirky musical genius Allee Willis, including a personalized video about Allee’s love for the Motor City.

FAITH AND FILM

• ENJOY ALL THE REVIEWS—Here’s the Visual Parables home page, packed with links to faith-and-film author Ed McNulty’s coverage of the spiritual side of cinema.
• ‘THE GIVER’—This week, Ed says: Don’t miss The Giver! (4.5 out of 5 stars)
• ‘LAND HO’—A great buddy film set in Iceland. (4 stars)
• ‘MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT’—Woody Allen jumps back to the 1920s. (4 stars)
• ‘WHAT IF’—A love story for real adults set in Toronto. (3 stars)
• ‘MOOD INDIGO’—Michael Gondry’s latest is more bizarre than entertaining. (3 stars)
• REMEMBERING ROBIN WILLIAMS—You might have missed his fine performance in 1999 in Jakob the Liar.

FOOD AND MORE

• GOT TOMATOES? Feed The Spirit columnist Bobbie Lewis writes about creative ways to use those bumper crops of tomatoes.
• HIS LENS / MY PEN—Finally, this week, Debra Darvick gives us another thoughtful photo that you’ll want to enlarge (with just a click) and think about.

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