HIGHLIGHTING A MISUNDERSTOOD AMERICAN MINORITY

FACING THREATS TODAY—Chaldean Americans have survived thousands of years of wars and a host of other global threats—including the need to transplant their ancient community to the United States after threats from Iraq, ISIS and the sectarian violence across the Middle East. However, more recently, federal authorities in the U.S. swooped into their neighborhoods to question and detain hundreds of community members. U.S. officials threatened them with deportation back to the very dangerous region they had fled to save the lives of their families.

Most Americans are unaware of the distinctive culture of their Chaldean neighbors, who worship as Catholics and work side by side with their neighbors in a wide array of businesses and professions. Those Americans who know the term “Chaldean” associate the name with Sunday Bible study, because Chaldean Americans’ ancestors played crucial roles in Bible times.

Now, top journalism students at Michigan State University have published a fascinating guide to these remarkable people—painstakingly fact checked with a blue-ribbon panel of experts. Please, read this week’s cover story, consider ordering a copy of this inexpensive book via Amazon or Barnes & Noble—and share this valuable news with friends. This new book is valuable for students, educators, human services professionals and anyone involved in community leadership.

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HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS

LENT & HOLY WEEK

LENT for 2-billion-plus Christians: Stephanie Fenton’s column on Lent also has a recommendation of our popular book for the season, Our Lent: Things We Carry. 

PALM SUNDAY is coming for Western Christians on April 14—and a week later for Eastern Christians.

AND, TIMELY NEWS:

SCRATCH ‘N’ SNIFF
TECH REVOLUTION

OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING column today is from Dmitri Barvinok with news about a revolution in next-wave eBook reading devices with a technology media professionals have been trying to perfect for decades: Yes, it’s Scratch ‘n’ Sniff, soon to be available for eBooks. Dmitri even offers a blueberry-scented sample!

Want to see all the upcoming Holidays & Festivals? Visit www.InterfaithHolidays.com

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Meet a Muslim

‘OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS’—Lots of terrific authors are on the road this spring—and one of the most important is Victor Begg with his inspirational and sometimes downright funny stories from his new memoir, Our Muslim Neighbors. Of course, we know our readers live all over the world. However, please check out this list of a dozen upcoming public appearances by Victor. Regional news media already are covering Victor’s tour, such as this report in The Arab American News. If you’re near Michigan, the real highlight is Victor’s appearance at the Arab American National Museum on April 8. Come on along! Our motto for 12 years has been: “Good media builds healthier communities.”

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And, Meet …
‘The Black Knight’

AN APRIL 6 MUSEUM RECEPTION—Another heroic author you can meet in April is Col. Clifford Worthy, the author of the memoir The Black Knight. Again, we understand that our readers circle the globe—but, if you happen to be around Michigan later this week—you’ll definitely want to stop by the Museum of African American History in Detroit to meet Cliff and have him sign a copy of his inspiring book.

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Faith & Film

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns are:

• US—Jordan Peele’s eerie new blockbuster soared to No. 1 at the box-office on its opening weekend and Ed McNulty says that’s for good reason, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
• THE AMERICAN FARM debuts April 4 on TV—Coming to the History channel is this wonderful eight-part documentary about American farming families from Alaska to the East Coast. Ed has previewed the first episode and highly recommends it in his review.
• CAPTAIN MARVEL—Ed writes, “Brie Larson shows that she has the Right Stuff to suit up and rocket off into the universe to save it.” (4 stars)
• THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING—Ed writes, “The Arthurian legend is transferred to modern England in this tale of a group of children called on to thwart the plans of an evil enchantress. It is the kind of tale that appeals to every kid who has ever turned a towel or drape into a cape.” (4 out of 5 stars)
• GRETA—Looking for a spine-tingling suspense film that might remind you a bit of Fatal Attraction. Check out this new Neil Jordan movie. (4 stars)
• THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND—If you’ve got access to Netflix, then you can watch this terrific film today. Ed gives it 5 out of 5 stars and urges us not to miss it.

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