Community Contributions of these Resilient Survivors are ‘Secret No More’

COVER STORY: In fact, “Secret No More” is the subtitle of this new 100 Questions and Answers book from the Michigan State University School of Journalism Bias Busters project. “Hmong Americans have traveled a long way in a very short time,” says the Preface to this newest volume in this award-winning series of books used nationwide to help reduce bigotry through education—in both text and video formats, in this case. “Very few Hmong people lived in the United States until its 1975 pullout from Vietnam. That put Hmong people, recruited by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to fight in a secret war against the Viet Cong, in grave danger.”

This newest Bias Busters book will ship soon from Amazon, so please read (and share with friends via social media) this week’s cover story and let’s collectively spread awareness of this remarkable yet little-known minority among us.

From our creative community—

Rodney Curtis

Who can resist a lovely summer wedding?

AUTHOR RODNEY CURTIS also is award-winning photographer Rodney Curtis. He recently photographed a summer wedding and shares this sure-to-make-you-smile, photo-filled column with us.

Holidays & Festivals

Eid al-Adha

AROUND THE WORLD, Muslim families are starting this week celebrating the completion of this year’s Hajj by pilgrims of every race and ethnicity—a global gathering each year that highlights the hope of peace that is at the core of Islam.

For an inspiring personal story about this remarkable journey made by millions of Muslims over the centuries, read Victor Begg’s memoir, Our Muslim Neighbors, which is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle versions.

It’s officially ‘Juneteenth National Independence Day’

STEPHANIE FENTON WRITES ABOUT OUR NEWEST FEDERAL HOLIDAY—”Gospel concerts, street fairs, ceremonies, and prayer services take place across the nation today, in celebration of the oldest known commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States: Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day.” Read her entire column, which also includes fascinating links to additional resources like holiday recipes.

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

And Other Important News—

Catholic Bishops ‘apologize’

OUR OWN COMMUNITY OF WRITERS has been reporting on the challenges and the cultural riches of Native American life for years. Then—over the past couple of years—North American church and government officials have begun public inquiries into the historic horrors of so-called “Indian Boarding Schools.” This was a long campaign to force indigenous children to live in schools where they were brutally made to abandon their Native culture. (The photo above comes from such a school in the Pacific Northwest that forced young people from the Tulalip tribes to adopt “American ways.”)

THIS WEEK, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted 181-to-2 to publish a lengthy statement apologizing for the church’s complicity in that era. The Washington Post published an overview of the bishops’ decision.

Then, you can read the USCCB’s 56-page document via the bishops’ own website.

Click on this movie poster to read film critic Ed McNulty’s review of the new feature, Ezra.

Click on this image to learn more about the June 2024 issue of Visual Parables Journal, packed with film reviews and discussion questions about movies, including The Old Oak, Nowhere Special, Back to Black, the Ascent and more.

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 film reviews and discussion guides. This resource is used nationwide by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

EZRA—Ed writes, “There are plenty of funny moments, but even more of touching ones in this sensitive film.”
KIDNAPPED: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara—”Italian director Marco Bellocchio shows us the danger of anti-Semitism in Europe long before Hitler came to power.”
IF—”Writer/director John Krasinski’s fantasy offers a great opportunity for a family with children to enjoy an outing at the local theater.”
NOWHERE SPECIAL—“Writer/director Uberto Pasolini gives us one of the most poignant father-son films you are likely to see this year—or any year.”
KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES—”The Planet of the Apes franchise has come a long way since the 1968 film in which human actors had to use head masks and hairy body suits to portray the apes.”
UNSUNG HERO—Ed recommends this “song-filled” film, which is based on the life of contemporary Christian singer, author and actress Rebecca St. James.
THE OLD OAK—”Films like Ken Loach’s The Old Oak are why I am still so passionate about well-crafted films, especially those dealing with the down and out, those oppressed by the powerful.“
SUZUME—”Director/writer Makoto Shinkai and his team of animators provide a mythological interpretation for the hundreds of earthquake tremors Japan suffers each year.”