June 7, 2010 issue
Leverage chances to learn, Bethel grads told
By Melanie Zuercher Bethel CollegePage:
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NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Aziza Hasan told graduates how to “leverage learning opportunities” at Bethel College’s 117th commencement May 23 at Thresher Stadium.
Bethel College commencement speaker Aziza Hasan chats with John Sheriff, interim president, during the procession from the campus Green to Thresher stadium. Between them is Sharon Nance, mother-in-law of graduating senior Priscilla Tang, who offered the invocation prayer. — Photo by Vada Snider/Bethel College
Hasan, of Los Angeles, is a 1999 graduate of Halstead High School and 2003 graduate of Bethel College. She is southern California director of government relations for the Muslim Public Affairs Council and co-director of NewGround, a project that seeks to foster communication, respect and understanding among Jews and Muslims.
To leverage learning opportunties, Hasan said, start by being specific.
“Say what you mean and pay attention to language,” she said.
Second, “LOL” — not “laugh out loud” but listen, observe and learn.
“Learn from your opposition,” Hasan said. “A well-thought-out question is half the answer.”
Third, she said, “Get rid of the word ‘but’ [in] your vocabulary. Listen and paraphrase. Instead of ‘but’ use ‘Yes, and …’ ”
Her fourth way to leverage learning opportunities was “Commit to honest conversation.”
“At NewGround, we spend months getting young Muslims and Jews to be friends and be excited about talking to each other,“ she said, “and then just as much time getting them to be honest.”
Speaking truth to power is everyone’s responsibility. “One of my favorite stories in the Quran,” she said, “is when Moses had to prepare to talk to the greatest of all tyrants, Pharaoh, and God told him: ‘Speak softly so he will hear you.’ ”
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