Achieving the Vision

March 17, 2011 by Padma Kuppa

Continued from Page 1

Inherent in the concept of pluralism is the ability to accept things that we may not understand—for example, for a Hindu like me, a proselytizing religion's need to propagate the faith, since I see faith and spirituality as a personal journey. While Professor Ahmed's appreciation for the founders' pluralist vision appeals to me, the seesaw teeters again: what exactly is a "good American" and what is the "American identity" that to be embraced? Are assimilation and acculturation indicators of whether someone is a good American? Not every issue fits into a neat little box; it is in peeling back the layers of complexity and wrestling with the choices placed before us, while respecting those made by others, that we can achieve pluralism.

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3/17/2011 4:00:00 AM

Seeking Shanti

Assimilation

Interfaith Dialogue

Pluralism

Hinduism

Islam

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About Padma Kuppa

Padma Kuppa is a writer, IT professional, community activist, wife, and mother working to build a more pluralistic society within a Hindu and interfaith framework. You can also read her blog A Balancing Act, at padmakuppa.blogspot.com. The views represented in this column are not a reflection of the views of any organization of which she is a part.

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