Dr . M . Saud Anwar knows that although it is difficult today to bring attention to his message of peace and understanding , it is important to try to open a dialogue .

He did just that in front of an audience of about 50 people at the first of a twopart lecture series co-sponsored by the South Windsor Public Library and the South Windsor Human Relations Commission . This portion of the series , called “ Opening Doors to Understanding , ” was held at the library on Jan . 9 .

Anwar – founder and co-chairman of the American Muslim Peace Initiative , a network of organizations and individuals promoting peace at the local , national and international levels – delivered a talk entitled , “ All You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask about Islam , American Muslims and Terrorism . ”

“ There are 114 times in the Koran that God is said to be the most compassionate and merciful , ” Anwar said at the beginning of the first part of his lecture , called “ Understanding Islam . ”

He said that , especially with regards to the role of women in society , there exist many contrasts between what is written in the Koran and what is practiced , or thought , in some places . Anwar said that the word “ Hijab” appears in the Koran several times , but that in no place does it call for the covering of the woman’s head while in public – an action which was mandated , for example , by the Taliban government in Afghanistan .

Anwar showed a passage of the Koran , which said , “ They [ women ] shall not reveal any part of their bodies except that which is necessary , ” and said that this vague statement has been stretched by some and therefore become complicated . “ The problem with the Taliban was that they were legislating and defending a definition of faith , but youcannot legislate morality , ” Anwar said .

The challenge to presenting a moderate message , a mission of which Anwar is one voice among many , is complicated by what he calls a “ culture of images . ” “ Television creates a culture of sight , rather than of voice . Images do not of themselves grant understanding . It is important to go back to basics in order to try to fix the problems that we face , ” he said . One solution Anwar proposed was a strengthening of moderate voices within religion , to take power away from extremists . Anwar’s message was similar to a call made by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair , speaking at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in August 2006 , when he said , “ We have to empower moderate , mainstream Islam to defeat reactionary Islam . ”

“ What is needed is for us to have discussions like this one more frequently , ” Anwar said . “ I think we need to do this at the local level in our towns with people who understand that we are all in this together . ” He said that this discussion should begin in the United States of America . “ We have the mindset and the intellectual capacity in this country , if we put our hearts and minds into this . ”

South Windsor Human Relations Commission Chairman Janice Favreau said that Anwar’s lecture is part of the mission of her commission . “ I’m hoping that his talk will dispel myths and misconceptions and open up a circle of communication … Hopefully this is the beginning of a real citizen’s circle , where people can have discussions , and disagreements , but where everyone can realize that we are all people , ” she said .

The second part in the “ Opening Doors to Understanding” lecture series will take place on Jan . 24 , at 12 : 15 p . m . at the Friends Room of the South Windsor Public Library . Mateen and Nilofer Haider , Pakistan emigrants to the United States and 20-year residents of South Windsor , will review Greg Mortenson’s memoir , “ Three Cups of Tea : One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations , One School at a Time . ”