The UM-D Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) organizes the event each year to celebrate Ramadan and to bring together people of all religions across the area.

The Unity in Diversity Dinner is the largest interfaith youth-organized event in the state of Michigan.

This year, the theme of the dinner was “Fasting: Recalibrating the Balance.”

“We chose the theme of fasting because it extends across all religions,” said MSA President Majed Afana, addressing the crowd.

Hundreds of people packed into the Hubbard Theater to enjoy the night of inspiring speeches, free dinner and entertainment.

Underscoring the evening was an aim to bring people together.

“We hope that [we can create] a more diverse, peaceful and inclusive society,” continued Afana.

Keynote speaker Daisy Khan continued on this theme.

“[There is] an obligation to connect to and care for humanity at large, that it may become a year-long habit,” said Khan, praising the MSA for organizing the event.

Khan is the Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening an expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony and building bridges between Muslims and the general public.

“We remind people that not only can people live together in peace, when we do, we humans are capable of enormous things,” said Khan of the ASMA.

Khan described the ASMA as a community building organization.

“Oh yes, Mr. Giuliani, community building is a very good thing,” said Khan, referencing Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s address to the Republican National Convention, in which he poked fun at Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama’s past as a community organizer.

The crowd erupted in applause.

“[After 9/11] mistrust was mounting on all sides,” continued Khan.

“We knew we had to create counter-momentum to the isolation and segregation…the tragedy of 9/11 was a turning point for all Muslims.”

Khan went on to describe America as possibly being the “most Islamic country in the world.”

She listed rights valued by Muslims, “how similar to what our Founding Fathers said in the Declaration of Independence.”

Following Khan’s speech, the crowd was treated to a free dinner of Middle Eastern food provided by the event sponsors.

After dinner, UM-D professor Aaron Ahuvia spoke to the audience on the importance of interfaith dialogue.

He cited what he believed to be the three main reasons many people abstain from participating in such events as the Unity in Diversity dinner.

“First, many people are afraid they’ll be attacked,” said Ahuvia.

“Second, how do I know that somebody isn’t going to say something objectionable?” he continued, noting that this reason pertained to many groups who may fail to sponsor an event because they don’t want their name on the program if something goes awry.

And if an organization fails to participate? “All that happens is our opinion might be missing.”

The final reason is that many people may be afraid of being criticized for “being too friendly…for fraternizing with the other folks.”

Ahuvia said that he is proud to be on such a list for being too friendly.

“Few things would be more helpful to the Muslim community.”

He again stressed the importance of an interfaith dialogue, saying “in order to influence another’s behavior, you need to understand how they see reality.”

After all of the speeches, the crowd was treated to entertainment from Baba Ali, a Muslim comedian made famous by his YouTube videos.

His act opened with one of his YouTube videos, commenting on the difficulties of flying as a Muslim.

“You know those random security searches? They’re not so random,” said Ali in the video.

The night ended with closing remarks from MSA Vice President, Abrar Founas.

“We wanted to promote unity and understanding amongst each other,” said Founas.

The Unity in Diversity dinner costs $20,000, but is completely free and open to the public. The MSA begins planning the event in May each year, collecting sponsors and speakers over the summer.
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