Dr. Robert Kramer Presents “Islam and the West” at DCA Lecture Series

The second lecture in the St. Norbert College Distinguished Lecture Series at the Door Community Auditorium will take place on Saturday, Jan. 29. Dr. Robert Kramer, Associate Professor of History at St. Norbert College, will present his lecture entitled “Islam and the West: Anatomy of Fear and Mistrust.”

Dr. Kramer described his lecture as a deeper look into the tense relations between the United States and the Middle East. “Opposition to the building of an Islamic Center in lower Manhattan (the so-called ‘9-11 mosque’) and recent threats to publicly burn the Qur’an are examples of a wave of fear and intolerance sweeping across America,” said Kramer. “Is this ‘Islamophobia’ solely attributable to the terrorist attacks of 2001, or are there deeper roots?”

The presentation will discuss briefly the wide range of relations between the Christian West and Muslim Middle East over the last 14 centuries before highlighting some of the causes of misunderstanding and misrepresentation.

Dr. Kramer has taught Middle Eastern and African history at St. Norbert College since 1989. He is the author of Holy City on the Nile: Omdurman During the Mahdiyya, 1885-1898.

All lectures begin at 9 am and are free and open to the public. The Lecture Series is sponsored by Dahl Law Firm, LLC and Ross Estate Planning. AppleCreek Resort has provided lodging for Dr. Kramer. Ecology Sports Base Camp will provide refreshments for purchase.

The Door Community Auditorium is located at 3926 Highway 42 in Fish Creek. For more information call 920.868.2728 or visit http://www.dcauditorium.org.