OCR Text |
Show www.utahstatesman.com Logan, Utah Utah State University Everyone has secrets, author says Today is Friday, April 3, 2009 Breaking News BySETH BRACKEN staff writer Suicide is America's secret, said Frank Warren, author of the PostSecret blog and several books. Warren gave a speech to Utah State students and community members Wednesday night in the TSC. PostSecret began as a community art project when Warren hand delivered and anonymously gave away thousands of pre-paid postcards. These postcards invited people to mail Warren with their secrets, he said. But the postcards didn't stop coming when Warren stopped handing them out. "It didn't end there," Warren said. "The idea of PostSecret spread all around the world." The PostSecret blog and books are now used as a means of raising awareness and funds about suicide, the largest cause of preventable death in the United States, Warren said. Each week Warren receives about 1,000 postcards with a variety of secrets, ranging from infidelity to a history of child abuse, he said. He also receives post- Leaders at the G20 summit pledged more than $1 trillion for emergency loans. Page 2 Campus News POSTSECRET AUTHOR FRANK WARREN, above, said he receives about 1,000 postcards a week. These secrets contain a variety of messages from suicide and religion, like the one below, to humor. TYLER LARSON photos Professors and a visiting critic and poet discussed the work of Logan's May Swenson. Page 3 Features cards on a variety of materials and some have intricate artwork or beautiful poetry, Warren said. "There are two types of secrets: ones we keep from others and secrets that we hide from ourselves," Warren said. There is a liberating feeling that is gained when a secret is shared, Warren said, and there is a power in sharing secrets that can help people connect. "I want people to leave this presentation tonight knowing that all of us have a secret that could break our heart, if we only knew what it was," Warren said. In all the major news media outlets, crime and murder are often covered. However, suicide is rarely talked about, even though there are approximately twice as many people that commit suicide as the number of homicides in the United States, Warren said. The reality of the situation is not reflected in the media, he said. Warren said the best way to prevent suicide is by placing a barrier, removing dan[M See SECRET, page 3 Hot diggity dog American West Heritage Center is working to preserve the valley's heritage, offering activities for all. Pa ^m^m^M^ 5* 6 Sports USU splits doubleheader with UVU Tuesday. ... Almanac Today in History: In 1860, the first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St. Joseph, Mo., and Sacramento, Calif. Although ultimately short-lived and unprofitable, ' the Pony Express captiyated America's imagination and helped win federal aid for a more economical overland postal system. Weather High: 33° Low: 20° Skies: Snow, skies clearing Sunday. l?c hives and breaking news ^always ready for you at rw.utahstatesman.com .. V AT THE FIRST ANNUAL HOT DOG EATING CONTEST Wednesday at The Junction, participants were given five minutes to eat as many hot dogs as they could outside. Above, AJ Diaz and other contestants try to pack down the hot dogs. Brian Anderson, right, ate eight hot dogs within the five minute time limit to take first place. PATRICK ODEN photos BYUprof. tells history ofMuhammad By BECKA TURNER senior news writer The department of religious studies sponsored Daniel Peterson, BYU professor of Islamic studies, to speak Wednesday to the community, student body and faculty of Utah State as their last speaker of this year's series. Peterson is considered one of the most important experts on medieval Islamic studies in the world. The speech preceded a book signing in which nearly all of Utah State's copies of Peterson's biography, "Muhammad, Prophet of God," were sold. "Thank you for my only sales this year," Peterson said jokingly. Peterson gave a brief analysis of Muhammad's life and put it into context during his speech. "If you want to understand Islam, you must understand Muhammad," Peterson said. Peterson explained Muhammad's life from a young age. He said Muhammad was orphaned at the age of six and was raised in the drastically changing society of Mecca. "One thing that is clear about Muhammad is that he was a person of unusual character; he had integrity and charisma," Peterson said. Throughout his speech and analysis of Muhammad, Peterson said he would try to give an overview of the history of the people in Muhammad's region at the time of his birth and throughout his life. "Mecca was settled around a well and was the center for religious pilgrimage... There was an expectation at this time for a prophet. I think Muhammad appeared as this in a way," Peterson said. Peterson said Muhammad grew up in a society that didn't take proper care of its people. "He lived in a time when they seemed to be more concerned with wealth than with helping others," Peterson said. He said that is a reason why Islam is centered around taking care of the poor and needy. Peterson spent a lot of time discussing common misconceptions of Islam in a predominantly Christian society DANIEL PETERSON, BYU PROFESSOR OF ISLAMIC S T U D I E S , said Muhammad had integrity and charisma. During his speech Wednesday Peterson said those who want to understand Islam must understand Muhammad. CAMERON PETERSON photo and the similarities in beliefs of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. "Judaism and Christianity are very similar to Islam, more so than Buddhism and Hinduism are because of their belief that God does miracles in history and gives revelation to the prophet," Peterson said. He also said there was a misunderstanding about' the Islamic belief in God. "Allah is not the name of i God, but rather God with a capital 'G,' meaning the true God, the one God," Peterson said. Peterson's biography of Muhammad helps to convey many more Islamic beliefs and to portray Muhammad's life more in-depth than what he talked about Wednesday, he said. Copies of his work can be found in the USU Bookstore. -beck.turner@aggiemail.usu.edu |