Rev. Jay Speights
Jay Speights is an interfaith minister, main United Nations representative for The New Seminary in New York and an On-Call Chaplain at The Washington Hospital Center in DC. Before becoming a minister, he worked on Capitol Hill, several trade associations in Washington, many local and national political campaigns, and operated a public affairs consulting firm. Jay just completed his first book entitled, "Harmonious Day", and believes that to achieve a more civil society, we must focus on our shared moral and community values, and not our differences. Jay was one of the recipients of The 2007 Humanitarian Award by The Punjabi Literary and Cultural Society. His email address is jaybspeights2@gmail.com and you can find out more about his work and purchase his book by visiting: http://jayspeights.blogspot.com/
Jay Speights is an interfaith minister, main United Nations representative for The New Seminary in New York and an On-Call Chaplain at The Washington Hospital Center in DC. Before becoming a minister, he worked on Capitol Hill, several trade associations in Washington, many local and national political campaigns, and operated a public affairs consulting firm. Jay just completed his first book entitled, "Harmonious Day", and believes that to achieve a more civil society, we must focus on our shared moral and community values, and not our differences. Jay was one of the recipients of The 2007 Humanitarian Award by The Punjabi Literary and Cultural Society. His email address is jaybspeights2@gmail.com and you can find out more about his work and purchase his book by visiting: http://jayspeights.blogspot.com/
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Jeremiah Wright, Jeremiah Wright, enough about him already
Column: All Paths
May 5 2008 11:02AM
Forget the Cable TV talking heads and all of their talk about Jeremiah Wright and his impact on the 2008 Election. When I talk about the issues with friends and many other people all I hear is gas, jobs and mortgages.
Guess what I saw yesterday!
Column: All Paths
Apr 27 2008 02:29PM
To see three butterflies in the same place at the same time, qualifies as a natural phenomenon in these environmentally distressed times.
Thank You Holy Father!
Column: All Paths
Apr 18 2008 07:03PM
Yesterday, Pope Benedict said, “In their attempt to discover commonalities, religious leaders have shied away from the responsibility to discuss our differences with calmness and clarity." This is what we needed to hear.
Holy Father please help us find Christ in each other
Column: All Paths
Apr 17 2008 05:04AM
We all have a divine light in us. Let's try to find it in each other.
We are all suffering Americans
Column: All Paths
Apr 16 2008 11:10AM
Blacks, Whites, conservatives, liberals, Christians, Jews, Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, Latinos, men and women, Red State and Blue State folks, etc, are all losing homes and jobs, dying in wars and have no health insurance. And we are all Americans.
Demand more from our media
Column: All Paths
Apr 8 2008 01:46AM
We don't need news based on what a certain demographic finds appealing. What we need are media that search for the truth and draw attention to the real problems of the day.
Have faith in America, but have a plan to make it work
Column: All Paths
Apr 1 2008 01:09AM
If there was a crisis of confidence in 1979 about how Americans viewed government and other institutions like religion, media, banks, schools, etc., then close to 30 years later there has to be a complete loss of faith.
Tibet needs U.S. action, not words
Column: All Paths
Mar 18 2008 01:24AM
Jimmy Carter asked the U.S. Olympic Team to boycott the 1980 Olympics after the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. President Bush should call for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to protest China's treatment of Tibet.
There is a great conductor inside you
Column: All Paths
Mar 4 2008 02:30AM
Today I am asking you to become the Leonard Bernstein of your life and approach each day as though you were conducting a beautiful, flawless piece of music.
The end of The Fear Industry?
Column: All Paths
Feb 19 2008 01:54AM
The politicians, interest groups, lobbyists, talking heads and radio personalities who use fear-based politics don't quite know what to do with Barack Obama. Yes, they are bewildered. Hey, could they be afraid?
Simple gratitude in complicated times
Column: All Paths
Feb 12 2008 12:48AM
We live in a complicated world with complicated problems. And we can be totally consumed with these problems and forget about the blessings in our lives, which usually come from another person.
The 'God Test' and the 2008 elections
Column: All Paths
Feb 5 2008 01:28AM
Abraham Lincoln said, 'My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.' This quote by our 16th president offers a very simple criterion for judging politicians.
Silence your inner critic
Column: All Paths
Jan 29 2008 02:41AM
Because of our inability to forgive ourselves, many of us live in a state of torture. We can truly never reach our highest potential until we release ourselves from the shackling bondage of non-forgiving.
Your mind does not have a mind of its own
Column: All Paths
Jan 22 2008 01:11AM
Remember, you control which voice you will listen to. It is totally up to you to let the internal divine cheerleader speak, or let the demonic voice of fear and doubt take over.
No Hillary or Obama without LBJ or MLK
Column: All Paths
Jan 15 2008 12:52AM
Here we are in 2008, with a woman and an African-American running for president. Could this have happened without a great president and a great agitator who believed that every person should be able to achieve their highest potential?
Obama is good for our national will and spirit
Column: All Paths
Jan 8 2008 01:53AM
Obama has repeatedly said, 'There's not a liberal America and a conservative America. There's the United States of America.'
Report from the Polite Patrol
Column: All Paths
Nov 13 2007 01:10AM
I am sad to say that I had a difficult week as a member of the Polite Patrol. I earnestly tried to extend sincere greetings and heartfelt smiles to people, but my good efforts lasted only about three days.
Let's join the polite patrol
Column: All Paths
Nov 6 2007 01:24AM
I want to live in a country where people say 'Good morning' with a heartfelt smile or 'Excuse me' when they bump into you or step on your shoe accidentally in an elevator or subway.
Finding God on the golf course
Column: All Paths
Oct 30 2007 01:45AM
God places all sorts of people in our lives and on our path. It is sad that we might overlook some of them because of our personal filters and judgments.
Hopeful signs of religious tolerance
Column: All Paths
Oct 23 2007 12:43AM
To see a non-Christian religious leader in the U.S. Capitol surrounded by our president and congressional leaders sends a strong message that some of our leaders are serious about addressing intolerance.
Stupidity and my comfortable train ride
Column: All Paths
Oct 16 2007 01:01AM
Sometimes being the target of stupid behavior and thinking has its rewards, and I want to thank those who chose not to sit next to this African-American man, giving me a great train ride to New York.
Bears, bulls, goats and snakes
Column: All Paths
Sep 4 2007 01:11AM
Let's not empower the difficult people in our lives anymore. We can stop the chain reaction of harm, hurt and pain they cause by simply understanding what they are and learning to handle them.
Step gently into your day
Column: All Paths
Aug 28 2007 12:46AM
How about taking a few minutes to be still and give thanks to the Creator for a day full of bright new possibilities, and for all the many blessings in your life?
To be happy, clean out your closets
Column: All Paths
Aug 21 2007 12:21AM
By ridding myself of all the grudges, fears, negative thoughts and bad wishes, I made room for new positive thoughts and experiences. I won the war for control of my thoughts, spirit and destiny.
A quiet interfaith giant
Column: All Paths
Aug 14 2007 12:28AM
There are thousands of interfaith ministers in this country and around the world. Where did they come from?
Harry Reid, interfaith hero
Column: All Paths
Jul 31 2007 02:07AM
For the first time in history, a Hindu chaplain delivered the opening prayer for a session of the U.S. Senate. It's a shame that the voices of intolerance and ignorance spoiled this special occasion.
Report from the language police
Column: All Paths
Jul 24 2007 02:03AM
First, let me say that I found it is not advisable to ask strangers on the street to watch their foul mouths.
Let's join the language police
Column: All Paths
Jul 17 2007 01:17AM
There are several words that I would like to stop using. So, I have decided that every time I use one of these words, I am going to stop wherever I am and give the closest person to me a one-dollar bill.
Do they speak in the name of God?
Column: All Paths
Jul 10 2007 12:41AM
Many leaders invoke the name of God in their causes, campaigns, pulpits and speeches. There is a method to assess where they stand with God.
Parents' responsibility in hate crimes
Column: All Paths
Jun 12 2007 12:51AM
There are many examples of parents being held accountable for children who break the law. Why not hold the parents of children who commit hate crimes accountable?
The best punishment for hate crimes
Column: All Paths
Jun 5 2007 12:29AM
A Muslim high school student in New York City is arrested for forcibly cutting a Sikh student's hair, a symbol of Sikh faith. Should he go to prison for seven years, where he may become even more hateful and hardened?
Proud to be an interfaith fundamentalist
Column: All Paths
May 29 2007 01:01AM
Yes, that's me, the interfaith fundamentalist, who believes in a divine benevolent universal presence, and that all faith traditions honor the rights of others to express their religious and cultural traditions without fear.
The Great Divider, even in death
Column: All Paths
May 22 2007 02:12AM
Jerry Falwell's death should provide an opportunity for reflection about our sense of community and to pursue a common public policy agenda and inter-religious dialogue.
Sharpton and Romney should meet
Column: All Paths
May 15 2007 01:37AM
The Rev. Al Sharpton and Mitt Romney come from such different backgrounds. The public could only benefit from a productive dialogue between the two.
Religion, spirituality and interfaith
Column: All Paths
May 8 2007 12:52AM
Once you peer beyond the labels of religious and spiritual, you will find a lot of shared beliefs, which can be celebrated.
A shining example of hope
Column: All Paths
Apr 24 2007 01:37AM
The inspiring sight of the Virginia Tech community returning to study and work teaches us not to give in to the voices of fear.
In the midst of tragedy - honor
Column: All Paths
Apr 17 2007 01:46AM
When I heard the news reports, I realized that the Virginia Tech students, who had just witnessed the massacre of their friends and schoolmates, are the ultimate example of being fearless.
Seeing the world through a filter
Column: All Paths
Apr 10 2007 01:53AM
It is easy for Americans to assume that the world is all Christian, and that everyone celebrates Christian traditions and cultural expressions. That is not the case.
A step forward in interfaith dialogue
Column: All Paths
Apr 3 2007 01:10AM
Most of the major conflict around this planet is rooted in religious intolerance in some way. So anything that keeps interfaith dialogue and cooperation on the front burner should be embraced.
'The Secret' is indeed spiritual
Column: All Paths
Mar 27 2007 01:20AM
Those who say that this concept is not spiritual could not be more wrong. When you ask people to step away from a thought paradigm that is based on fear, low self-esteem and lack, you are asking them to step closer to the divine.
We must uplift the global status of women
Column: All Paths
Mar 20 2007 01:18AM
The troubled state of the world is a manifestation of how women are treated around the globe.
Sharpton, Thurmond and the human family
Column: All Paths
Feb 27 2007 02:21AM
Civil rights activist Al Sharpton discovers he's related to the late segregationist senator Strom Thurmond. The story should make all of us regard each other in a new light.
Embrace the Sikhs, don't fear them
Column: All Paths
Feb 20 2007 12:19AM
The global faith community should join Sikhs in questioning policies and actions that challenge their rights to express their faith and traditions.
Guarding our parental rights
Column: All Paths
Feb 13 2007 12:41AM
Why parents and churches should say no to Merck's push for a mandatory HPV vaccine for young schoolgirls
Can the Democrats take the high road?
Column: All Paths
Feb 6 2007 12:26AM
It seems that Democratic Party officials are having a hard time believing that a woman, an African-American or a Latino could be elected president.
Extending God's love, beyond color
Column: All Paths
Jan 30 2007 01:09AM
Recall the vivid images of 9/11, when people from all backgrounds hugged, cried and consoled each other on the streets of New York. Race and class did not seem to be important then.
Mr. Ban, let this be your legacy
Column: All Paths
Jan 23 2007 12:52AM
When "interfaith education for peaceful coexistence" is adopted as the Ninth Millennium Development Goal, religion will help to unite the global community and not divide it.
Peace begins with nonjudgment
Column: All Paths
Jan 16 2007 01:16AM
We fight hard to stay under our warm blankets of familiarity. It's so warm and cozy under them that we go to war and annihilate other societies to maintain that luxury.
Respect gone to the dogs
Column: All Paths
Jan 9 2007 01:02AM
Why is it so easy for many of us in this country to devalue the sacred values and traditions of others, while assuming that ours are superior?
Invisible non-Christians
Column: All Paths
Dec 19 2006 12:33AM
To a certain number of American Christians, non-Christians are either invisible or just don't count.
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