On the 16th of August 2011, the Bluestar Intercultural Centre organized the Peace and Dialogue Iftar dinner at the National Press Club, with around 160 guests in attendance. Those who attended include religious leaders, academics, politicians, educators and various other individuals from different religious and cultural backgrounds. This is an annual flagship event organized by the event and is in its second year. The event also saw the BIC presenting its inaugural Australian Bluestar Awards. These awards recognise the efforts of individuals who actively promote intercultural dialogue and work against religious and ethnic prejudices within the Australian community.

The event was co-hosted by the Australian Labor Party Parliamentary Secretary The Hon Kate Lundy MP as well Senator Gary Humphries MP from the Australian Liberal Party. In her welcoming speech, Ms Lundy noted that the objectives of BIC are sound and important in the context of a multi-cultural Australia. She thanked BIC for bringing a diverse group of people for the event. She noted that an event like the dinner not only recognized individual capabilities but strengthened inter-faith relations. Senator Humphries started his speech by noting that events like the dinner transcend political differences. He opined that the dinner helps non-Muslim Australians satisfy their curiosity about the Islamic faith but also appreciate the positive values associated with Islam.

The keynote address by Professor Greg Barton, from Monash University, said “...in the past decade, terrorism that has rocked the World and in particular Europe, knows no boundaries. I can say from my expertise that terror has no nationality or religion. Even the Qur’an says clearly that killing an innocent person is as if you have killed the whole of humanity.” Prof Barton applauded the efforts by BIC to organize the Iftar dinners, which he noted is an important step towards breaking barriers and enhancing ties between people of varying background. He continued his talk by about Imam Fethullah Gulen, whom the work of the Bluestar Intercultural Centre was inspired by, when he said, “There must be a catalyst behind why the Bluestar Intercultural Centre has organised such an event and why we are all here tonight. There must be an architect, a thinker bringing us together tonight and that person is Imam Fethullah Gulen, a thinker and an activist.

These words by Prof Barton encapsulate the spirit of the event that BIC was organizing. Bluestar has been instrumental in initiating various groundbreaking events such as the Ramadan Iftar dinner being held at the National Press Club. After all, the sharing of a meal is considered in all cultures of the world to be one of the most significant gestures of accord and goodwill.

Reverend Professor James Haire’s speech addressed the important issue of tolerance and dialogue. He noted that the concept of ttolerance in the Western world tends to be a weak word which means grudging acceptance or putting up with things that are not pleasant. He posited the view that this concept should be understood the way it has been advocated by Fethullah Gulen. He proffered that tolerance is for Gulen the embracing and celebration of another’s culture. This he believed should be what tolerance is about. He expressed his appreciation for Gulen’s understanding of inter-faith dialogue. He said that interfaith dialogue is much more than a simple discussion. It is the opening up of oneself to the other, always with the possibility that one will be changed in the process.

The dinner ended with participants feeling that they have not only learned more about Ramadan and Iftar but importantly that they now understand and appreciate the need for dialogue and will seek to put efforts at strengthening the social fabric of Australian society.