Students Present Program on Religious Tolerance to Belarus Visitors

On March 22, 2004, IB students hosted religious leaders from Belarus. The group consisted of a Bishop with the Association of Christians of the Full Gospel, Director of the Union of Councils of Jews in Belarus, and a Leader of the Hare Krisna Communities of Belarus. The US State Department requested that we allow them to observe how students express their beliefs in the context of a public institution and how we encourage respect and tolerance to students of all faiths. A US State Department Interpreter accompanied the group.

According to IB Coordinator Dr. Ron Thomas, "Religious tolerance means to extend religious freedom to people of all religions, even though you may disagree with their beliefs and/or practices. It is important that we continue to present controversial topics from all points of view."

IB Senior Elizabeth Rudisill and IB junior Euphemia Mu led a panel discussion and student dialogue in the Art Gallery. They also introduced our guests to the school on the morning announcements.

Belarus is situated in the Eastern part of Europe. It shares borders with Russia in the North and East, Ukraine in the South-East, Poland in the West and Lithuania and Latvia in the North-East. Belarus is a landlocked, low-lying country with thick forests, flat marshes and vast, open fields.

The area is 207.6 sq. km. Its length is 560 km (350 miles) from North to South and 650 km (460 miles) from East to West. Belarus is larger than Austria, Ireland or Greece and slightly smaller than Kansas. The population of Belarus is app 10,045,000.

Most of population considers itself Belarusian (81%); there also are 11% Russians, 4% Polish, 2% Ukrainians, and 0.3% Jews. The religions include Eastern Orthodox 80%; others, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim 20%.

The Belarusian language is used in everyday life by 3,683,000 persons (37% of total population), Russian language is used by 6,308,000 persons (63%).