West Library closes this semester's Mitchell-Reid Community of Learners presentations by welcoming Christopher Ohan, Ph.D. on Thursday, April 23.

Ohan's topic discusses a statement by Zachary Shore in his book, Breeding Bin Ladens: America, Islam and the Future of Europe: "No one is a born a terrorist; terrorists are bred." It is important to consider how and why Western society is producing its own terrorists.

In light of such horrific events as the Charlie Hebdo attacks this year, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the 7/7 Attacks in London in 2005 and the 2004 Madrid Train bombings (to name only a few), one wonders whether the West is, in fact, breeding its own Muslim extremists.

This talk will explore the ambivalence of a growing number of young Muslims toward the Western society in which they were born and raised as a way of understanding how our culture has the potential to breed terrorists.

Our presenter is not only an associate professor of history at Texas Wesleyan, but he is also an alumnus. After he graduated from Texas Wesleyan, he attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he earned a master of arts in early modern European history and a Ph.D. in humanities.

Before joining the Texas Wesleyan faculty last fall, he had worked at the American University of Kuwait since 2006.

Please join us for this interesting and informative discussion. Don't forget to bring your own lunch; refreshments will be provided by the Office of the Provost, co-sponsors of the Mitchell-Reid Community of Learners lecture series.

Please contact Elizabeth Howard with any questions.