Zara Rabnawaz, speaker for Wind and Unwind, discusses Islam and the Middle East. Close to 80 people listened to and questioned local resident Zara Rabnawaz at the Capital Senior Center's monthly lecture series Wind & Unwind last week. Rabnawaz, a business analyst with Computer Sciences Corporation, was transferred to Columbia 30 years ago and became a citizen in the early 90s. After 9/11, she decided to share her knowledge of and experiences with the Middle East and Islam religion to promote better understanding between cultures.

Visiting her native Pakistan yearly, Rabnawaz has stayed current on the political, economic, and cultural developments in her homeland. "One of the myths about Islam is that women are considered inferior. On the contrary, Islam respects women, and they always had the right to divorce, to hold both political and business positions. Unfortunately, the real reason women are held down in much of the Middle East has to do with male dominance and power struggles," said Rabnawaz. Rabnawaz was questioned for almost an hour on topics including customs and beliefs, the Taliban, and how to learn more about the Middle East.

In August, The Capital Senior Center's monthly lecture series Wind & Unwind will feature Carol Fowler, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, who will lead a discussion on the recent revival of interest in politics. The series is free and open to the community.