John Walke and Simon Biasell

Recorded April 21, 2022 Archived April 21, 2022 01:03:39
0:00 / 0:00
Id: ddv001619

Description

One Small Step Conversation Partners Simon Biasell (41) and John Walke (74) discuss faith, justice, parent-child relationships, identity, and their shared love of their Fresno, California community.

Subject Log / Time Code

Participants talk about their motivations for joining the interview. SB emphasizes the importance of hearing perspectives that are different from ours. JW discovered the program on 60 Minutes.
SB talks about the course of his life. He is a 3rd generation resident of Fresno, California. His experience with his faith has shaped much of his perspective and he feels as though he has a minority theological perspective.
JW talks about the course of his life. His upbringing in South Asia has impacted his perspectives, especially the pluralistic nature of faith in many South Asian cultures.
JW talks about his transition from Pakistan to the United States and how his accent, education, and nationalities create a tension in his personal identity.
JW speaks about how his religious and national identities are tied, and how the partition of the British Raj and the decay of the British Commonwealth had an impact on his identity.
SB reflects on his background and how that influences his perspectives on American politics. He wrestles with his Christian values and what that implies about compromise versus radical advocacy for change.
JW reflects on his past experience as a student activist resisting the Vietnam War, and the difference between experience and behavior. He shares about a legal battle he had with the United States over his right to stay in the country as a result of his activism.
SB resonates with JW's value of family, and shares about his experience being the father of young children. His family is his greatest priority.
JW talks about his perspectives on firearms, and uses it as an example of issues that he avoids engaging in because they can feel aimless. He talks about how globalization and social justice movements have impacted the world throughout his life.
JW speaks about his religious socialization and his path to practicing Zen Buddhism.
SB talks about his experience being a member of an interfaith coalition and asks JW about his perspectives on Buddhism and the faith's relationship to issues of justice.
SB talks about his experience being a pastor with LGBTQ people, women, and other marginalized people in his congregation and his work to create a more inclusive faith community.
SB talks about his path to becoming a pastor.
SB speaks about his perspective on the Presbyterian tradition and the role of reformation in the history of the tradition. He thinks it's important to contextualize the writings of thinkers such as John Calvin within the questions of their time.
JW speaks about how his parents influenced his political perspectives and how his activism impacted their relationships. He mentions how the violence proceeding from the Partition informed his perspective on race in the United States.
JW speaks about his ambition to reconnect with his father and develop a relationship with his father before his death.
SB contrasts his ambitions and aspirations in his life with the story that JW had shared. He asks how his relationship with his father influenced his relationship with his children.
JW speaks about his relationship with Fresno, California and why he chooses to stay here. He tells a story about noticing the high population of churches and insurance firms upon initially moving to Fresno.
SB shares some of the things he loves about Fresno. He shares that Fresno parking lots are what make it easy to have children. He reflects on his love of the city and how that is complicated by its conservative character.
JW reflects back his own love of some of the quirks of Fresno. He reflects on how he connects with people despite having different life experiences from them.
Participants share closing thoughts and gratitude with each other.

Participants

  • John Walke
  • Simon Biasell

Partnership Type

Outreach

Initiatives