Guardians of Memory
The Harper’s Podcast
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Introduction
Fred bonson writes about the work of father colum stuart, a benedictine monk who has travelled to conflict zones around the world. For his story, Bonson accompanied stuart to the former capital of the songhai empire,. However, all romanticism faded once bonson arrived at the heavily guarded u n base where the pair would be staying. Terrists have killed and abducted locals and foreigners and destroyed ancient islamic buildings and manuscripts they've deemed idola es. He ultimately chose to remain at the base rather than venture out with stewart. I spoke with both men about their respective decisions, their relationship with faith and the importance of preserving religious writings in places under
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