Thurs. March 15

The Ford Hall Forum is one of those institutions that takes that old mumbo-jumbo about "freedom of speech" fairly seriously. No, they're not going to pack a theater with people and yell "Fire!" over the PA, but they will present speakers who will present their (possibly controversial) thoughts and then open it up to discussion. This is still allowed in the USA! On Thursday March 15, the Forum is bringing Ali S. Asani, professor of the Practice of Indo-Muslim Languages and Culture at Harvard, and Mona Eltahawy, journalist and lecturer on Arab and Muslim issues, to the panel, moderated by the Globe's op-ed hawk Jeff Jacoby. It's called "You Don't Know Us: Voices from the Moderate Muslim Majority."  For discussion" Is religion truly the driving force behind terrorist actions? Where is the moderate Muslim majority? Why hasn't it been heard from more often? How do you discuss Islam with those who really first thought about it on Sept. 11, 2001? And how can non-Muslims understand this massive world religion? This talk and debate goes from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Old South Meeting House. Free.

310 Washington St., 617-373-5800 fordhallforum.org