Arab/Muslim Americans
November 9, 2009
I was planning on starting this entry off by talking about how life is treating me here at the last 100 meters of this marathon of learning Arabic, but in light of what has happened at Ft. Hood this last week I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts on its affects as someone who has learned a great deal about Arabs and Muslims over the last year and a half.
When I returned from lunch the other day reports of the shootings had just begun to broadcast. We all sat down to start our afternoon classes and one by one students would come in asking "have you heard".
Our teaching team leader, a Sudanese man with a PhD, happened to be teaching our section that hour and I asked him the same. His first comment was... and I'll never forget this... "please tell me it was not an Arab or a Muslim". Those words resonated with me because I suddenly became more aware of what it meant to HIM. He is an American citizen, just like you and me. He loves this country, just as we do.
Most of the time he knows more about this country than those of us who were born here simply because he had to WORK to earn the privilege of calling himself and American. That comment made me realize the plight of Muslim Americans. I felt a degree of sadness because they are continually being linked with extremism simply because of their faith.
As I have come to appreciate, Muslim Americans are here exactly as the rest of us. They came from foreign countries to make a better life for themselves in a land that promises freedom and rewards hard work. With the exception of the slave trade, native Americans and indentured servitude, didn't most of us come here by the same road?
I see Arabs and Muslims every day. Most are teachers, some are Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. They are ALL fundamentally like anyone else I know. They work hard, play hard, love their families, and their neighbors. They are some of the most friendly and hospitable people you will ever meet. They want the same things as everyone else: to earn a decent living, provide for their families, enjoy life, and better themselves. They are here because they accept our culture and respect others'. All they ask is for the same respect and opportunity the rest of us enjoy.
It is sometimes too easy to act on our emotions and condemn an entire group because of the viciousness of a few individuals. But we must resist the temptation to lump the overwhelming majority of this group who live peacefully among us into a category with the same types of individuals who use a twisted version of religion to justify acts of violence. The shooter at Ft. Hood is an example of what these Americans stand against. They are no more accepting of his actions than any non-Muslims would be of a crazed Southern Baptist or Catholic opening fire at a crowded mosque. If you think that would be a good idea, I pray you will consider what gives you the right to think as such. If you think the right comes from God, then I pray you will also consider what makes you different from those you hate. This country is called a melting pot for a reason. America does not belong to any one group, sect, religion, race, creed, or otherwise. It belongs to Americans, ALL of them. It is an IDEA, unique in the history of the world. It was built by the blood and sweat of people who came here from everywhere, not just Europe. I have personal friends who are Muslims and they are already telling me stories of rude comments being made to them because of what happened at Hood. I am certain this was on my teacher's mind when made his comment, likely thinking of his children and what they might suffer because of this man's actions.
Just imagine that the shooter in Texas was someone from your own group. See what I'm getting at here? I will get off my soapbox now...
Okay, on to other news. As you can see... new postings are far and few between these days. I am holding my nose to the grindstone and there isn't really anything new to tell you. We are practicing, practicing, reviewing, and practicing... even on Saturdays now. My oral proficiency interview is on the 18th, so I have 10 days to ready myself for that. Then we start the DLPT the next week. The light is at the end of the tunnel. I don't plan on posting again until its all done, unless something significant happens between now and then. Wish me luck!
Josh
Nov 9, 2009 2:45 PM