Them, the People.
I got a package from the post office this morning; a big box they gave me. Lets just assume that the content is not what I am trying to blog here; At the bus stop, there were two African Americans sitting adjacent to each other. At first I decided to not get in there, but the cold wind made me. I put the box on the bench, when the guy next to me asked, “That a bomb?” I could not get it at first, and I was like puzzled and mumbled “what?” before I realized what he meant. I hastily said “Here? No. Don’t worry,” and I heard both of them chuckled at what I thought was not a joke.
I don’t blame them because I know some Americans are still haunted with the “fact” of 9/11, or whatever CNN had told them. What disturbed me is that some of them think they are right, no matter how good an explanation you gave them; like when the flight attendant made you wait for the security to verify your passport to make sure that you look exactly like your photo (yes that has happened to us). The latest example would be that Jewish guy’s comments on Din’s “Palest Boy” note on FB. (go read it, the best and simplest story one can read to know about the Palestine/Israel conflict). When I read his comments, I thought, How shallow. This guy obviously didn’t know anything. Whats with “if Indonisia attacked Malaysia my clear guess is that the Malay will not be to happy with indonisians living in it’s teritory” (he wants to point out that Indonesia being the Hamas here instead of the other way around) *Rolled eyes* Hello. Palestine is not Israel’s land in the first place!
On the bright side, I do feel grateful that some Americans do want to understand. Francis once asked me “why do these people made their women wear bombs for them?” To be honest, I have no idea what to answer to that. I simply said, “maybe that’s the only way they had to be heard,” not a good answer, I know, but she said, “yeah.. you might be right. Look at how bad they were oppressed. We cannot blame them, can we?”. Thomas, my medicine man and the priest at Buffalo once debated about why we have to cover up all the way from head to toe. He also mentioned that he would love to see me without my hijab on. Obviously I am not a good candidate to give him hadith examples and all that, but I said, nevertheless; “I have Muslim friend who wear sexy clothes, obviously does not cover up like we do, but she prays 5 times a day and she is so helpful; the most kind hearted among us all. In the end, its not your clothes that matter (well it still matters but i was trying to make a point there), it’s the faith that you have with you,”. He cheered me on that, which I deeply appreciated.
It’s been so long. I should pay him a visit some time.
And more importantly still, I should go study for genetics exam tomorrow. -_-||
