Source: Huffington Post
Palestinian-Muslim-American, Racial justice and civil rights activist, community organizer, media commentator, born and raised in Brooklyn.
I can’t keep up. Feeling overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by love and support of so many friends and colleagues, and overwhelmed and drowning in absolute straight hate. I am trying to work through emails filled with vitriol against me, my faith and my community.
You can’t always tell by the subject line so you open it hoping someone has something uplifting to say. God would be ashamed. Kids feeling confused and anxious. You open texts from youth with screenshots of comments on local neighborhood Facebook groups filled with so much hate, incitement, and disdain for Islam, Muslims. They wonder why no one has the courage to speak up. They want to respond, I tell them not to feed the hate. I say this for their own well being not because we are afraid or because we don’t have a response.
There’s harassment of Muslim women on the streets. Recently, one Brooklyn woman was pushing a stroller with a baby and was accosted by a postal worker caught on surveillance. Another woman’s cell phone was taken from her hands and thrown at her, others being spit on in the streets of their communities.
Threats to mosques across the country, hoax bombs left at doorstep of an Islamic institution in Virginia, vile headlines, calling for registering of Muslims in a database, closing borders to Muslim Syrians but open to Christians (how will they know, I don’t know, it’s just wrong), demanding unwarranted surveillance of mosques (um, we are already under surveillance).
Local leaders will say we are exaggerating. These are “anecdotes”. They remain silent in the face of Hitler-esque rhetoric. They soak in their privilege of being far from the center of the storm, so as long as they are not impacted by it, it must not be real.
It’s real. It hurts. Seeing Muslim sisters passing around self defense tips and national organizations distributing mosque safety kits. People warning each other not to stand too close to the train platforms. Don’t be on your phones. Be on high alert, watch your surroundings. It’s exhausting and scary as hell.
I am trying to stay above water. Trying not to drown in the poisonous pool of hate and ignorance. I am doing what I can, keeping my voice loud, writing the op-eds, making sure the media hears our voices and continuing my every day work in pursuit of justice not only for my own community but for my sister communities.
I am sad for those that respond to hateful, violent groups like ISIS with more hate and violent rhetoric. You are no better than the terrorists you claim to hate.
I am sadder for the silent majority. I wonder who you would have been in the era of slavery? During the civil rights movement? What is it that makes you go on with your life like everything is okay?
Donald Trump is no laughing matter. Islamophobia is not a made up phenomenon. Black Lives Matter protesters shot by White supremacists isn’t a scene in a movie. This is real life.
Categories: Islamophobia, The Muslim Times, United States
It is her faith which has vitriolic hate towards those who do not belong. Trumps speaks for those who know what reality is.
Instead of being afraid of Trump, it is John Kerry who should be feared for excusing the January Paris attacks on his perceived anger generated by the cartoons. Nothing is more dangerous than condoning an assault on freedom of expression.
MUSLIM, CHRISTIANS, JEWS, HINDU, OTHERS ARE BROTHER AND SISTER. WE ARE ALL GOD’S PEOPLE. LET US LOVE EACH OTHER REGARDLESS RELIGION. AND GENDER.
Prophet Jesus: Love your neighbor as you love your self.
Prophet Muhammad : You do not love God if you do not love your neighbor yet.
Based on both prophets I strongly urge all Muslim, Christian, Jews, and Hindu should follow what our prophets command us to do.
Every religion can build his Holy place to worship God side by side, without exception.
Therefore all religion can live in peace, harmony and prosperity. we are all brother and sister. we have to love each other regardless religion, race and gender.
God want His people live in peace, and happiness.
One thing I agree with Dr Zakir Naik said that Islam is those who believe in Creator, they are Islam or Muslim.
Islam was exist since Prophet Adam. All Allah prophets were Islam, and all His books such as Taurat, Zabur,Injil and Al quran are Islamic teaching from Creator or Allah.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh was the last Prophet, al Quran is the last Book of Allah.
And remember that Ibrahim was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: he said: “I will make thee an Imam to the Nations.” He pleaded: “And also (Imams) from my offspring!” He answered: “But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.”QS 2;124
And this was the Legacy that Ibrahim left to his sons, and so did Ya’qub; “O my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the state of submission (to Allah).QS 2;132
Verily, this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other). QS 21;92
Struggle for (seeking the pleasure of) Allah, a struggle that is owed to Him. He has chosen you and did not impose any hardship on you in the religion, the faith of your father Ibrahim. He (Allah) named you as Muslims earlier and also in this (Qur’an), so that the Messenger becomes a witness to you, and you become witnesses to (other) people. 16 So establish Salah, pay Zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your patron or protector . So, how excellent He is as a patron, and how excellent as a supporter! QS 22;78
Those who believe (in the Qur-an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians – any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness – on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve QS 5;69
To every People have We appointed rites and ceremonies which they must follow, let them not then dispute with thee on the matter, but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art assuredly on the Right Way.
QS 22:67 ( It means that every religious group has ther own way to worship God ).
Let us spread love to others instead of hatred to others.
We are all human being.
With all my love
“BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS SHOT BY WHITE SUPREMACISTS ISN’T A SCENE FROM A MOVIE”. How many of them?
I am black and I know that blacks are responsible for at least 90% of black murders. They kill more whites. All those are swept under the carpet.Referring to killings by ‘white supremacists is seeking for allies in project victimhood. It is racist.