| A Message Of Hope
A Message of Hope
9-25-2001
(The following is an unedited e-mail message received today by CAIR.)
This past Saturday, I was visiting a close friend's grandparent in
Bloomery, West Virginia. It was a short, peaceful, visit. I was the only Muslim with the hijab among my group of close friends.
On our way home, we stopped by a Country Buffet Restaurant for dinner. I was alert, cautious, and aware of my surroundings...we pre-paid for our
food and headed to the buffet. Ten minutes after we settled into our seats,
the waitress leaned by our table with what appeared to be our money and receipt. We assumed they were going to kick us out.
Although, what occurred in the next few moments was what I believed to be the blessings and mercy of Allah. She told us on behalf of the restaurant,
they wanted to pay for our entire meal and give us a total refund. They were very sympathetic of the innocent lives. The waitress by her own
personal expressions, was also sympathetic to the Muslim Community and did
not want to see any more innocent lives lost due to war. What struck me the
most, that brought tears to my eyes, were her tears. She told me she was proud that I had the courage and strength to come out and wear the
appropriate veil.
This experience gave me a sense of encouragement in the midst of crisis and
confusion. There are many who are compassionate and understanding.
Another Message Of Hope
(An unedited e-mail received by CAIR from a Muslim woman in Washington State.)
I was afraid to go to the mosque today. For the first time since I became a
Muslim a year ago, I was afraid to wear my head covering. I prayed last night that God would take the fear out of my heart. I
went to the [mosque] despite m nerves.
I was so surprised when I got there, to see the entire front of my mosque arranged with bouquets of flowers, flags, cards. The neighbors and other
friendly residents standing out front greeting everyone as we arrived with
words of encouragement and kindness.
It brought tears to my eyes, and made me ashamed of my fear, for I had assumed that everyone was afraid or hated us (Muslims) because of the WTC
tragedy. These people truly cared about us, they wanted to know us (Muslims), they wanted to show us that they are out there for us. This
community of Seattle, showed it's true colors today, and it was a good thing.
In the face of such devastating tragedy for us all, there is a light of hope for our future together. The good people of Seattle, that took the
time to show their friendship today brightened that light so much more. May
Allah show us all many more blessings.
Thank you people of Seattle.
SEND SIMILAR MESSAGES OF HOPE TO: cair@cair-net.org
Expressions of Support Surprising to
Muslims
Public displays of compassion, kindness come as a shock to many Middle Easterners, who had been braced for a widespread backlash.
By SOLOMON MOORE, Los Angeles Times, 9/26/2001
http://www.latimes.com/la-092601kind.story
It was a white-hot e-mail, still echoing with thunderous keystrokes: "Go back to your beautiful land of sand and pig dirt, and take your HATE with
you!"
Culver City-based IslamiCity.com, a popular Islamic Web site, was an easy target after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But Mohammed Abdul Aleem, the
site's chief executive, thought the insults had more to do with ignorance than anger, so he replied with a short compilation of Islamic scripture.
The next day, the writer's anger had turned to shame: "I want to apologize
for the hate mail I sent you the other day. I was upset by all the things that happened. My brother, who works in the armed forces, lost several of
his friends at the Pentagon . . . I appreciate your calm and informative response . . . and as a result have since then come to my senses."
Reports of ethnic profiling and sporadic attacks on perceived Middle Easterners persist, but Muslims in Southern California say they have been
astounded by more numerous reports of restraint and kindness. They see it in the woman who brings roses to her Persian American colleague. They hear
it in the reassurance of the auto mechanic who tells his Pakistani
customer, "It's OK" to be named Mohammed...
CONTACT: CAIR_SCA@cair-california.org
Another Message of Hope
(An unedited e-mail received by CAIR.)
Couple of days ago my wife went to a store in town. Obviously she is very cautious when she goes out now a days. While she was at the parking lot,
suddenly a minivan pulled right beside her and a lady came out. She came directly to my wife and introduced herself and said right away, "On behalf
of the American people I want to say that I am so sorry for some of our countrymen who are wrongfully accusing people like you. I know you all are
sharing the grief with us but it is not fair the way some of us treating you and your people." With this, tear came to the lady's eyes and she drove
away.
The second event happened to me just few days after this. One morning I came to my office and I found our university President is waiting in front
of my office to see me. I was so shocked to see him that it took me few seconds to put myself together. He was the last person I ever expected to
see in my office. He is a new President of our university and I never met him before. He told me that he wanted to come personally to my office to
show his support to me and my family and the Muslim community of the university...
Muslims
Witness Support Amid Anger Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah,
Don Terry and Ted Gregory 'The Chicago Tribune'
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