This is-A Muslim Girl's Plight

I'm truly sorry that you feel the way you do. I for one can say that I have never looked upon a woman with a head covering or anyone who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent with hatred or disdain.

It's sounds like you have a lot to add to this site, so I hope you continue to write posts, whether about your experiences as a Muslim or not.

Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson

=( I personally don't look at Middle Eastern people like that, but I have too often seen people who just flat out stare. I'm annoyed and offended for you. You know, for a country that is built on diversity we sure don't have as much tolerance as we should.

thank you for the comment. i'm new on the site and i was having some problems trying to figure out the spacing issue :) buts its fixed now.

i find it sad how america tends to discriminate against the minorities even in the modern times. i am of russian decent and people dont know that i am a minority until i tell them. often times, this comes after they talk trash about immigrants or minorities.

a few of my good friends at school are of middle eastern decent. i love listening to their stories about their home and their family. i wish the media did more stories about the good side of middle eastern heritage, but sadly, those things dont make front page news.

You know, coincidentally, a Muslim girl in my Ethnic Relations class was talking about her experiences with discrimination today because we're discussing discrimination and prejudice. Also, my family comes from Malaysia where there is a large Muslim population there, so I've never had any prejudice against Muslims or discriminated against them. Honestly, I don't think times have changed much here. Old prejudices die, and new ones are born, and I find it sad how this society perpetuates this "us versus them" mentality and always has to find new people to discriminate and be prejudiced against. I hope the day comes soon where you can wear your hijab here without fear.

~ munky boi ~ ^_^

It is sad and amazing how that no matter how far we come, and how much hippie love we have, we still find a way to push one group or another down. I, too, do not appear to be immigrant and have a forceful attitude when stupid people start running their mouths about the "Mexican problem" It is just crap they say that makes me want to strangle them (in a nice way of course).

Did anyone realize that just because someone is Muslim does not mean that they are immigrant, and may even be third or fourth generation American. I think that is a little bit of stereotype peeking through, we all notice and make our own assumptions without even realizing the generalization sometimes.

I am guilty of the stare I suppose when I see the head dress. For one it is unusual, meaning I do not see it that often, not that it is weird. I also look because it is so dang mysterious and I want to know more, but my words always fail me and I do not like looking dumb. I am proud for those people to continue to have strength and brains to wear their traditions when Americans are being pickle heads.

Fabulous post
~Wordless

all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo

im from nyc, and i dont see too much of the staring or mistreatment of muslims. its not something rare, seeing people dressed differently (Etc) is actually common here.
i would assume that places, like small towns, would look because its something unusual and humans are curious by nature.

It is sad that people still act like this. It seems like no matter what some people have to put themselves superior to someone, or an entire race for that matter. They do this based off of a handful of peoples' actions..they judge an entire race.. how rediculous. My town is very small and very prejudice... my step-dad is jamaican and can't even get hired in this town. It really makes me frown on mankind. No matter what you look like, dress like, whatever -- we are all humans.

peace always,
katie.

Hello Asmaw,

To have an understanding on what drives people into hateful behaviour is a very complex topic and caries many reasons.

The main reason why you have to deal with some of the misfortunes you are living in your daily life are simply said, due to a global lack and loss of common sense.

American.

It is of no importance to consider yourself to be an American, to consider yourself, being a citizen of this world is of more value for the future that you will need to face in your life.

Your thoughts are circling around one fact

Be patient in understanding one’s thought’s, unless you can read minds it is better to keep that storm out of your head. Not all you perceive is what is being thought by others.

These thoughts and actions are what hurt, cut and burn.

There are many reasons why people do the things they do, making you feel confused, sad, angry, misunderstood and hurt.
Some people hurt you to vent there frustration! Just because you are near and they can do so!
The fact that they can see or become aware that you suffer from there actions is giving them personal relief. Mostly the individuals that are saying (disrespectful) hurtful things to you are unaware of the fact that you carry this hurt and pain home. Depending on what has been said to put you in a hurtful state, it can take you days, months and even longer to give it a place in your heart.
The reason why you go true this ordeal is because many people are ignorant regardless of age or social ladder.
You need to see yourself as a helpful individual in the surroundings that you live, you relief people of stress! Don’t fight it! Pretend that all the people that hurt you are passed away friends and go on with was is important for yourself and loved ones.
Otherwise it will eat you inside making you to become one of “them”.

The times, have they really changed?

Yes times have changed! But things take time, like long time to fall in place for the better. We are all part of that change and responsible for it taking such a long time. Many people have walked in your footsteps under different and more difficult circumstances.

The world, it tells me that today is a new day, I'm a citizen too. Aren't I just like you?

You are whatever you want to be, or become, it is your own choice too follow.

What is my crime that you punish me as an outsider and a criminal?

There is no you! We are all the same, but unfortunately people still need to learn a lot about everything. We all make misjudgments based upon lived tragedies and other misfortunes that makes us the people we are. We have come a long way, and will go on no matter what lies ahead.

Try to find peace in yourself regardless the way people look at you, spread your love where it is appreciated…..

;-)

Hello Asmaw,

I did understand the fact that your are a teenager, therefore it is more difficult to lift up the curtain around this sensitive subject that affects your life.

Please do understand that English is not my native language and that it brings me some limitations in addressing you in the best way possible.

Like I said earlier: To have an understanding on what drives people into hateful behavior is a very complex topic, and it caries many reasons.
One needs to understand that humans are not born with hatred, the are being affected and fed with it according to the surroundings they are being brought up amongst, or events that are taking place in some stages of there personal lives.

Hate therefore, need to be seen as a form of cancer that lurks around, invading some people’s lives in such a random way they don’t even realize they are infected with it.

Hate is nothing more than a mind shift in people’s thinking, it is a form of “personal” trauma that needs lots of attention and guidance, in order to get a change to take effect for the better.

The funny thing about people of today is that the still remain in a state of denial regarding the fact that we are in fact ONE big (happy) family. If we would to be go down the bloodline into the past, all of our paths would meet at some point or another.
People don’t like this idea, people don’t like the idea or understanding that at some point in history we were nothing more than a few monkeys hanging in trees.
This way of thinking or accepting life is affecting our ego and status! Because some can not relate to curtain realties that surround us even today.

One needs to understand that we are still very unaware of what surrounds us, the reason for this to happen is because we are being brought up in boundaries. Some people call this civilization. The foundations of most civilizations around the world are based upon certain rules that are not being questioned enough, because they don’t work out in the long run anyway.

Where do i fit in their world?

I do understand your question and the confusion that it involves.
This confusion is being nourished and kept alive because you don’t feel accepted by some individuals in the society you live in. It is troubling your mind and filling your thoughts with fear of what your future will bring.

You need to change your thinking concept in order to free yourself!

There is no need to fit in someone’s world but your own! It is more important to have a good look around and see how you can make a contribution in order to change the things that are troubling your mind. What I’m trying to tell you is that you are young and therefore the most important aced in building a better future.

You can think, doing the right thing but still feel, people are doing you wrong over and over again! It makes you wonder and confuses you leaving you with nothing but questions at the end of the day.

The funny thing with “right and wrong” is that they are very difficult to define, they become even more difficult when one follows guidelines based upon rules that are commonly accepted by its participants or followers.
This opens up a platform for misunderstandings and conflicts that can last for centuries before they get in balance, if they ever do! Our world of today and past has always been one that is out of balance, because we all seem to know better on how defining good from wrong. Sadly this is not the way it works and it leads to deception. People can not handle deception very well and therefore carry tendencies to grasp back to the past in many different ways.
People get mind stuck when they have to relate with new realities that arise along the path they follow in life. The pace of these new realities arising and kicking in bring them fear and disbelieve that causes a sort of individual and personal loss in fate and faith.

To have an understanding about this all, one needs to wonder around inside the grey zone between right and wrong. This opens up doors to new possibilities and personal views that enable us to achieve and contribute in a creation of commonly accepted balance.

“it seems that you are in a way explaining and justifying theire actions”

To carry understanding of what is happening outside my doorstep, is in no relation of what I personally believe to be justified or not.

I have some questions, no need to answer them if they make you feel uncomfortable.

When was the first time you mentally became aware, there was something wrong in this world?
Do you remember the situation, person or event that took place causing you hurt the very first time you can recall?
What age did you carry?
Did you bring this first time hurt inside your home hoping to get answers, because you did not understand what was suddenly happening?

Hello again,

“people who have money”

There is no better way to treat people, than the way you would like people to treat you: equal!

I do understand your point that it is not always easy to venture around in other peoples life’s and to adapt to their cultural living habits and surroundings that involve hierarchies and forms of let’s say “ego” towards the poorer segments in that same society. Meaning, it was probably not appreciated that you mingled with the house staff.

There are few reasons for this.
To keep a certain balance in place that is based on a mutual understanding, between the employer and the employee.

Whether the employer looks at a person in terms of servant or employee is a different story that has deep roots in the history of mankind. Even as we speak allover this planet there are still people being used as slaves on this planet.

You might carry a “dislike or hate” to cultural differences you might come across while venturing in other parts of the world, but you are yourself in an easy position to “judge” upon the ways of different cultures. Depending on where you wonder around for some individuals not like you, live is not about making friends, talking and eating… life is about surviving and making sure to provide for the basic needs enabling them to get going in the midst of that struggle.

Don’t take this wrong, there is nothing wrong with your thinking because you are right, but the truth underneath the things you might see or discover, mostly opens up realities that surpass common sense, the most important is learn to question these things with reason. It is more easy to hate and dislike than to understand the misfortunes we come across in our lives.

“i regret saying and got some harsh remarks”

Regrets are leading to feelings of guilt, one of life’s dilemma’s that is very present in our daily lives and also the reason why so many people are struggling with addictions like alcohol, drugs, abuse of medication, sexual disorders, food, smoking and many other.

You need to understand that all the things that you might have said are of no importance anymore, even if you never had the chance to apologize, it is of no importance anymore because you already understood that you were wrong in your actions during that event that took place between the both of you. So skip the regret!

During our lives we make a tremendous amount of mistakes. It is important to personally learn out of these mistakes we make in order to prevent us of repeating them again. The understanding of this mistakes allow us to grow and become better persons in the life that lies ahead of us. To grow as a person will allow you to make (few) solid friends, the good part about having friends is that they allow you to make mistakes! When saying wrong, bad or hurtful things to them. Even by doing so they still are your friends because they love you, and therefore forgive you for hurting them. That’s the only reason why you can call them your friends, because they can forgive your mistakes over and over again and therefore do the same with you.

I will rephrase some of my questions,

When was the first time you mentally became aware, there was something wrong in this world?
When did you start to realize some people were showing dislike towards you even do you did nothing wrong?

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Do you remember the situation, person or event that took place causing you hurt the very first time you can recall?

“pulled my hair, pushed me”

Did you know or realize at that moment what reason or motivation he had had in doing so?

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Do you carry a common understanding with your parents on what is happening outside your doorstep, what you are going true on a daily basis causing you to feel this sad and confused?

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

How did your parents handle this grief, fear and pain inside your heart, did it ever became a subject between you and your parents?

The whole "Muslim controversy" is an issue that REALLY bothers me. Ever since 9/11, the new "joke", as if it was something to joke about, is that Middle Easterners are the new black people. Funny when presented as a joke, it's a sad truth. I love the point that you make when you say that although you wear a hijab (correct spelling), that doesn't mean you're fresh off the plane, you may be a fourth-fifth generation American.

I've been really passionate about this subject since I began attending college. At my university, there is a pretty prevalent population of Muslim and Islamic students...although, I must admit, if they're one in the same, I have no idea. Of course, thanks to the media, my first reactions were perhaps fear and malice. But, I caught myself and began approaching them and asking them personally questions that I had about the religion, the culture, and its traditions. I have learned a lot about the traditional meaning behind the head coverings, and I'm still looking forward to learning about Ramadan this month. I must admit I don't agree with many of the cultural traditions, but that's why I don't practice; others, however, do practice and that's their right to. I'm not going to hate them because I don't agree, I'm simply going to educate myself on a culture different from my own and practice tolerance. Muslims wear a hijab and I wear shirts with characters and bands that I like, such as Sasuke from Naruto or Evanescence the rock band; we're both expressing ourselves through clothing, so what makes us different?

I'm so sorry that you and everyone that is different is shown such disrespect for being as such. I hope that someday we'll all be able to say 'I am America' the same way and not 'I am MORE america.'

<333

is it ironic or weird...that i feel I am an American or americanized enough that I no longer can feel some of the same sentiments of patriotism for pakistan and pakistani ideals ??? oh also..I am still a Pakistani citizen but am a permanent resident of the U.S.
.......
I just don't think like them anymore, I have changed a lot....I mean I love Pakistan too but I feel like I am a lot more American than Pakistani...aaah, confused and now contemplating on identity

"Things have a life of their own. It's just a matter of waking up their souls."
--Gabriel García Márquez
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight

I know a lot of people who feel that way about Muslims. Then again, you can't always completely blame them. A lot of people were taught to feel that way. My dad's in the military and we live overseas. They always tell us to watch for and report any suspicious activity. I've found that most of the suspicious activity I've seen has not come from the Muslim population in Germany. But they still always catch your eye and put you on alert. It's a default that I think a lot of people are trying to overcome. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that someday.

Livin Life 2 Da Fullest
I understand where you are coming from, and it is sad. I believe that racism and hatred will never end. People will always search for some group not to like and it is pretty much our nature. Now this is not in all people but the majority. The only way to truly end racism is if people would see past skin color and religion. except people that are different from yourself and treat them equally. Being nice to someone is to easy , so people result to hate.

When you commented on my blog (STOP SPEAKING ENGLISH!!!), I didn't know that you had written this! You of all people understand how it is to be rejected by a culture and society. My insignificant dilemma with the Germans in the airport doesn't even compare to your plight. I cannot stand how Americans stereotype every ethnicity based on one person or twenty people's actions. I hope that the ignorant people who have made you feel this way wake up, and realize that just because some people from the Middle East are terrorists, does not mean that everyone from that area is also a terrorist. Keep close to your heritage and proclaim it, no matter how many people disapprove. By the way, your writing was highly effective, and ignited emotions against my own fellow citizens in me.

Hey Asmaw, I've read other comment's from you, I hadn't yet read your blog though.

I just wanna let you know that there are people in this country that look at your heart and not your skin, I'm white and I could care less what color your skin is or what country you're from, I have friends from all around the world and I love them not because, or despite their skin color or where they're from but because of who they are, I mean it makes them more interesting being from where they are and being able to learn from them and see alternatives to your own heritage.

I hope that you wont look at Americans as racist one sided people because of a few, I'm sure you know this too but everyone has the choice to be who they are and treat people the way the will.

And the whole Muslim terrorist thing, I understand those people were doing what they were out of hatred and not because of religion, I have Muslim friends and they are some of the nicest people I know, we are all human beings and we all should love each other not regardless of where we are from or what skin color we have but in a way because of those differences that make the human race the brilliance it is.