Mr Swan. Thank you for your post. I would like to share my FB post to my friends with you as a thank you for your post.
A greeting from a Muslim Woman
In this season where peace, love and joy should be in the air, the air that I breathe is is redolent with negativity, doubt and fear.
I am tired of all these negativity, so hopefully this post will bring in some positive vibes to you. I just needed to put this out. I am just a mom and am not interested in political debates, so if you don’t like this message, please feel free to move on or delete the post. I will not be pulled into a debate or an argument.
I look like a stereotypical Muslim woman. Olive skin, head scarf. the works. If I were not a Muslim, I may be afraid of me! But in the 15 years I have been here, I have yet to subjected to any discrimination. And by God, am I thankful for that!
Good people are everywhere. I know because I live with them every day. Neighbors who extend friendship without any hesitation. In-laws and extended families who opened their hearts to me and strangers who have now become dear friends. I have met and befriended 9/11 survivors without knowing they were victims until I hear them speak at the memorial events. These people (all of you!) are the testament of the good people around us.
No, my life is not a Disney movie. I have been subjected to discrimination. When we were living and traveling around Europe, I have experienced a few incidents of discrimination. Once, John almost got into a fistfight with someone who shoved me and called me names. They had no clue that the white man walking a distance behind me was my husband until John had one of them up the wall by the collar! Ha!
Of course I do live in fear that one day I will be discriminated against here. I do fear that that my life or my family will be threatened. If you know me, you know I travel and do a lot on my own, without John. Taking a flight or traveling alone always make me worry. Walking into a new place makes me nervous about how people will react. But I cannot live in fear and I especially cannot live with the prejudice that someone will be mean to me just because of my looks and my faith. I try to be bigger than that, just like those around me have been.
So, to my former and current neighbors, friends and families — near or far away; THANK YOU. Thank you for extending your friendship, kindness and love. I sincerely hope this continues. I hope I have, and will continue, to extend the same generosity to you. Thank you for seeing me as me. Thank you for not brushing me with the same tainted brush as those barbaric terrorists. I sincerely hope and pray that if I were in your shoes, I will also be as generous in thought and as kind in action.
May this season turn once again to the season of peace, joy and love.
May your Christmas be filled with joy and laughter. May the light of your Hanukkah be filled with hope and love and may your Kwanzaa be filled with harmony.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday. God Bless everyone!