Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he is a Muslim and might have an association with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.
I feel particularly strong about this because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother at Arlington Cemetery and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone, and it gave his awards - Purple Heart, Bronze Star - showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the head stone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It has a crescent and star of the Islamic faith.
And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was fourteen years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could serve his country and he gave his life."
3 Comments:
I completely agree. The last part about the soldier even made me tear up. It's time all these ridiculous stereotypes and prejudices go to the wayside. I sooo wish I could share this story with my students. We're talking about diversity now, and I may have an opportunity to put it in. Thanks for sharing!
IT'S. ABOUT. TIME.
CNN ran a front page article today about Muslim-Americans who are reacting to the way that their faith is being portrayed in politics this year. It's taken long enough, but I'm glad that the issue is finally get the attention it deserves.
That's a great article. The last bit really disturbs me. Sometimes it feels like 9/11 and the beginning of the "War on Terror" started just yesterday, but to think there are men and women who were children when it happened dying in the wars. That puts very different perspective on things for me.
Post a Comment
<< Home