This Fourth of July was bittersweet for me. It was the first one I spent without my daughter since her birth 5 years ago. I watched our community’s big fireworks show from my driveway rather than the park where family’s gather because I didn’t want to sit there and watch without my daughter on my lap. My daughter is overseas for the summer on vacation with her mom. She wanted to be here today to join our town’s children’s parade with her friends and to sit on her dad’s lap as the fireworks lit up the sky. Instead today she is in the country of my birth and I am here without her in the country of her birth.
Today I want to share with you some of my thoughts on being an immigrant and a Muslim American citizen. This is my story only and I am not sure if there is meaning here beyond one man’s thoughts on his American journey. Nonetheless I share it with you today.
I was born a Muslim in Bangladesh – one of the world’s most populous Muslim countries. I spent most of my childhood there. I have spent part of my childhood and all of my adult life in the United States. Like most children growing up in the Third World during that time, I was fascinated with America. America was the land of Coca-Cola, bell-bottom pants, and Western movies. America was also the land of Thomas Jefferson, FDR and John and Robert Kennedy. America was the land of the Bill of Rights, the Marshall Plan and Martin Luther King, Jr. Most of all, America to me represented possibility. It was the country that could send a man to the moon and unite the whole world in one breathless moment when the first footprint was made on a world beyond our planet. Possibility.
The two Americans I admired the most when I was growing up were John and Robert Kennedy. They both represented possibility. If you go to the Third World, even today you may find in a hut in some remote village a weathered piece of newspaper with an image of JFK. JFK represented America. He sent forth an army across the Third World not to conquer by force but by example. JFK created the Peace Corps – an army of volunteers that spread the decency of America by helping the most unfortunate. JFK also stirred the world by his clarion call from West Berlin. "Let them come to Berlin", he said:
There are many people in the world who really don’t understand, or say they don’t, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it is true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. Lass’ sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin.
JFK was larger than life. For a boy growing up in the Third World he represented America and its spirit. I finally made it to Berlin as a college student in 1987. I saw the wall that JFK gazed upon. Two years later that wall was to be no more.
Robert Kennedy was hope. His words stirred me as a child growing up on the other side of the planet and they stir me today. Edward Kennedy in his eulogy for his brother quoted him:
There is discrimination in this world and slavery and slaughter and starvation. Governments repress their people; millions are trapped in poverty while the nation grows rich and wealth is lavished on armaments everywhere. These are differing evils, but they are the common works of man. They reflect the imperfection of human justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility towards the suffering of our fellows. But we can perhaps remember — even if only for a time — that those who live with us are our brothers; that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek — as we do — nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.
…
Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.[It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.] Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
With his voice cracking with emotion, Edward Kennedy concluded:
My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.
Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world.
As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him: "Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."
Robert Kennedy took the conscience of America to the poorest of the Third World and in doing so touched us all. One can only imagine how different our world might be if this man had been allowed to live. Robert Kennedy to me was possibility.
I came to America, like many before me and many since, for a chance at a better life. I came to America because this country produced men like the John and Robert Kennedy. Even though I have spent most of my life in America I still carry the weight of being an immigrant and a Muslim in post 9/11 America. After 9/11 my loyalties were subject to question. Suddenly instead of my actions, it was my religion and the color of my skin that defined me. I have talked more about my religion since 9/11 then in all my life previously. I have mostly had to defend my religion, and by implication me, from charges that it was a religion that glorified terrorism. Yet, with all that has happened, yet despite this country being senselessly attacked, it is a testament to the tolerant nature of American society that my family and I do not find ourselves in internment camps or some other similarly constructed arrangement. It is quite likely that if an attack such as 9/11 had happened to another country Muslims like me may not have fared so well.
A large part of the reason the situation has not deteriorated to an extreme level for American Muslims like me is the Constitution of the United States. Civil liberties represented by the Bill of Rights are very much a fabric of American society. It is those civil liberties that draw immigrants like me to this country and those civil liberties that protect Muslims like me from collective punishment. Yet today these liberties are under threat from our own Government in the name of security. But I believe that the foundations of the Constitution are strong enough to withstand any challenge and, with vigilance, in the end these liberties will survive the onslaught upon them.
I look forward to a day in America when my daughter will be referred to as an American, not a Muslim American. A day when she will be judged by only her actions not her religious beliefs. That day will not come soon, but that day will come. That day will come not because American bombs will win against "terror". That day will come because of the strength of American ideas and ideals. American statesmen like John and Robert Kennedy told the world that day would come. I believe it is possible because this country is about possibility. The world awaits that day, America awaits that day, and I await that day.
Bravo!:)>-
As an immigrant myself, I remember my mother saying to me (back in the Netherlands); “I know where I was when Kennedy got shot, I was pregnant with you.” I also remember sitting on my daddy’s lap in front of our black and white tv , watching the first man walking on the moon. It was in the middle of the night for us, I was about 4 (I think, when was it, ’68?) and barely grasped the concept of the ‘spaceship’ being on the moon.
Those speeches were awesome, but I cannot help but think that they reflected the higher standards of civility that is present now. That kind of eloquence in words and thoughts I would love to see in an honest politician.
Mash, run for politics. nah, just kidding, just write for one.
Ingrid
Mash,
That was beautifully put. Thank you.
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Kel, thank you. I wasn’t sure where that post was going to go when I started it. It sort of grew organically.
Ingrid, isnt it a shame that we don’t have that kind of soaring rhetoric by a orator of John Kennedy’s class today in the US. A leader like that can galvanize a nation and the world.
You know some people (including me 🙂 ) say that NASA has lost its roots. Instead of ambitious programs like the moon shot, now we are content to go up and orbit the Earth. Its symbolic of the erosion of lofty goals these days.
The reason is that American Muslims like you enjoy freedom and equality is because of the AMERICAN PEOPLE and their Constitution. The fact is that so many Musims come to this country because of these freedoms and civil liberties, yet they bring their hate and anger in the form of their religion with them, which they put it above the laws of this land. Our liberties are under threat yes, but mostly from people that hate us for what we are – infidels in their eyes.
Your daughter is an American the moment she considers herself one – it doesn’t depend upon anybody but her. If she considers herself Muslim American, then that is her choice. Muslims are always looking for excuses and people to blame for their actions.
I think you need to read more about Robert Kennedy, partcularly the pre-1964 years when he was in governmment. I will not go into details; it was not a pretty picture.
I don’t like Islam, because I find the Quran filled with hate and anger. I absolutely do not respect Islam’s prophet (I wonder if any Muslim has actually read the hadiths and the stories about Mohammed – also not a pretty picture) but I do not treat Muslims any different from anybody else, except if they talk about their religion or complain about Muslims and “civil liberties” or “human rights” without questioning the lack of these in Islam. I think I have a duty and a right to exercise my “freedom of speech” and tell Muslims the truth about their religion – not that it has ever made any difference. Ha!
Good luck to you and your family. Think about what Muslim-Amercans bring to the table when we all sit down together to count our blessings. Think about the differences between Islamic societies and the US.
John Kactuz
Doctor Mash,
Thanks for that. People like me – namely, a conscious white man – know about discrimination on an intellectual level. But I am seldom cognizant of what it might feel like to be a minority.
You are very optimistic. I am less so. There is acceptance among the conscious, but there is mere “tolerance” among the ignorant masses, and worse, outright hate among racists. Case in point? The post above this one. I can’t begin to express what I feel towards people like him. More to-the-point: I dare not publicly mention what I would like to see happen to people like him.
I’ll end this comment on a high note. Here’s a very moving segment from the archives of the Mike Malloy show. It’s a recording of JFK’s inaugural address. If it’s your first time hearing it, consider it a July 4th gift from one stranger to another. Enjoy.
Musclemouth
John Kactuz writes:
What basis do you have for making such a broad — and pathetically uninformed — statement about Islam? Is your judgement of Muslims and their religion based on the actions of the fanatical perpetrators of 9/11?
One could as easily draw equally uninformed and erroneous conclusions about Christianity or other religions by narrowly highlighting the views held by their extremists. If there’s a lesson to be drawn from narrowly held radical views, it is this: fanaticism in the name of God — any God — is destructive.
To set right your comment, if American Muslims — and immigrants — enjoy any sense of freedom and equality in the U.S., it is because of American people UNLIKE you.
You owe an unconditional apology to Mash and Muslims the world over who not only lead lives of peace but also work hard toward making ours a better world.
Alfredo, I’m with you. Let’s make him apologize. Let’s make them all apologize.
Musclemouth, thanks for the link to the JFK speech. I listened to it all the way through. It still gives me chills every time. It is indeed a long twilight struggle.
Alfredo, I am glad John posted his comment. Its best to get it out in the open. Oddly he accuses Muslims of hate yet his post puts his hate on display. I think I had mentioned earlier that I always find it funny when someone accuses most Muslims of misunderstanding Islam because we choose to live peacefully. He is so certain that Islam is all about hate that we Muslims must have lost something in the translation. But John is doing his duty by speaking “truth” to us Muslims. A little over half a century ago a guy named Adolf spoke “truth” of the same kind to the Jews. Hate always seems to find a reservoir to slither into.
Poetically put, that bit about hate. The imagery: Slithering like a snake/stream of poison water, through gutters.
I don’t want to be an alarmist. I want to be able to think clearly, rationally. I want to do my best to sort out the factual from the sensational. But then, the truth can sometimes be outlandish, compared to previous perceptions. Round earth theory was pretty controversial, to say the least. So, what I’m about to say, take with a grain of salt, whatever the case. Perhaps you’ve heard of “black sites” or secret prisons. They exist all over the world. A list of black sites – some suspected, some declassified – can be found at Wikipedia. I have also read about various rumors (I don’t know how substantiated they are) about the construction wing of Halliburton, known as Kellogg, Brown and Root, constructing “emergency housing complexes” in the case of natural disasters that would create large masses of refugees.
My running conclusion is that a viable infrastructure for Nazi-style concentration camps is in place, and expanding. Now, like I said, I don’t want to jump to conclusions. But I do think a lot of these fringe stories should be investigated. I wonder how many Germans believed in the existence of the gas chambers, crematoriums, and torture apparati. I’ll bet not many believed in them.
Tell a small lie, they’ll catch you. Tell a big lie, they’ll swallow it. Humans are not equipped to really understand the full towering height of evil, wherever and whenever it may arise. Denial and acquiesence are psychological survival mechanisms.
Camps are a real possibility. So that must be investigated. If we find out there is nothing to it, then good. Thank God. I don’t want to be right about terrible things. But if the truth tastes too hellish to swallow, then I am going to try swallowing it anyway.
Anyway…I’m with the Muslims. If ever we need an underground railroad, I’ll oblige. I would hope all conscious white people worldwide will make that same pledge. I would also hope that Muslims wordlwide will be able to swallow any pride they might have, and ask for help.
Connections are the answer. We are all blind, we are all in the dark, the beacons of light and hope continue to be snuffed out, and we are all lost, trying to grope our way home on our knees. Only way to make it is to grab hold of one another en masse and hold tight. (A propo, a good novel applies as metaphore. It’s called Blindness, by Jose Saramago.)
i just read your beautiful post on DKos. Thank you for sharing your story, and i hope your wife and daughter are having a wonderful time in Bangladesh. i am not a Muslim, but i’m studying Islam in college, and i have had to explain to numerous family members, friends, and passers by that Muslim is not synonymous to terrorist. i can only imagine that it must be worse to be a non-white Muslim in America these days; that you can still be so positive shows that you are a generous person. Keep up the dialogue, because like you i think my children will someday be able to claim the adjective “American” without any qualifiers.
As an American Jew, I have experienced only minor anti-semitic incidents throughout my life, but have always been horrified by the Holocaust. As many American Jews, I continue to worry about changes in our society that would ever permit such atrocities to happen again. I fully agree that it is only our Constitution that will protect us. We must continue to fight for our rights. It is the most serious issue facing us. A few months ago I wrote in a letter to a friend, How long will it take to begin the camps for the Muslims? Lets pray together and stop this madness.
Hey Mash,
Great article. I always enjoy (from the heart) writting rather than (cut copy) political reviews. Love the effort you put into that one. As for our troll John Kactuz all I have to say is this.
The fact that he feels he can “tell” you about your religion is a flawed arguement to begin with. He being the expert on the Qu’ran evidently, as well as, the American psyche.
One thing to say there John,
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Other wise sit down and be quiet before you hurt yourself using that last brain cell.
Mash,
Your post brought tears to my eyes. America is alive because of patriots like yourself. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share a poem I wrote in September 2001.
Would Jesus Join the KKK?
Would Jesus join the KKK?
Would the Prophet lead the Masses?
Can the Ark of Moses spirit us away
From the Pyramid’s High Classes?
Would Marx engage the Scientist
In commercial recreation?
Is Shiva in the Whitehouse
Promoting Revelation?
Will Peace and Prosperity someday need
Pedigreed poetic license
To be a part of Culture’s Creed
And replace the Wine of Ordnance?
While Bacchus stomps the grapes and
Plays the pipes of Cent Seduction,
We line up for our dose of sand
To use at our induction.
Hold fast the sand within your fist;
Count every gritty grain.
Carve your virtues on the list;
From inquiry refrain.
In the Halls of Truth and Justice note
The floors are very slippery.
Pour the sand and cast your vote
At the Altar of Ideology.
Now you’ve earned the rite to wear
A hat to crown your wit.
No fool’s suffrage will you bear ;
You have the perfect fit.
Whatever hat you choose to wear,
Know this and know it well:
Someday you’ll have to take it off;
Your soul will ring the bell.
Folks…let’s all agree to the following:
“Religion is each of our own paths to our own God”.
There are many Religions as there are many paths to the same location. Wouldn’t it be sad to finally find out that we all hated and killed each other for the *same* God!!!
The *only* way to solve these types of hatred is via Education and cross cultural pollination.
Musclemouth, I have read reports about the “camps” that are being built. You are right about the big lie. It is easier to peddle to the public. We will see which way the public falls on this debate in the long run. My money is on the American public.
hannah, thanks. I think the key to isolating the terrorists is of course better understanding between the West and the Islamic world. To that end, the Bush Administration has utterly failed. If one looks with open eyes, it becomes very obvious that most people around the world, regardless of religion, want above all to just live in peace and relative safety. Its such an obvious notion that I fail to understand why the right wing, the family values wing, refuse to accept or understand it.
Bob, I really hope it doesnt head in the direction of camps. We’ve seen this too often in the last century. I think that was more than what humanity can handle in a millenium. The world has not yet recovered from the shame of the the Holocaust and Pol Pot’s social engineering, among others. I keep telling myself that this is America and America will not allow it. No matter how much people like John want it.
cyberotter, John is what they call an Anti-Islamo-Fascist :d
Aunty, thank you for sharing the poem. When I wrote the post, I did not anticipate the overwhelming response that it would receive. I just wanted to write my thoughts on America as I was growing up. I do believe in the ideals of this country and I am confident those ideals will prevail.
Milkyway, it seems to me to be a basic fact of any monotheistic religion that if there is one God, that God is the god to all people. So, if another person does not believe in your monotheistic god, it simply makes him or her “misinformed”, not evil. I am always puzzled when people fight over religion for this reason. Does not seem to me that “ignorance” is a reason to kill someone.
I do believe the work of Reza Aslan attempts to move western culture closer to Islam and visa versa.
I did not realize you wuz one of them thar evil doers Mash!
No wonder you dont love GW…
I now has ta re-thank our internet doins…I dont want ta be put in the camp when they cum fer ya….jez say you never herd of me…
Why is yor religion filled with hate? Why dont ya love like us Christians? Look at what we has done in the name of Jesus:
1) freed the Red Man frum his ignorance and gave them thar own land so they can have them casinoes they love so much! We even gave them blankets Mash…..Blankets!
2) We brought over sum of them thar nice Negroes and gave them jobs….They dint have no jobs before Mash….We set them right ta pickin cotton and raisin our young ‘uns
3) Durin WW II we protected our Japanese Americans by puttin them all together so they wouldnt git lonely!
Jez imagine how nice it would be fer y’all freedom hatin Muslims ta have yer very own camp! Ware you could jez sit around and hate freedom together! Not many Countries would do somethin so nice, at least not since Germany went and got all politicall correct and such…
Besides what has Muslim ever done fer the world? Besides Algebra and savin Aristotle, two thangs I dont even use….
(BTW I am reportin y’all ta GW’s prayer team…you should be gittin a visit frum Fox security soon)
I reckon since you is a GW supporter now, I will not tell GW everthang….
I did not realize you wuz one of them thar evil doers Mash!
No wonder you used ta question GW…
I now has ta re-thank our internet doins…I dont want ta be put in the camp when they cum fer ya….jez say you never herd of me…
Why is yor religion (Muslim) filled with hate? Why dont ya love like us Christians? Look at what we has done in the name of Jesus:
1) freed the Red Man frum his ignorance and gave them thar own land so they can have them casinoes they love so much! We even gave them blankets Mash…..Blankets!
2) We brought over sum of them thar nice Negroes and gave them jobs….They dint have no jobs before Mash….We set them right ta pickin cotton and raisin our young ‘uns
3) Durin WW II we protected our Japanese Americans by puttin them all together so they wouldnt git lonely!
Jez imagine how nice it would be fer y’all freedom hatin Muslim worshippers ta have yer very own camp! Ware you could jez sit around and hate freedom together, talkin about yor false profit! Not many Countries would do somethin so nice in the name of Jesus, at least not since Germany went and got all politically correct and such…
Besides what has Muslim ever done fer the world? Besides Algebra and savin Aristotle, two thangs I dont even use….
(BTW I am reportin y’all ta GW’s prayer team…you should be gittin a visit frum Fox security soon)
I reckon since you is a GW supporter now, I will not tell GW everthang….
Turn away frum Muslim and accept Jesus!
sorry bout that thar double post…Otha bumped my arm while she wuz vacumin
Oh Mash ..
Inspiration you have provided – earlier.
What I just read – pure bliss.
I have never stepped in the US, but it felt like I lived every step you wrote about.
I liked this so much, I forced my freind to read it : ) . .
Dà FäŤ ÅµÄºÅºÃ Å•Ä [ darkcrunk.wordpress.com ! ] says:
shuvo bhai
Dà FäŤ ÅµÄºÅºÃ Å•Ä [ darkcrunk.wordpress.com ! ] says:
ekta jinish porben ?
Dà FäŤ ÅµÄºÅºÃ Å•Ä [ darkcrunk.wordpress.com ! ] says:
valo lagbe porle . .
Icy [ Gontobbohin ] says:
de
Icy [ Gontobbohin ] says:
porbo
Dà FäŤ ÅµÄºÅºÃ Å•Ä [ darkcrunk.wordpress.com ! ] says:
http://www.docstrangelove.com/2006/07/05/muslim-immigrant-american/
Icy [ Gontobbohin ] says:
ok
Love what you have to write –
p.s – we use the same theme : ) ..
Fat Wizard, thanks. Its always good to hear from someone from Bangladesh. My heart right now is in Bangladesh because my little girl is there for the summer.
I just visited your site and took a look at your album. Some of those pictures made me quite nostalgic. You do great work.
Thanks again for reading my posts.
Something in me changed after reading this, I really like your post Mash, keep up the good work and take care in life dear sir. Maybe Allah always protect you and your family ^_^
This article show me one thing, there is hope for a better world as long we have people like you. After 9/11, I did felt out of place, watching how the news would take about Muslims, Islam and Terrorism, I just didn’t know what to think at that time. This article just gave me some inner strength, to live my life the right way and fight for my rights.
taysiir, thanks for reading this post. I wasnt sure how relevant what I wrote would be to others. I am glad you found some solace in it. This is a tough time for all of us – no matter one’s religion or nationality.
I think we will get through this though. We always have in the past and there is no reason to believe we won’t again.
taysiir, peace be upon you. Thanks for your kind words about my family.
Muslims of the World, UNITE!
Teach them a lesson, it is perfectly alright
Boot them, on humanity they are a blight
Hitler’s holocaust is welcome, history we cite
Don’t compromise, blow them with dynamite
Defeating them is what delights and excite
Fight them, bite them, let them take flight
Make Jews, Christians, Hindus graves with granite
Enemies of Islam take violence to new height
Killing Muslims, hatred dictators incite
Occupiers and oppressors, they are juncite
Show them, we are Islam’s brave knight
Their atrocities against Muslims come to light
Muslim warriors, prove to them our might
Kashmir, Bosnia, Gaza sees only grieved night
Israel, US, India – thrash them outright
Make it all a MUSLIMSTAN to their plight
Raise your voice, don’t remain quiet
Quran desecrated in GTMO, jihad is our right
Iraq, Afghanistan pain – before our sight
Rise above infidels, suppress them tight
O heroic Muslims of the world, UNITE!
Against disbelievers, be one as vitrite
Destroy their evil plans, hack their website
End their terror, act as xenoparasite
Let them die, let them inhale yperite
Be one, together, united as a zeolite