Who do people think of when they hear the word Islam? Men with hoods and AK-47s. We need to change that.
Part of me wants to return. Part of me feels guilty because I survived. By the grace of God, I survived! So did my family and friends. I remember those weeks when I tried my best not to entertain those nightmares of thinking of my father’s corpse floating in the water. I watched the news coverage knowing that I would see the face of an old friend or teacher who was stuck in their home at the Superdome or Convention Center. When I reflect on that turbulent year of trying to get back on my feet and getting used to life in Georgia, sometimes I feel like I made it out of their like a bandit.
Death will find us. No matter where we are. Even if we built tower strong and high, it will not help us. This is the reality. And maybe someone should tell Mr. James Bond how very wrong he was in one of his blockbuster movie - “Die Another Day” because we can never negotiate our timing of death.
Since I wear a headscarf now, there are huge assumptions being made about me by strangers, you know, like now when I go to public bathrooms, girls will toss their hair an absurdly, unnecessary number of times in front of me in an attempt, I presume, to make me jealous, or for example, when we’re at Walmart and people stare at me and all my 3 kids, shaking their heads disapprovingly at my baby-making skills, but hardly even notice the ‘white’ mother next to me with her 6 kids. Again, just saying…
Women have become the central most important point of discussion by men and the most precious point of attack on Islam by non-Muslims. To me, it is not surprising at all. Personally, I blame some men who had selfish motives to bring Islam to this position where even terrorism is linked to lust. So, how did this all begin; this obsession with women? I can only presume.
Most girls are excited about their wedding day, the cake, the dress, and the celebration, they forget the most important thing of all—the actual marriage. The engagement period is the most critical period that will decide a happy and blissful future.
