Letter to an American Muslim

``Letter to an American Muslim``

three words -- REGISTER.... TO..... VOTE......

and don`t sit at home in November 2004 praying.......take a plunge in the mainstream politIcs of the US.....and on the Day of THE Reckoning

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GO OUT AND VOTE...

Re: #28

``As both the author of this piece and Aminai point out``

Would someone explain to the Ehmaq Aurat #1 that both the author of this piece and Aminai is the same person.

.........something stinks !

..... it is hard to argue with the arguments presented by the author and so eloquently supported by saminasha, our resident commie and bleeding heart liberal..........but still, something stinks ...........

......... there is something putrid about the ummah invoking the founding fathers and crying about american values while they continue to deride the pork-eating, beer guzzling, incestuous fornicators and adulterers .............. there is something rancid about people who call themselves ``hum log`` (we people) and who regularly scorn other americans as ``yeh log`` demanding to be accepted as equals by ``these people``................. three years ago hum log were busy trying to distance themselves from the pagan ways of these people....... parents were telling their children that ``we people`` don`t do this and don`t do that and that joe sixpack and his promiscuous wife were headed for hell because mrs joe was running around in shorts and joe junior was seen kissing his girlfriend .................``hum log muslaman hain, in logon ki tarah beyhaya our besharam nahin``............. hum log kept to themselves; once a year they showed up at the office christmas party to collect the christmas bonus but otherwise had nothing to do with whites, blacks, latinos and other immoral people ..................

........... now, all of a sudden, they want these people to embrace them as americans and treat them as equals ........... something really stinks ............

Dear Minai: I read the first paragraph of your essay and was turned-off. Simply put, you assume too much. You believe except you, no one is aware of the troubles of the Japanese-Americans during WWII, or the fact that Thomas Jefferson had slaves. I am already aware of all that, I even know of Jefferson`s affair with Sally Hammings, and the recent news that senator Storm Thurmond had a black daughter. I guess now, it allows me to read your piece no further, huh.

By the way, good info for those who used to cut high school.

Aminai,

Excellent points! And I am glad to see you here. A few ideas.

1. Our politicization. The policies that are being developed in the name of the Patriot Act have not emerged from a vacuum. As both the author of this piece and Aminai point out, these legislative gestures come from a continuum of the US`s relationship with various ideologies deemed ``threatening`` by mainstream institutions. It behooves us to read up on various watershed moments in US history such as the McCarthy hearings, Japanese Internment, our involvement in supporting some of the bloodiest govts. in Latin America. Rather than complaining about African Americans and Latino Americans, we need to study the long processes it has taken them to be demand/work for political/economic/social/intellectual inclusion in The American Dream. Our responses need to be nuanced; rather than arguing that affirmative action is wrong, (which btw many of my Black and Latino honors students had ambivalence towards) look at all sides of the argument and its efficacy as part of a larger address of widespread inequity.

2. We need to be fearless in interrogating what the American Dream is, be it a mythological narrative, or possible for some sectors of this country. Is the American Dream a legitimate idea? According to the increasing number of working poor who work 2-3 jobs without health insurance, it is a cruel taunt issued by those with access to better educations, jobs, etc. If anyone should care to read such a narrative, check my i-log in which I have posted a recent article in the NYTimes about one working class woman citizen who is struggling and does not fit the easy stereotypes some of us South Asians are prone to accepting. One of the stories we like to tell ourselves is that the ``natives`` arent as smart/hardworking/religious/sophisticated as we are, and that is utter nonsense.

3. How many classes exist for South Asian Americans? Chowk easily is a forum for fairly professional folk, but it would be dangerous to believe that we own the only narrative. How much do various South Asian American classes mix within and outside religious establishments? Are we familliar with the kinds of struggles for survival that South Asian immigrant and undocumented communities face? They are the most vulnerable population among us in terms of being deported, imprisoned, unemployed, isolated, uninsured. When I intentionally brought up Mannavi, Sakhi and Drumz, it was because these groups work not only middle class South Asian-Americans, but also undocumented workers in legal, economic, political or physical harm. It is important for us to know that we are NOT the only narrative of South Asian Muslims, and seek out the experiences of people from diverse sectors of American society.

4. Other meaningful ways of organizing. Assembly under religious affiliation is fairly standard. However, Americans organize in an additional way: professionally in associations or unions. It is imperative that we educate ourselves on the histories of our working orgs. While I can hear anti union chowkies reaching for their keyboards to post their diatribes, I would point out that unions in this country are a legitimate and powerful leverage tool of several sectors in American society, be they SEIU/1199 the Hospital Workers Union that worked with Dr. King for Civil Rights to NYC`s/MTA Transit Workers Union under whose new and progressive leadership, Black Women Bus Drivers are getting their shifts back (a recent case in the MTA revealed that Black Muslim women bus drivers were pullled OFF of work), to professors/adjuncts who are struggling against the growing piece working of university instruction. If we want to be in touch and working with organizing Americans, this is one valid place to start.

While it is important to politically consolidate the voters on the basis of the religious identity (the muslim vote bloc) in order to get the legitimate muslim concerns in the mainstream US polity- it would be very stupid to let this be a substitute for democratic participation in US polity by the American muslims. OTH it could be very counter product because of a rightwing christian reaction to it which may infact consolidate their votes into another opposing bloc.
Let us stop talking about creating another Pakistan in US and make efforts to educate US about our peaceful religion while condemning the terrorists and fundamentalist.

what an advice, create voting blocks, create and fund lobby groups. How about having a look at the islamic vlues.
How about making a bold public statement that you all do not believe in jihad. How about telling the world that the notion that every muslim should search out and kill non-innocents is all arong and is not suited for the present times.
How about telling taht the reerved place in heaven is only for the shaheed needs revision.
How about telling the world that ummah is a dead concept.
How about telling that muslims in pakistan need not demoslish temples in pakistan because a mosque is destroyed in india. How about telling muslims of nation states and seperate identities.
How about telling the world that mulsims from 20 countries have been killed in kashmir and telling them to mind their own business.
How about criticising oragnisation of islamic states that ummah os dead and the OIC should be abolished.

It is time toi accept that putting armani suit ona skunk will not mask the stink. How about planning a surgery to remove the stink glands.

the new war is the conflict of cultures, barbaris and the civilised. It is amusing that the author talks about cultural identity and declares that muslims from different cultures are different. These talk like this when in the US. While in pakistan the story is different, it is the ummah and the islamic struggle. Muslims from all over the world are at quantanamo bay, the only commonality is that they are all muslims. David hicks from australia to abduls from pakistan.
There is no one from india, simply because the virulent isamic strain has mutated with oeace loving hindu strain. Where muslims are in majority the country will revert to the jkiahdic structures. Pakistan is a good example, in 50 years the country is undistinguishambel from the arabia of a thousand years ago, all with popular support. The hoodood ordinance, the blasphemy laws all have survived the dictators, the elected ones and even a female prime minister. The reason is simple, the vlaues intrinsic in the book. A new generation that loves only the book has emerged.

No ;obbgying, no white washing, no new organisation can help.

Minai # 23

A good post though I could not read the article. I agree with your views. If you are an immigrant - better start feeling and experiencing the local life as a dedicated honest citizen.

charity begins at home.. how about changing the laws and regulations of the muslim countries around the world itself first and then look at how ``other`` countries are treating muslims.

The article is not aimed at Pakistani-Americans only - and certainly not at those who had to leave because they were here illegally! The imaginary recipient of my letter is not someone living at the fringes of the law. He (could be ``she``, but I have found such insecurties more prevalent among men:-) is someone who has ``arrived`` in material terms, and was feeling especially secure before things changed. Maybe he did not buy a Mercedes, just a Camry or a Jetta (Mercedes - especially the low-end ones - are worthless anyway:-). He could be Egyptian or Lebanese, Indian or Bangladeshi, Malaysian or Kuwaiti. I would not be concerned if the only people fretting about their future were illegal aliens. I don`t know about you, but I have seen extremely successful professionals, citizens of the US, settled in this country for one or two decades, who are very concerned. And I am not even saying that their concern is unjustified. As romair points out, we are one big attack away from a possible pogrom, and as I said, things will probably get worse in the short run. My point is that we also need to think of the long run. With all the pros and cons considered, many of us have decided to make this our home, to raise families here, to live and die here. I don`t think we should live and die here as foreigners. I think that we need to embrace what we have chosen - in the best possible sense, not the jingoistic way in which the right-wing would have it - without giving up the ties to our origins. My criticism is directed at those who have chosen to benefit superficially from the American system without becoming committed to it. Again, I am not advocating that people become flag-waving nationalists, but that they participate as citizens. Many do, but still too few. I think that too many immigrant Muslims in America still live their lives in a bubble. They do their jobs, attend office parties, travel, play golf, but never think about disabled services in their township, visit the the local symphony orchestra, support a local charity or museum, or wonder how things here really work. Again, I am generalizing. Many of us do participate in limited ways (and I consider myself as culpable as anyone I criticize). Often, it is our kids who drag us into participating - coaching a soccer team, volunteering at school, going to camp, joining the scouts - but few of us really stop to think how this society got to where it is after centuries of such participation by millions of people, and what lessons that holds for us. In particular, I think we know too little of the American experience - especially the immigrant experience - beyond what we have experienced ourselves.

My other concern is about an affliction that is found among Muslims almost everywhere (well, I don`t know about Nigeria:-), and that is the need to blame some nefarious external force for all our problems. ``The Jews did it`` is only one version of this. Others variously blame Hindus, Christians, Greeks, Communists, the CIA, the Mohajirs, the Punjabis, the Shias, or whoever. Of course there are historical grievances, and of course there are atrocities for which those responsible must be punished (as far as possible), but labeling whole races and civilizations to be our ``enemies`` is neither justified not productive - especially in the modern world. I can understand totally why a Palestinian sees an Israeli soldier as a symbol of oppression, but I do not understand why all Muslims should consider all Jews their enemies for all time. Or Christians, or Hindus, or Communists. Just as I deplore the us-versus-them rhetoric of the right-wing, I find the us-versus-them rhetoric prevalent in most Muslim societies reprehensible. It is the signature of an ethos that cannot yet say, ``Live and let live``, and thinks in the language of dominance and subjugation. Of course, this ethos is far more dangerous in those who have the power to project it, but, I would submit, it is much more destructive for the weak who can only destroy themselves by the anger it generates. Anyway, this is a topic for another time.

Echoboom:

``The want to STUDY Islam aS A PROBLEM to do an inside job on it, to get tenure, to get a sinecure. ``

True for all comparative religion students, not just those of Islam. Religion is a matter of faith. Those who do acadamic hatchet jobs on religion are those who are most far removed from its practice.

Echoboom:

``Most of the writer-types were sissy-types in school. victims of bullies, and afraid of team-sports. Sad, but true. ``

Hmmm. Interesting that you say that. A Chowkie leftist type had said pretty much the exact thing about Right wingers. I dunno much about the bullying part, but yes, mosty of these lefty types do seem to share a tarit of majoring in useless liberal arts type programs like English Lit and the sort which seems to give them too much free time.

Heathcliffe:
very well put.

[of prestigious univ.`s have only one thing on their minds: $. Charity, social work, community involvement is an anathema to them. ``Hamarey paas in fazool cheezouN kai liyea time nahi hai!``. ]

Their amin claim to fame and and merlot-propped IQ IS that they do not like to move among ``masses``--the daRRhi valays, the namazis, the rozaa-daars, the hajis.

No No not at all! they move among Tariq Alis, Tarik Fatahs, HootBhoys, Iqbal Ahmeds, and edward Said. The want to STUDY Islam aS A PROBLEM to do an inside job on it, to get tenure, to get a sinecure.

You will be happy to know that 9/11 has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that suspicion is always first upon such kind of sleeper-cells. The ones who are openly following the sunnat and shariah demand and COMMAND self-respect, ANYWHERE, let alone U.S. They get it. Dr. Muzzaffar Iqbal`s case is an eye-opener for all.

Even the juTT-chiTroll today has been unable to coalesce this self-involved bunch, who like a virus, is willing to go into hibernation, until the current storm blows over..

This they do in India and Pakistan as well. Their cultural antennae are always cocked towards the west-wind.

Most of the InterActs make good points. My biggest concern was that the whole thing had a pretty negative tone. That`s because I cut out all the positive stuff, but not enough to please godot:-). In particular, I think the point raised by Saminasha is an excellent one. I am very optimistic about the next generation of American Muslims, many of whom *are* becoming true achievers, and creating powerful new memes in the culture (apologies for the academicspeak:-).

The issue of whom I am addressing in the article is also an important one. I agree that it is too simplistic to think of people as ``just Muslims``, and that I (a Muslim from Pakistan) have much more in common with a North Indian non-Musim than with a Nigerian Muslim. That said, I think the audience I am addressing is not confined to Pakistanis, or even South Asians. Like everything one writes, this article is rooted in my own experience, and is motivated by interactions I have had with Muslim friends and acquaintances. Many of these were, in fact, not South Asian but from Arab backgrounds, and even some from Africa (not just North Africa). At the risk of being somewhat tautological, I would say that my article is addressed to those who are described in the article:-). I have certainly met enough Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis, Egyptians, Palestinians and others who have, in one form or the other, expressed the attitude I describe. An article such as this necessarily generalizes (which is regrettable), but it tries to capture a broadly prevalent attitude. I think that, at this time, there is a sort of defensive despair among a lrge segment of American Muslim immigrants. This despair is not without reason - as I hope the article makes clear - but its solution does not lie in greater insularity. Rather, it lies in greater participation. This society is uniquely amenable to that.

Actually, the signs are not at all bad. There is much greater political awareness among American Muslims now. They are organizing more. There is more inter-faith activity and outreach to other groups. My point is that I wish it had not needed adversity to trigger all this. Now that we are threatened with civil rights abuses, we join the ACLU and support their activities on behalf of other marginalized groups, but how many of us were thinking of the discrimination suffered by minorities, gays, the disabled and the disenfranchised before it happened to us? Some were - especially among second-generation Americans - but I think that too many of us were happy to simply be along for a ride on the American Dream Express. We thought no one would ever ask to see our ticket. Well, here we are! If this gives us a little more empathy for the gay student who is beaten up in his classroom or the atheist who is shunned for not wishing to particpate in school prayer, that would be very positive. We have too much parochialism in large sections of the American Muslim community. Getting out there and participating in the larger society will necessarily weaken this attitude, and that is good. I think the next generation is going to be much better on this count anyway, and those of us who are parents should encourage that. I have great admiration for some of my Muslim (and non-Muslim immigrant) friends who have actively encouraged their sons and daughters to volunteer for campaigns, work for NGOs, join human rights groups. We should do much more of that.

It is a tricky balancing act to assimilate while retaining one`s religious or ethnic identity. We should recognize that different individuals will solve this problem in different ways. We should welcome this rather than trying to enforce one ``approved`` way of being a member of ``the Community`` on all. Some Muslims might well change their names, inter-marry or drink Budweiser. If they still wish to participate at any level as Muslims, I think that should be encouraged. Excluding everyone who does not conform will prevent the emergence of an effective community forever. Also, some Muslims might decide that there is no need to support a PAC or civil rights group that serves ``Muslim interests``. That is fine too. I wish I could live to see the day when there was no need for interest groups. Unfortunately, I do not think that day is imminent, and as long as the society at large recognizes Muslims as a group, Muslims must organize to protect their interests.

To respond to echoboom`s last comment, my first identity is a member of the human race. I wish that could be my only identity, but that is not yet possible. I agree totally with fuzair that religion need not be our primary identity, but I also think that it is not possible to cleanly separate religion from culture, language, etc., in most traditional (let`s say pre-post-modern:-) societies. Much of what we think, speak and do has influences from religion - and not just the religion we profess. People have complex identities, and trouble arises hen they are forced to subjugate all other dimensions of their identity to a single dominant one such as ``Muslim`` or ``American`` or ``Punjabi``. That, in my opinion, is a recipe for disaster, and on that count, those who enforce a national or ethnic identity are no better than those who, like the Taliban, enforce a religious one. In writing this article, I did *not* mean to imply that anyone should make ``Muslim`` their primary identity (unless they wanted to). However, it is one identity that many Americans share, and which currently has high visibility in the American psyche. Ignoring that would be unwise.

Finally, on the point that American Jews had to give up their Jewish identity to succeed. If that were true, how would we know they had succeeded. Clearly, a very large number of successful Jews have *not* given up their identity (Joe Lieberman is a good example), but have found a way to assimilate that identity into the mainstream. This was a long and painful process, creating much internal strife and schism, but Muslims will have to undergo something similar at some point. The first step of this process is the willingness to concede the need for independent thinking - a willingness sorely lacking in most Muslim societies for the last century.

I could - probably should - write much more, but I fear I`ve already lost godot:-).

Romair,

`...Though too long-winded....`

Comming from you, this is the funniest thing I have read in along time.