I’d like to quickly, if we have time, solve the conflict in the Middle East here.
When I lived in New York during 9/11, I’m pretty sure many people thought I looked Muslim. They definitely thought my Sikh brothers were Muslim because they wore turbans. I had a friend who lived in Battery Park who stopped wearing a turban and just wore a hat because he didn’t want to deal with it. He lost his job and his apartment.
When I was in college at U of M, my roommate was Muslim. She was a beautiful, intelligent woman who was fiercely independent. She did not wear hijab. But she did fast for Ramadan. I really respected that because I’m incapable of not eating, even for god. She became a doctor.
I had another Muslim friend who did wear hijab and was a force to be reckoned with. She was a strong woman and was like, “No man is going to objectify me; that’s why I wear this scarf.” More power to her.
When I went to grad school, I was infatuated with a Muslim man whom the FBI had decided to investigate right after the Twin Towers fell because his last name matched one of the hijackers. He was just worried he would get arrested for smoking pot and end up in jail. He said his writing was suffering.
I know that in this country there is a lot of tension between Muslims and Jews at the moment because of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
I will be completely honest: I don’t understand all the aspects of the conflict, and I’m hesitant to take sides.
Photo Courtesy of Yasir Mir via Scopio
I have a Palestinian friend; she has told me what it feels like to watch her people endure what she describes as a genocide. I have a friend who is half Jewish; she is, in fact, one of the most intelligent people I know. She has a PhD. I imagine this conflict is particularly complicated for her.
When I was growing up, my parents’ lawyer was Jewish, and he was brilliant. When I told him I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 18, he told my mom he thought I would be good at that. He was one of the most renowned attorneys in our area; he literally never lost a case.
When I was 25, my psychiatrist was Jewish. He was a psychiatrist who actually did therapy. I grew to love him like a father. He guided me through my mania and depression for many, many years. He didn’t buy my bullshit and called it like he saw it. He was married to a Christian woman. He celebrated Christmas and Hanukkah.
So after all this exposure to Muslims and Jews, where do I stand on the tension in the Middle East?
Photo Courtesy of Oleg Prokopenko via Scopio
I don’t stand. I am sitting.
I’m looking around at my world. The people I know and have known throughout my life.
I loved these people; some of them are still in my life.
I have a personal stake in how Muslims are treated in America because many people think Sikhs are Muslims. After all, the men wear turbans. I also just look kind of Muslim myself.
I’m just as mad at Islamophobia as I am at antisemitism.
I hate hate.
I hate violence.
Where do I stand?
Put your bombs away.
Sit in a room and talk. For hours, days, years if you have to.
God doesn’t prefer one religion over another.
Neither do I.
nina
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