I know exactly what you’re thinking when you look at me no I’m not a ninja I just
you look at me no I’m not a ninja I just
you look at me no I’m not a ninja I just dress like one I know you’ve already
dress like one I know you’ve already
dress like one I know you’ve already guessed it I am a Muslim and this black
guessed it I am a Muslim and this black
guessed it I am a Muslim and this black cloak that I’m wearing is called an
cloak that I’m wearing is called an
cloak that I’m wearing is called an abaya
abaya
abaya you know I always loved wearing a bias
you know I always loved wearing a bias
you know I always loved wearing a bias not only to protect my privacy and to
not only to protect my privacy and to
not only to protect my privacy and to feel proud for being identified as a
feel proud for being identified as a
feel proud for being identified as a Muslim but also because I can literally
Muslim but also because I can literally
Muslim but also because I can literally get away with wearing hot pink pajamas
get away with wearing hot pink pajamas
get away with wearing hot pink pajamas and bunny slippers underneath and no one
and bunny slippers underneath and no one
and bunny slippers underneath and no one would ever know but I’m not today
would ever know but I’m not today
would ever know but I’m not today don’t worry yeah I’m actually wearing
don’t worry yeah I’m actually wearing
don’t worry yeah I’m actually wearing these sassy stilettos with hot pink
these sassy stilettos with hot pink
these sassy stilettos with hot pink pajamas but you know 2008 was actually
pajamas but you know 2008 was actually
pajamas but you know 2008 was actually the last time I were in the buy in
the last time I were in the buy in
the last time I were in the buy in public now I remember that summer I had
public now I remember that summer I had
public now I remember that summer I had gone grocery shopping with my two boys
gone grocery shopping with my two boys
gone grocery shopping with my two boys my then three year old gibreel and my
my then three year old gibreel and my
my then three year old gibreel and my three month old with Reese now I just
three month old with Reese now I just
three month old with Reese now I just parked my car in the parking lot when
parked my car in the parking lot when
parked my car in the parking lot when suddenly I see this tall blonde woman
suddenly I see this tall blonde woman
suddenly I see this tall blonde woman charging towards me and shouting I can
charging towards me and shouting I can
charging towards me and shouting I can see her discussing dress touching my car
see her discussing dress touching my car
see her discussing dress touching my car get away from my car you effing
get away from my car you effing
get away from my car you effing terrorist her car was part of right next
terrorist her car was part of right next
terrorist her car was part of right next to mine now as she started yelling
to mine now as she started yelling
to mine now as she started yelling profanities chhabria was petrified he
profanities chhabria was petrified he
profanities chhabria was petrified he started pulling on my bias saying mom
started pulling on my bias saying mom
started pulling on my bias saying mom let’s go now I was terrified too you
let’s go now I was terrified too you
let’s go now I was terrified too you know but I don’t want to show my fear in
know but I don’t want to show my fear in
know but I don’t want to show my fear in front of him but III was still in the
front of him but III was still in the
front of him but III was still in the car I couldn’t leave so I pleaded to her
car I couldn’t leave so I pleaded to her
car I couldn’t leave so I pleaded to her can I please just get my baby out I
can I please just get my baby out I
can I please just get my baby out I swear my dress is not going to touch
swear my dress is not going to touch
swear my dress is not going to touch your car but she wouldn’t stop yelling
your car but she wouldn’t stop yelling
your car but she wouldn’t stop yelling so I threatened to call the police as I
so I threatened to call the police as I
so I threatened to call the police as I took down a license plate number and
took down a license plate number and
took down a license plate number and then I grabbed both my kids and
then I grabbed both my kids and
then I grabbed both my kids and scrambled towards the store next thing I
scrambled towards the store next thing I
scrambled towards the store next thing I knew in her white SUV honking
knew in her white SUV honking
knew in her white SUV honking aggressively she started accelerating
aggressively she started accelerating
aggressively she started accelerating straight towards us
straight towards us
straight towards us she missed us by a mere foot that lady
she missed us by a mere foot that lady
she missed us by a mere foot that lady had used a car as a weapon against me
had used a car as a weapon against me
had used a car as a weapon against me you know at that point I broke down in
you know at that point I broke down in
you know at that point I broke down in tears now there were some people around
tears now there were some people around
tears now there were some people around who noticed my anguish but they just
who noticed my anguish but they just
who noticed my anguish but they just walked along as if nothing happened
walked along as if nothing happened
walked along as if nothing happened there was this one bystander who said to
there was this one bystander who said to
there was this one bystander who said to me I saw everything that was just wrong
me I saw everything that was just wrong
me I saw everything that was just wrong like what I’m so sorry you had to go
like what I’m so sorry you had to go
like what I’m so sorry you had to go through all this you know at that time
through all this you know at that time
through all this you know at that time all I wanted to say to her was then why
all I wanted to say to her was then why
all I wanted to say to her was then why didn’t you do something I had never felt
didn’t you do something I had never felt
didn’t you do something I had never felt this unsafe in my country before but all
this unsafe in my country before but all
this unsafe in my country before but all of that changed after 9/11 the horrific
of that changed after 9/11 the horrific
of that changed after 9/11 the horrific attacks of 9/11 gave birth to
Islamophobia witches fear of Islam or
Islamophobia witches fear of Islam or Muslims leading to hate when we dare to
Muslims leading to hate when we dare to
Muslims leading to hate when we dare to take a chance only then can we end
take a chance only then can we end
take a chance only then can we end Islamophobia now back in 1995 my parents
Islamophobia now back in 1995 my parents
Islamophobia now back in 1995 my parents and I migrated from India to America in
and I migrated from India to America in
and I migrated from India to America in pursuit of the American dream
pursuit of the American dream
pursuit of the American dream now by American Dream I don’t mean
now by American Dream I don’t mean
now by American Dream I don’t mean owning a 7-eleven I mean the American
owning a 7-eleven I mean the American
owning a 7-eleven I mean the American dream of being part of a country that
dream of being part of a country that
dream of being part of a country that embodies such high moral values and
embodies such high moral values and
embodies such high moral values and principles as Liberty justice and
principles as Liberty justice and
principles as Liberty justice and equality for all but 9/11 changed my
equality for all but 9/11 changed my
equality for all but 9/11 changed my life and lives of millions of Muslims in
life and lives of millions of Muslims in
life and lives of millions of Muslims in America because that day my faith became
America because that day my faith became
America because that day my faith became recognized by 19 terrorists 19
recognized by 19 terrorists 19
recognized by 19 terrorists 19 terrorists who hijacked my religion
terrorists who hijacked my religion
terrorists who hijacked my religion along with those planes and from that
along with those planes and from that
along with those planes and from that day onwards my entire Muslim community
day onwards my entire Muslim community
day onwards my entire Muslim community of 1.6 billion that’s right
of 1.6 billion that’s right
of 1.6 billion that’s right 1.6 billion were forced to bear the
1.6 billion were forced to bear the
1.6 billion were forced to bear the responsibility for those crimes and you
responsibility for those crimes and you
responsibility for those crimes and you know the last 16 years have been full of
know the last 16 years have been full of
know the last 16 years have been full of hate crimes against innocent Muslims in
hate crimes against innocent Muslims in
hate crimes against innocent Muslims in America who had nothing to do with those
America who had nothing to do with those
America who had nothing to do with those attacks you know just imagine random
attacks you know just imagine random
attacks you know just imagine random people yelling profanities at you in
people yelling profanities at you in
people yelling profanities at you in malls or in grocery stores imagine
malls or in grocery stores imagine
malls or in grocery stores imagine parents fearfully pulling the kids away
parents fearfully pulling the kids away
parents fearfully pulling the kids away from yours at parks or a plate rims
from yours at parks or a plate rims
from yours at parks or a plate rims imagine being told get out of my country
imagine being told get out of my country
imagine being told get out of my country you camel jockey not sad not only
you camel jockey not sad not only
you camel jockey not sad not only because it’s hateful but also because in
because it’s hateful but also because in
because it’s hateful but also because in India we ride elephants not camels but
India we ride elephants not camels but
India we ride elephants not camels but this hate this vitriol this was my
this hate this vitriol this was my
this hate this vitriol this was my reality and the extent of Islamophobia
reality and the extent of Islamophobia
reality and the extent of Islamophobia that surrounded me you know it was
that surrounded me you know it was
that surrounded me you know it was frightening just leaving my house
frightening just leaving my house
frightening just leaving my house because I never knew what it did it
because I never knew what it did it
because I never knew what it did it would bring me and my kids hateful
would bring me and my kids hateful
would bring me and my kids hateful stares of verbal abuse and that incident
stares of verbal abuse and that incident
stares of verbal abuse and that incident that hateful incident in the parking lot
that hateful incident in the parking lot
that hateful incident in the parking lot that was my breaking point I remember
that was my breaking point I remember
that was my breaking point I remember after that rushing to the police station
after that rushing to the police station
after that rushing to the police station sobbing I gave them the license-plate
sobbing I gave them the license-plate
sobbing I gave them the license-plate number along with the description of the
number along with the description of the
number along with the description of the lady and the car only to be told what
lady and the car only to be told what
lady and the car only to be told what happened to you was wrong I’m so sorry
happened to you was wrong I’m so sorry
happened to you was wrong I’m so sorry but you know since all of you guys are
but you know since all of you guys are
but you know since all of you guys are okay thankfully nobody’s hurt there’s
okay thankfully nobody’s hurt there’s
okay thankfully nobody’s hurt there’s really nothing we can do that’s when I
really nothing we can do that’s when I
really nothing we can do that’s when I realized that those who are meant to
realized that those who are meant to
realized that those who are meant to protect us all can’t protect me IRA drew
protect us all can’t protect me IRA drew
protect us all can’t protect me IRA drew into a show and developed a social
into a show and developed a social
into a show and developed a social phobia a phobia of white Americans now
phobia a phobia of white Americans now
phobia a phobia of white Americans now that phobia eventually turned into a
that phobia eventually turned into a
that phobia eventually turned into a agoraphobia I couldn’t leave the four
agoraphobia I couldn’t leave the four
agoraphobia I couldn’t leave the four walls of my house in fear of the hatred
walls of my house in fear of the hatred
walls of my house in fear of the hatred never elevated me outside I literally
never elevated me outside I literally
never elevated me outside I literally felt terrorized so I decided to seek
felt terrorized so I decided to seek
felt terrorized so I decided to seek professional help now when I shared my
professional help now when I shared my
professional help now when I shared my sense of helplessness with a therapist
sense of helplessness with a therapist
sense of helplessness with a therapist she said
she said
she said I’m so sorry – you’re everything that
I’m so sorry – you’re everything that
I’m so sorry – you’re everything that you went through but you know you can’t
you went through but you know you can’t
you went through but you know you can’t fully blame them for acting this way
fully blame them for acting this way
fully blame them for acting this way after all it’s your people who’ve been
after all it’s your people who’ve been
after all it’s your people who’ve been causing all of this havoc around the
causing all of this havoc around the
causing all of this havoc around the world that’s when I realized that those
world that’s when I realized that those
world that’s when I realized that those who are meant to help heal us all can’t
who are meant to help heal us all can’t
who are meant to help heal us all can’t heal me
Islamophobia this fear of the other
Islamophobia this fear of the other creates a wall of division that
creates a wall of division that
creates a wall of division that threatens our shared humanity I had
threatens our shared humanity I had
threatens our shared humanity I had never felt this hopeless this alone in
never felt this hopeless this alone in
never felt this hopeless this alone in my own country before now it wasn’t
my own country before now it wasn’t
my own country before now it wasn’t until I started noticing my oldest son
until I started noticing my oldest son
until I started noticing my oldest son gibreel
gibreel
gibreel exhibit similar anxiety in public places
exhibit similar anxiety in public places
exhibit similar anxiety in public places around fellow Americans that had dawned
around fellow Americans that had dawned
around fellow Americans that had dawned on me that I have to do something about
on me that I have to do something about
on me that I have to do something about this now I couldn’t have my boys fearing
this now I couldn’t have my boys fearing
this now I couldn’t have my boys fearing the very country in which they were born
the very country in which they were born
the very country in which they were born so after months of searching I was
so after months of searching I was
so after months of searching I was finally able to find the right therapist
finally able to find the right therapist
finally able to find the right therapist and the right treatment for myself to
and the right treatment for myself to
and the right treatment for myself to help me regain some of my
help me regain some of my
help me regain some of my self-confidence and self-esteem and
self-confidence and self-esteem and
self-confidence and self-esteem and that’s when I decided to dare myself so
that’s when I decided to dare myself so
that’s when I decided to dare myself so I took my first step out of the house
I took my first step out of the house
I took my first step out of the house and my second step well some people take
and my second step well some people take
and my second step well some people take baby steps I took on the number one fear
baby steps I took on the number one fear
baby steps I took on the number one fear of most people nope I don’t mean sitting
of most people nope I don’t mean sitting
of most people nope I don’t mean sitting next to a Muslim in a plane I mean
next to a Muslim in a plane I mean
next to a Muslim in a plane I mean public speaking because that was the
public speaking because that was the
public speaking because that was the only way I could reach out to the very
only way I could reach out to the very
only way I could reach out to the very people I feared my fellow white
people I feared my fellow white
people I feared my fellow white Americans you know I bet white people
Americans you know I bet white people
Americans you know I bet white people had no idea they could be so scary
had no idea they could be so scary
had no idea they could be so scary so I started speaking at various venues
so I started speaking at various venues
so I started speaking at various venues from churches schools synagogues
from churches schools synagogues
from churches schools synagogues corporations I did local TV interviews
corporations I did local TV interviews
corporations I did local TV interviews just sharing personal stories to give my
just sharing personal stories to give my
just sharing personal stories to give my fellow Americans a chance to get to know
fellow Americans a chance to get to know
fellow Americans a chance to get to know me a Muslim and you know the amazing
me a Muslim and you know the amazing
me a Muslim and you know the amazing thing was that when I started speaking
thing was that when I started speaking
thing was that when I started speaking before them I
before them I
before them I developing close friendships with many
developing close friendships with many
developing close friendships with many of them which made me realize that my
of them which made me realize that my
of them which made me realize that my own years of traumatic experiences of
own years of traumatic experiences of
own years of traumatic experiences of Islamophobia had actually turned be
Islamophobia had actually turned be
Islamophobia had actually turned be fearful of all white Americans until
fearful of all white Americans until
fearful of all white Americans until until I took a chance to get to know
until I took a chance to get to know
until I took a chance to get to know them personally and through our stories
them personally and through our stories
them personally and through our stories of vulnerability and courage we began to
of vulnerability and courage we began to
of vulnerability and courage we began to recognize and embrace our similarities
recognize and embrace our similarities
recognize and embrace our similarities you know I remember this one time a
you know I remember this one time a
you know I remember this one time a Christian audience member came up to me
Christian audience member came up to me
Christian audience member came up to me and said you know before I heard you
and said you know before I heard you
and said you know before I heard you speak I always wondered why do Muslims
speak I always wondered why do Muslims
speak I always wondered why do Muslims hate Americans
hate Americans
hate Americans but I now realize that you are an
but I now realize that you are an
but I now realize that you are an American
American
American there is really no us versus them in
there is really no us versus them in
there is really no us versus them in this one time my Jewish mentor confided
this one time my Jewish mentor confided
this one time my Jewish mentor confided in me saying you know Sarah growing up
in me saying you know Sarah growing up
in me saying you know Sarah growing up he always heard how Jews and Muslims can
he always heard how Jews and Muslims can
he always heard how Jews and Muslims can never be friends how they’re so
never be friends how they’re so
never be friends how they’re so different from each other but after
different from each other but after
different from each other but after being your friend I see how much we have
being your friend I see how much we have
being your friend I see how much we have in common and then my favorite my
in common and then my favorite my
in common and then my favorite my atheist friend once posted a picture of
atheist friend once posted a picture of
atheist friend once posted a picture of us on Facebook with a caption my
us on Facebook with a caption my
us on Facebook with a caption my favorite Muslim to which I replied dude
favorite Muslim to which I replied dude
favorite Muslim to which I replied dude I am the only Muslim you know
see see when we take a chance to get to
see see when we take a chance to get to know those we perceive as different from
know those we perceive as different from
know those we perceive as different from us we remove that fear of the other fear
us we remove that fear of the other fear
us we remove that fear of the other fear is the fuel that feeds the fire of hate
is the fuel that feeds the fire of hate
is the fuel that feeds the fire of hate so when hate leaves the heart it makes
so when hate leaves the heart it makes
so when hate leaves the heart it makes space for what emerges out of those
space for what emerges out of those
space for what emerges out of those relationships love respect and mutual
relationships love respect and mutual
relationships love respect and mutual understanding because we come to realize
understanding because we come to realize
understanding because we come to realize that even though we do come in different
that even though we do come in different
that even though we do come in different shapes and sizes and colors we still
shapes and sizes and colors we still
shapes and sizes and colors we still share the same hopes the same dreams the
share the same hopes the same dreams the
share the same hopes the same dreams the same fears it is our shared humanity
same fears it is our shared humanity
same fears it is our shared humanity that brings harmony to a civilized
that brings harmony to a civilized
that brings harmony to a civilized society sadly today in America we are at
society sadly today in America we are at
society sadly today in America we are at a juncture in our lives where our
a juncture in our lives where our
a juncture in our lives where our harmonies being threatened anti-muslim
harmonies being threatened anti-muslim
harmonies being threatened anti-muslim hate crimes have been occurring at the
hate crimes have been occurring at the
hate crimes have been occurring at the highest level since 9/11 this talk of a
highest level since 9/11 this talk of a
highest level since 9/11 this talk of a Muslim registry of putting surveillance
Muslim registry of putting surveillance
Muslim registry of putting surveillance of American American Muslims of banning
of American American Muslims of banning
of American American Muslims of banning Muslims from entering the u.s.
Muslims from entering the u.s.
Muslims from entering the u.s. altogether Muslim women who wear a hijab
altogether Muslim women who wear a hijab
altogether Muslim women who wear a hijab or an abaya are becoming easy targets of
or an abaya are becoming easy targets of
or an abaya are becoming easy targets of hate crimes hate kills humanity so
hate crimes hate kills humanity so
hate crimes hate kills humanity so Islamophobia is not only a threat to our
Islamophobia is not only a threat to our
Islamophobia is not only a threat to our civil liberties but it’s also a threat
civil liberties but it’s also a threat
civil liberties but it’s also a threat to the integrity of this entire country
to the integrity of this entire country
to the integrity of this entire country I ask you all to dig back into your past
I ask you all to dig back into your past
I ask you all to dig back into your past your stories from generations ago you
your stories from generations ago you
your stories from generations ago you know part from Native Americans we are
know part from Native Americans we are
know part from Native Americans we are all immigrants here isn’t it I the first
all immigrants here isn’t it I the first
all immigrants here isn’t it I the first generation immigrant like myself or
generation immigrant like myself or
generation immigrant like myself or descendants of immigrants so it’s the
descendants of immigrants so it’s the
descendants of immigrants so it’s the values and the principles of liberty
values and the principles of liberty
values and the principles of liberty justice and equality for all that
justice and equality for all that
justice and equality for all that brought the best and the brightest minds
brought the best and the brightest minds
brought the best and the brightest minds to this nation to make it one of the
to this nation to make it one of the
to this nation to make it one of the best nations of all so when those values
best nations of all so when those values
best nations of all so when those values and principles are being threatened
and principles are being threatened
and principles are being threatened because of Islamophobia then it is our
because of Islamophobia then it is our
because of Islamophobia then it is our moral responsibility
moral responsibility
moral responsibility t do not only stop the perpetuation of
t do not only stop the perpetuation of
t do not only stop the perpetuation of hate but also to reach out to the
hate but also to reach out to the
hate but also to reach out to the victims of it so you might ask what can
victims of it so you might ask what can
victims of it so you might ask what can we do to help change this phenomena well
we do to help change this phenomena well
we do to help change this phenomena well I ask you to take a chance to get to
I ask you to take a chance to get to
I ask you to take a chance to get to know your Muslim neighbor your kids
know your Muslim neighbor your kids
know your Muslim neighbor your kids Muslim classmate your muslim doctor your
Muslim classmate your muslim doctor your
Muslim classmate your muslim doctor your muslim lawyer or even your muslim uber
muslim lawyer or even your muslim uber
muslim lawyer or even your muslim uber driver
it only takes getting to know one Muslim
it only takes getting to know one Muslim personally to realize that Muslims are
personally to realize that Muslims are
personally to realize that Muslims are being unfairly represented in public I
being unfairly represented in public I
being unfairly represented in public I Scholar of religions reza aslan once
Scholar of religions reza aslan once
Scholar of religions reza aslan once said in an interview the media’s job is
said in an interview the media’s job is
said in an interview the media’s job is to report on the planes that crash not
to report on the planes that crash not
to report on the planes that crash not the planes that take off safely so if
the planes that take off safely so if
the planes that take off safely so if all you knew about planes was from what
all you knew about planes was from what
all you knew about planes was from what you saw in the media then you’d assume
you saw in the media then you’d assume
you saw in the media then you’d assume every single plane crashes say you see
every single plane crashes say you see
every single plane crashes say you see the media only reports the 0.0002
the media only reports the 0.0002
the media only reports the 0.0002 percent of Muslims who commit terrorist
percent of Muslims who commit terrorist
percent of Muslims who commit terrorist acts wrongfully in the name of their
acts wrongfully in the name of their
acts wrongfully in the name of their religion and not the millions of
religion and not the millions of
religion and not the millions of peace-loving Muslims who contribute to
peace-loving Muslims who contribute to
peace-loving Muslims who contribute to society so if all you knew about Muslims
society so if all you knew about Muslims
society so if all you knew about Muslims was from what you saw in the media then
was from what you saw in the media then
was from what you saw in the media then you would fear Muslims assuming every
you would fear Muslims assuming every
you would fear Muslims assuming every Muslim is either a terrorist or a
Muslim is either a terrorist or a
Muslim is either a terrorist or a sympathizer so take a chance to get to
sympathizer so take a chance to get to
sympathizer so take a chance to get to know us and if you ever see a Muslim
know us and if you ever see a Muslim
know us and if you ever see a Muslim being harassed please don’t be a
being harassed please don’t be a
being harassed please don’t be a bystander
bystander
bystander if you can’t intervene just reach out to
if you can’t intervene just reach out to
if you can’t intervene just reach out to them comfort them console them just let
them comfort them console them just let
them comfort them console them just let them know that they are not the other I
stand here today as an American sharing
stand here today as an American sharing my story of outreach to the very people
my story of outreach to the very people
my story of outreach to the very people I once feared
I once feared
I once feared while wearing hot pink pajamas with
while wearing hot pink pajamas with
while wearing hot pink pajamas with stilettos but not just to me many Muslim
stilettos but not just to me many Muslim
stilettos but not just to me many Muslim organizations and individuals have been
organizations and individuals have been
organizations and individuals have been actively reaching out today whether it
actively reaching out today whether it
actively reaching out today whether it be through publicly condemning terrorism
be through publicly condemning terrorism
be through publicly condemning terrorism or through clearing misconceptions about
or through clearing misconceptions about
or through clearing misconceptions about the Quran or holding interfaith
the Quran or holding interfaith
the Quran or holding interfaith activities like open mosque days it has
activities like open mosque days it has
activities like open mosque days it has a verse in our Holy Quran where God says
a verse in our Holy Quran where God says
a verse in our Holy Quran where God says we have made you into nations and tribes
we have made you into nations and tribes
we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may get to know one another
so if we wish to preserve this country
so if we wish to preserve this country as a nation of diversity and equality
as a nation of diversity and equality
as a nation of diversity and equality for all then we must take a chance to
for all then we must take a chance to
for all then we must take a chance to get to know one another and overcome
get to know one another and overcome
get to know one another and overcome this fear of the other when we dare to
this fear of the other when we dare to
this fear of the other when we dare to take a chance only then can we end
take a chance only then can we end
take a chance only then can we end Islamophobia and reclaim our shared
Islamophobia and reclaim our shared
Islamophobia and reclaim our shared humanity so I dare you
”
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