peace be upon you all few days before the election my seven-year-old daughter
the election my seven-year-old daughter
the election my seven-year-old daughter came up to me and asked me mama what
came up to me and asked me mama what
came up to me and asked me mama what happens if Donald Trump becomes
happens if Donald Trump becomes
happens if Donald Trump becomes president I looked at her and said it
president I looked at her and said it
president I looked at her and said it wouldn’t hurt if we go and live with
wouldn’t hurt if we go and live with
wouldn’t hurt if we go and live with Grandma in Beirut for a few years so she
Grandma in Beirut for a few years so she
Grandma in Beirut for a few years so she answered me I love that idea
answered me I love that idea
answered me I love that idea but isn’t that called running away from
but isn’t that called running away from
but isn’t that called running away from our problems so I really had to
our problems so I really had to
our problems so I really had to contemplate about her answer so I
contemplate about her answer so I
contemplate about her answer so I thought to myself how can I use my
thought to myself how can I use my
thought to myself how can I use my communication skills and media
communication skills and media
communication skills and media experience so that I can help eliminate
experience so that I can help eliminate
experience so that I can help eliminate prejudice against Muslims here in the US
prejudice against Muslims here in the US
prejudice against Muslims here in the US you see I grew up in Lebanon in Lebanon
you see I grew up in Lebanon in Lebanon
you see I grew up in Lebanon in Lebanon we have more than 18 religious groups
we have more than 18 religious groups
we have more than 18 religious groups and I never thought about that
and I never thought about that
and I never thought about that the country mostly comprises of Muslims
the country mostly comprises of Muslims
the country mostly comprises of Muslims and Christians who live side-by-side
and Christians who live side-by-side
and Christians who live side-by-side whose political disagreements at some
whose political disagreements at some
whose political disagreements at some point led to a civil war and political
point led to a civil war and political
point led to a civil war and political violence specifically when when religion
violence specifically when when religion
violence specifically when when religion was being politicized but let me tell
was being politicized but let me tell
was being politicized but let me tell you how the community actually survived
you how the community actually survived
you how the community actually survived this meet my group of friends a
this meet my group of friends a
this meet my group of friends a Christian married to a Muslim Sunni girl
Christian married to a Muslim Sunni girl
Christian married to a Muslim Sunni girl married to a Shia man a Christian couple
married to a Shia man a Christian couple
married to a Shia man a Christian couple and me and my friends are Muslim couples
and me and my friends are Muslim couples
and me and my friends are Muslim couples Muslims and Christians are neighbors
Muslims and Christians are neighbors
Muslims and Christians are neighbors they are work colleagues they are
they are work colleagues they are
they are work colleagues they are friends they sometimes belong to the
friends they sometimes belong to the
friends they sometimes belong to the same family one of my Christian friend
same family one of my Christian friend
same family one of my Christian friend went to me to the mosque one day when
went to me to the mosque one day when
went to me to the mosque one day when she was in distress and I went to her
she was in distress and I went to her
she was in distress and I went to her church on her wedding day and it was no
church on her wedding day and it was no
church on her wedding day and it was no big deal it was everyday life for us I
big deal it was everyday life for us I
big deal it was everyday life for us I personally grew up in a Catholic school
personally grew up in a Catholic school
personally grew up in a Catholic school and I went to a Catholic school and one
and I went to a Catholic school and one
and I went to a Catholic school and one of my friends one of my classmates was a
of my friends one of my classmates was a
of my friends one of my classmates was a nun Muslims and Christians knew each
nun Muslims and Christians knew each
nun Muslims and Christians knew each other well enough to know that their
other well enough to know that their
other well enough to know that their disagreements are political and do not
disagreements are political and do not
disagreements are political and do not take root
take root
take root in itself and they knew each other well
in itself and they knew each other well
in itself and they knew each other well enough to ask each other uncomfortable
enough to ask each other uncomfortable
enough to ask each other uncomfortable questions have a look at this picture
questions have a look at this picture
questions have a look at this picture hundred and thousands of people from all
hundred and thousands of people from all
hundred and thousands of people from all religious groups gathered together in a
religious groups gathered together in a
religious groups gathered together in a downtown square to oppose an oppressive
downtown square to oppose an oppressive
downtown square to oppose an oppressive regime that was occupy occupying the
regime that was occupy occupying the
regime that was occupy occupying the country at that time
country at that time
country at that time isn’t that beautiful that peaceful
isn’t that beautiful that peaceful
isn’t that beautiful that peaceful demonstration after much struggle
demonstration after much struggle
demonstration after much struggle actually liberated the country how
actually liberated the country how
actually liberated the country how powerful is that now what makes Lebanese
powerful is that now what makes Lebanese
powerful is that now what makes Lebanese people more equipped to handle religious
people more equipped to handle religious
people more equipped to handle religious diversity how come that a population of
diversity how come that a population of
diversity how come that a population of mostly Muslims and Christians live
mostly Muslims and Christians live
mostly Muslims and Christians live side-by-side peacefully and have more
side-by-side peacefully and have more
side-by-side peacefully and have more than 90 percent favorable opinions of
than 90 percent favorable opinions of
than 90 percent favorable opinions of each other what can we learn from this
each other what can we learn from this
each other what can we learn from this experience and how can we replicate it
experience and how can we replicate it
experience and how can we replicate it here in America so that we can have a
here in America so that we can have a
here in America so that we can have a better understanding of one another in
better understanding of one another in
better understanding of one another in 2008 I booked myself a one-way to get to
2008 I booked myself a one-way to get to
2008 I booked myself a one-way to get to the US to join my husband and no I did
the US to join my husband and no I did
the US to join my husband and no I did not use that specific airplane I did not
not use that specific airplane I did not
not use that specific airplane I did not know what to expect so I we had
know what to expect so I we had
know what to expect so I we had consecutive pregnancy so I got to watch
consecutive pregnancy so I got to watch
consecutive pregnancy so I got to watch TV more than I really want to and I got
TV more than I really want to and I got
TV more than I really want to and I got to see the Muslim scene being hijacked
to see the Muslim scene being hijacked
to see the Muslim scene being hijacked by terrorists in the media you see a
by terrorists in the media you see a
by terrorists in the media you see a panel discussing Islam without a Muslim
panel discussing Islam without a Muslim
panel discussing Islam without a Muslim there I thought to myself I need to
there I thought to myself I need to
there I thought to myself I need to speak out and this is not how it should
speak out and this is not how it should
speak out and this is not how it should be so I started reaching out to every
be so I started reaching out to every
be so I started reaching out to every single person I had access to like a
single person I had access to like a
single person I had access to like a group of friends I used to attend baby
group of friends I used to attend baby
group of friends I used to attend baby classes with I invited a group of
classes with I invited a group of
classes with I invited a group of friends over to my house modeling a
friends over to my house modeling a
friends over to my house modeling a gathering / Islamic tradition I invited
gathering / Islamic tradition I invited
gathering / Islamic tradition I invited a group of friends to the nearby mosque
a group of friends to the nearby mosque
a group of friends to the nearby mosque to have a fast breaking experience in
to have a fast breaking experience in
to have a fast breaking experience in the month of Ramadan our fasting month
the month of Ramadan our fasting month
the month of Ramadan our fasting month how did I did my Lebanese magic and I
how did I did my Lebanese magic and I
how did I did my Lebanese magic and I spoke and I reached out at
spoke and I reached out at
spoke and I reached out at every opportunity specifically when I
every opportunity specifically when I
every opportunity specifically when I felt like hiding away to my surprise the
felt like hiding away to my surprise the
felt like hiding away to my surprise the City of Eden Prairie awarded me the
City of Eden Prairie awarded me the
City of Eden Prairie awarded me the Human Rights Award for dismantling
Human Rights Award for dismantling
Human Rights Award for dismantling misconceptions and building bridges of
misconceptions and building bridges of
misconceptions and building bridges of unity
unity
unity now Muslim constitute only 1% of the
now Muslim constitute only 1% of the
now Muslim constitute only 1% of the population here in America so how can we
population here in America so how can we
population here in America so how can we replicate this how can we make more
replicate this how can we make more
replicate this how can we make more Muslims available to the public well an
Muslims available to the public well an
Muslims available to the public well an increase in the Muslim population is one
increase in the Muslim population is one
increase in the Muslim population is one answer but I was hoping for a more
answer but I was hoping for a more
answer but I was hoping for a more practical one but first let me share
practical one but first let me share
practical one but first let me share with you something that happened a
with you something that happened a
with you something that happened a couple of months ago I go to a
couple of months ago I go to a
couple of months ago I go to a hairdresser here in the Twin Cities that
hairdresser here in the Twin Cities that
hairdresser here in the Twin Cities that accommodate my need for a no man zone
accommodate my need for a no man zone
accommodate my need for a no man zone where I can just remove my head covering
where I can just remove my head covering
where I can just remove my head covering and sit down relax and have a haircut I
and sit down relax and have a haircut I
and sit down relax and have a haircut I went there and I started chatting away
went there and I started chatting away
went there and I started chatting away with my hairdresser with my hijab off
with my hairdresser with my hijab off
with my hairdresser with my hijab off when another hairdresser came over from
when another hairdresser came over from
when another hairdresser came over from the washing area with her client and
the washing area with her client and
the washing area with her client and settled just across from us as my
settled just across from us as my
settled just across from us as my hairdresser was working on my hairstyle
hairdresser was working on my hairstyle
hairdresser was working on my hairstyle I heard the word Sharia law and you know
I heard the word Sharia law and you know
I heard the word Sharia law and you know so I listened carefully and the
so I listened carefully and the
so I listened carefully and the conversation went something like this
conversation went something like this
conversation went something like this can you believe those people them and
can you believe those people them and
can you believe those people them and the Sharia law and her client said do
the Sharia law and her client said do
the Sharia law and her client said do you believe it’s being implemented in
you believe it’s being implemented in
you believe it’s being implemented in schools like Willie and then she said
schools like Willie and then she said
schools like Willie and then she said the man marry eight wives and her client
the man marry eight wives and her client
the man marry eight wives and her client said no it’s three wives so I was
said no it’s three wives so I was
said no it’s three wives so I was privileged to have access to a
privileged to have access to a
privileged to have access to a conversation that almost never happens
conversation that almost never happens
conversation that almost never happens in front of me I reached for my phone
in front of me I reached for my phone
in front of me I reached for my phone and texted my husband this is what’s
and texted my husband this is what’s
and texted my husband this is what’s happening what do you think I should do
happening what do you think I should do
happening what do you think I should do so he said do what you do best after
so he said do what you do best after
so he said do what you do best after your haircut so I did
your haircut so I did
your haircut so I did as I was checking out I asked my
as I was checking out I asked my
as I was checking out I asked my hairdresser to go call the other
hairdresser to go call the other
hairdresser to go call the other hairdresser so I I can speak to her for
hairdresser so I I can speak to her for
hairdresser so I I can speak to her for a few minutes she did that came back
a few minutes she did that came back
a few minutes she did that came back saying I’m sorry the other hairdresser
saying I’m sorry the other hairdresser
saying I’m sorry the other hairdresser is busy I asked her to go again to the
is busy I asked her to go again to the
is busy I asked her to go again to the hairdresser and ask her if I can go to
hairdresser and ask her if I can go to
hairdresser and ask her if I can go to her station and speak to her for a few
her station and speak to her for a few
her station and speak to her for a few minutes she did that again same answer
minutes she did that again same answer
minutes she did that again same answer the other hairdresser is unavailable at
the other hairdresser is unavailable at
the other hairdresser is unavailable at that moment the assistant manager saw me
that moment the assistant manager saw me
that moment the assistant manager saw me a little frustrated and she said would
a little frustrated and she said would
a little frustrated and she said would you like to leave a message
you like to leave a message
you like to leave a message seeing no other option I said yes and
seeing no other option I said yes and
seeing no other option I said yes and this is what I wrote dear friend I
this is what I wrote dear friend I
this is what I wrote dear friend I overheard your conversation with your
overheard your conversation with your
overheard your conversation with your client about Sharia law and Muslim
client about Sharia law and Muslim
client about Sharia law and Muslim practices as a Muslim woman I want to
practices as a Muslim woman I want to
practices as a Muslim woman I want to know if you have a Muslim in your life
know if you have a Muslim in your life
know if you have a Muslim in your life or if you have an Islamic source you get
or if you have an Islamic source you get
or if you have an Islamic source you get your information from I believe we need
your information from I believe we need
your information from I believe we need to be more informed in our conversations
to be more informed in our conversations
to be more informed in our conversations making them part of the solution and not
making them part of the solution and not
making them part of the solution and not part of the problem I would like you to
part of the problem I would like you to
part of the problem I would like you to be I would like to be your new Muslim
be I would like to be your new Muslim
be I would like to be your new Muslim friend and I left my phone number in my
friend and I left my phone number in my
friend and I left my phone number in my name and I told her please reach out to
name and I told her please reach out to
name and I told her please reach out to me whenever you have some free time
me whenever you have some free time
me whenever you have some free time basically a simple conversation now the
basically a simple conversation now the
basically a simple conversation now the only unknown call I received that
only unknown call I received that
only unknown call I received that evening was a call from the library
evening was a call from the library
evening was a call from the library informing me about my overdue books so
informing me about my overdue books so
informing me about my overdue books so I’m still waiting for that phone call
I’m still waiting for that phone call
I’m still waiting for that phone call but I was inspired to write about my
but I was inspired to write about my
but I was inspired to write about my experience on Facebook but I posted a
experience on Facebook but I posted a
experience on Facebook but I posted a post and the likes counted to one
post and the likes counted to one
post and the likes counted to one hundred and ten thousand and the
hundred and ten thousand and the
hundred and ten thousand and the comments were six thousand five hundred
comments were six thousand five hundred
comments were six thousand five hundred comments around three hundred people
comments around three hundred people
comments around three hundred people reached out to me saying we want you to
reached out to me saying we want you to
reached out to me saying we want you to be our new Muslim friend a local TV
be our new Muslim friend a local TV
be our new Muslim friend a local TV station contacted me and featured my
station contacted me and featured my
station contacted me and featured my story on the local news and Glamour
story on the local news and Glamour
story on the local news and Glamour magazine contacted me asking me to
magazine contacted me asking me to
magazine contacted me asking me to feature my story in their upcoming
feature my story in their upcoming
feature my story in their upcoming activism issue so they are really
activism issue so they are really
activism issue so they are really heartened by the feedback people want to
heartened by the feedback people want to
heartened by the feedback people want to know about Islam they want to know about
know about Islam they want to know about
know about Islam they want to know about Muslims they want to get to know a
Muslims they want to get to know a
Muslims they want to get to know a Muslim but honestly what about that air
Muslim but honestly what about that air
Muslim but honestly what about that air dresser what about the millions that are
dresser what about the millions that are
dresser what about the millions that are consumed in there misconceptions and
consumed in there misconceptions and
consumed in there misconceptions and refusing to have a simple conversation
refusing to have a simple conversation
refusing to have a simple conversation we’re about the thousands of towns that
we’re about the thousands of towns that
we’re about the thousands of towns that are isolated and do not have a single
are isolated and do not have a single
are isolated and do not have a single Muslim living in them how can we reach
Muslim living in them how can we reach
Muslim living in them how can we reach them my suggestion is that we have to
them my suggestion is that we have to
them my suggestion is that we have to give Muslim the mainstream media
give Muslim the mainstream media
give Muslim the mainstream media platform of TV radio and magazine so
platform of TV radio and magazine so
platform of TV radio and magazine so they can present themselves to the
they can present themselves to the
they can present themselves to the larger community we feel we all feel
larger community we feel we all feel
larger community we feel we all feel like we know Oprah right
like we know Oprah right
like we know Oprah right we know Allen we know Tyra my suggestion
we know Allen we know Tyra my suggestion
we know Allen we know Tyra my suggestion is to give Muslim a mainstream media
is to give Muslim a mainstream media
is to give Muslim a mainstream media platform where they can present
platform where they can present
platform where they can present themselves to the larger community
themselves to the larger community
themselves to the larger community outside of unfortunate events let us
outside of unfortunate events let us
outside of unfortunate events let us tell you what life is like for us let us
tell you what life is like for us let us
tell you what life is like for us let us relay our stories let us say our way of
relay our stories let us say our way of
relay our stories let us say our way of life allow us to share with you what
life allow us to share with you what
life allow us to share with you what what’s inspiring for us and what is
what’s inspiring for us and what is
what’s inspiring for us and what is really distressful my suggestion is to
really distressful my suggestion is to
really distressful my suggestion is to give Muslims a mainstream media platform
give Muslims a mainstream media platform
give Muslims a mainstream media platform hear from us about the Sharia law and
hear from us about the Sharia law and
hear from us about the Sharia law and the five tenets which all but one
the five tenets which all but one
the five tenets which all but one already exists in the American
already exists in the American
already exists in the American Constitution hear from us about what
Constitution hear from us about what
Constitution hear from us about what Muslims are doing to support minorities
Muslims are doing to support minorities
Muslims are doing to support minorities in Muslim populated countries hear from
in Muslim populated countries hear from
in Muslim populated countries hear from us about why Muslim women cover their
us about why Muslim women cover their
us about why Muslim women cover their heads emulating Mary the mother of Jesus
heads emulating Mary the mother of Jesus
heads emulating Mary the mother of Jesus peace be upon them both the most pious
peace be upon them both the most pious
peace be upon them both the most pious woman that ever walked the earth hear
woman that ever walked the earth hear
woman that ever walked the earth hear from us about Prophet Mohammed and what
from us about Prophet Mohammed and what
from us about Prophet Mohammed and what he did for women not to women hear from
he did for women not to women hear from
he did for women not to women hear from us if 70,000 scholars gathered in India
us if 70,000 scholars gathered in India
us if 70,000 scholars gathered in India to denounce all terrorist groups and if
to denounce all terrorist groups and if
to denounce all terrorist groups and if it’s a Muslim problem that people do not
it’s a Muslim problem that people do not
it’s a Muslim problem that people do not talk about this and do not know this
talk about this and do not know this
talk about this and do not know this hear from us Muslim veiled women if we
hear from us Muslim veiled women if we
hear from us Muslim veiled women if we feel oppressed when no one really wants
feel oppressed when no one really wants
feel oppressed when no one really wants to hear about what we have to say about
to hear about what we have to say about
to hear about what we have to say about our own choice of clothing hear from us
our own choice of clothing hear from us
our own choice of clothing hear from us whether you are a mechanic a banker an
whether you are a mechanic a banker an
whether you are a mechanic a banker an engineer or a Hollywood producer please
engineer or a Hollywood producer please
engineer or a Hollywood producer please help us invite a Muslim to each and
help us invite a Muslim to each and
help us invite a Muslim to each and every living room in America thank you
every living room in America thank you
every living room in America thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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