all right hello everyone so to begin I want you all to visualize a Muslim think
want you all to visualize a Muslim think
want you all to visualize a Muslim think about their face their clothing and
about their face their clothing and
about their face their clothing and their personal beliefs now look at me am
their personal beliefs now look at me am
their personal beliefs now look at me am i what you envisioned my name is Malika
i what you envisioned my name is Malika
i what you envisioned my name is Malika my name is an Arabic name a very old
my name is an Arabic name a very old
my name is an Arabic name a very old Bedouin name meaning beautiful although
Bedouin name meaning beautiful although
Bedouin name meaning beautiful although my name is Arabic and I was raised in
my name is Arabic and I was raised in
my name is Arabic and I was raised in Idaho I was actually born in Germany to
Idaho I was actually born in Germany to
Idaho I was actually born in Germany to Bosnian Muslim refugees the plurality of
Bosnian Muslim refugees the plurality of
Bosnian Muslim refugees the plurality of these cultural influences in my life has
these cultural influences in my life has
these cultural influences in my life has created unique areas of interest and one
created unique areas of interest and one
created unique areas of interest and one of these interests is learning languages
of these interests is learning languages
of these interests is learning languages I know English and Bosnian fluently and
I know English and Bosnian fluently and
I know English and Bosnian fluently and from a young age I started learning
from a young age I started learning
from a young age I started learning Arabic but on my voyage for language
Arabic but on my voyage for language
Arabic but on my voyage for language acquisition I actually found myself in
acquisition I actually found myself in
acquisition I actually found myself in Amman Jordan last summer how were prior
Amman Jordan last summer how were prior
Amman Jordan last summer how were prior to accepting the scholarship to study
to accepting the scholarship to study
to accepting the scholarship to study several my friends and family members
several my friends and family members
several my friends and family members urge me to think critically about my
urge me to think critically about my
urge me to think critically about my decision to go abroad they were
decision to go abroad they were
decision to go abroad they were concerned about my safety as an American
concerned about my safety as an American
concerned about my safety as an American girl and Middle East has been publicized
girl and Middle East has been publicized
girl and Middle East has been publicized as an unsafe region for several years
as an unsafe region for several years
as an unsafe region for several years now however I know a lot about Islam and
now however I know a lot about Islam and
now however I know a lot about Islam and I know a lot about chronic history as
I know a lot about chronic history as
I know a lot about chronic history as well I was optimistic about my future
well I was optimistic about my future
well I was optimistic about my future experiences in Jordan I’m Muslim and
experiences in Jordan I’m Muslim and
experiences in Jordan I’m Muslim and most the people that I would be meeting
most the people that I would be meeting
most the people that I would be meeting were Muslim also certainly I would have
were Muslim also certainly I would have
were Muslim also certainly I would have an upper hand over my fellow travelers
an upper hand over my fellow travelers
an upper hand over my fellow travelers certainly I would be able to better
certainly I would be able to better
certainly I would be able to better empathize and understand this new
empathize and understand this new
empathize and understand this new culture so I decided to accept my
culture so I decided to accept my
culture so I decided to accept my scholarship to study through the
scholarship to study through the
scholarship to study through the national language initiative for youth
national language initiative for youth
national language initiative for youth commonly known as Miss Lee in Amman
commonly known as Miss Lee in Amman
commonly known as Miss Lee in Amman after I had landed in amin we had an
after I had landed in amin we had an
after I had landed in amin we had an orientation and my program coordinator
orientation and my program coordinator
orientation and my program coordinator discussed several necessary safety
discussed several necessary safety
discussed several necessary safety topics these include culture shock
topics these include culture shock
topics these include culture shock sexual harassment
sexual harassment
sexual harassment taxi etiquette so from that orientation
taxi etiquette so from that orientation
taxi etiquette so from that orientation and subsequent taxi rides I clearly
and subsequent taxi rides I clearly
and subsequent taxi rides I clearly remember the significance of the taxi
remember the significance of the taxi
remember the significance of the taxi meter it was imperative that the taxi
meter it was imperative that the taxi
meter it was imperative that the taxi driver turn on the meter as soon as we
driver turn on the meter as soon as we
driver turn on the meter as soon as we entered the car lest they abuse our
entered the car lest they abuse our
entered the car lest they abuse our foreign naivety and over charges on my
foreign naivety and over charges on my
foreign naivety and over charges on my first ride I forgot to ask about the
first ride I forgot to ask about the
first ride I forgot to ask about the meter and the driver charged me three
meter and the driver charged me three
meter and the driver charged me three dinar for one deny ride which is about
dinar for one deny ride which is about
dinar for one deny ride which is about one and a half USD i paid him but I was
one and a half USD i paid him but I was
one and a half USD i paid him but I was a little bitter about the situation I
a little bitter about the situation I
a little bitter about the situation I had been taking advantage of and so if I
had been taking advantage of and so if I
had been taking advantage of and so if I fast forward to my last week in on mon I
fast forward to my last week in on mon I
fast forward to my last week in on mon I had grown comfortable with the language
had grown comfortable with the language
had grown comfortable with the language and the culture and I didn’t really fear
and the culture and I didn’t really fear
and the culture and I didn’t really fear a confrontation with taxi drivers
a confrontation with taxi drivers
a confrontation with taxi drivers anymore I wanted to be I wanted to see
anymore I wanted to be I wanted to see
anymore I wanted to be I wanted to see my friend one more time before I left
my friend one more time before I left
my friend one more time before I left for the u.s. so I left and I went
for the u.s. so I left and I went
for the u.s. so I left and I went outside to the streets the traffic was
outside to the streets the traffic was
outside to the streets the traffic was atrocious but after about 30 minutes
atrocious but after about 30 minutes
atrocious but after about 30 minutes attacks he finally pulled up as I
attacks he finally pulled up as I
attacks he finally pulled up as I entered I did standard protocol I asked
entered I did standard protocol I asked
entered I did standard protocol I asked him about the taxi meter immediately and
him about the taxi meter immediately and
him about the taxi meter immediately and he didn’t respond I didn’t turn it on I
he didn’t respond I didn’t turn it on I
he didn’t respond I didn’t turn it on I wasn’t sure if he had heard me or not so
wasn’t sure if he had heard me or not so
wasn’t sure if he had heard me or not so I repeated the question again can you
I repeated the question again can you
I repeated the question again can you please turn on your meter this time he
please turn on your meter this time he
please turn on your meter this time he looked at me through his your rear-view
looked at me through his your rear-view
looked at me through his your rear-view mirror but still didn’t do anything at
mirror but still didn’t do anything at
mirror but still didn’t do anything at this point I was getting a little
this point I was getting a little
this point I was getting a little anxious and started to doubt my
anxious and started to doubt my
anxious and started to doubt my pronunciation he was preoccupied traffic
pronunciation he was preoccupied traffic
pronunciation he was preoccupied traffic but I felt the need to clarify myself
but I felt the need to clarify myself
but I felt the need to clarify myself once more please turn on the meter sir I
once more please turn on the meter sir I
once more please turn on the meter sir I said again in Arabic this time he looked
said again in Arabic this time he looked
said again in Arabic this time he looked at me and he was a little irritated he
at me and he was a little irritated he
at me and he was a little irritated he said why are you asking about the meter
said why are you asking about the meter
said why are you asking about the meter I’m trying to make sure we get into
I’m trying to make sure we get into
I’m trying to make sure we get into traffic safely I was a little shocked
traffic safely I was a little shocked
traffic safely I was a little shocked and I started to explain myself but he
and I started to explain myself but he
and I started to explain myself but he interrupted and he’s like not all taxi
interrupted and he’s like not all taxi
interrupted and he’s like not all taxi drivers are thieves I apologized I I was
drivers are thieves I apologized I I was
drivers are thieves I apologized I I was surprised by my own reaction but then he
surprised by my own reaction but then he
surprised by my own reaction but then he interrupted me again and said don’t
interrupted me again and said don’t
interrupted me again and said don’t apologize just now that I’m giving you
apologize just now that I’m giving you
apologize just now that I’m giving you this ride in the goodness of my heart
so that caused me to sit in silence and
so that caused me to sit in silence and reflection the rest of this taxi ride I
reflection the rest of this taxi ride I
reflection the rest of this taxi ride I was really disappointed in myself in my
was really disappointed in myself in my
was really disappointed in myself in my own reaction to the situation I thought
own reaction to the situation I thought
own reaction to the situation I thought that I had the capacity to understand
that I had the capacity to understand
that I had the capacity to understand and to empathize with his new culture I
and to empathize with his new culture I
and to empathize with his new culture I thought that my knowledge and faith as a
thought that my knowledge and faith as a
thought that my knowledge and faith as a Muslim would help me with this empathy
Muslim would help me with this empathy
Muslim would help me with this empathy and this understanding but I had
and this understanding but I had
and this understanding but I had completely succumbed to be self
completely succumbed to be self
completely succumbed to be self defensive behaviors that were
defensive behaviors that were
defensive behaviors that were unproductive and I misjudged the
unproductive and I misjudged the
unproductive and I misjudged the situation it was an incredible wake-up
situation it was an incredible wake-up
situation it was an incredible wake-up call the taxi driver taught me that
call the taxi driver taught me that
call the taxi driver taught me that although we shared a similar religion we
although we shared a similar religion we
although we shared a similar religion we definitely did not share some old
definitely did not share some old
definitely did not share some old similar cultures Islam is very important
similar cultures Islam is very important
similar cultures Islam is very important to the Middle East but having knowledge
to the Middle East but having knowledge
to the Middle East but having knowledge of religion is not enough to understand
of religion is not enough to understand
of religion is not enough to understand and navigate a new culture confidently I
and navigate a new culture confidently I
and navigate a new culture confidently I understand Islam and it’s Bosnian
understand Islam and it’s Bosnian
understand Islam and it’s Bosnian context but had never had prolonged
context but had never had prolonged
context but had never had prolonged interaction with the Middle Eastern and
interaction with the Middle Eastern and
interaction with the Middle Eastern and more specifically Jordanian Muslim
more specifically Jordanian Muslim
more specifically Jordanian Muslim before the taxi driver also taught me
before the taxi driver also taught me
before the taxi driver also taught me that I me to examine my misconceptions
that I me to examine my misconceptions
that I me to examine my misconceptions and assumptions about different groups
and assumptions about different groups
and assumptions about different groups of people I had been so focused and so
of people I had been so focused and so
of people I had been so focused and so sure of my compassion and empathy
sure of my compassion and empathy
sure of my compassion and empathy towards Muslims that I unknowingly
towards Muslims that I unknowingly
towards Muslims that I unknowingly discriminated against another group taxi
discriminated against another group taxi
discriminated against another group taxi drivers I in this way the self defensive
drivers I in this way the self defensive
drivers I in this way the self defensive behavior was very unproductive and I
behavior was very unproductive and I
behavior was very unproductive and I found that my naivety and myself
found that my naivety and myself
found that my naivety and myself defensive behavior is a product that
defensive behavior is a product that
defensive behavior is a product that characterizes many empathetic and
characterizes many empathetic and
characterizes many empathetic and open-minded people I’ve shared this
open-minded people I’ve shared this
open-minded people I’ve shared this experience to you to demonstrate the
experience to you to demonstrate the
experience to you to demonstrate the rather unappealing and inappropriate
rather unappealing and inappropriate
rather unappealing and inappropriate behavior even I as a Muslim and someone
behavior even I as a Muslim and someone
behavior even I as a Muslim and someone with a lot of cultural background has
with a lot of cultural background has
with a lot of cultural background has demonstrated it’s really easy to succumb
demonstrated it’s really easy to succumb
demonstrated it’s really easy to succumb to self-defense behavior abroad you’re
to self-defense behavior abroad you’re
to self-defense behavior abroad you’re in an in comfortable situation
in an in comfortable situation
in an in comfortable situation everything
everything
everything new but it’s also pretty easy to come
new but it’s also pretty easy to come
new but it’s also pretty easy to come across here at home amongst her peers
across here at home amongst her peers
across here at home amongst her peers and citizens and so this actually leads
and citizens and so this actually leads
and citizens and so this actually leads me into another story and it’s
me into another story and it’s
me into another story and it’s drastically different from my taxi
drastically different from my taxi
drastically different from my taxi driver story it has to do with an
driver story it has to do with an
driver story it has to do with an Islamic artist and I had the ability to
Islamic artist and I had the ability to
Islamic artist and I had the ability to talk to her one day after class she was
talk to her one day after class she was
talk to her one day after class she was explaining the basic premises of Islamic
explaining the basic premises of Islamic
explaining the basic premises of Islamic art which among geometric patterns and
art which among geometric patterns and
art which among geometric patterns and shapes and repeating colors and unique
shapes and repeating colors and unique
shapes and repeating colors and unique mediums is focused on a hadith by
mediums is focused on a hadith by
mediums is focused on a hadith by prophet muhammad peace be upon him and
prophet muhammad peace be upon him and
prophet muhammad peace be upon him and hadith is a word action a phrase that
hadith is a word action a phrase that
hadith is a word action a phrase that Prophet Muhammad said or day and this
Prophet Muhammad said or day and this
Prophet Muhammad said or day and this particular Bahia deeth which is an
particular Bahia deeth which is an
particular Bahia deeth which is an illusion militant Yash Raj Mel means
illusion militant Yash Raj Mel means
illusion militant Yash Raj Mel means indeed Allah is beautiful and he loves
indeed Allah is beautiful and he loves
indeed Allah is beautiful and he loves beauty and as she was explaining that
beauty and as she was explaining that
beauty and as she was explaining that this is a major premise of Islamic art
this is a major premise of Islamic art
this is a major premise of Islamic art she turned to me and she said yes
she turned to me and she said yes
she turned to me and she said yes maleeha even your name it means
maleeha even your name it means
maleeha even your name it means beautiful and all of a lost creations
beautiful and all of a lost creations
beautiful and all of a lost creations are beautiful her words really resonated
are beautiful her words really resonated
are beautiful her words really resonated with me and stuck with me because I
with me and stuck with me because I
with me and stuck with me because I understood her I I respected her and
understood her I I respected her and
understood her I I respected her and despite our cultural and geographic and
despite our cultural and geographic and
despite our cultural and geographic and physical differences I felt that I could
physical differences I felt that I could
physical differences I felt that I could really empathize with her and this
really empathize with her and this
really empathize with her and this situation is especially significant to
situation is especially significant to
situation is especially significant to me in my experience of Jordan because it
me in my experience of Jordan because it
me in my experience of Jordan because it really humanized Jordanian people and
really humanized Jordanian people and
really humanized Jordanian people and Muslims although I had learned to
Muslims although I had learned to
Muslims although I had learned to respect Jordanian culture long before I
respect Jordanian culture long before I
respect Jordanian culture long before I had left I this situation really
had left I this situation really
had left I this situation really clarified the difference between respect
clarified the difference between respect
clarified the difference between respect and empathy as I stood there watching
and empathy as I stood there watching
and empathy as I stood there watching her and I understood her hopes and her
her and I understood her hopes and her
her and I understood her hopes and her dreams and her ideas I realized it
dreams and her ideas I realized it
dreams and her ideas I realized it wasn’t because of this religious bond we
wasn’t because of this religious bond we
wasn’t because of this religious bond we shared but rather because I truly
shared but rather because I truly
shared but rather because I truly decided to listen to her and understand
decided to listen to her and understand
decided to listen to her and understand her and the more I listened to her the
her and the more I listened to her the
her and the more I listened to her the more she reminded me of my friends back
more she reminded me of my friends back
more she reminded me of my friends back home these two experiences are some of
home these two experiences are some of
home these two experiences are some of the many that have shaped my experience
the many that have shaped my experience
the many that have shaped my experience in Jordan and forced me to address some
in Jordan and forced me to address some
in Jordan and forced me to address some of my own self defensive and
of my own self defensive and
of my own self defensive and otherwise inconsiderate behaviour that I
otherwise inconsiderate behaviour that I
otherwise inconsiderate behaviour that I unknowingly used and so just a quick
unknowingly used and so just a quick
unknowingly used and so just a quick hand raised how many of you like think
hand raised how many of you like think
hand raised how many of you like think of yourselves as open-minded as
of yourselves as open-minded as
of yourselves as open-minded as empathetic people I know I do yeah so
empathetic people I know I do yeah so
empathetic people I know I do yeah so before I set foot in Jordan I had a
before I set foot in Jordan I had a
before I set foot in Jordan I had a certain naivety that characterizes a lot
certain naivety that characterizes a lot
certain naivety that characterizes a lot of empathetic and open-minded people but
of empathetic and open-minded people but
of empathetic and open-minded people but that’s why I think it’s especially
that’s why I think it’s especially
that’s why I think it’s especially important to address these self
important to address these self
important to address these self defensive behaviors because they affect
defensive behaviors because they affect
defensive behaviors because they affect the open and closed minded alike I would
the open and closed minded alike I would
the open and closed minded alike I would like to share a quote with you today and
like to share a quote with you today and
like to share a quote with you today and it’s from John Knowles book a separate
it’s from John Knowles book a separate
it’s from John Knowles book a separate peace all of them constructed at
peace all of them constructed at
peace all of them constructed at infinite costume themselves these
infinite costume themselves these
infinite costume themselves these national lines across the frontier for
national lines across the frontier for
national lines across the frontier for this enemy they thought they saw if he
this enemy they thought they saw if he
this enemy they thought they saw if he ever attacked that way if he was indeed
ever attacked that way if he was indeed
ever attacked that way if he was indeed the enemy many Westerners are afraid of
the enemy many Westerners are afraid of
the enemy many Westerners are afraid of Middle Eastern cultures beliefs and
Middle Eastern cultures beliefs and
Middle Eastern cultures beliefs and ideas they fear Syrian refugees and
ideas they fear Syrian refugees and
ideas they fear Syrian refugees and perpetuate discrimination against them
perpetuate discrimination against them
perpetuate discrimination against them out of self-defense out of this
out of self-defense out of this
out of self-defense out of this perceived threat and although we may
perceived threat and although we may
perceived threat and although we may perceive ourselves to be open-minded and
perceive ourselves to be open-minded and
perceive ourselves to be open-minded and different from them applying theoretical
different from them applying theoretical
different from them applying theoretical ideals to real life is really difficult
ideals to real life is really difficult
ideals to real life is really difficult equality fairness and open-mindedness
equality fairness and open-mindedness
equality fairness and open-mindedness don’t transfer very easily even so I
don’t transfer very easily even so I
don’t transfer very easily even so I think we should continue to try to be
think we should continue to try to be
think we should continue to try to be open minded and understanding because I
open minded and understanding because I
open minded and understanding because I don’t want to avoid the Middle East out
don’t want to avoid the Middle East out
don’t want to avoid the Middle East out of fear I don’t believe in that enemy
of fear I don’t believe in that enemy
of fear I don’t believe in that enemy across the frontier and I don’t want to
across the frontier and I don’t want to
across the frontier and I don’t want to build mojno lines or walls I want to
build mojno lines or walls I want to
build mojno lines or walls I want to embrace the beauty in the Middle East
embrace the beauty in the Middle East
embrace the beauty in the Middle East and I want to promote negative
and I want to promote negative
and I want to promote negative stereotypes against Muslims and really
stereotypes against Muslims and really
stereotypes against Muslims and really create engagement between Middle Eastern
create engagement between Middle Eastern
create engagement between Middle Eastern and Western citizens however I will
and Western citizens however I will
and Western citizens however I will admit that mistakes will be made and it
admit that mistakes will be made and it
admit that mistakes will be made and it is in these mistakes that we must grow
is in these mistakes that we must grow
is in these mistakes that we must grow and reflects together so as we pursue
and reflects together so as we pursue
and reflects together so as we pursue our own interests and discover new
our own interests and discover new
our own interests and discover new perspectives and explore our true
perspectives and explore our true
perspectives and explore our true passions and dreams we must remember to
passions and dreams we must remember to
passions and dreams we must remember to you analyze and examine our own
you analyze and examine our own
you analyze and examine our own defensive behaviors it’s time to stop
defensive behaviors it’s time to stop
defensive behaviors it’s time to stop calling out our Syrian Middle Eastern
calling out our Syrian Middle Eastern
calling out our Syrian Middle Eastern Jordanian and Muslim neighbors it’s time
Jordanian and Muslim neighbors it’s time
Jordanian and Muslim neighbors it’s time to stop calling each other out in the
to stop calling each other out in the
to stop calling each other out in the name of righteousness instead let’s
name of righteousness instead let’s
name of righteousness instead let’s start calling each other in to
start calling each other in to
start calling each other in to discussions to spaces and into our
discussions to spaces and into our
discussions to spaces and into our America thank you
America thank you
America thank you [Applause]
”
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