Even though Donald Trump’s unconstitutional Muslim ban has been halted, at least temporarily, I wanted to detail all of the horrible, scary, and generally no-good Muslims I know right here in Michigan. Michigan is, of course, home to one of the largest population of Muslims in the United States, and you won't believe what they've been up to!
The Horrible
My first experience with Muslims occurred after I moved from a very small town to a larger city. My first new friend at my new junior high school was a girl whose best friend had moved during the summer. It seemed perfect, I needed a friend, she needed a friend, so we became friends. And great friends we were, all through high school and college. We were inseparable, and did everything together. We were so tight knit, that her family would take me on vacation with them, when my mom agreed.
This horrible family would pay for my flights, my meals and snacks, tickets to attractions. They treated me like I was one of their own children. Can you imagine letting generous people like that into our country? I mean, the very fabric of our country might be torn apart if people saw such fine examples of sharing and generosity.
My friend’s parents and older brothers came here from a middle eastern country, and my friend was the first born here in the US. Her little sister followed and neither is treated poorly, like I hear all Muslim women and girls are. All four children earned excellent grades and graduated college. This family boasts one doctor, two attorneys and a teacher. The horror!
The Scary
I next experienced Muslims at my high school, as two teachers, that I'm aware of, were Muslim. I don't recall it being a big deal, no parents foaming at the mouth, calling for their removal. One teacher, Mr. Abraham, I had for morning study hall every day for all four years. This was the time we were supposed to spend studying or finishing homework, but that we really spent talking to our friends. Mr. Abraham would ask us about pop culture, since his kids were long since grown and out of the house.
Mr. Abraham shared very little about his prior life, but he once shared that he'd been forced to change his last name when he immigrated, to make his name more ‘American’. I remember being very sad he had to change his name, I'm sure he was proud of his family name and I couldn't imagine being forced to disavow it. It was he who first showed me Arabic in written form. We badgered him into it, until he finally wrote something on the board. It looked beautiful.
Teaching is difficult, but some teachers always gave all. Mr. Abraham was that way, staying late to help tutor kids who were struggling or falling behind. Scary, this man had access to impressionable young minds! He may have inspired some young person to teach, or something.
The No-Good
I’ve also worked with several men who were openly Muslim, and, oddly, all worked in Internet Technology. Two really stand out, and they couldn't be more different. Paul is a boisterous, outgoing, funny guy. He's a dedicated family man with the most adorable baby boy, and willing to help you out with any computer problem. Faisal, a bachelor and not looking for a date, is quiet, keeps to himself, and is one of the truly devout people I know. He walks the walk when it comes to charity and takes fasts during Ramadan very seriously. He is also a very patient man when trying to solve computer issues, and a genius, I think. He's funny in his own geeky way, and brings you soup when you have a cold.
If not for these two men, I'm not sure I would've ever had a productive day at work. These no-good Muslims come into our country and make our computers work better. That takes some real balls, doesn't it?
Finally, and perhaps most egregiously, I worked with a very pleasant Muslim woman, Caitlyn, on an initiative for a non-profit. We worked to create a program for a homeless shelter, and that alone was a rewarding experience. Getting to know Caitlyn was another. She is willing to talk openly about being a Muslim and will patiently explain the difference between a Shia or a Sunni Muslim to anyone who truly wants to listen. I’ve seen her sit and answer questions for an hour before, all with a beautiful smile on her face.
Caitlyn’s sister also lives here, and has chosen to wear a hijab in her daily life. She does this freely, since she's unmarried, so it's not like she's being forced to wear it, like I hear so often. It's just a tenet of her religion, not unlike verses that can be found in the Bible.
Both sisters are an asset to my community, and it infuriates me that people want to keep such good people out. I don't want to think of working on that program without Caitlyn's help, humor and knowledge.
When I think of the people who have influenced my life in some tangible way, more than a few are Muslims. I wouldn't be who I am today without the love of a family that treated me like their own, teachers who guided me and expanded my horizons, coworkers who helped me out when technology brought me down, and friends to slog through beaurocratic red tape and eat tons of take out with.
Their religion doesn't matter to me. I care about their deeds, and their deeds are far more hospitable than Trump’s have been.
