Monday, July 8 2002
Perceptions, Observations and Views
- Zahra Jamshed Zahra Jamshed is a project manager with a consulting firm in NY City. During her extensive travel assignments, she has made good friends from different parts of the world and likes to socialize with quality people. She is an avid reader of inspirational writings and finds books to be a great sense of relief in the hustle bustle of life.
|
|
With the aftermath of 09/11, many immigrants faced different kinds of challenges. Some were good and some were not that good. I recently went through an interesting observation and feel like penning it down. I take a ferry to work from NJ to Manhattan. It's approximately a 20-25 minute ride. Many times when I am coming back late, I would offer my prayers on the ferry. Previously, I have never thought twice offering them in public, but after 09/11, I did become a little conscious while covering my head with a scarf for the prayers. I would often sit either in a corner or in a not so obvious place while offering the prayers. Few weeks back, as I boarded the cruise-ferry full of passengers, I looked for a spot. Interestingly, I was successful in finding one in the jam-packed ride. Minutes later, the ferry attendant was standing by my side. He addressed me with a polite hello and then asked me, "Do you offer your prayers during the ride? Are you a Muslim? " I looked at him in a surprised manner, kind of how would he know. He repeated his question while I was in a daze. I said, "Yes, I do. And, yes I am. I just finished offering my prayers." He said, "I did not notice right now, but I and some others have noticed you many times. I just wanted to let you know that's really nice." I was so touched by his politeness that I uttered, "I just offer that for myself and it's not for anyone else." "I still wanted to let you know that's really nice and good to do," he repeated and left. Despite the various backlash episodes we have been hearing of, one cannot generalize an impression of the west based on certain incidents. I believe that there is good and bad in all societies and we cannot say one is better than the other. The kind of understanding pattern and diversity one comes across in the west is quite rare in the east. Ironically, our history is richer and older than that of the "cultured and civilized" west, but sadly, we(mash'riq kae' mas'keen) lack that fervour to promote and grow the authenticity of that culture.
 View and Post comment on this article
The contents of the article are Copyright © of the author and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the author.
|
