http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=33756
Instilling pride in identity
<http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/images/h_gradient.gif>
18-Jun-07
AMIRAH recently celebrated her 10th birthday. She is the only Muslim in her
class though she is not the only Muslim in her school in Minneapolis, and
when one asks her what the hardest thing about being a Muslim girl is and if
she is proud to be a Muslim, her strength of spirit shines through.
"I try not to focus on what's hard and focus on what's easy," she says. "I
am proud even if people say Muslims are terrorists and things like that. I'm
still proud to be a Muslim because I know that I am who I am."
What does this precocious girl wants to be when she grows up? No hesitation
there. "A politician," she replies. "I want to be a politician because I
want to change things about Muslims and Islam that are not true _ things
like just because one Muslim does one thing, all Muslims do the same thing."
Amirah's surname is Ellison. She is the youngest child and only daughter of
US Congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in the House of
Representatives who in January caused a stir when he took his oath on the
Quran. Ellison, together with the congressional Black caucus, recently met
with President Bush, during which he asked the President to stop using
language that would alienate the country further in the Muslim world.
"(Bush) told me he would not use terms like 'crusader' and 'Islamofascist'
any more and he recognised that wasn't good use of language and I hope he
keeps his words," Ellison said.
Amirah speaks up much the way her father, and her mother Kim, speaks up. She
is proud of being Muslim because her father is proud to be a Muslim.
Girls in Brunei have a better environment than Amirah does where they can
learn and grow up to be Muslims who do not make excuses for their existence.
They do not need to deal with harassment or prejudice. They do not need to
contend with gender discrimination as many other girls are still facing in
many Muslim communities.
We are encouraged by a number of programmes being organised for our children
to fill up their vacation time, including the five-day "motivational and
spiritual programme" to be launched this Monday by the Islamic Dakwah Centre
for young female students from selected Brunei-Muara district schools.
The best aim for this event is stated thus: to guide the girls to lead life
as a Muslimah and to guard their integrity and character.
A single programme will not be able to achieve this lofty objective. We need
more of such programmes, and the support of the whole community to raise
Muslimah deserving the respect that Islam reserves for the other half of the
people.
It was related that Umm Salama, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) was in her room with her maid combing her hair when she heard the
Prophet calling for a community gathering for an announcement in the mosque:
"O People!"
Her maid said, "You don't have to go; he's calling for the men of course,
and not the women." Umm Salama replied, "Indeed, I am one of the people.
(Inni{aci} min an-na{aci}s.)"
This was the woman who went to the Prophet and asked, "Why are the men being
praised for their sacrifices in the hijra and not the women?" This was the
cause for the revelation of verse 195 of the Surah Ali Imran: "Verily, I
suffer not the work of any worker of you, male or female, to be lost; You
are one of another."
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
--------------------------
Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL
PROTECTED]
--------------------------
Brooks Isoldi, editor
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.intellnet.org
Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has
not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of
The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT
YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of
intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods,
techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other
intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes
only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material
as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use
this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,'
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
