Monday, September 29, 2008

hmmm

You know what, there is something I really want to get off my chest, and I find this the perfect forum especially after reading Provoking's post.
I don't have much of an attachment to Pakistan except for the occasional nostalgic reaction to samosas' (I mean who doesn't love deep fried bread filled with potatoes??) So when Benazir Bhutto died I was like ohhh she's dead, my mom on the other hand, cried. When Zidari became President I was like, grreat another corrupt leader that will probably be assassinated. My mom agreed with me this time, although we had some fierce debates about Musharraf (she liked him. I did not.) So when people talk about the "old country" or "back home" i'm usually just like, dude i'm from Michigan. You know that question most people ask to exotic-y looking people, "so..where are u from...originally?" I hate that, because what determines country of origin? The place in which one was born..or the place in which your parents hailed from? And then you know being Muslim and all, I thought there really wasn't supposed to be nationalism in the sense that: i'm Pakistani hear me roar! But more like i'm MUSLIM. The end. But no, I mean I have to say on a side-note that the Muslim community is one of the most discriminatory and racist peoples I have ever met- and i've traveled the world :D. We all like to talk about how our religion our deen is to follow in the Prophet's footsteps, yet so many of us can't even crawl in his wake! I include myself in that description. So the holier than though attitude is slightly tiresome.

So this brings me to ask what exactly did the Prophet teach? There are so many different answers to this question, but i'm not interested in other people's opinion so i'm going to answer how I relate to this question: peace and love. The prophet was a hippie in my book. Do I need to go over the Hadith (saying) where he was attacked and beaten by children in I believe Tabriz, and was asked if he wanted them to be smited by God, and what did he say? he said no. and prayed for them. Now what type of man does that sound like to you? And I know that you could probably dig up a bunch of Hadiths that would point to the contrary but again, I could care less. But you know what I transgress, I am American, plain and simple. That's almost like a bad word in our culture...surprise surprise. This isn't me trying to jack "western idealism" or whatever, although i've pretty much been imbued with them, this is me saying that THIS is my country, THIS is my stake in the world. I care about what happens HERE, not to say I don't care about what happens in the world, I do. But I don't want/have to CHOOSE. And I shouldn't be asked to. So when I talk about politics, especially the elections, i'm talking about MY future, MY life. You can say all that you want to say about how your vote doesn't count and that it doesn't matter whose elected, the agenda's already set- I respectfully will tell you to get out of my face, because yeah I have a problem with representational democracy, yeah I kind of which we had a multi party system and yes I do hope that sometime in the near future we have public financing for campaigns. BUT don't tell me that if Gore won in 2000 that things wouldn't be different, that we would be in Iraq, that the Bush Doctrine would still exist- because that is just BS plain and simple. And all of those things that I wish would happen, or want to have happen, won't happen with me bitching about it- it happens when you get involved when you take part, and not just in elections but in local politics (Kwame anyone?)

And yes I want change. Does that make me naive/dumb/un-educated? Maybe, but careful now, everytime you point a finger you have three pointing right back at you.

4 comments:

Sana said...

them: so where're you from?
me: India
them: No you're not.
me: Yes, i Am
them: You can't be
me: why not?
them: you're mozlem
me: so..?
them: Indians = Hindu
me: Indians are a nationality, Islam is a religion
them: ???
me: *sighs*

As far as politics go and getting involved, I never was invovled but thinking it's time I start. At least keeping up with them.

provoking invoking said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
provoking invoking said...

i agree with the first paragraph.. about being Muslim and thats my preference for defining myself. thats sort of what i was getting at (in my lame subtleties and vagueness..). that islam is bigger than all these, and resonating.. ready to emerge and empower us as it was meant to.

after that though, you seem to contradict yourself and go back on your anti-nationalism. by saying you are american, and this is all about AMERICAN muslims etc...

and you're not alone in saying that. i find it to be a sense of confusion..

that is,

muslim (ummah) > nation

but

american (nation) > muslim (ummah)

:. one or both claims are false.

Farnnay said...

Dude I totally LOVED this post, and totally agree with you about the "homeland" and America being my home and my future.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

P.S. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe the city the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to that you were referring to was Taif.