“As someone for whom this town is home and the horror that was 911 was a reality personally felt [5 days to the date, 9 years ago, on a gorgeous day not unlike the ones we're having now] and not just something read in the news…” Mekyam went on to comment.
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From Mekyam:
Salam idilfitri pakcik, makcik & family, termasuk keluarga almanar and readers of this blog!
first, thank you jane and pakcik for sharing the link to that heart-warming article.
now, let me share here the writings of rabbi bruce warshal. it pretty much sums up the feelings of most nuyorkers, including our mayor, on the cordoba house/park 51 issue.
http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/shame_on_america_jews_and_the_adl/0018207
as kaykuala pointed out, the issue has been conveniently politicized by vested interests. it is actually a non-issue, not only because it is nowhere near ground zero and the existing bldg has been a muslim prayer place for years with nary a squeak from anyone, but also because the site is a privately owned property and the permit to build has already been given by the city. the concerns left is that donations for the actual bldg should not come from organizations connected to terrorists.
as someone for whom this town is home and the horror that was 911 was a reality personally felt [5 days to the date, 9 years ago, on a gorgeous day not unlike the ones we're having now] and not just something read in the news, i have to say that most of the fuss about park51 have also come from people who don't live in this town. they probably would not know Ground Zero if they fell in it, much less care what sort of establishments share its neighbourhood. truth be known, nuyorkers in general are pretty much waiting for all the fuss to die down already. there are more pressing matters to think about.
just like right after 911, when nuyorkers themselves were too busy huddling together trying to help and comfort one another in their shared shock and grief, quite oblivious of race or creed per usual, it's always those outside who don't realize how much the people of this town embrace their differences and diversity who overreacted and blew things out of proportion. those are usually people who see the world through their own prejudices and are thus easily manipulated by vested interests and manipulative media.
in fact, this excerpt from the NY Daily News of a few days ago...
BY Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
September 2nd 2010, 8:10 PM
HEADLINE: Muslim-bashing televangelist Bill Keller to bring inflammatory brand of worship to Ground Zero
A Muslim-bashing evangelical preacher is bringing his inflammatory brand of worship to Ground Zero - and even the anti-mosque crowd doesn't want him.
...
... shows that even nuyorkers who are against the idea of a mosque in the vicinity of GZ have no time for bigots.
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Mekyam, we are privileged to get this from someone close to ZERO when most of us are on the other side of the world shouting our heads off. Thank you
Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan
5 comments:
Wow,
Rajinnya Pakcik ni..
siap berjanji nak post
to say goodbye to Ramadhan
and to welcome Syawal..
Way to go Bang Hassan.
Ayah Wan,
A minor surprise a few days ago shook me somehow and that gave me an idea what I must write. To me it is like what inspires people like you and Ninotaziz to express events in pantuns, poems etc whose messages I find it hard to comprehend let alone composing one.
I will do a short one after tarawih this evening or tomorrow, insya Allah.
Abang Hassan
Tumpang laluan, Pakcik.
Thank you Mekyam. My memories of a very very friendly New York to an equally very young, single and adventurous student, regardless of creed, race and religion is restored.
by your leave, pakcik...
hi ninot!
i'm always delighted when faith in humanity is restored, no matter how tiny, both in others or in myself.
there's just too many ugly things being given attention nowadays that people become more and more cynical.
i think cynicism is a killer of hope too [or at least, of action and progress], not just despair and hopelessness.
people forget that since we don't know what the future holds, not even the next minute, hope is what fueled us all to keep life going, in the best way we know.
the media and our newlyfound instant netvines are mostly feeding us with so much negativity that it's as though anything positive is beyond hope, that there is not a brighter flipside to all dark clouds. i'm sure in the long run this will severely cripple mankind's innate capability to celebrate Life as intended by our Maker.
guess i'm a hopeless optimist. but given the choice, i prefer to dwell and spread the brighter sides of everything. i also believe there is always one. :D
p.s. i take it you also went to school in nyc. cld we have met? also want to say that i've visited your blog and savoured some of your beautiful poems. i'm a far cry from being a poet of course, but i do verse too for relaxation and have a deep love for that medium of expression.
Ninotaziz & Mekyam,
I am delighted to see that you find this place apropriate for interaction. You are very welcome to go on.
Mekyam is positive in her optimism. I am glad because as long as we believe in the religion we are proud of we must continue to be positive and optimistic. HE plans and HE knows. It is all perfect in HIS planning and there is reason and 'hikmat' in every single move ( I intended this message in my response to Amimy's comment on her disappoinment with Miss Sundram ).
The two of you coluld have crossed paths in NY. I know NY as if I have ever been there - one continent I know only from geography and reading, believe it or not.
Say what you two want to say. I will close my ears!
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