AL-HUDA
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
the Message Continues ... 5/91
Newsletter for March 2009
Article 1 - Article 2 - Article 3 - Article 4 - Article 5 - Article 6 - Article 7 - Article 8 - Article 9 - Article 10 - Article 11 - Article 12
America`s Beauty Is In Its Diversity
Alaa El-Saad
As Heard on NPR’s Tell Me More, January
29, 2009.
America is built on the idea of freedom, and there is no
exception for Muslim women. I believe in the freedom of religion
and speech. But mostly, I believe it’s OK to be different, and
to stand up for who and what you are. So I believe in wearing
the hijab.
The hijab is a religious head covering, like a scarf. I am
Muslim and keeping my head covered is a sign of maturity and
respect toward my religion and to Allah’s will. To be honest, I
also like to wear it to be different. I don’t usually like to do
what everyone else is doing. I want to be an individual, not
just part of the crowd. But when I first wore it, I was also
afraid of the reaction that I’d get at school.
I decided on my own that sixth grade was the time I should start
wearing the hijab. I was scared about what the kids would say or
even do to me. I thought they might make fun of me, or even be
scared of me and pull off my headscarf. Kids at that age usually
like to be all the same, and there’s little or no acceptance for
being different.
On the first day of school, I put all those negative thoughts
behind my back and walked in with my head held high. I was
holding my breath a little, but inside I was also proud to be a
Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.
I was wrong about everything I thought the kids would say or
even do to me. I actually met a lot of people because of wearing
my head covering. Most of the kids would come and ask me
questions—respectfully—about the hijab, and why I wore it.
I did hear some kid was making fun of me, but there was one
girl—she wasn’t even in my class, we never really talked
much—and she stood up for me, and I wasn’t even there! I made a
lot of new friends that year, friends that I still have until
this very day, five years later.
Yes, I’m different, but everyone is different here, in one way
or another. This is the beauty of America.
I believe in what America is built on: all different religions,
races and beliefs. Different everything.
Fifteen-year-old Alaa El-Saad is a student at John B.
Connally High School in Austin, Texas. She hopes to study
medicine and become a pediatrician. El-Saad says she wants help
children learn to embrace their differences and accept who they
are.
Independently produced for NPR by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman
with John Gregory and Viki Merrick
HOME - NEWSLETTERS - BOOKS - ARTICLES - CONTACT - FEEDBACK
DISCLAIMER:
All material published by Al-Huda.com / And the Message Continues is the sole responsibility of its author's).
The opinions and/or assertions contained therein do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this site,
nor of Al-Huda and its officers.