I was too lazy to attend it simply because to day i have classes from 9am-12pm.then i went back home because i was hungry and need some stuffs to get done. The, about 5pm, i force myself to get out house, struggle the cold of -27C out there. Living off campus, i need to walk to the bus stop, like few blocks away, wait for the bus. Alhamdulillah, the bus came and go through everyday routine, sit and look through out the window for about half an hour before i reach campus.
That is obviously not the point. Okay, here we go, so i attend the world conversation session down at a room in Erie Hall that happened to be a video conferencing room. I thought it is gonna be some sort of instructor that will conduct the 'lecture'. But it was actually a video conference with students from university park to discuss about the world, but specifically about the Chapel Hill shooting.
We started with that. The host asked us all if we have heard about that. Honestly, most people don't know about that except for the Muslims. Sad. But yeah, that is the reason why we had this conversation anyway. Interesting, the four students from Uni Park were all from Saudi Arabia and they were all Muslims. But from the Erie side, i am the only Muslim and also the only who know about what happened.
Some of we talked about were about what do they think of the shooting. Is it really a parking dispute or it is actually a hate crime. Most of us believe that there must be more than just a parking dispute that causes the execution style murder. We started to talk about the media, how biased they all are.
It was nice to know the reality that most american do have negative images of Muslims and Islam and general. 911 and Isis really tell them to stay away from Muslims. I don't blame them to have that ignorant stereotype but i guess, i could blame them for trusting the media blindly without trying to do some research.
In the middle of the conversation, interestingly the focus turned into me. Yes, i mean me as the subject.
The host asked me about what i feel living here and if i feel secure or unsafe. Just to be completely honest, i told them that i do feel secure at some places but at the same time, i do feel very unsafe at some places. Obviously, they asked why and asked me if i can give some real life example.
At that point, the only thing i could think of is about the way i dress and not to forget about the warning i got from my instructor. I told them that sometimes people like to ask me about the way i dress and sometimes they thought it was an oppressive culture. Some of them even advice me to take off my hijab because this is a free country and no one could be able to force me to wear that.
About my instructor, i still remember that one day i got to stay after class and got the warning from her saying " don't try to convert anyone". Funny. At the time, i was about to give a speech about Islam. I mean, it was a information speech about islam and not a persuasive speech. Why should she worry? The purpose of the speech was so that i could explain something about islam since most of my audience know nothing about islam else than terrorist and oppressive. So yeah, i did get that kind of warning.
Just after i talked about that, the whole conversation was switch to me. I was very touched that people were so concern about the hardship i struggle i have gone through. It was difficult for me at the first time but i am used to it. I can tell you that i could really feel their sincerity in understanding my situation. I could not ask for more. I really appreciate that. I bluntly admit their ignorant and how they actually curious about different cultures but how the media potrayed Muslims really psychologically influence them to not to.
Also, from that session, someone started to ask me if i am going back to 'Middle East' this summer, of course my reply, i am from Malaysia ( Asia not Middle East ). And yes, insyaAllah i am going bact for visit in Malaysia. Not to forget, i got a new friend who send me back, she dont want me to wait for the bus this late at night and in this cold weather. She was asking about what islam actually is. I explained to her as best as i could since she is a catholic, it made for me even easier to explain to her by realating Jesus and everything.
Then, she was so eager to ask me about the way i dress and if i pray five times a day. Alahmdulillah. It was a very dynamic conversation. I totally love it. Thank you Allah for giving me such opportunity. Thank you all for your concern and care.
Alhamdulillah :)
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