Ground Zero Mosque… What Ground Zero Mosque?!

Over the last week, I have noticed that I have been reading newspapers and watching news channels more often than I usually like to admit to doing in hopes of finding out a little more information on the excitement, or controversy rather, surrounding the Ground Zero Mosque in New York. From video clips on YouTube to a wide array of views found in the Huffington Post, my eyes and ears have been locked on, hoping honestly, that Islamophobes, and those opposed to the Ground Zero Mosque will be quieted in favor of religious freedom and tolerance. Since 9/11, I, along with countless other American born Muslims, have felt hated, discriminated against, misunderstood, and robbed of our solidarity with the rest of the American nation. The moment I feel like it is safe to stand up and proudly declare that I am an American Muslim, the proverbial rug of ‘one nation under God’ is pulled out from under us, and we are yet again reminded that ‘every hard-working, blue-jean wearing American hates us because of what our people did.’

This past Monday, August 23, 2010, to be exact, it dawned upon me, thanks to an outsiders perspective, that living in Oklahoma City, smack-dab in the middle of the Bible Belt, we, yes we Muslims, are just as American as peach cobbler and a bucket of good ole’ sweet Southern iced tea. You see, living in Oklahoma, we face just as much discrimination and prejudice as a Muslim living in a place like New York, perhaps even more at times, given that Oklahomans are not quite as well known for their high educational achievements and broad perspective on the world and world religions. Oklahoma does, however, have a deep-rooted history with Native Americans and African Americans, and the fights they have and continue to fight are not that far apart from the fight Muslims fight on a daily basis. The history of Islam in Oklahoma, although not quite as lengthy, also holds its own weight amongst that of Native and African Americans, as we are home to the first major civil-rights case CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) tackled, as well as former home to many of the world’s leader Muslims scholars, including Imam Suhaib Webb and Shaikh Tariq Suwaidan. Oklahoma, for all its faults and tainted history, may not be that bad after all.

Sitting down this past Monday evening at my computer, I pulled up the 30mosques.com website to read about the travels of a Muslim-duo traveling the country to visit 30 mosques in 30 states in 30 days, during the holy month of Ramadan. Reading the accounts of two Muslims from New York about their visit to our humble and simple community, made me realize something very important and profound, something that all American Muslims should keep in mind and take to heart. Since 9/11, and since the Oklahoma City Bombing perhaps, there has been a growing trend amongst Muslims to define ourselves according to the discrimination and prejudice that is perpetrated against us. Either we are victims of hate crimes, or we are fighting to build bridges, clear our name, increase tolerance, etc. Our lives have come to revolve around the issues that define us in newspaper articles, on news channels, and in radio shows. One thing we failed to realize, is the very point that Aman Ali pointed out in his reflections on Muslims in Oklahoma, “When I think of Oklahoma, I think of Sarah’s cowboy boots tucked under her abaya or people talking smack about who is a better NASCAR driver.” We, as Muslims in Oklahoma, America, or anywhere around the world, are much more than victims of hate crimes, or defenders of tolerance and injustice. Don’t get me wrong, it is extremely and vitally important for Muslims to be aware of issues affecting them, and for organizations such as CAIR and MAS (Muslim American Society) Freedom Foundation to exist to protect the rights of Muslims living in North America. The problem we face, however, is allowing the issues to define us, and therefore, to define our very existence. We, Oklahoma loving, boot-wearing, rodeo-going, American Muslims have the right, and the duty, to define ourselves and not let the outside world define us. The issues of discrimination, prejudice, misunderstanding, and more, will always exist, and I doubt will ever truly fade away. It is time, as we reach the peak of the holy month of Ramadan, that this ‘naturalized’ Okie will slip on his cowboy hats and cowboy boots, and sit and watch the sunset with my cup of milk and dates in hand, for the re-definition of my very existence as an American Muslim begins today.

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