Can you guess the context?
I have been asked many questions about Muslims, the Muslim faith, the Muslim whatever, but this had to be the sweetest and most endearing. If you haven’t already guessed, we were in a mosque, in a prayer hall, in the women’s section, settling down for Friday Jumma prayers. My Jewish friend Bernice and I had just sat down on the red prayer rug.
The Last Prayer
My phone was on silent. I was at the library, at the Writers Circle, reading my piece on the pipe-bomber... Walking back home, the pipe-bomber was still on my mind. Khalid was waiting by the door. “Did you hear?” He asked.
Read moreTerrorism Defined
Why isn’t he being called a terrorist? Cesar Altieri Sayoc was arrested on charges of mailing explosives—pipe bombs—to former presidents, politicians, media, and other supporters of liberal causes. Had those bombs gone off, think of the bloodshed and lives lost! These people were targeted for their political and ideological views.
Read moreA 20-Year Sentence '...A Life of Honor'
ISLAMBERG, NY
On June 14, 2017, a Christian Minister, Robert Doggart, was sentenced to 20 years for a plot to burn down a mosque, a school, and a cafeteria in Islamberg, NY. Have you heard of Islamberg?
Read moreThe Genie is Out of the Bottle
What lay repressed by exercise of restraint, buried under layers of civilized behavior, simmering in the subconscious, is now unleashed. I am referring to bigotry and prejudice. Allow me to get really specific: Islamophobia. It was considered uncivilized and un-American to express hate. Now, thanks to the election rhetoric, it has been sanctioned.
Read moreTerror In Lahore
Only last week: Jash-e-Baharan in the park
Saba Masood was marked safe in Lahore’, flashed on my Facebook.
Another earthquake?
My fingers got ahead of me as I pulled up the news. A bomb blast had killed dozens in a park where Christians were celebrating Easter.
I was just there—in Lahore. I was in the parks,