Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Reflections on my daughter's graduation
Yesterday my daughter graduated from High School. It was a wonderful event with lots of her friends and classmates. This is the second of my children graduating High School. My brother, mother, wife and two other children were there.
I could not help reflect and think back on my High School granduation in 1971. Only my parents and brother attended with me. Certainly all my classmates were there and friends. But, there was not the strong sense of friendship and closeness that both of my children's graduations evoked. I am speaking here about the strong familial and Islamic influence I saw yesterday. Scarves were all over the place and one of the main speakers was a Muslim and clearly made reference to her scarf.
Why is this so important? Well in today's Islamophobic atmosphere and Islam bashing politics, the Muslims are showing a strong positive presence in the schools. The school principal on several occasions has told the Granada parents (my kids private elementary and middle school) that their kids are a good influence on the school. They run a lot of the activities and are not involved in the negative peer pressure situations. [Not to say that all muslim kids are angels, but the majority of those whose parents are serious about Islam are positive role models, whether they know it now or not]
It is a pleasure to see the Muslim boys and girls so confident of themselves and their identity. They exude strength and show influence over the others. They speak freely of Islam and are not ashamed of it.
Contrast this to when I graduated. We had only one other Muslim family in town whose children were not in my class (so did not attend the graduation). Our parents did not get along for one reason or another. We saw the mosque (in NYC 30 miles away) twice a year. We were trying to blend in and not really stand out in any way.
Today our youth look vibrant and involved with their friends and in their environment. Some are outstanding and very engaging to the society at large. Others are more introverted, but still work with the youth as a whole to positively support others.
The Muslim parents I saw yesterday were also very supportive of their children and each other. There was definitely a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment with the results they were seeing in their children. Also a grateful thanks to Allah for blessing them with these wonderful progeny.
I am sure not every one of our children will become a super educated genius. But I can sense that they will have a strong community presence and unity. They will influence positively, plainly, by action and quietly.
It is time that we all step up to the plate and encourage the best in our fellow human beings, both for the benefit of the society at large and the benefit of our children, older ones, younger ones and those yet to be born.
I could not help reflect and think back on my High School granduation in 1971. Only my parents and brother attended with me. Certainly all my classmates were there and friends. But, there was not the strong sense of friendship and closeness that both of my children's graduations evoked. I am speaking here about the strong familial and Islamic influence I saw yesterday. Scarves were all over the place and one of the main speakers was a Muslim and clearly made reference to her scarf.
Why is this so important? Well in today's Islamophobic atmosphere and Islam bashing politics, the Muslims are showing a strong positive presence in the schools. The school principal on several occasions has told the Granada parents (my kids private elementary and middle school) that their kids are a good influence on the school. They run a lot of the activities and are not involved in the negative peer pressure situations. [Not to say that all muslim kids are angels, but the majority of those whose parents are serious about Islam are positive role models, whether they know it now or not]
It is a pleasure to see the Muslim boys and girls so confident of themselves and their identity. They exude strength and show influence over the others. They speak freely of Islam and are not ashamed of it.
Contrast this to when I graduated. We had only one other Muslim family in town whose children were not in my class (so did not attend the graduation). Our parents did not get along for one reason or another. We saw the mosque (in NYC 30 miles away) twice a year. We were trying to blend in and not really stand out in any way.
Today our youth look vibrant and involved with their friends and in their environment. Some are outstanding and very engaging to the society at large. Others are more introverted, but still work with the youth as a whole to positively support others.
The Muslim parents I saw yesterday were also very supportive of their children and each other. There was definitely a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment with the results they were seeing in their children. Also a grateful thanks to Allah for blessing them with these wonderful progeny.
I am sure not every one of our children will become a super educated genius. But I can sense that they will have a strong community presence and unity. They will influence positively, plainly, by action and quietly.
It is time that we all step up to the plate and encourage the best in our fellow human beings, both for the benefit of the society at large and the benefit of our children, older ones, younger ones and those yet to be born.
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