I have a Dream … for Johnson County
January 12, 2003
Thank you. My name is Mahnaz Shabbir. I live in Stilwell, Kansas with my husband and four sons. It is my privilege
to speak to you today in recognition of Dr. King’s Celebration.
In his inspiring speech, “I have
a Dream”, Dr. King reflected on his dreams that he had for his children. He
said, “ I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color
of their skin but by the content of their character”.
Hmm. I always felt that my children would be able to live in this country like any other
citizen--able to grow and contribute. Yet, in the wake of the tragedy of 9/11, my children, my family, my community are now
judged by their name, by their skin color, by our religion as being Muslims.
I haven’t forgotten the day when my then happy-go lucky 14-year-old son
Adil told me soon after 9/11 that he was accused by two of his classmates of being a terrorist and blamed for the World Trade Center attacks. Why did two boys from middle-class homes
in Johnson County say those hateful things? Because they knew my son was a Muslim.
As I thought about today’s talk, I reflected on Dr. King’s accomplishments
and also reflected on what my family, other Muslims in our community and around the country has experienced over the last
year. The horror of 9/11 was tragic. The senseless waste of life and destruction is still unimaginable. Muslims around the
world grieved with others for the lives that were loss. Yet, our government has deemed their federal actions towards my community are justifiable as part of “ our nation’s security”. In the months after 9/11, members of the Muslim community in our country have been detained without being
formally charged with crimes. While just about every Muslim I know who has flown have experienced additional security compared
to their non-Muslim passengers. In fact, when traveling they have found more difficulty at the KCI airport than other airports.
So, what can we learn from Dr. King today? What lessons did he teach us so that history
won’t repeat itself? Let’s examine those now and reflect on today’s situation.
Yes, he was known as a man of
peace, but he was also an agitator. He did not hesitate to criticize President Kennedy when he balked on civil rights to appease
the southern Democrats and he publicly defied President Johnson in calling an end to the Vietnam War. So today, if we do not agree with our government’s actions such as the Patriot Act giving federal
agents sweeping new powers of search and seizure, or the latest immigration registration program aimed at the Muslim community,
and actively campaign for peace, not war in the Middle East, are we
not following in the steps of Dr. King?
Another lesson he taught us was the need for open and proud expression of consciousness.
He spoke of African Americans to integrate, not assimilate. That African Americans are entitled to all the rights and privileges
of white Americans. So as a Muslim, know that I am your neighbor, your co-worker, your physician, your nurse, your schoolmate,
and your friend. Accept me as your equal. Understand my religion. Don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper
and watch on television. My religion has been misrepresented for hundreds of years in the western world. Know that Allah is
the Arabic word for God. Like Dios is in Spanish. Know that I believe in the Old Testament, the Torah and the last revelation,
our Holy book, The Qu’ran. Know that Jews, Christians and Muslims are referred to as people of the Book. These books.
I believe in the same prophets from Adam to Prophet Mohammed. If some of my fellow Muslim
sisters cover their head with a hijab, do not discriminate against them. I too
wear a hijab when I pray. These women wear it in public where the chance of bigotry and hatred escalates because of their
public identification as being Muslims. Know that hate crimes towards Muslims
nationally went from 28 in 2000 to 481 in 2001. I don’t have the figures for 2002, but I’m sure the numbers have
increased.
Know that my religion is a religion of peace. Know that my religion states that all men
and women are equal in the eyes of God. The only thing that puts one above another is on how pious one is. Know, understand
and accept my religion before you make judgments. My religion deserves the same rights as yours.
In addition, the lesson of the civil rights struggle compels is the necessity
of unremitting resistance to wrong. Today, discrimination to the Muslim community is subtle and not so subtle. What would
Dr. King say if he knew that nationally 1200 nonresident aliens have been secretly detained without access to a lawyer? Today,
our government began the implementation of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). Senators Kennedy, Feingold and Congressman Conyers have sent a letter to John Ashcroft on December 23, 2002 questioning whether there is a proper balance between
“securing our borders on the one hand and respecting the civil liberties of foreign students, businesspeople, and visitors
who have come to our nation legally”. READ THE LETTER
Rather,
this special registration program appears to be a component of a second wave of roundups and detentions of Arab and Muslim
males disguised as a perfunctory registration requirement. Reports indicate that hundreds of individuals who have voluntarily
appeared to register at INS offices around the country (but primarily in California) have been arrested and detained without reasonable justification. According
to news reports, many of those detained have applications pending for adjustment of status on which the INS has not yet acted.
These
reports are all the more troubling because this new program comes one year after the Department launched its first roundup
and detention of mostly Arab and Muslim men, the vast majority of whom were detained for immigration violations and ultimately
cleared of any involvement in terrorist activity. You have so far failed to identify most of the hundreds of individuals arrested
and detained in the wake of September 11 or their counsel. This pattern of targeting persons for arrest based on race, religion,
ethnicity, or national origin rather than on specific evidence of criminal activity or connections with terrorist organizations
only serves to undermine the trust of the American people, especially the Arab and Muslim American communities whose cooperation
we need more than ever to protect our nation.
Furthermore,
we are concerned about the interview stage of the NSEERS special registration program. We understand that information is sought
on the individual's credit card, bank account, and video rental card numbers, and, for those on student visas, on affiliation
with campus political and religious groups and names of roommates. These questions raise serious privacy and constitutional
concerns.
The
Department of Justice should aggressively investigate and prevent future terrorist attacks, but should at the same time act
with constitutional restraint. The Department of Justice has a responsibility to release sufficient information about the
special registration program and the detainees to allow Congress and the American people to decide whether the Department
has acted appropriately and consistent with the Constitution.
In
addition, we urge you to suspend further implementation of NSEERS pending congressional review. It is imperative that you
take steps to reassure Congress and the American people that this special registration program is not a detention program
falling just short of widespread internment of Arabs and Muslims. We further urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure
that the fundamental constitutional rights of individuals already detained are protected, including access to counsel.
Times
of crisis are the true test of a democracy. Our nation still bears the scars of an earlier crisis when our government went
too far by detaining Japanese, German, and Italian Americans based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin. We should
not repeat these painful mistakes.
We
look forward to your response.
Is this how we treat other religious
and ethnic minorities? After Michal Bray attacked abortion clinics, did we round up all evangelical Christians who follow
the Army of God movement? When Timothy McVeigh blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City,
did we round up all members of the Christian Identity movement? Or is it somehow more acceptable to do this to American citizens
who are Muslim because they are not “really American”?
What would Dr. King say? Have we learned from Dr. King? What do you as an American say?
Some say, “These are desperate times and they call for desperate measures”.
I’ve never heard anyone say, “ These are desperate times, so please take away my civil rights. Please come
and search my home. Please hold me for month after month without charging me with a crime. Please single me out in airport
security”. Of course not. They mean that it is okay to take away Muslim civil rights. Where is the American Community?
Are you not concern about losing your civil rights? Today, the target is the Muslim community. Which community is next?
Our president has said, “ You are either with us or you are against us”.
What would Dr. King say? What do you as an American say? Did we hear his message? I
think he would say wake up America, speak out against injustice, question our government’s actions and get in action.
On March 10th last year, I organized the “Community Praying for Peace”.
The event was to mark the six-month anniversary of 9/11. I was compelled to do this after Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street reporter
was killed. People from various faiths came together and prayed for peace. We
prayed in silence in our own faith for peace. We put aside our opinions, assessments, and conclusions and ask ourselves, “What
can we do for our Community? What can we create that is EXTRAORDINARY?” We knew the place to begin was with prayer.
We prayed again on June 9th, the nine month anniversary of 9/11, for all who suffer from injustice and oppression,
so that revenge will give way to compassion, that fear and hatred will be replaced by friendship and peace.
I have a dream for Johnson County that includes the country and the world that we can live our lives in peace. I have spoken that the year 2003 will
be the year for peace. It’s important that we have this kind of conversation vs. the military build up that is occurring
every day to go to war in Iraq.
The next Community Praying for Peace will be held on Sunday, March 4th.
This time, I’m speaking that this event will be held in other communities around the greater Kansas City, communities elsewhere in the country and around the world. If you are
interested in participating check out the website www.communitypeace.com and contact me.
As a global Community, this Community wants
people to demand the extraordinary of themselves and of others. That this Community wants to participate fully with each other
so that the conversation shifts in this world from one of punishment, revenge and hatred to one of inventive thinking, bold
leadership and a world transformed through Peace.
What would Dr. King say today about that? I think he would say his message was heard.
Home Articles and Speeches by Mahnaz
