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I had heard so many
stories, about the Muslim women...being oppressed,
I decided that I would
find out for myself and so, as one of them I dressed.
I put on some loose and
baggy clothes...and then reluctantly covered my hair
I looked at that stranger
in the mirror...and thought to myself...who's going to
care?
Bravely and undaunted, I
ventured out of my room wondering, who I would meet
The very first person I
ran into...was my son, who said... "mom, you look like a
geek"
I replied... "look, I'm a
Muslim girl...do you like it, because this is going to
be the new me"
My son became so upset,
and said... "You just better make sure my friends don't
see"
I looked him in the
eyes...and said... "Why, I'm still the same mom that
you've always known
I've been here since you
were a baby, a toddler too...and I will be until you're
grown"
I was dismayed and
upset...and feeling rather unnerved by the reaction of
my son
Becoming very
uncertain...not nearly as confident now...I decided I
better get this done.
I wandered outside, and
awkwardly started in the direction of my car...
When all of a sudden...I
heard a piercing scream coming from my neighbour afar
With my heart in my
throat, as quickly as I could manage...I ran over to her
side
"Mrs. Jones, Mrs.
Jones...whatever is the matter and why are you trying to
hide?"
Suddenly it dawned on me,
as she looked at me with horror and revulsion in her
eyes
I felt so crushed, when
she said... "You’re a terrorist...you're one of those
Muslim spies"
I desperately tried to
ease her mind...assuring her over and over again...to no
avail
It didn't matter what I
tried to tell her, so certain was she...that I belonged
in jail.
Feeling rather shaken by
that silly scene, I decided I would just go to my mom's
place
Where I wouldn't have to
worry...none of those embarrassing events would I have
to face.
I barged into my parents’
house, shouting... "Mom, mom - look at me...I'm a Muslim
girl"
Well, the shock and alarm
in my mother's face...sent my dad in a panic and a
whirl
"Are you crazy?" they
said... "Or are you just plain stupid and out of your
ever-loving mind
In a mental hospital is
where you belong...if not...in a prison is where you
will wind."
I started to cry and
say... "Please, please just relax...why are you taking
this so hard?"
My dad wrapped his arms
around my mom...glared at me and shouted... "Get out of
my yard"
I left my parents house
crying...feeling sympathetic to all the Muslims...and so
ashamed
Of the way my family and
good neighbours, reacted to my little game
I soon came to the
conclusion; oppression of Muslim women did not even
exist
The only oppression that I
could see, were in those...of whom, my change...they did
resist
For tell me, does it
really matter on the type of clothing or covering a
woman wears
For underneath all those
layers of clothing, I am still the same woman that
cares!
"Allahu Ahad"
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