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PDF versionPost-9/11 Reflections
by Maureen Fiedler on Sep. 13, 2011
Sunday, I was the master of ceremonies for the 9-11 Unity Walk, which brought people of many faith traditions together to express mutual respect for each other’s faith traditions. And an amazing event it was. Where else can you hear a Muslim call to prayer in a synagogue? Where else can you hear “Amazing Grace” over the loudspeakers at a mosque? Where else would you find the Vatican Embassy serving cookies to everyone who comes by on the front lawn?
Part of the idea of the walk is to encourage dialogue and story-telling among participants. And I heard an incredibly moving story as I walked. I met a young Muslim man, Rais Bhuiyan, who was one of the first victims of violent Islamophobia after 9/11 -- a hate crime. He lived in Texas, and was the third victim of Mark Stroman, a man who killed two people, then shot Bhuiyan in the head. He lost the sight in his right eye permanently. But he rejected thoughts of vengeance and instead, spent the next nine years of his life trying to save Stroman’s life by stopping his execution in Texas. He did not succeed in the latter; Stroman was executed in July 2011. But before he died, Stroman changed his mind and his heart because of the loving outreach of Rais Bhuiyan.
I quickly reflected: When do we ever hear about Muslims who do such things? The media is generally so full of stories of vengeful or angry Muslims, we miss the larger, peaceful reality.
I also began to reflect on monuments. I had watched CNN that morning as the Ground Zero monument was dedicated and families entered to see it. There are also monuments to the deceased at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. But 9/11 did not “end” on 9/11. It led directly to the war in Afghanistan, and was used as an excuse for the war in Iraq. Where will the victims of those wars be memorialized, I wondered. Probably nowhere. Even in death, we are a privileged nation.
Eventually someone will
Eventually someone will beging to raise funds to build another war memorial on the Washington Mall to remember those who fought and died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hopefully they can find the space, as a good portion is already dedicated to the World War II, Korean and Viet Nam War. The question for me is where are the memorials to the civilians who lost their lives in these wars. Since WW I most of the war casualties are civilian, which at the moment represent 90% of the total casualties. I understand the need for memorials whether they are large or small. But what we are not very good at is working towards eliminating the violence at the heart of these events. There are so few people like the young Muslim Rais Bhuiyan who follow a non violent way of life to the point that he changes the heart of the man who tried to kill him. The way of Rais Bhuiyan is the way of Jesus.
"Where else can you hear a
"Where else can you hear a Muslim call to prayer in a synagogue? Where else can you hear “Amazing Grace” over the loudspeakers at a mosque?"
Yes, Maureen, EVERY religion has its own special piece of the GOD puzzle.
Your words reminded me of a similar experience I had while teaching on a Fulbright teaching fellowship to Senegal. I had escaped the bustle and jostle of beautiful downtown Dakar to visit the Benedictine monastery of Keur Moussa - Wolof translation of "Chez Moise" or Moses' House. This foundation of Solesmes is noted for its liturgical inculturation of traditional African instruments and melodies. The guest house was perfectly positioned to hear the early morning chant of the monks and the local call to morning prayer at the mosque in town. I'm so glad I decided to sleep in that day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huJ-8dOMpsw
http://www.abbaye-keur-moussa.org/abbaye/
http://www.amazon.com/Monks-of-Keur-Moussa-Abbey/e/B000AQ0KH2/ref=ntt_mu...
Their citrus groves provide a livelihood for a number of men from the village as well as competitive wholesale prices for the women to take the fruit to market. And they make one helluva goat cheese, too!
" . . .spent the next nine
" . . .spent the next nine years of his life trying to save Stroman’s life by stopping his execution in Texas. He did not succeed in the latter; Stroman was executed in July 2011."
Rick Perry making political points?
I guess I must reject such thoughts, but how?
And what point was being made?
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