Gandhi Fellow Fatima Bawany Reflects on 9/11

Bismillahir rahmanir raheem; with the name of God, most gracious, most merciful.

            For me, September 11, 2001 seemed like any other day. As always, my third grade class went through our writing exercises; as I was practicing my cursive, suddenly, our teacher received a phone call, and grew very silent. Immediately, he turned on the TV, and cries of confusion and wonderment filled the classroom as we watched the Twin Towers crumble to the ground, surrounded in dark gray clouds of smoke. As an 8-year old, I didn’t quite understand what the images meant, or why the eyes of the people onscreen were shining with fear, and my frustration only grew when the same footage was on every TV channel at home.

            I realized the next day how directly 9-11 would affect me; at lunchtime, one of my classmates determinedly stood up, pointed at me, and loudly declared, “Fatima. If I ever saw one of your people, I would shoot them right in the middle of their turbans.”

            Throughout the rest of the day, my mind was buzzing with questions and ideas, sparked by confusion, anger, and fear. Who were these people, these strangers, who had twisted my religion, one of the most influential forces in my life, into something evil and monstrous? The Muslims I knew were people I admired, people who inspired me with their love and kindness: my parents, my teachers, and my friends.

            In the next few years, Islam faced attacks from all sides of the political and social spectrums; at the same time, though, people grew more curious to learn about the faith that seemed so controversial. I resolved that the only way others would open their eyes to the peaceful and beautiful truth of my faith, a truth that was apparent to me, would be if Muslims, including myself, took on an active role in educating others as well as themselves about Islam, through their actions, words, and character. I became heavily involved in interfaith work, seeking out opportunities to build relationships based on an exchange and appreciation of another’s experiences. I began to observe the hijab, the Islamic way of dress, eager to strengthen my personal connection with God, while acting as a clear symbol of my faith.

            As a result of my efforts, and those of other Muslims and non-Muslims alike, I saw my peers begin to understand Islam more clearly, to the point where my friends would quickly reprimand anyone who even suggested that Muslims supported violence. The Rochester interfaith community is unique in this sense, eager to celebrate and explore differences rather than suppress or criticize them. It is this quality that must carry us into the future; on this tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001 we must make a decision: will we let ourselves be consumed by the negativity and hurt that resulted from 9-11, or will we accept it as a challenge and emerge from it stronger, on both a personal and community level? In the end, how we deal with this tragedy, and how we let it affect us, will decide whether we strive for a brighter future, or live in a painful past. 9-11 was a shocking and heartbreaking event for all Americans, and it is through remembrances and dialogues that we will come together as a community and unite in the face of hardship, striving for healing and supporting each other. Our nation was able to bond together against intolerance in the past, with the civil rights and suffrage movements; today, interfaith understanding presents a beacon of hope for Americans of all generations, and just as we have in the past, we shall overcome.

The Double Anniversary of September 11

The following is the text from remarks that Gandhi Institute director Kit Miller offered during Rochester’s Interfaith Remembrance ceremony on Sept 11, 2011.

I am here to speak about a call to action.  I have thought of dozens of things to share in these 5 minutes.  I have wondered about all of you, whose lives have been directly and indirectly changed forever by the events we remember today.  I would like to share three calls to action with you.

The first is a piece of wisdom I have treasured since hearing it ten years ago, at an interfaith gathering in Rochester just  after the events we remember today.  Responding to a heartfelt question from the audience, I remember Dr. Mohammed Shafiq from the Islamic Center of Rochester recommending ‘people of faith cool down and get humble’.  I repeat, ‘people of faith, cool down and get humble. ‘

I have carried that advice with me to many situations and it has served me well.   This is the first call to action I recommend today.

The second thought I would like to share comes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  King pointed out that many of us focus the majority of our attention on the people involved in the situation, rather than on underlying issues.

He urges us to do the creative unexpected thing-to focus our attention on the issue instead of the people.  Individuals come and go, and the issues stay the same.  I have found this principle helps at home and at work as well as in community and political life.  The second call to action today is to keep your attention on issues.

Today is a double anniversary.  105 years ago a crowd in Johannesburg, S Africa stood with Mohandas Gandhi and made a vow of nonviolent resistance against a proposed law that would in effect reduce Indians and other ‘Asiatics’ in S Africa to semi-criminal status.  Sept 11, 1906 marked a new way of waging conflict, when thousands of people chose to peacefully harness their spiritual values to create political change.  The power of the golden rule, do unto others as you would have done to you, which every religion in the world espouses, was harnessed.  They vowed ‘We will not oppose the person, we only oppose the injustice that person currently stand for’, which frees us both.  What was born that day ultimately influenced more than fifty countries to shake off the yoke of colonialism.  It has been and remains a mighty force for change.   The events this year in Cairo in Tahrir Square which launched the Arab spring attest to that.

The third call to action today therefore is to watch your own thoughts and stories about what this day means.  If we believe that evil and violence are inevitable, then that is the future we will likely create.  Instead, include the golden rule in your dealings with others and let’s ask our leaders to do the same at the national and international level.  We are part of an unfolding story whose unknowable outcome is up to us.  Thank you.

For more information on the 9/11 double anniversary, view the booklet “Hope or Terror? Gandhi and the other 9/11” written by Professor Michael Nagler, founder of the Metta Center in Berkeley, California

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