In mid July I am crossing the pond (yet again), but this time to attend Islam Expo. The organisers have just posted the seminars. http://www.islamexpo.com/attractions.php?id=7&art=11 Take a gander, as the event promises to be eye opening.
Like the grand city hosting the Islam Expo (London) this event challenges the reality of diversity and mixing and socialising with those who are "different". As a Muslim, feminist of color raised by a Catholic father and a Muslim mother, my interpretation of Islam differs from many of the people I rubbed shoulders with at Islam Expo 2006, but I always felt a part of the Ummah.
In fact the most awesome thing about the Islam Expo is that despite the media Islam is now and will always be a diverse lot of men, women and children. So I am eagerly planning my next trip with much excitement.
Oh and one more bit of news I have to share. This will be the first trip in which I will cover (wear my hijab). I always dress in a modest manner, but in general I only cover when at mosque. However a rather unsettling experience at the "hands" of several TSA agents in November 2007 has rather made me decide to wear my hijab as a sign of pride and love of my faith.
After all if I can be detained by TSA for a half an hour and have my prayer books manhandled,my religious beliefs laughed at and spoken to by one TSA officer in a less than intelligent manner (she spoke to me in "ebonics") then my theory of not wearing my hijab to avoid just this sort of treatment was well - wrong. I was even asked repeatedly who I lived with. And my luggage was searched by two women while two men looked on. All very dis-respectful and quite unpleasant.
Like the grand city hosting the Islam Expo (London) this event challenges the reality of diversity and mixing and socialising with those who are "different". As a Muslim, feminist of color raised by a Catholic father and a Muslim mother, my interpretation of Islam differs from many of the people I rubbed shoulders with at Islam Expo 2006, but I always felt a part of the Ummah.
In fact the most awesome thing about the Islam Expo is that despite the media Islam is now and will always be a diverse lot of men, women and children. So I am eagerly planning my next trip with much excitement.
Oh and one more bit of news I have to share. This will be the first trip in which I will cover (wear my hijab). I always dress in a modest manner, but in general I only cover when at mosque. However a rather unsettling experience at the "hands" of several TSA agents in November 2007 has rather made me decide to wear my hijab as a sign of pride and love of my faith.
After all if I can be detained by TSA for a half an hour and have my prayer books manhandled,my religious beliefs laughed at and spoken to by one TSA officer in a less than intelligent manner (she spoke to me in "ebonics") then my theory of not wearing my hijab to avoid just this sort of treatment was well - wrong. I was even asked repeatedly who I lived with. And my luggage was searched by two women while two men looked on. All very dis-respectful and quite unpleasant.
I found the question of my living arrangements as particularly jarring as they seemed to want to hear that I lived with a man. And the question was asked more than three times. Co-habitation (outside of marriage) of non-related people of the opposite sex is haram in Islam. As I live alone and told the TSA this several times I can only think the repeating of this question again and again was to serve as to humiliate me. I regret to say that it did.
And being on the receiving end of four myopic people with power and preconceived, prurient and basal notions of what it is to be a Black, American Muslim and female was a rather daunting experience………………………………….But I hope I will not let it stop me from traveling and lawfully exporing the world and the complicated people in it.
So with hijab on head, enthiusiam in heart and my love of London and all the wonders and challenges the city brings - I AM CROSSING THE POND AGAIN.
By the way I know that some people have experienced problems with British Immigration - that has not been my case. I do not discount the life experiences of others, but I must acknowledge the reality of my life. And I would like to thank in writng British Immigration for the tolerance and respect they have always shown me in the 21 years I have crossed the pond and visited the capital. They have shown much respect (and tolerance) to me a Feminist (now Muslim Feminist), vegan, animal rights activist, heavy metal listening, numbers crunching, mosque and church going, woman of color.
Cheers,
PS: It is a forgone conclusion if you are crossing the pond or just boarding a plane to fly a few miles if you are traveling to anything at all related to Islam that you are going to end up on somebody's - list. Still never let it stand in your way of exploring Allah’s creation world and the people in it.
_
And always, but always have London on the top of your places to visit…………………….I mean if the capital can tolerate a head banging, vegan, Muslim Feminist with an ever increasing obsession with the British Museum it has to be awesome.
More on my upcoming trip to London in a few days…………………………………………
And always, but always have London on the top of your places to visit…………………….I mean if the capital can tolerate a head banging, vegan, Muslim Feminist with an ever increasing obsession with the British Museum it has to be awesome.
More on my upcoming trip to London in a few days…………………………………………
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