Sub7anAllah just when I was thinking of being a '7haleeji, I came across secretarabian's journal of bidoonak.
I used to think the exact same way as that pakistani girl he quoted.... we came here, we worked here, blah blah blah.... Up until 3 years ago I used to regurgitate the same exact things, why coz we heard it from our fathers, coz most pakistani families' heads believe that they gave their youth to this country and as a payback they should get the nationality.
Do I agree with those ppl now ? No, I don't ....but (yeah there had to be a but coming in) what abt ppl who have incorporated the local culture? What abt the ppl who think twice before littering the streets (the avg '7aleeji litters the streets and says we pay those street cleaners for something don't we) what abt the ppl who have consciously made an effort to look like one of you. And I mean physically pakistanis and arabs do have some similarity but what i mean by looking like you is they wrap the shehla like one of u, they wear the same kind of daffa that ur women do, their men wear kandoras or thobes like your men. When they say salam to you, they say it like you, heck most of you continue having a complete conversation with them without ever knowing they are not one of you (this one is always a feel good thing for me). How abt if one of you can't tell they are not one of you, when they actually make an effort to learn your language, when they know the national anthem of your country and can't for the life of them remember their own country's national anthem.
I do agree with most who say don't naturalize the ones who have hung on to their stuff, their culture, but do keep an open mind abt those who are serious abt integrating.
Did my dad do it all right....no not completely but I gotta give him credit where he deserves. He and mom took the opportunity to get their kids pronounciation of 3rabi right. Will I do the same, yes and inshAllah will do more.
To all those who are against naturalization, I understand where ur coming from but not all of us wear shalwar qameez, not all of us eat the same hot spicy food, not all of us are anti-integration with the arabs, not all of us are gonna take our daughters and sons back to the 'homeland', heck some of us are open to the idea of marrying in the culture we live in...
keep an open mind, i'll try to give you a chance if you give me a chance...... deal????
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6 comments:
hey i like hot spicy food.
I can only handle spicy food to a certain extent, personally i like arab food wiht a lil chutney on the side for the kick ...
Nice post. Well, the mentality of the people has changed over the course of time by the arab nationalism propaganda. What people tend to forget quite often in our region is that our main identity is Islam. They also ignore the fact that the rise of Muslim empires was a result of close interaction between muslims, both arabs & non-arabs but their downfall started when this arab-non arab debate started.
The most recent example is the fall of ottoman empire & the creation of many micro arab states. May Allah guide us & our leaders to His right path.
I totally agree with you dg, muslims these days are trying to hold on to what makes us unique (i.e culture) forgetting that what makes us unique is our belief in one Allah and the fact that Alhamdulillah we follow the one and only right religion. I sometimes do get stubborn and refuse to answer the question: where are you from? I am from Ba7rain... next question pls....
Beautiful post. We all originate from Adam and Eve dont we? There is always a tendency to stress on differences that eventually leads to division. It is that kind of mentality that causes wars, hatred and lack of harmony within our socities and the world.
Salam 3lykm
OMG - I feel like I'm readin' a post I've written..except..I'm in the UAE! O_O Well said, sista...and I hope you start bloggin' again..hopefully sometimes soon?!
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