130 Military Interventions by U.S. in 100 years

 A CENTURY OF U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTIONS

The following is a partial list of 130 U.S. military interventions from 1890 to 1999

Production of Your Generous Hate

(as Martin Luther King Jr. said: Hate can not take out hate... darkness can not take out darkness, only light can do that)

 

You hated my nation, so your country I didn’t like

You said my homeland was not sacred, so your barren territory I didn’t like

You stoned us, calling us infidels, so your idols I didn’t like

You remained ignorant of my mountains, so your desert dunes I didn’t like

You laughed at my country’s passport, so your elitist nationality I don’t like

You paid me low wages based on my race, so your employment apartheid I don’t like

You never appreciated the fruit of my Indus soil, so your sand land I don’t like

You lied that I’m Hindu, so your subjective religion I don’t like

You force the women to hide so kids get molested, your deviant sexuality I don’t like

You made me beg to not void my visa, your exclusive citizenship I don’t like

You say you own the two holy cities, your puppet kingdom I don’t like

You pretend to the world as if you’re holy, your unholy beliefs I don’t like

You fund gullible extremists around the world, your fanatic dogma I don’t like

You claim your tribe is divine, your thuggish theocracy I don’t like

You act like my people are your slaves, your archaic fiefdom I don’t like

You prostate at the feet of white skins, your shattered moral compass I don’t like

You wish to imprison my heart and soul, your twisted shariatic laws I don’t like

You use religion to hold me hostage, your gangster mentality I don’t like

You want followers to kill for your fatwas, your mass manipulation I don’t like

You claim only your sect is legit, your fundamentalist patriarchy I don’t like

You tell me to shut my mouth and thoughts, your form of enlightenment I don’t like

You use fear of retribution to terrorize our souls, your godly wrath I don’t like

You kill any rival at will, your justice of mass executions I don’t like

You lack the power to hear scrutiny, your inferiority complex I don’t like

You drench yourself in gold from head to toe, your self-aggrandizement agenda I don’t like

You think we are pee-ons and subhuman, your self-proclaimed royalty I don’t like

You demand my blind faith in you, your cult of mind control I don’t like

You can’t tolerate any voice of dissent, your pigheaded arrogance I don’t like

You built a clock high-rise to overshadow the Kaaba, your tower-envy I don’t like

You sear every mosque and sajda with your footprint, your spiritual mutilation I don’t like

You obey as a willful american slave, your sense of freedom I don’t like

You waste billions on yachts and palaces, your black gold oil companies I don’t like

You segregate men and women into silos, your one-eyed godheads I don’t like

You were installed as fake kings by the Brits, your sham monarchy I don’t like

You stockpile weapons to bomb fellow Muslims, your anti-Ummah psychology I don’t like

You wage war on the poor of Yemen, your misguided jihadi’s I don’t like

You preach that all Saudi’s are holy, your White Supremacy agenda I don’t like

You flex your power upon the weak, your perpetuating the American empire I don’t like

You worship the dollar as your number one god, your corrupted faith I don’t like

You will never be my leader, your feudal oil cartels I don’t like

You feel superior to hate me, I don’t copy what I don’t like

 

(by Fazeel Chauhan, a poet or Pakistani origin who lived in Saudi in the 1970's and now resides in Los Angeles. 3-20-21. Disclaimer by poet: The points illustrated poetically are not meant to stereotype a group of people, but instead this is using a critical (CRT) lens to examine the policies made by those in power. In summary, when I was the target of injustices, I did not like it, and decided to not copy those harmful behaviors and instead learned to empathize with exploited peoples)

  

"Corporal" Punishment by Teachers, Parents, Preachers, VIP's and Landlords

When i lived in Saudi Arabia in the 1970's, my father said he had seen public executions after Jummah. He also said that some people were "whipped" with branches of the date tree. He was born in 1923 and had also been in the British army in WWII. I think this practice of whipping and caning, and "corporal" punishment is also coming from the west, and specially from colonization. "Corporal" after all is the lowest rank in the military, so I guess they become the "whipping boys" or scapegoats for sadistic bosses. 

The wikipedia article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment

states that in some traditional and native societies, corporal punishment was not used, because there was no private property in those societies. If there is no property, it can't be stolen, thus no need to punish people for stealing. Also, in indigenous cultures, property is often shared with the community, so less likely would have involved punishment. They did however shun people out of the tribe, if a person would become a menace to society. 

My father copied what the british army had done to him: Line people up, question them one at a time, and cane them. Since first grade, starting with "good" Catholic schools, our teachers used to cane us, pretty ruthlessly. All the teachers there were women. One even did kicking and slapping. In other pakistani schools of Saudia and Pakistan, hitting students on the palm or back of hand was common, using tools like canes, a foot ruler's flat or thin edge. A couple of my teachers in boarding school, sent boys to the hospital, by beating them severely, including with punches. Two of the students were top of their class, academically. The third was the top athlete of the school. These were good kids, not troublemakers. 

We grew up witnessing that it was common for preachers like "molvi saheb", or imam or qari, to beat kids for not memorizing a surah, or for not pronouncing the Arabic words of Quran, properly. Where did those religion teachers learn that method of "discipline". Yet we are told that Islam was not spread by the sword. At least in the subcontinent, many indigenous people become Muslim due the the kindness, honesty and spirituality of the sufi teachers. I can't imagine sufi masters beating anyone. It's doesn't seem feasible their lessons to parents about tarbiya, they were told to beat their children, over the heads and on the faces, using shoes, sandals and flip flop chappals. 

In the 1970's (at least), it had become normalized, for the teachers, preachers (imam, qari), and parents to beat kids. We see this still going on today, though it seems less prevalent. 

In the above wikipedia article, it also mentions that master's used to beat their servants. In places like Pakistan, that abuse of maids and servants being treated like slaves, still happens today. The master and slave history of United States is often forgotten or whitewashed, but that is a connection we need to make.

A very different kind of beating is described in the best selling book "My Grandmother's Hands", which talks about healing trauma and how it's passed on to future generations, in their bodies, souls and DNA. The (Social Worker) Author, Resmaa Menakem states that some African American parents use a flexible branch of a tree, called a "switch" or a braided switch which looks like a whip. He states that in slavery times, an African American parent might whip their child with that stick, so that the child would become more "obedient" and keep his head low, thus not get in trouble with the master, who would get the child whipped by a "cat and nine tails" type of massive whip, which literally tears the flesh of the person and leaves them wounded and scarred for life. Those African American parents were not being cruel, but instead were trying to protect their children to prevent them becoming the victims of the slave master's beatings and lynchings. Menakem explain it as a father saying to a son, "I would rather have you hate me today, than to have you be dead" [due to police brutality, etc]. 

Like the teacher, preacher and parent of the past in Pakistan, the VIP and landlord of today, still wields tremendous power, as if he owns the body and soul of the other person. As if the child or employee or "peasant" is their slave to be dehumanized. As if the master can beat "freedom" out of a person to subjugate and enslave them. This power differential is exercised in other areas of society, not to mention by politicians, governments and corporations. Any hierarchy is in place to emphasize that some people are more superior than others. With that, many people do use their position of power to oppress others, to hold others down, to treat others as hostages, to bring others to heel and kneel. A gangster is called: yeh sab ka baap hay. Or a badmaash is called: yeh sub ka dada hay. As if fathers and grandfathers are supposed to act like gangsters. And "Uncle" Sam is a our father's brother who kills millions of people around the world? Is that what uncles are supposed to do? Certainly, gangsters are bullies who only inflict terror on people who are weaker. 

What do you think are the roots of these practices, such that it has been (or was) normalized, justified and even legalized for "elders" and "respectable" or "honorable" (muslim) people like teachers, preachers and parents to beat children? 
Did colonization teach us to hate ourselves? The white supremacists beat native people around the world, like us, and we repeat their behavior and keep beating the children?
Extending these practices to force people into subjugation, are the tools of the state, including police brutality, law enforcement and (in)justice system at home... and militarism, war-profiteering and empire building to dominate and enslave the rest of the world. As Arundhati Roy says "We are all subjects [slaves] of the American Empire". 

At a Protest Against American Imperialism

At a protest against 

The Military Industrial Complex of White Supremacy

Los Angeles 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10829153@N04/1944863870/in/pool-pakistanpolitics/

Reference to the 1996 articled: What Can I Do?

 

My article

"What Can I Do?"

Published in Pakistan Link. November 22. 1996. p. 5.

had this quote cited in the following research paper:

The trend toward medicine is so pronounced that an activist, who advises his fellow Muslims what they should do in America, tells them: "Teach the children to be leaders in government, media and community. Don't only become rich doctors." 

refernce # 55

on page 13 of the following article:

Demographic Characteristics of the American Muslim Community

by Khalid Duran

https://archive.org/details/demographic-characteristics-of-the-american-muslim-community

Writer's Bio - 1999

 

(39) Writer's Bio

8-16-99

Fazeel Azeez Chauhan of Los Angeles was born in Pakistan. He lived there off and on for ten years. As a teenager, he lived for five years in Saudi Arabia. He's been living in the U.S. since 1980

He attended California State University and has a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems. He also majored in Psychology in graduate school. At Los Angeles City College, he completed a two year training program for Television Production. He also studied Creative Writing. Since 1990, his articles on social issues are often published in Pakistan-American weekly newspapers.

In 1991 he started working for a large organization as a Computer Network Engineer. He continues working in that profession full-time. His interests are hiking, traveling, reading and writing poetry, music and community service

A collection of his poems will be published in the coming months.

Thank you joining me in reading.

Contact Information:

QawaLi@yahoo.com

Art and Poetry page:
https://www.facebook.com/SubversiveVerse

Poetry and Essays:
https://globalzebra.blogspot.com/

Get Up, Stand Up, For Your Rights

 (27) Get Up, Stand Up, For Your Rights

by Fazeel Chauhan

10-25-96

In an effort to "adapt" in America, we may change our name, language, clothes and beliefs. As hard as we may try, we do not fit in as "Americans." Our basic identity seems alien to a typical American. Our name, religion, culture and heritage are non-European. Because of these differences, we as a group have the most difficulty in the process of "assimilation" and may become easy targets of racism. Thus the title, which is one of the many suggestions given by reggae singer Bob Marley.

When I came to America, as a teenager, I wanted to fit into the new society. I tried hard to get rid of my accent, facial hair and native clothes. I opened myself up to learn about the new cultures, religions and social behaviors. I wanted to understand Americans and to discover common things based on which I could befriend them. I was an excellent Cricket and Hockey player. That did not help me here so I started playing football and baseball. In college and elsewhere, I was told that in order to survive, we must adapt. And I tried to adapt as much as I could. I even had to adapt my sense of humor because I could not make American people laugh with Pakistani type jokes.

I learned that American people in general have many great qualities. Americans are generally honest, law-abiding, well organized and punctual. In college people did not cheat like they did in Pakistan. In everyday life, I didn't have to deal with corruption. Sadly and unwillingly, however, I became aware of racism in America. It was of a different brand than the kind I experienced in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Somehow, we are not prepared to deal with it.

Most of us don't come here with American citizenships in hand. Many come here on student visas, which do not give us the confidence to walk on this ground as if it belongs to our fathers. We live in fear, without "making waves," til we acquire our Nationality. To our dismay, it doesn't make us an "American" in the eyes of the American majority. We continue to operate from a place of fear and put Caucasians on a pedestal.

In the initial contact with Americans, the first question asked is "Hey, what's your name?" If it's a common Muslim name like Hamid, Ali or Fareed it generates a wall of separation. If you're "lucky" enough to have fair skin and/or "European" features, you may get a foot in the door. But if you have the usual brown features, a wall rises against you, even before your name is asked. In conversations with Americans, we're asked about our religion or country of origin and some barbed wire gets added to the walls. These questions may be prompted to us because of our "accents." Some of us may discover that becoming a part of the American social circles is extremely difficult. We know them, but they are not interested in finding out who we are. In trying to "adapt," we gain little and lose our identity. We also turn to fellow Pakistanis and realize that they too have imported certain prejudices. We notice that frequently Pakistanis don't acknowledge each other on the street. The idea gets or grows in our heads that we are no good. The media does its share of promoting White American values, which may make us feel minor.

Muslims around the world and in America don't seem to have the spiritual fire and power like we did in the old days. When we instinctively stood up for our dignity, faith, and name. There is a general feeling of sadness and powerlessness among Muslims. A weakening of the spirit was caused by outside forces and helped by inner corruption.

Speculation about the state of the collective Muslim mind can be very subjective. The point is, at least in America, we operate from a place of fear and don't stand up to defend our basic human rights. We sometimes get stuck at "What can I as one person do." Or we become so disappointed that we pretend not to care. Some people stop me from talking and expressing my feelings about racism. I tell them that I am a Pakistani Muslim and my name is not "John" any more. I insist to them that I am the victim, not the racist and we shouldn't blame the victim. It is a big problem and the only way to get to the solution is to first talk about it.

Evil and good are part of everyday life. The evil things may seem scary, but if we have the solid strength in our spiritual being, we can say Takbeer or Na-ra-ay Haidery and face up to whatever evil is in front of us. Last week, my buddy Noman and I stood up to six racists in Chico State University, near Sacramento, CA. When we stood up for what was right, to our surprise, they turned out to be cowards and ran away. Muslims, Pakistanis and Indians are new immigrants and thus the easy pickings. A racist person looks for the easy target. Even gay people have more "power" than us, such that it is considered politically incorrect to say anything against them. But it's considered acceptable to slander Muslims. From your heart, do something to end racism, and help empower your people

Affirmative Action and Proposition 209

 Affirmative Action and Proposition 209

by Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link  ~  10-28-96)

Is there a conspiracy against non-white immigrants? In California the same people who brought us proposition 187 a couple of years ago, are now bringing us proposition 209. It assumes that racism does not exist anymore and that Affirmative Action programs should be terminated. If the two dots are connected, I wonder what the projected ultimate goal is. If we as part of the "minority" don't vote against 209, then we are on our way to legalized racism.

Proposition 187 targeted "Illegal" aliens, denying their children education and medical care. As Dr. Hathout mentioned, "Even if a person doesn't have proper papers, I will still treat him like a human being and give him the medical care he needs." Proposition 187 attempted to legalize immoral treatment of undocumented aliens and it passed. Proposition 209 is the next step, which takes certain rights away from "legal" aliens. What's next? Separate passports based on which country a person immigrated from? Legalized racism based on your color? Currently, people with "European" features are not likely to be asked to prove whether they are legal or whether they are "American." Nobody even talks about the thousands of illegal Italians in New York. In fact, immigration from European countries is encouraged. Governor Wilson and his supporters are targeting the non-white people.

Some students have been on hunger strikes and demonstrating at the Federal Building on Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood. This is a tradition that Mahatma Gandhi popularized. But Jackie who is an activist says that appealing to an oppressor's morality only works when he has morality. So what can we do? Believe it or not, your vote is extremely powerful. Elected officials do care about your vote. Even if you are not a citizen and not eligible to vote, you have every right to call or write to them and state how you feel. Even President Clinton responds to letters within a month. Many government officials are on the Internet and can be contacted easily if you have a computer. You can contact your local library to obtain names, addresses and phone numbers of all your representatives.

Many people, especially "Americans" say that they don't want to get involved in politics. Even though politics is a dirty business, still, we cannot escape the effect it has on our personal lives. For example, proposition 209, will affect all of us because we are a subset of non-white immigrants. Although a lot of energy is required these days to earn a good living, we should not be blind to the big picture. In politics, there is a lot of misinformation. For example, proposition 209, which takes away rights from minorities and women, is labeled as the "Civil Rights" initiative. This kind of "double-speak" can confuse even a sensible person.

Affirmative Action programs which were designed to combat racism are now being called reverse discrimination. The truth is, Affirmative Action is a sensible remedy for addressing current discrimination against people of color and women. It is a means of giving equal opportunities to people of color and women for hiring, promotion, public contracting and public school enrollment. Currently, 86% of jobs are not advertised, and are filled through word of mouth. Affirmative Action is a door opener for people who would otherwise be shut out of good schools, government contracts, and public jobs. It is not a system for hiring unqualified people. No program requires anyone to accept substandard or unqualified applicants. It is not a quota system and it is not a remedy for past discrimination. Unfortunately, discrimination continues to be widespread today. Just ask a conscious non-white person. According to Californians for Justice, Caucasian men make up 96% of CEO's, 85% of tenured professors, 89% of US Senators and 100% of all U.S. Presidents. On the other hand, people of color and women get the lowest paying and least desirable jobs. They also have much higher poverty and unemployment rates. Radio station KPFK 90.7 FM is also a good source of un-biased news and information.

Don't be fooled by Proposition 209, which they are wrongly calling the "Civil Rights" initiative. It eliminates all public equal opportunity affirmative action programs. This "Civil Wrongs" initiative offers only racial division, gender exclusion and open discrimination. The dangerously vague language also legalizes discrimination against women and girls. Does it sound like Apartheid as in South Africa? The initiative falsely assumes that the effects of past and present discrimination don't exist. It takes us back at least thirty years. Fortunately, there are groups like "Angry White Men Against Prop 209" a beautiful bunch of guys from Oakland. Please, vote against Prop. 209 on November 5th and write your elected officials to discourage them from putting such a bill on the ballot in the future

The Honorable People

by Fazeel Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link  ~  10-5-95)

Forty Eight years ago, millions of Muslims of the Indian Sub-continent gained their freedom. They did not want to live under the oppression of the British or the Hindus. They wanted independence and the freedom to practice their religion and culture without restrictions. Half a century later, we're still slaves. We are not independent and free. Our actions and current circumstances show that we are not living those values that the founders envisioned practicing. Corruption, injustice, oppression and civil war are the diseases destroying our country Pakistan.
The Westerners came hundreds of years ago and enslaved our ancestors. Their motive was greed of power and money. They ruled our people and stole the material goods and ancient treasures of our land. They made us conform to their thinking, laws and values and attempted to divert us away from our magnificent heritage. They used the tactics of divide and conquer to oppress and control us. The brave people who stood up to fight them were killed or bought. They were our enemies and they taught us to hate ourselves. They looked upon us as the "dirty natives." They made us learn their English language and steered us away from our own richer languages. So they brainwashed us into believing that our old traditions and native values were wrong and that it was good to be modern and westernized. We began to lose our integrity, got confused, and started becoming like them.
The British were able to come in and invade the land, hearts, souls and minds of our people because we had become weak. Specifically, we lost the values which had made us powerful, honorable people and the integrity which had kept us on the right path. When we became weak on the inside, both the devil and the British were able to conquer us.
Our forefathers dreamed that things would be different after independence. Our ancestors gave their lives to attain freedom for their future generations. They hoped that we would live happily ever after in our sacred and "Pak" land. The dream has turned into a nightmare today, especially for the people in Karachi. With so much unrest and lawlessness, nobody knows who could get killed next. So many people have guns that it has become like the wild west. Corruption is rampant in our motherland. A poor man who does not have money or connections, is powerless and vulnerable. Freedom of speech means that a person may be killed if he says what he really feels. The basic human rights that we enjoy in America have to be bought and sold in Pakistan. We are still weak because we still allow ourselves to be divided and conquered.
Part of the problems in Pakistan is the covert operations of outside forces like the CIA. We should learn planning skills from the British, Americans and Jews. Their planning is for the next five hundred years. The imperialist British said "We will not only conquer their lands and minds, we will rule their hearts and souls for generations to come." Today, many generations later, our hearts and souls are slaves to the west. A Caucasian man told me proudly "Don't fool yourself. Just because the British flag was replaced by the Pakistani flag in 1947 does not mean that you are free. Any imperialist government still rules the colonies even after granting them "independence.""
The language we are communicating in today is English. It's difficult to communicate feelings and emotions in this language. For example, there are so many different words for love in Urdu. But English is a necessity in today's world. That's fine, but what's really repulsive is when in Pakistan people proudly and abundantly use English words in their Urdu conversations. The more "westernized" a person looks, the more respect and admiration he gets. Today, a popular song is "Goree". Why is white considered more beautiful? Is it because we believe the Caucasians who told us that we are the "dirty natives" and the whites are godly?
Religion and spirituality are very personal things which are between a man and his God. Yet so many people are oppressed in the name of religion. In Pakistan, many people are not educated enough to properly interpret and analyze the teachings of a religion. The people are threatened not to question "religion". The biggest enemy in our culture is self-righteousness. There are so many egocentric people who think that only they are right and everybody else is wrong. They have no tolerance and are threatened by a difference of opinion.
Twenty years ago a boy was born in Karachi. At a very young age he started having dreams in which the great heros of the world appeared to him. Men like Tipu Sultan, Hazrat Imam Hussain, Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley and Allama Iqbal would talk to him in his dreams. They urged him to be a righteous man and lead his people out of their miserable state. For several years, he strengthened his spirit. Then he started teaching people the ancient ways to make them honorable again. He asked these people of integrity to join him and formed a movement called the "Honorable People".

About a million of these warrior souls are now working for human rights in Pakistan. Their values are rooted in their own rich and ancient eastern heritage. These men and women do not compromise their principles and choose death over slavery. These humanitarians are united and are willing to give up their lives to wrong the rights in Pakistan. They will jump off a cliff before taking a bribe. They are not hypocrites or jealous of others. They protect and empower women and children. They ensure that the poor and needy also get the same basic human rights as everybody else. They make peace among warring factions. They talk to the men who want their own little kingdoms and persuade them to join the Honorable People. As leaders of our society, they make long range plans and visualize where our society should be in five hundred years. They care about other people and are not selfish. They believe that their purpose in life is to serve other people. Will you become an honorable person to help your children? What stops you from joining the Honorable People?

Creating the Muslim Promise Keepers

by Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link  ~  11-26-96)

For three and a half years, I was a member and leader of a team of American men. One major goal was to help each other be the men we always wanted to be and to live honorably. As with any such boy scouts club or mens' support group, a set of rules was used, called the Code of Honor. Coming from a place of deep caring for each other, the men were truthful, intimately honest and held each other accountable to the basic principles of the Code of Honor. The code was a simple yet powerful tool that helped us become successful in all areas of our lives. Most importantly, the teachings helped us create mutually fulfilling relationships. These relationships gave us the great gifts of community and belongingness.
The teachings about forming strong communities and relationships were very valuable and I wished that our people would learn these tools too. I had trouble bringing Pakistani men to this knowledge. The two greatest prerequisites of becoming a part of a men's group are trust and commitment. Many Pakistani people around me, don't deeply trust each other and the commitment to each other is not very strong either. There is a lot of loyalty in the friendships but that alone is not enough for a strong relationship. I also had trouble bringing the knowledge to two major mosques of Los Angeles. Sadly, the Muslim leaders I talked to were not interested in forming any support groups. I gave the example of a highly successful Christian support group for men which is called "The Promise Keepers." Last year, at their annual gathering at the L.A. Coliseum, these men were 65,000 strong. Obviously, these men are benefitting greatly from being part of a team of men. A "team" of men is different from a support group because in a team, the men synergize together and strive for excellence. Whereas, a support group, often contains a large percentage of people who only want to talk and not take action.
Here's how to form a team of men: Two experienced men are needed as leaders, who will train the men's team for two months. They start with a camping trip together, get to know each other and develop a deep trust and bond with each other. The team leaders teach the men why it is important for them to be open, honest and truthful with each other. The team is "a safe place" where a man can talk about his deep feeling and not feel judged, or rejected by the other men. When the men trust each other enough to reveal their deep dark secrets to each other, then they bond together as blood brothers.
A team of ten men meets once a week for three hours. The men share honestly about what's going on in their lives. The collective wisdom of the team asks questions and helps a man get to the truth, and to the solutions. The purpose of the team is to help the other men become the men they've always wanted to be. So each man has to do some soul searching and write down briefly, what kind of man he wants to be. For example, a man may want to be able to show his wife and children that he loves them, he may want to overcome the problems in his relationship with his father, he may want to complete a college degree, he may want to overcome a bad habit, etc. The men's team asks each man to make commitments, or PROMISES. These are small steps toward reaching the bigger goals. For example, the man who wants to complete a college degree is asked, what steps he needs to take to reach that goal. One step may be to enroll in a college, so he makes a promise that by next week's meeting, he will have enrolled at L.A. City College. If at the next meeting, he has not kept his promise, then his team asks him a series of questions, to find out why he did not fulfill his commitment. Together they discover the man's barriers and help him dissolve them. The other men, who are helping a man, get a lot of benefit as well. They also learn that they are similar in many ways, with the "other man." This brings them closer together and makes the team stronger. And together, they make progress every week toward their goals. About five teams meet together once a month and share the collective wisdom with each other. The men hold each other accountable and help each other lead honorable lives.
The code of honor I learned did not pertain to a specific religion because it consists of universal principles. I urge Muslims to form "The Muslim Promise Keepers" and create a brief code of honor with which they feel comfortable. Using this Muslim men's movement, Muslims can get to a place where they trust each other, are united and will give their lives for each other. Through the process, we will realize that we are all the same, and we share the same major obstacles as human beings. Then we learn to care about Muslims, non-Muslims, Punjabi, Sindhi, Indian, Pakistani, Caucasian Americans, Blacks, men and women.
By the way, the women's groups are called "The Family of Women." A book highly recommended, but for women only is "What Really Works With Men" by A. Justin Sterling. An excellent book for men is "Iron John" by Robert Bly. It is a comprehensive collection of information regarding men from historical, cultural and academic perspectives.
A men's team does not "bash" women and instead strives to better the relationships with them. If you have any questions, study the Code of Honor below and it will likely give you the answer. So are you going to start such a program through your mosque or even independently? Or are you happy with the status quo and don't want to make a difference in your community?
(1) Commitment Before Ego
(2) Honor the Truth
(3) Respect Confidentiality
(4) Keep Your Word
(5) Be a 3-dimensional Man {Caring, Fun and Courageous}
(6) Be Prepared
(7) Defend Humanity
(8) Be Faithful
(9) Defend the Code of Honor
(10) Never Engage in Battles with Weaker Opponents
(11) Fight Only Honorable Battles
(12) Earn and Honor Rank
(13) Be Humble
(14) Embrace All Men
(15) Be an Example to Children

Child Abuse

by Fazeel Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link  ~  10-10-95)

 It has been said "If you must beat a child, use a thread". In America, even though it is illegal, each year around one million children suffer from child abuse. Sadly, in Pakistan, child abuse is not viewed in general as wrong or destructive to children. Therefore, the vast majority of children end up being abused. Growing up and as adults, millions of these children suffer from mental, social and behavioral problems. Parents and adults need to be aware of the tremendous damage abuse can do to a child's life.
Growing up, my friends and I were frequently abused by people in our families and by our teachers. "Abuse" is usually defined as non-accidental physical attack on (or injury to) children, by individuals caring for them. But abuse can also be verbal, sexual and emotional. It is very painful to see how the lives of some of my friends were destroyed by their parents or "loved ones". My friend Nadeem's parents were working in Dubai and had left him with his aunt in Pakistan. She often used her shoes to beat Nadeem senselessly, on his face and head, in front of the whole neighborhood. This made him feel worthless and humiliated. He's turned into a hermit who finds it very difficult to express his feelings positively and keeps failing in his business ventures. He neglects and abuses his own children, following in his parents' footsteps. Ahmed's father, a military man, was sure that physical punishment and fear tactics were the best means of disciplining his family. He tried to gain their "respect" by scaring them to death. He would line up the whole family in a row and then beat them up one by one, with a broom or hockey stick. Ahmed was so terrorized by his father that he would urinate in his pants. He has developed into a very depressed and scared adult. He is a rebel and hates any kind of authority. He cannot forgive his dead father nor forget his crimes.
These abused children were not mischievous or trouble makers by nature. It was usually the abusers who demanded far more than what the children were capable of providing. Azam's father hit him in the head with an iron rod. He is convinced that this caused brain damage, making him epileptic. He has developed into a very violent person now. Tranquilizers can't calm him down and he frequently beats up various members of his family, including his old father. Indeed, children are not born violent. They learn it from their parents.
Some children experience emotional rather than physical abuse. They may be neglected and ignored by the parents. Waseem was such a case. He had a very sensitive personality. His parents were emotionally unavailable and inattentive, which made him feel rejected and worthless. Thinking no one loved him or cared about him, he started abusing himself with drugs. Now he's a heroin junkie, who has no "self" left. Some adolescents feel very pressured by the family to excel in school. There are cases where kids commit suicide upon failing their exams. Sexual abuse is far more common than we think. Its existence is minimized and denied. My friend Farooq was sexually abused by his uncle. He's an emotionally disturbed adult now, who goes to therapy to heal the pain. He's unsure about his life, particularly about his sexuality. These were some of the cases of young boys whom I personally knew. For little girls I fear that the predicament is much worse.
Child abuse and domestic violence is found in all segments of society. Abused children are not happy, don't feel good about themselves and tend to not enjoy life. They have low self-esteem, poor self-control and negative feelings about the world. Some show high levels of rage, frustration and aggression. Emotionally neglected children who experience lack of love and care, tend to be withdrawn and depressed. They exhibit mental and behavioral problems as they become older. Children learn what they are taught, especially from their parents. Abusive parents teach their children to do the same and the vicious cycle continues from generation to generation.
On the other hand, children who are given love and attention, come to believe that they are loved and look at the world in a positive manner. They have high self-worth and a successful lifestyle. In the book "The Road Less Travelled", Dr. Scott Peck states the following: "If a parent can give a child the feeling that s/he is loved, the child develops high self esteem and self-worth. It is a feeling that no gold in the world can replace. The child grows up having this feeling deep within him/her, that cannot be taken away. Even if s/he's faced with a major crisis, s/he's able to overcome it, believing that s/he has the ability to do so. S/he feels very confident and knows that s/he deserves the best in life, including happiness, love and prosperity. Therefore, s/he does not hesitate to achieve high goals and success.
Most parents want to be good parents. Classes that teach parenting skills often help prevent parents who have abused their children from doing so again. The psychology section of the local bookstore or library is full of books that can help you become a better person and parent. An excellent book by Tara Singh is "How To Raise A Child Of God". Another highly recommended book is "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay. If you have been a victim of abuse, it is very sad and I empathize with you. But there is lots of hope. You can turn your life around and stop the never-ending poisonous pedagogy that has been going on from generation to generation

Hopes and Dreams

by Fazeel Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link  ~ 1-22-92)

Younus came to the U. S. two years ago as a foreign student, to get a bachelors degree in civil engineering. He came here in search of hope, opportunity and a better life. But his plans were altered due to a strange twist of fate. He recently had a brush with death when he was shot two times.
His parents almost lost their only son. He had come to the U. S. for higher education upon his father's recommendation. After graduation, Younus had planned to work here for a while and then hopefully land a job in the middle east, that paid well. His father had sold some property to get enough money to send him over. He continued to financially support Younus as much as he could, but the expenses were too great. So Younus decided to start working here.
He applied for a working permit to get a part time job so he could partially support himself. For a while, he worked in the campus library but was paid close to minimum wage. Then, a few months ago, he found another job at a liquor store, working as a security guard. His job was to guard the liquor store at night. He expected it to be an easy job. The hours were great and he would also be able to do his schoolwork at his job. Besides, the pay check at the end of the week would be a little bigger.
A couple of weeks ago, the incident took place while he was at work. He had stepped outside the store for a few minutes. When he walked back in, he saw a man robbing the cashier at gun point. The robber was startled when he saw the security guard walk in and he panicked. He turned around and shot at Younus three times with his hand gun. He missed only once. Two of the bullets hit Younus and he fell to the ground, screaming in agony and pain. The robber snapped the few dollars from the cash register and ran out the door.
Younus lay on the ground in a pool of blood, his life flashed before his eyes. He screamed in pain, disoriented and shocked at what had just taken place. The cashier, tried to comfort him while they waited for the ambulance and police to arrive. The police was unable to find the gunman, he had escaped. The paramedics worked fast, trying to stop the bleeding at the two wounds. Younus was in bad shape as the ambulance rushed to the hospital. The first bullet had hit him in the ribs, two inches below his heart. The other one went through his right thigh.
The doctors told him later that if he had arrived at the operating table half an hour later, he would not have survived. But he was very lucky and they were able to save his life. He was in intensive care for a few days and eventually his condition stabilized. He's at home now, but still confined to his bed, as he recovers. He still can't believe that this happened to him. It was totally unexpected. Still in shock he wonders why this happened to him and how he could have avoided it. He had done nothing to hurt the gunman. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Younus is going back to Pakistan in a few days so that his family can take care of him. They are worried and scared. They want him to come back home and forget all about America. Younus is a fighter though, he says he'll come back to finish his studies, as soon as he's recovered. I don't know how he will rationalize what happened to him. How will he deal with the incident? And what about the gunman? What was his motivation? How does he live with himself, knowing that he almost killed another human being?

Some times I wonder, why bad things happen to good people. Younus was a good person. All he wanted was to be able to live a better life. He didn't want to hurt anybody. We all have our dreams and we all make our plans. But behind the veil, there are unknown forces that have their own plans for us, leaving us with too many unanswered questions

Are You a Fish or a Frog

Are You A Frog Or A Fish?

by Fazeel Azeez Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link ~ 10-11-96)

Hey, where are you from? This question is asked of us because we are viewed as different; Frogs among Fish. Maybe the issue is not Frogs and Fish but Cowboys and Indians. Yea but what's this Fishy Froggy business anyway.......
Well, I'll quote my Amphibious friend from Ottawa, Canada "I believe it was Imam Abdullah Hakim who told me about fish and frogs. He used these two animal types to describe the two basic kinds of Muslims: "fish" and "frogs". Fish, being water-dwellers, rely on their special environment to carry out all of their activities of life; on the other hand, frogs, which are amphibious creatures, can thrive both in water and on land. "Fish" require ever-present, supportive and homogeneous environments to function successfully. But "frogs" can make it ANYWHERE. Do you seek to spread yourself beyond the scope of your comfort zone? Are you a frog? How far are you willing to venture? If you have thick, slimy, green skin then come along with me!".
Hybrids like us live in the U.S. but are linked to other countries, through an invisible umbilical cord. Those of us who've lived in the "old countries", swam and played among the local schools of fish. There we were fish and not viewed as frogs. The millions of beautiful and colorful fish were of all shapes and sizes. To a large extent, we understood our people and our surroundings, and enjoyed a certain amount of comfortable belongingness there.
Now we've come out to a new land, a different world. Some of us hybrids were born here yet don't feel we belong solely to this land. We long for a swim in the deep ocean and sometimes we venture out there with our friends, fish and frogs alike. As frogs, we are likely to float on top of the water, near the shore, with our vision reaching into the heavens. Through the clouds and the pollution, we try to ponder who we are, where we are and where we belong. And how many years more will we have to live here to be not considered "Foreigners". We may experience that today, fish in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans view us as strange green aliens. So it makes us speculate where can we fit in.
Young people like us often wonder "Who the hell am I? Am I American, Pakistani, or Muslim"? We wonder which group we belong with, Caucasian, African, or Hispanics. Sometimes application forms force us to be incorrectly classified as "Asian" by which they mean Pacific Asian only. Other times we're stereotyped as Arabs or Middle-eastern people. As we ponder these questions and form our self-identity, we beg, borrow and steal pieces of ourselves from various sources. An African American friend recently educated me about the idea of the "Looking Glass Self". It states that we look at ourselves through other peoples' eyes. Us Frogs don't often have the luxury of looking at ourselves through our own people's eyes. So we often see ourselves through American eyes. And sadly, the American eye usually captures us at our worst, and presents negative images about us through the media.
My friend ZZ from Washington D.C. says "I think an important issue that we, as the "first generation", face is culture. What are we? We are hybrids, that is a pertinent term. But where do we draw the line? As an American born citizen, I think I should consider myself an American. The only life I've known is being in America. But I also value my parents' roots, Pakistan. But their parents were Indian. It's really confusing, living in a "hybrid-culture". During the day, we work and hang out with Americans, talking to them, eating their food, experiencing their values. Yet, when we come home to our families, we are eating curries and rice, speaking Urdu and listening to Indian music. At least my parents usually do. I enjoy that too, but, jeez I gotta turn on MTV and watch Alternative Nation to get a grip. And adults wonder why so many of us are so messed up. We have no idea who or what we are. At least, I feel that way sometimes."
How can we ease this situation of duality? That will come from supporting each other. To help each other deal with our common predicament, we need to share our tools. We need to really talk and listen to each other. We need older people to be open to their children and also to mentors youngsters. We may not be able to solve all our problems, but sometimes it helps greatly just to express our feelings and to know that we're not alone in feeling like a fish out of water. Our people lack a survival manual, a history and power in this land. But gradually, our Pakistani community is getting more established here and our broader, amphibious views are benefitting other communities as well. We can also learn valuable adaptation techniques from other communities. Achieving a healthy balance within ourselves is not easy, but none the less, it's a great adventure

Community and Belongingness

Community and Belongingness

by Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link ~  3-15-95)

We come to the United States in search of something better. In the process, we may gain a lot, but we are also uprooted. We lose many precious things, including our loved ones and our home. To combat the hardships of this new land, we need the support of our fellow Pakistanis. A strong community can provide us with the feeling of belongingness and make us feel like home.
The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow identified a human being's five most important needs as:
1) Physical
2) Safety
3) Love and Belongingness
4) Self-Esteem
5) Self-Actualization
To fulfill the love and belongingness need, we must have the support of our community. In our house, our family provides us with this warm and comforting feeling. This is how we define a place as "home". At home we feel like we really belong there. It's a place where we are loved, accepted, sheltered and nurtured. We have left our homeland - Pakistan, and have now moved into our new house - the United States. In this new house, our community can serve as our extended family to turn it into our home.
Personally, I've tried to blend into the American lifestyle, but often I am treated like an outsider. We may not be considered as equals, based on our differences in culture, language, religion and color. These are the harsh realities of life in the United States. Discrimination is psychological genocide. Such obstacles seem overwhelming if we attempt to combat them all alone. But we can face them better if we know that we have the support of a strong community behind us. This "community" is not a vague and abstract entity some where out there. We have to think of it simply as you, and me.
These comments are not intended to create reverse discrimination. What I am suggesting is that our Pakistani community can serve as our home base, offering us stability. We should be able to feel confident that we can always return to this safe haven. As individuals, we have to implant our roots deep into our community. From there, we can go out to succeed in the rest of the world. Otherwise, we are liable to drift away like a ship without an anchor. We have to start with ourselves.
There is an emphasis on individuality here, but there is also a lot of isolation. As lone individuals, we run the risk of losing our identity. We can become discouraged enough to lose our hopes and dreams. It can turn into a terrible situation, making our life here very difficult.
Under these circumstances, the support of our fellow Pakistanis becomes extremely important for our survival and well being. We need role models and friends. We should be able to interact intimately and bond with each other. Together we can form this united community.

Instead of pointing out each others' human weaknesses, we should focus on the other's positive qualities. We should embrace the common threads that unite us. We can overcome fearing each other and stop allowing our differences to create distances between us. It will be very helpful if we have an objective attitude and are more tolerant of other people. Our culture teaches us to be sensitive and caring. I appeal to you to use these abilities to get close to, and empathize with each other.
Life in the U.S. can become very challenging indeed. Therefore, the circle of a tight-knit community can serve as an essential refuge, where we can frequently come and feel at home. If each one of us does our part in helping one another, we can make this place our home away from home. A strong community can be a homeland and like a mother, comfort us in her loving arms. She can give us the feelings of belongingness and acceptance, and help erase our feelings of homelessness. Isolation makes us feel weak and rejected. Belongingness charges our batteries and makes us feel strong and empowered.
Let's have community gatherings more often, to preserve our roots and identity, as well as our sanity. More importantly, let's focus on the individual level. If each one of us offers their support to all the people they come in contact with on a daily basis, we can develop this powerful community. Let's offer our trust and friendship to each other. We can share a few laughs to ease each other's sorrows. Some times all we need is a few words of kindness. Let's embrace each other and unite in a strong circle of our community, where we can help and love one another, through the limited time we have left here together.

American Born Pakistanis

American Born Pakistanis

by Fazeel Chauhan
(Published in Pakistan Link ~  2-19-91)

Eighteen year old Uzmah Multani is the founder and current president of the Pakistani Student Association at California State University, Los Angeles. Two years ago, she decided to form the organization on this campus to encourage Pakistanis to get involved in social and cultural activities. Her intention was to provide a common platform where Pakistanis could meet and exchange their views about life in the United States and to offer support to each other. She has worked very hard to serve our community in a positive manner. Personally, I have found valuable friends and support, through this organization. The following is a synopsis of a conversation I had with her about what it's like being an American born Pakistani. She talks about some of the difficulties posed to Pakistani Americans. I believe these statements also ring true for those of us who have been here for many years.

"I was born in California and have lived here all my life. As I was growing up, my family enriched my life by instilling in me, the traditional Pakistani values. While at school, the American culture also had an influence on my life. When I was a child, some people viewed my identity with a bit of mystery. Their reactions would some times make me wonder what I was: Pakistani or American. My physical characteristics, language and values were Pakistani, yet my spirits were somewhat American.

  

"Most first generation Americans like me, seem to live two roles. Yet it is not like two separate and parallel lives, one American and the other Pakistani. Usually people take the best of both worlds and carefully sculpture a good combination that best suits their individual personality. Like myself, they still consider themselves as Pakistanis. But Some hardliners disagree and question our freedom of choice and want us to be just like a picture in their minds - a stereotype. If our individuality and uniqueness makes them uncomfortable, they become afraid and their narrow minds cannot accept us. This is the unhealthy "either / or" thinking. To them, it has to be either "A" or "P". They want to classify us and put us in a convenient box or category. Prejudice is based on this type of thinking that "I am right and you are wrong", or "We are good and they are bad." But the fact is that there are very few absolutes in the world. The definition of a pure American or a pure Pakistani is extremely subjective. Some ethnocentric and egocentric people want to divide humans into such categories so that they can discriminate against one group or the other.

"Some Caucasian Americans are prejudiced against other Americans who are non-white. I'm sure that just like us, most other non-whites have witnessed plenty of discrimination of this type. I founded PSA because I consider myself a Pakistani. I'm sure you're aware of the sad reality that some Pakistanis are prejudiced against each other. For example, some Pakistanis discriminate against American born Pakistanis. Yet most people do generally accept and respect Pakistani Americans for exactly what we are. They accept us as equal and don't get hung up on differences in languages, religion, culture, gender or place of birth.

I think that being a Pakistani American is a gift. Friends have commented to me that having two identities is far more beneficial than one. We can have Pakistani friends as well as American. Pakistani Americans have the capacity to look at things in a different light and in a more open-minded perspective. I believe that one person's culture, language or gender does not make him or her better than the next person. What really counts is what we have inside of us. Pakistani Americans are exposed to more than one ethnic group, culture and language. This educates them in different areas of life and enables them to relate more openly to people with different backgrounds. They usually view themselves as world citizens and are more willing to accept people of different ethnicities as equals.

"I used to attend Arabic classes at the Islamic Center every Sunday. I mixed with children from various other backgrounds. However, the common denominator of being Muslim united all of us. Students were not classified into different categories, they were just educated. It was then I realized that individuals who classify others are simply trying to prove their own superiority. Religion always taught us unity and equality. Yet humans persistently attempt to supersede all moral codes by implementing their own personal rules and subjective values. Around the world, this factor encourages separatism, ethnic violence, prejudice and war.

"Man has created borders that divide countries and their people. We should not view "us" as better than "them". Rich or poor, Pakistani or American, Punjabi or Sindhi, Shia or Sunni, we are all equal. We have to climb over these walls to the "other" side to get the "other's" perspective, an additional point of view. We are all mirrors and what we see in others are reflections of ourselves. If "others" seem different than "us", we should overcome our fears and try to relate to them objectively. Growth is not possible without objectivity. I wish that we'll soon see a day when Pakistanis can get along with other Pakistanis, Americans can get accept other Americans and people of all "colors" in the world can peacefully and harmoniously unite together, like a beautiful rainbow"

Honoring African Americans

Honoring African Americans

by Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

(as published in Pakistan Link, Los Angeles, 1997)

February is Black History month and it serves as a great reminder of the immense contributions which African Americans have made to this society. Their teachings can profoundly help and accelerate the progress of Pakistanis and other Muslims in America. The extreme degree of their human experience and their devout legacy deserves tremendous honor. We need to thank all minorities who came before us. They have given their lives for obtaining Civil Rights for our children. They can teach us immensely if we are willing to be humble and accept that we have a common milieu. 

If we as Muslims want to become aware of our predicament, we must begin by getting an accurate picture of American history. The book "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn is compulsory reading. It will shock you with the truth from page one. Native Americans were already here for thousands of years before the Europeans like Columbus arrived at the new world. Ironically, Columbus was actually looking for India, to enslave my own ancestors. Zinn's book quotes Columbus' own journal about his intentions of importing slaves and gold to Europe.
Historically, there has always been a small group of people exploiting a much larger group who may be the poor, weak or non-white. We must be aware of the idea that the media defines and divides the world into the categories of "the West and the Rest". In the scheme of American definitions, we are classified as minorities. We are included in the groups of Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and immigrants. We should join the ranks of our fellow minorities and do our fair share. If united, this group of "'minorities" can be very powerful. Otherwise we fall prey to being divided and conquered by other people. The people classified as "minorities" in America can teach each other astronomically because we share most common values. We may have different religions, but our culture, morals, behavior and predicament are the same as native or traditional people of the world.

The legacy and teachings of Native Americans also deserves tremendous honor. The first owners of this land are classified as a "minority" who did not "immigrate" to America. The first "non-Europeans" who immigrated here, but against their will, were Africans. It is guaranteed that their words will enlighten you. Their experience will help you progress much faster. We are not the first minority or the first immigrants here. Africans, have been here for hundreds of years before us. We should always enlist their help and cooperation so that we do not have to keep re-inventing the wheel. Thus we need to appreciate and honor them.

If you are facing raci~m, ask an African American about the experience of his ancestors. If you feel that you are among aliens, watch movies like "Amistad." Invite an African American family over for dinner and engage in a dialogue about your common issues. Their heart, hope, persistence, faith, humbleness, pride and power will invigorate and catapult you. In addition to dialogue, read books written by African Americans and other minorities. Get beyond only watching movies such as Malcolm X. Find out who struggled for hundreds of years, bit by bit, to get equal rights for "people of color". As a rule, any dominant culture tries hard to maintain the status quo. It wasn't Anglo-Americans who initiated the ideas of Civil Rights against slavery, apartheid and racism.
Our Muslim parents push their kids to pursue careers which are only financially rewarding such as business or medicine. Why should it take five more decades to realize that we need to encourage kids into the arts, politics and social work? The Jewish people are a great example of a small group of people who became very influential by teaching their kids to go into the powerful areas of media, politics and finance. We should learn from them. Your children can be the next heroes for people around the world, like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mohammed Ali. African Americans are usually the best athletes but why are they, prevented from being coaches? The best Cricket, Squash, Kabaddi and Hockey players in the world are in our genes. Why do we keep them dormant?

White supremacists continue to use IQ tests and various studies to prove that other minorities somehow lack certain human elements. But look at how African Americans prove them wrong by their accomplishment in science, as well as arts. Louis Lattimer is a famous scientist and inventor. African American scientists are not well publicized but artists will tell you that even art involves a high level of mathematical and scientific abilities. Notice that often Anglo-Americans are made legendary by the media while minorities are ignored. For example the notion that "Elvis is King". What about Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Miles Davis and Jimmy Hendrix? African Americans are the pioneers of pop music. They sang gospel and the blues from the time of slavery and later invented the highly complex style called jazz. Actors churn up their ancestral emotions and deliver heart wrenching performances in the theater. Dancing is so instinctive for African Americans that their beautiful dance of life leaves us envious. Tony Morrison is a Nobel Laureate for Literature.

Some of our Muslim brethren look down upon other sects. But any human being who claims that he is a Muslim, probably shares at least 70% of your beliefs. So why not joyfully embrace him for that? Us Pakistanis have the common disease of pointing the finger at others and being unable to see that the other three fingers are always pointing at us. The Nation of Islam has done a lot of revolutionary and brave work. Most Anglo-Americans believe the trash on TV and don't even know who is Allah or Muhammed. If a group of people like the Nation of Islam can teach someone the basics of Allah, Muhammed and Quran, then each student receives thousands of benefits. Instead of dividing people based on differences, and judging other groups, we should accept them for being like us. Which Muslim group will organize the next Million Man March?

We also import prejudices from the old country where human supremacy based on skin color and money is rapidly becoming common. We need to be aware of how beautifully these lies are fed around the world through TV and movies. African Americans and Muslims are portrayed as criminals and sub-human.

Caucasians are portrayed as admirable heroes, even if they are shown as killers. Some churches which present Jesus as a White man, subtly give the message that Caucasians are godly and can't do no wrong. Immigrants like us were lucky enough to have experienced life in other environments. We are very perceptive and can also in return be good teachers. These statements are not anti-anglo. They are human beings like the rest of us, but no race or skin is superior. The extreme of unity is Allah. The benefit of human unity is that we can teach each other and together, greatly accelerate our progress.

Abandonment of Religion

Abandonment of Religion

by

Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

(as published in Pakistan Link, Los Angeles, 10-17-97)

When we come to America, our beliefs are tested and challenged like never before. In the old country, you are usually conditioned to living in a homogenous community. This may have been a predominantly Muslim society or a native or eastern culture. Thus the bombardment of all the western and alien elements in the new and contrary environment can often send you into a headspin. So much so that the process of adaptation or assimilation can make you abandon your religion. The loss of these beliefs also translates into the severance of your roots and the crumbling of your personality's foundation. This issue is of great concern specially when it comes to the new generation. Hopefully sooner than later, you realize that you have lost your way. Now how do you get back to the right path?

Life in the States can be very unstable. The opportunities are available for both paths: to learn and progress or to slip and drown. Under the new flag, you may experience more freedom of choice and decide that nobody can tell you what to do anymore. In the past, your father told you to be responsible and held you accountable for your actions. Mother told you to be a good boy and stay away from the company of partying people. Teachers told you to behave yourself and obey authority. Your community pressured you to conform to their religious and cultural norms. 

What leads a person to abandon religion? It probably begins soon after migration when a person first tries to assimilate into the American way of life. You may feel that all those old pressures and restrictions were bogus and need to go out the window. You begin to taste all the forbidden fruits and turn a blind eye toward your beliefs. You see that many Americans laugh at the idea of religion and God, and that concept begins to brainwash you too. Under the influence of this scientific and logical-brain oriented society, you begin to mistrust your heart and soul. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan quotes Allama Iqbal in a Qawali "Man Kee Dunya May Na Daykha May Nay Afrangi Ka Raaj".

Believing the values of the pop culture, you perceive organized religion as being empty and meaningless, only full of dogma and rituals. You entertain the idea that you haven't seen God and that he doesn't exist. The emphasis on individualism, consumerism, and the pleasure principle also encourage you toward worldly things and away from spirituality. Crutches like sex, medicines and alcohol only provide temporary happiness and escape from harsh realities. Some people subscribe to the melting pot philosophy and end up losing their own identity. 

The process of moving away from being Muslim and Pakistani, and into being American involves losses as well as gains. After the initial mild or severe culture shock has diminished, you begin to realize where you are and what you've lost. "By Gosh Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore". The solitary life, separation from family, lack of belongingness, payment of bills and incompatible values can all become very stressful. The loss of a supportive culture can also lead to a loss of the intertwined religious beliefs. 

As your beliefs weaken, any difficulty can turn into a test of faith which can cause you to lose hope and abandon religion. For example, a lack of loving relationships takes a heavy emotional toll and makes you lost and lonely. Not understanding the new culture's values can cause a lot of suffering and confusion. Often you feel stranded between two worlds and even simple decisions can create conflicts that tear you up inside. The harsh American life and lack of ikhlaaq (caring) among people in the big cities stabs at you to cause ulcers. A major problem develops into a test of faith, as you turn to God and pray for help and guidance. And if God doesn't answer in a timely manner, you can feel frustrated and overwhelmed. You can get trapped by grief or heavy burdens and become hopeless, angry, cynical and rebellious. You may end up thinking that maybe there is no God, and religion is not true. Also, folks who become rich or happy with stable lives can say "I don't have a problem, Why do I need religion?". 

Another reason for reaching the point of abandonment of religion is the lack of a strong belief system (Imaan). Some of us were not educated with the proper religious knowledge and understanding. Instead, blind faith, rote memorization and fear tactics were emphasized. Bad experiences with other Muslims who may be unkind, not trustworthy, insincere, deceptive, liars, cheats, greedy, selfish, uncooperative, self-righteous, prejudiced and narrow minded, make us doubtful and bitter. We may start believing the local media who criminalize Muslims and attempt to defeat, belittle and deceive us. 

How does a person come back to God and religion? After abandonment, a person may have embarked on a search for truth and spiritual fulfillment through other means. Many philosophies can help a person find a good path. But a proper understanding of religious teachings can provide guidance on a precise road map. A person can come back home to Islam through the front door, by studying the Quran and Hadith. The ability to decipher the truth can increase with age. It would help if practical solutions to common problems are provided through the mosques. A more progressive approach needs to be promoted to better apply Islamic teachings into every day life. In this matter, new African American and Hispanic Muslims provide us with fresh perspectives, hope and inspiration. 

A person can also find his way back home to Islam through outside channels. Yoga, self-help books, psychology, meditation, support groups, music, 12 step programs, counseling, and self expression through the arts can heal a person. Learning and testing the truth through these alternative methods can validate Islamic teachings. Thus a person can discover that what he was taught in childhood was true after all and he can then return to the right path. The best healer and guide is a sincere and trustworthy friend. Are you going to help someone by being that Muslim friend who serves as an example - like Prophet Mohammed or Hazrat Ali "The Walking Quran"?