You Don't Have to Be Blonde

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Thank you South Asian Network

 

(34) Thank You SAN

12-19-96 by Fazeel Chauhan

To Mr. Hamid Khan, South Asian Network

I would like to thank you for all the help you've provided me through SAN over the past four years. For me, South Asian Network has been a place where I can come to and get the precious feeling of belongingness. There are many South Asian people, specially the youth, who are in the same predicament as me. You have been educating and teaching them about Career Development, English, Yoga, Laws, Health issues and Immigration. The greatest benefit I personally gain is through the group discussions on Immigration and Family issues.

South Asians are an extremely new group of people to immigrate to America. Here, we lack the roots or background of a historical presence. Since our numbers are very small and we arrived here very recently, we don't have proper political representation. There is also a lot of misinformation about our people in the media. Those of us who are Muslims are falsely and frequently misrepresented as terrorists who are violent and oppressive toward women. These major issues, combined with the stress of adjusting to the new country and culture can really isolate a person. The fast paced and unfriendly culture of Los Angeles also adds to the difficulties that our people encounter. Often we feel misunderstood, isolated, out of place and longing for a feeling of home.

Really, the only option available to us when we want to be with our community is through religious affiliation. I can go to the Mosque and pray with other Muslims. But there aren't any social activities that take place there. For example, no classes about American culture, English or Career Development are offered. There also aren't any programs like mentoring, personal counseling or group discussions. South Asian Network fills the void for these needs. Most people in our community have not heard of the important services that SAN is providing. It is a fairly new organization, but its vision is very critical for the progress of our community. As more people find out about what SAN is offering, the available funds will increase and so will the services to the community.

Many people like me also lack a family because we immigrated here alone. The sincere people at SAN have given me tremendous support. You have provided me with a lot of understanding through personal attention because of which I don't feel so lost and alone anymore. The volunteers at SAN, like you, give me the greatest respect as a human being. And this makes me feel like I have some worth and that I have something of value to give back to my community. In southern California, it is nearly impossible to find people who genuinely care about other human beings. Everyone is just too busy. But SAN has a different vision, and you embrace me for who I am, rather than judging me. This makes me feel like I belong here. Otherwise, I frequently feel like I am slipping through the cracks of society.

I commend you for having the courage and for taking the time to help our community. I also thank you for teaching me, for educating me and for genuinely caring about me. I am always grateful to you. You can call me to help you with any volunteer work for SAN.

Are You a South Asian Hero?

 

(22) Are You A South Asian Hero?

by Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

5-9-97

There is a famous African proverb "Until the lions have their historians, tales of hunting will always glorify the hunter". Being minorities in America, we owe a lot of gratitude to African Americans. We enjoy a lot of freedoms and Civil Rights, because of their hard work. About seven years ago, three or four friends of Indian/Pakistani origin decided to start a community service organization called South Asian Network. This non-profit organization's mission is "People Helping People". The goal is to unite South Asians and network with other communities and organizations to empower people.

SAN is a non-religious organization which strives to overcome barriers of culture, race, country, gender and political orientation. SAN operates in a way which is respectful toward all human beings. They work for social justice and human rights but their main thrust is community outreach. Over the years, hundreds of people have participated and benefited from their programs. Monthly discussion meetings are held to address real issues faced by the common South Asian, such as cultural adjustment, solitude, relationships, conflicts of values and belongingness.

Since about a year ago, SAN's community center has been located right in the heart of the South Asian community in the Cerritos / Artesia area. Hamid Khan is one of the pioneers of SAN. Together with Pam Grewal, Assad Zaidi and other members, they have been doing the courageous and heroic work of reaching out and helping people. They serve as excellent examples of what one or two people can do to make a big difference in someone else's life.

A few days ago, a Free Heath Clinic was organized at SAN's office. The need for this service was realized because of the recent government cutbacks in health care. That eliminated the safety net for a number of people who ended up with no health insurance. Many can't afford to pay the high cost of common medical services. SAN's results were very successful, specially since 90% of the people were in genuine need of health care, because they didn't have it available. A bunch of volunteers showed up to help with various medical tests, as well as with general administration. Some even brought snacks and sweets to serve with the traditional free flowing hot tea.

A few doctors and a nurse volunteered their services to provide physical exams and counseling to the 64 people served. A pediatrician, two general practitioners, a dentist and a psychiatrist examined each person's case thoroughly. Various tests were performed on site and the results were given back right away. People were tested for Blood Cholesterol, Urinalysis, T.B., Blood Glucose, Hepatitis, HIV and Blood Pressure. After each case was evaluated, referrals were provided to the people for no-cost or low-cost health care which is available from various sources in southern California.

Look for the next Free Health Clinic at SAN, in June. Also coming up on May 18, there's a Free Legal Clinic, to help you with such issues as immigration. In the past, SAN has provided free mammograms for women over 40. SAN's ongoing programs also include English classes for senior citizens, Urdu and Yoga Classes, Job Search Workshops, Cultural awareness and much more. Since SAN is a non-profit agency, your Tax-Deductible Donations would be extremely helpful. Volunteers are always encouraged to get involved in "People Helping People".

Often, a person who wants to give back to his community finds that very few open channels exist. Frequently, leadership at our organizations actually discourages people from volunteering. Their scope can also be very limited and disappointing. Our organizations are usually politically oriented or are geared to serve only a subset of the South Asian community. In such an environment, SAN's example of community outreach is a great one.

As South Asians, we need to unite together, especially because of the recent backlash against immigrants in this country. Unfortunately, we often get caught up and focus on our differences. Taking a closer look, we realize that the differences are very little compared to the vast amount of commonalities. I for one, really wish that we could give the benefit of the doubt to the next person, and just draw on the richness of what we can offer to each other. The Jews are an excellent example of a group of people uniting and taking care of the real needs their people. Like Jews, South Asians are settled in all corners of the world. It's a fact that we are extremely spiritual people. Imagine, if we unite that spiritual power, we can truly change the world.

Maybe YOU are the Hero who will get a program started in your local community, to help somebody. Are you going to pass the buck, like the next person? As the Bolivian activist Che Guevarra put it "To be powerful, we have to work together, because by ourselves, we are nothing"

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

Where Have You Brought Me

Where Have You Brought Me
 
 

Your heart was a mirage of the holy grail where you brought me
Now six years of marriage is a shady jail where you brought me

To be free to say what I feel against propaganda
Is a 9.9 on the Richter scale where you brought me

I even became a minister just to get your attention Daddy
But in your eyes I always fail where you brought me

Twenty years of citizenship soaked in the melting pot
And still not accepted as an all American male where you brought me

The light's intensity stops me from being just a jerk on the bus
Too many awards have made me stale where you brought me

Non-Muslim women tie a shirt 'round their waist now cover their buns
The nuns are threatened by my sister's veil where you brought me

World Trade Organizations like Enron plunder common folk
CNN's truth is, Fazeel, on auction sale where you brought me 

by Fazeel Azeez Chauhan, 1998

Who the hell are you

(Colored Man,) Who The Hell Are You!

Who the hell are you

We'll break your head in two

Freeze don't move

I'm watching you

Watch what you say

We'll make you pay

Who you think you are

You belong behind bars

Who the hell are you

We'll break your face in two

Beat you up straight

Turn your love to hate

Cut you into solitary

You're wrong you're crazy

You better conform

Don't question our bombs

Who the hell are you

We'll break your soul in two

You're not one of us

Don't you mess with us

Your kind we don't trust

Shut up all this fuss

Who the hell are you

We'll break your heart in two

Change your name, your hair, your face

Change your mind, your words, your faith

Don't you dare to care

That nonsense don't work here

Trade your friends for fear

Nobody feels you, nobody hears

Fazeel Azeez Chauhan

1997