Hi everyone,
Yeah, thats right. I’ve posted yesterday, and now I’m posting today- 2018 is mad!
I was inspired by Gracie Chick to make this post. She made a spoken word poem about Islamophobia, and it was in response to an incident which occurred on a bus in London. I’ll link her spoken word poem here (it’s really good!), and I’ll leave a link to the original bus incident here. I’ll summarise if you don’t want to watch the video (understandably).
I was appalled by what happened on that bus. This women is basically having a go at a pregnant Muslim women, talking about how she’s part of ISIS, and how she doesn’t belong here. She also mentions something about the woman sleeping with other peoples husbands and everyones children all living in the same house. She’s very aggressive and swears a lot, but whats worse is she has A CHILD, HER child, in the pram next to her, who is listening to their mother literally swear and make threats to this poor woman. She also mentioned something about kicking the women in the uterus, and that she would make sure she could never have another child. The whole video pissed me off.
I’m sorry, but literally how is this okay?? I get that British people are famous for that whole ‘no-one makes eye contact on public transport we all ignore each other blah blah blah’, but if someone is actively verbally abusing someone else, shouldn’t you intervene??? A few people at the front on the bus were saying something, but the people in the rows at the back were silent!! It astounds me that they managed to not even say anything. If you sit there and let this woman tear down someone else, you are being an enabler, and you are basically saying its okay to do it. I watched a video really recently where a girl goes up to this women on the subway, who is being racially abusive to this person, and she intervenes. It was honestly so nice to see this girl stand up to this racist women and lecture her on why she’s such a idiot. This is the video– why can’t more people do this? Even if one person stands up to the person shouting abuse, you immediately help the situation because there is someone standing up for those poor people getting yelled at, and they’ll stop because they know if they carry on it won’t be tolerated.
This is the main reason why I’m not keen to wear the hijab. Wearing it means people can identify me as Muslim, because without it I’m just a brown girl- I’ve got no religious markers that would indicate that I’m Muslim. Wearing it would carry the risk of encountering this kind of racial abuse, which I’m terrified of.
It’s sad that it happened in London for crying out loud! And so many incidents have happened on the subway in New York. These are meant to be some of the most multicultural places, and yet this crap happens? The fact is that I’m so frustrated that we are advancing in science and the arts and all these other sectors, but we still haven’t sorted out the massive social issues. How about we just stop focusing on going to Mars and maybe focus a bit more on issues that have been going on for decades, because otherwise they are just going to become even worse (if that’s possible) and continue.
Quite short I know, but I didn’t really feel like doing a 1000 word rant on this- even though I could. I think I’d just make myself angrier lol. I hope you also make a post standing up to this injustice. Also, be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts!
Stay Fresh,
Minty xo
January 6, 2018 at 11:06 pm
I agree with everything you’ve said! I’m also scared to wear a hijab to because of this problem😕
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January 6, 2018 at 11:12 pm
I think that it’s a sadly a common issue now, but I’m glad I’ve found someone that feels the same way I do!
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January 6, 2018 at 11:45 pm
I am not Muslim and I find this incredibly upsetting. That abusive woman is just ignorant and apparently had a wild imagination. No one should be discriminated against in such a manner. How could no one stand up for the poor woman dealing with that? I would in a heartbeat! I am so sorry that you are afraid to wear your hijab because of this. There are so many good people out there. Hopefully we can all stand up together and work to stop this type of hatred and discrimination. It has got to end.
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January 7, 2018 at 2:47 am
thank you for reading and writing such a lovely message. It makes me so so happy to read about how supportive you are, and how willing you are to speak up- we need more people like you! And I agree, this has to end- it’s ridiculous that in 2018 we are still dealing with these problems. Thanks again xxx
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January 7, 2018 at 12:23 am
This is disgusting!! I agree with everything you’ve said. I’m sorry that this is stopping you from showing your religion but I also think if you want to wear it, then other people shouldn’t scare you. In the end, you’ll get good deeds for being patient and god knows what’ll happen to them. I understand where you’re coming from but hopefully one day if the circumstances change, you can find the courage to wear it (if you wanted to- no pressure girl 😂 ) I hope the world can come to their senses and begin to accept each other. Btw, welcome back!! I haven’t read your blogs in so long.
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January 7, 2018 at 2:49 am
Awww thanks yeah my New Years resolution has been to start blogging again- let’s hope I keep it up! 😂 thank you for reading though- and you make some very good points! I’m not too sure why I let what other people think affect my decisions, but I guess I have the media to blame for that- giving Islam such a bad image and brainwashing everyone 😦 and you’re right- I’m hoping if I do decide to wear it, I’ll end up getting extra blessings because it was so hard xxxxx
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January 7, 2018 at 12:38 am
I feel less welcome in America as a Pakistani than as a Muslim. Trump’s hatred for Pakistanis is much larger than his hatred for Muslims — clearly has something to do with some of his donors. (I made a post on it on my new political blog. I have like three blogs now.)
You know, Trump is fine with Saudis and Turks for business purposes, but he hates Pakistanis like me.
It makes me sad, I felt more welcome in America when Obama was president, or even Bush.
Thanks for writing this article btw — you’re a hero 🙂
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January 7, 2018 at 3:00 am
You have a political blog?? This is exactly what happens when I stop blogging- I miss all the exciting stuff 😦 can you send me link to it, I’d love to read all of your posts I’m super into politics lol. And that is really very sad, given Trump is essentially encouraging all the ignorant racists to become more vocal about how they feel. Hopefully he’ll be out soon though! (I predict he will be impeached). I think Obama being in power was amazing because from what I saw, having a black person in such an important position of power gave so many people so much hope- it was an amazing thing. It’s very interesting hearing the perspective from an American Pakistani Muslim though- the idea of culture being something that’s more hated than religion was something I hadn’t even considered- thanks so so much for sharing! 🙂
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January 7, 2018 at 3:41 pm
You’re welcome 🙂 here’s the link btw
https://thoughtsonpolitics.wordpress.com/
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January 7, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Wait wrong link
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January 7, 2018 at 3:43 pm
https://thinkingofpolitics.wordpress.com/
Ok correct link
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January 7, 2018 at 4:26 pm
I’ll check it out 🙂
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January 8, 2018 at 12:58 am
Let me know when you do! I’d love some feedback 🙂
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January 7, 2018 at 9:52 am
I couldn’t agree more with your post. I did watch the video and I was surprised that this lady is just yelling things, she did not know who that Muslim lady was so why speak at all to someone who you do not know in such a rude manner? It seems to be that the world we are living in is changing for the wrong. People do not understand the abuse the Muslims are going through, and I cannot believe that people can hate a whole religion for the wrongdoings of others.
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January 7, 2018 at 2:27 pm
I completely agree with you- it’s astonishing that we are moving backwards in regards to social issues, rather than forwards. And I wish more people saw that the actions of a small percentage of crazy people shouldn’t be used against all the peaceful people. Thanks for leaving your thoughts!
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January 7, 2018 at 5:15 pm
I do hope that people realise, like you mentioned even a small percentage should realise their actions have a huge impact.
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January 7, 2018 at 9:04 pm
Exactly!
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January 7, 2018 at 5:33 pm
I’m glad I inspired you to write this, it needs to be heard!
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January 7, 2018 at 9:05 pm
aw I’m so glad I wrote it- I’ve been meaning to for a while now, and your post made me really motivated haha!
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January 8, 2018 at 10:14 am
Hehe, me too!
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January 15, 2018 at 3:43 am
The people who doesn’t say anything are just as bad as the perpetrators, to enable means to accept. Hating it (oppression) in your heart is the weakest part of faith (Muslim). I can understand why they might be afraid because they might fear violence, there are those people who desire harmony so much they’ll lie down to be used as a doormat but … I don’t get it??? I sincerely hope they are granted courage.
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January 15, 2018 at 12:28 pm
you make a good point- so many people just stand by as other people suffer abuse and I completely agree that enabling is such a big part of the problem. I hope they are granted courage as well xxx
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