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Name:Rahsia

ID: rahsia

Subject: EDCI 755 (Multicultural Issues in Teaching)

What is An American? Defined American?

I have to define what is an American for my multicultural studies. In order to get a brief idea what is an American, I have to interview any one (selected) around me (regardless of his/her nationalities) and tell his/her opinions. I grab Melissa and her husband, Michael. Both mention the same thing “people having freedom, independent, being able to make their own choices, and have an entrepreneurial spirit, people can make their life better”. I am perplexed by this answer, because of so many reasons.

After our Friday congregational prayer, I managed to ask my American Muslim friend, his name is Omar, Irish descendant living in Chapman. He gave me definition from legal point of view, “being born and naturalized in United States”. However, his additional view somehow perplexed me again because usually people in United States will prefer to ask who is not American rather than who is an American, accusing others of not being patriotic enough. For example, Republican will accuse the Democrat of not being patriotic.

If taken both of opinions above, indeed it is very difficult to identify who is an American and who is not. There is not solid parameter to do that. Only we can tell who we are. Determining who the person is needs us to go back of his/her background, looking at what/who’s made him. I can not measure the level of freedom a person has or life is better or being able to naturalize here because those are very relative in nature and it is circumstantial.

I believe as a Malaysian, we have freedom to express our point of views, I am very much independent guy and not afraid of anything as long as I do not do something that is against the law and I believe life is good and better (in Malaysia) compared to other places in this world. It means I have those qualities defined and being mentioned by my American friends. Am I now an American?

I tend to analyze more my American friends’ definitions of being an American. I suspected this idea might be from the Declaration of Independence 1776. I choose this thinking that this was the beginning of United States of America, my friends’ background schemata are developed from their history lessons of this Declaration. Again, the essence of it convinces me that we are in fact basically the same; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”¹ How does it differ with the Islamic principles of freedom as clearly mentioned by our predecessors when he wanted to liberate Persian²? The situation might be different but the context will always be the same. American vs. British Hegemony and Narrowness of this world vs. Spaciousness of Hereafter. It is about the basic element of human, having freedom based on our own conscience compared to animals.

In co nclusion, my American friends defined American based on the essence of human principality so it goes the same to me because we are all the same. As a teacher, it is a must for us to prepare educational equity regardless of who our students are.

Reference:

1. The Unanimous Declaration of Thirteen United States of America, (July 4, 1776)

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm (Sept 1st 2008)

2. Ali Nadvi A.H, The Responsibilities of Muslims in The West

http://www.albalagh.net/food_for_thought/responsibilities_muslims_west.shtml (Sept 1st 2008)

We had tornado yesterday, it was here again, the last was 70 years ago. We did not go to shelter. I wanted to go there but we received the news late, and this morning my wife told me that it is still safe to go there when we heard first time the siren, its kind of reminder to find a safe place, poor me, I thought siren means to stay put in your shelter, hide now, don’t go outside, it is not safe anymore…

Until now I did not go out to see, I am pretty sure the damages were enormous and I am reluctant to see it. My head was giddy and vertiginous. My right eye was poked, thrust by Irfan’s finger. I can stay in dark places but not at direct sun lights available, it is watery and it is painful.

We were in the toilet, that’s what I read and that’s what others told me. It is not safe even if the toilet is not in the centre of your house, next time, please be inside the closet, it is in the room, in the centre of our apartment.

She almost cried, fear of death. I did nothing to console her. I just kept quiet. I did mention to her that it is written. Death is written. Nothing to be afraid off, your time will come. You have to be prepared. She agreed but I could she the trembling all over the body. The thought makes me smile and more convince Allah is there and we are a bunch of ungrateful servants. None of us were laughing but today we are. Both of us(in fact all) remember ALLAH most when on the edge of death.Afterthat the thought is gone. Forgive us ALLAH.

My son cried. It is not a fear of death; it was because he felt stuck inside the toilet. NO freedom to watch Dora the Explorer or Blue Clues. I hugged him. I sang a song but that did not help much. Lastly I went out with him and went to bedroom, landed on bed, there is an assurance within my soul that everything will be safe, and I believe ALLAH won’t betray me. It is my hope towards Him.

Half an hour later, the tornado was gone. She went to other towns. First it hit Chapman, then us. KSU was badly injured. Injured by the Tornado.