We the Busy People

When in the Course of Human Events: We the Busy People


With clear skies and a cool breeze, the anniversary of September 11 has passed once again, with many events and memorials here in New York. I read about one survivor in the newspaper: “Richard has long quested for images of Karen on the 101st floor of the North Tower, where she worked, “and there’s one picture of her at the window in her navy blue sweater top and cream-colored pants,: he said. “And there’s one of her falling. Same clothing. She’s covering her face.”

May Allah protect us and cover us all! At two interfaith events that I attended in the last day, mothers and husbands and wives spoke movingly of their lost ones, and between prayers, the singers sang straight from a bursting heart. Both events shared an Islamic Call to Prayer and full participation by Muslim family members and diverse spiritual leaders.

Interfaith leaders spoke of the spirit and from the spirit, and they seemed to be carrying on a beautiful conversation about light, darkness, and hope, rising up. They noted differences gently, but looked through religion towards God and expressed the yearning human spirit we all share. Interfaith is not really a competition, but a communication.

It is two in the morning. In 6 hours I should be at an Interfaith event coinciding with the opening of the UN General Assembly. I do not know if this will be more about power and less about the value of human life. But I will go. After that, there is an interfaith meeting of religious people working against torture and the human rights abuses of the Bush administration. Meetings are different than events; unless you organize them yourself!

I am organizing three events this week on Darfur; one at Brooklyn Borough Hall, with West African dinner and a range of speakers; one at Queens Museum with artists and journalists and human rights advocates; and am helping with another event at the Islamic Center of New York, along with Network of Arab American Professionals. However, that same evening there are two other events; “Why Can’t America Have Human Rights” another diverse and impressive program, and a panel discussion that I am also supposed to be part of.

How busy is busy enough? Last week I also helped plan a Jewish Muslim workshop, and also helped set up 2 meetings with visiting Palestinian educators. I staffed a table at the Muslim Day parade, and I will staff a booth at the Muslim Great Adventure Day, insha’Allah. And on the weekend, there are 6 events; one large Darfur rally, one dialogue, one law group events and several community events to reach with outreach materials –a Mela organized by SAKHI, a Senegalese Professionals meeting, and a youth conference with AI Democracy.

Where will I find time to be myself? Faith leaders remind us of joy and compassion for one’s self and family; perhaps one should say selam to the mirror as well! And another speaker also reminded us that we do not do; it is Allah who is in control.

Almost 3,000 died in the World Trade Center but over 300,000 have died in Darfur. They are far away and poor; but that is no reason to ignore them. It is no reason to ignore that our government is not truly humanitarian. Sure, it has its human moments, but the system needs repair—a new engine or only a new sparkplug, Allah knows best.

So we the busy people would regret it if we missed the beauty around us, the beauty of our friends and family, of the night sky shining with stars. We the event planners can miss out on life; like a busy hostess who does not enjoy her party. We need to serve with joy.

And yet it is easy to be frustrated; people do not pay attention. People have no sense of urgency. People are hard to please. There is always more to do.

And Muslims are very hard to mobilize. It is amazing! What percentage of mosques actually have the same working fax machine for 2 years in a row? How many imams and leaders answer their emails on time?

It is true, that the Muslim Day parade this year was bigger and more inclusive. Sweet nausheeds as well as speeches for the ear and for the mouth, delicious food piled high. Cooperation between food vendors ensured that all the food was sold equably. But too bad one group of youth held up signs denouncing Shia, calling them non-Muslims. This was in poor taste. Should they have been allowed to stay? Can one be tolerant of intolerance? Can these mean, judgmental youth see the beauty around them?

Yes we are disunited. Not organized. And sometimes we are too busy. I feel it is as if we are falling, falling from a high tower! May Allah guide us through this state of loss. We do need to let go and let God. At the same time, we need to respond to all the challenges we face with strength and clarity.

A housewife arranges the table for the guests. A host makes sure everyone is comfortable. Hospitality is far from the culture of calculation, ideology, fast food and fast dollars. Like religious practice, social events are offerings of love, but maybe especially when they are not also escapes from the self.