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Issue Date: December 4, 2005
BOOKS
A Muslim's America
Laila Lalami's journey from Morocco broadens the American experience.
Immigrants' first experience the American way of life as outsiders. This holds true for Laila Lalami, born in Rabat, Morocco, who arrived in 1992 on a visa to study for her Ph.D. in linguistics at the University of Southern California. She stayed and, after Sept. 11, 2001, launched the popular literary blog moorishgirl.com in part to reach out to her adopted country amid a climate of tension and fear of anyone fitting the terrorist profile. She recently debuted a book of short stories, "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits" (Algonquin, $21.95). We spoke with her:
Lalami's book of short stories is out now.
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What's the biggest misunderstanding about Muslims in America today?
That we're a monolithic group with identical beliefs and aspirations. When you are talking about 1 billion people, it is impossible to come up with broad descriptions of any use.
What's needed to build a bridge to greater tolerance and understanding?
Get to know your Muslim neighbor, doctor or co-worker better. Take a class or listen to Muslim music. Visit an art exhibit. Read books by Muslim authors.
Tell us a revealing experience you've had of living in America as a Muslim.
After Sept. 11, I was pressing a co-worker for a piece of information I needed for a project. His answer was, "What are you going to do? Shoot me? Isn't that how you people do things?"
Are there more positive experiences?
Definitely. When I connect with friends and strangers, our skin colors, the shapes of our noses or the texture of our hair don't matter. We're just human beings interacting with one another.
Name some things you love about your native culture and religion.
What I miss most are the calls to prayer from the mosques, which punctuate the day, [and] the way friends and family drop by unannounced.
Three things you love about America?
Root beer floats, the Bill of Rights and tryptophan-induced naps after turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day.
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CULTURE
A new peace center
Last month, the Muhammad Ali Center (alicenter.org), an $80 million museum and education center dedicated to uniting people in peace from all races and creeds, opened in Louisville, the hometown of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
One display, open to public participation, features wall and floor tiles allowing people to express a hope or goal, a special relationship or a "wish for the world." Before its official opening, the center hosted its first summit on mutual understanding; there's also a partnership with the United Nations and King's College London to develop a program for young people.
This year, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. In 1998, the U.N. named him a worldwide Messenger of Peace, and Amnesty International gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award. Ali, 63, who has Parkinson's disease, travels more than 100 days a year to support humanitarian causes. "His life is one of inspiration and courage," says Ali's wife, Lonnie.
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NOVELTY
Finding Santa
BELL-RINGING SANTAS collecting for charity may seem to be a regular sight this time of year, but fewer non-profits are enlisting the white-bearded, red-suited elves to channel the spirit of holiday giving. One place to find them: New York City. Through Dec. 24, Volunteers of America will station about 20 volunteer Sidewalk Santas outside stores and on crowded corners in midtown Manhattan. It's the only remaining locale in the New York VOA branch's 103-year-old traditional fundraiser to help needy families. The bell-ringing Santas' decline has come about because of increased competition and more sophisticated methods of collecting for charity at work and online. While some community groups still may enlist people to don the costume and raise funds around the holidays, most Santas are likely stationed at malls listening to kids' wish lists. Still, returning VOA Santa Dale Keyser says he enjoys making passersby smile. "It's unbelievable," he says. If you can't make it to Manhattan, donate at voa-gny.org, or call 212-496-4311.
Contributing: Rosemarie Colombraro, Kathleen Conroy, D. Cameron Lawrence
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