I was at a clinic yesterday morning for my annual health screening. The first person I talked to was the front desk receptionist, a woman whose head was covered in hijab. She looked biracial to me (African American + European American). The doctor who saw me was a young Pakistani American woman, also in hijab. She said she was born in Pakistan but grew up in the US. Last year, a European American doctor saw me during my physical. I didn’t know she was a Muslim until she said “Assalamualaikum” to me before leaving the room at the end of the physical. I was surprised! She said both she and her husband converted to Islam more than a decade ago - both of them were students at the time of their conversion.
Anyway, from the clinic we went to the nearby Dunkin Donuts to grab some sandwiches - the young lady who took my order was a Bangladeshi. The middle-aged man who handed me our sandwiches was a Bangladeshi, too. Bangladeshi and Muslim.
My OB/GYN (Obstetrician/Gynecologist), who saw me during my pregnancy, was Jewish. An Indian American doctor treated me after I went to an urgent care center last month following a bad allergic reaction to a cough med. One of my grad school professors was a Bahá'í - she was also my TA/GA supervisor. My other supervisor was a Chinese professor.
I will never understand why diversity scares so many people. I have always loved America because of its diversity. Could America ever be what it is today if it were not so diverse? I doubt.
A little bit of love, respect, tolerance and openness can change the face of this world. Let's love and respect each other!
© Wara Karim
Photo: Taken from the Internet
© Wara Karim
Photo: Taken from the Internet
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