I used to be asked this question in Pakistan as well: are you Pakistani first or Muslim first? Yet, it has always made me uncomfortable, it forces you to feel that the two: religious and national identity, are somehow mutually exclusive.
Profiling is here to stay. While fighting it is a noble cause, learning to deal with it is a daily requirement. Here are some tips to keep in mind to better prepare for "traveling while Muslim".
Sharia is not a word Muslims use on a daily basis in their lives. Actually, until the recent Sharia debate, most Muslim Americans may not have used this term more than a couple of times in their lives.
Hate never limits itself to one stop. It keeps looking for the new targets. Just as KKK targets were not limited to African-Americans as it attacked Catholics, Jews and other immigrants, the current phase of hate, ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance is looking for new targets.
As Muslims in America and abroad roundly condemned the July 7, 2005 terrorist attacks on London, they ask: What Muslims in America and our Government Can Do to Prevent it From Happening Here?
Muslims must remember that most of us or our parents could not have been allowed to even enter this country due to racist immigration laws that were lifted largely due to the Civil Rights movement.
The Fourth of July commemorates America's independence from England. The event is celebrated with much fanfare, fireworks, and festivity. But it's also an important time to remember the many blessings that God has given this country and how we are benefiting from them.