So, this tiny lady in a traditional Hijab is in front of me at the grocery store this morning...

[meowomon]

Me and my big mouth just had to say something. I said, "Excuse me, mam. I am assuming by your dress that you are a Muslim." Guardedly she looked up at me, smiled and said "Yes" with a light accent. The cashier was looking at us and I could tell she was a little worried. There was a tense fraction of a second before I could say, "I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry if anyone in this country makes you feel intimidated because of your religion." A big smile came across her face and she started to express her pleasure at what I said. The cashier chimed in and said, "Yes mam, she's right! That isn't what America is all about!"

The lady in the hijab said, "My family and I came here 17 years ago just because of the freedom in this country! We just had the holiest of our holidays on Saturday and my husband and I were afraid to celebrate!" The cashier and I both expressed our disgust that she and her family were made to feel such fear. We all started chatting about this country and how it was founded on the freedom of religion.

For a few moments three women in a grocery store at six o'clock in the morning connected and some tiny little bridges were built. Then the woman in the hijab looked at me with her glistening eyes and said with sincerity, "Thank you so much. I really needed to hear this.", and then she asked me, "Can I give you a hug?"

So there I was standing in line at the grocery store hugging a complete stranger who came to this country 17 years ago looking for the freedoms we all take for granted. Here I was comforting a woman for the sins of those who don't understand why there is an America in the first place.

[txwhitedove]

1. Beautiful. K&R .....

[applegrove]

2. Great for you to do that. I hope it is an action that is repeated around the country in these weeks

to come.

[sarge43]

3. Thank you, meowomon

Another :hug: for you.

[tigereye]

4. yes!

:thumbsup:

[Kali]

5. did this get moved to the lounge?

while that is fine, I don't see why it can't be in GD too. It is a wonderful post. Thankyou.

[meowomon]

6. I didn't know where to put it so I put it here.

Can I move it or do I need to re-post?

[Kali]

8. oh - I thought since the first reply said k & r that it had been moved

you are fine, in fact it might cause some kind of flame war in there:eyes:

[meowomon]

10. I re posted in GD

So Im gonna delete this one. Thanks.

[Kali]

11. no need to delete this

it is a fine lounge post

we like feel-good stories in here!:)

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

7. Wow!

That is letter to the editor stuff.......... :bounce:

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. And yet there was some newspaper that apologized today for showing Muslims celebrating on Saturday

they were celebrating the end of Ramadan, and apparently the paper received a lot of hate mail - so the editor apologized today for it.

Can't remember where, but there's a thread in the Lounge or GD about it.

Fucking hell.

I wish more Americans were like you and the people you were with today. What a wonderful and inspiring experience you had! Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Celebrating the end of Ramadan ...

Seems a little like Christians (and semi- or non- Christians) celebrating the start of Lent.

The Muslims call the celebration "eid", I think, and it rhymes with "deed".

Christians call their celebration "Mardi Gras", "Fat Tuesday", and probably other names. Around here, it's sometimes called "Paczki Day" (pronounced "poonch key day".
http://detroit.about.com/od/peoplelifestyles/a/Paczki_Day_in_Hamtramck_and_Detroit.htm

Both celebrations involve mass quantities of food, so they are good things.

:hi:

[LiberalAndProud]

12. I wish I could Rec this.

:fistbump:

I must commend you for this random act of kindness. You are good people, meowoman!

[struggle4progress]

13. And you can! Here:

So, this tiny lady in a traditional Hijab is in front of me at the grocery store this morning...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x559883

[hippywife]

14. And in doing this,

and telling us about it, you've already improved my day as well. I did go post in the other thread and rec'd it but I'm not sure why it is in Editorials? :shrug:

Anyway, I hope others are inspired to do what you have just done. You are awesome. :hug:

[mwb970]

16. My Muslim neighbors have been very quiet lately.

They're great neighbors, and they have a beautiful yard & garden. Maybe I'm just naive, but they could have had the biggest Eid celebration imaginable over there right on 9/11, and it would never even occur to me that it was a "9/11 victory celebration", or whatever hateful interpretation conservatives might bring to it. The guy's a gardener for Chrissakes.

:eyes:

[lightningandsnow]

17. This is an awesome post.

Good for you! :hug:

[hamsterjill]

18. Powerful!

Good for you for taking the initiative to speak to her. As you say, that is the WAY that tiny bridges are built!