Purging the Sins of the Father - One Man’s Mission of Peace and Tolerance

[LiberalVoice]

An article in this months issue of Dtown Magazine about my life story. I'm looking for feedback. Let me know what you think.


snip:

"Ebrahim’s father appeared again when his mother’s television program was interrupted by the sight of her husband, covered in blood and being loaded into an ambulance, his name dragging along the bottom of the screen. El Sayid Nosair was the prime suspect in the murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane, the controversial head of the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a radical group long accused of terrorist acts in attempts to combat anti-Semitism. Having been shot in the assassination attempt himself, Nosair was whisked to Bellevue Hospital. He was not expected to live."

"With numerous projects in the works, Ebrahim is still trying to wrap his head around the turn his life has taken. From hiding his past and wrestling with issues ranging from bullying, racism, domestic violence and intolerance to becoming a champion for peace and social justice, his life has come full-circle. “Domestic terrorism was certainly a catalyst for me,” Ebrahim explains. “From the Lackawanna Six to the Fort Hood shooting to the Times Square bomber, every time I hear of an incident I just pray that it’s not an Arabic name. But this is about so much more than just that. I don’t want to just talk about terrorism."

http://www.dtownmag.com/artman/publish/a_closer_look/PURGING-THE-SINS-OF-THE-FATHER---One-Man-s-Mission-of-Peace-and-Tolerance.shtml


Thanks,

Zak :)

[Tansy_Gold]

1. IT'S WONDERFUL. An absolute must read. +1,000,000

:hugs: to you, Zak.

Tansy Gold, wiping away years

[LiberalVoice]

13. Thank you very much.

:)

[hlthe2b]

2. I read every word and found it fascinating and important...

I'm honored that would would share this with your fellow DUers.

The man of which you speak--was your stepfather, is that correct? Did you know your biological father?

[LiberalVoice]

3. Well actually...

My father El-Sayed Nosair was the man found guilty of Meir Kahane's murder and plotting the '93 WTC bombing. But he went to prison when I was seven(20 years this November)

The man my mother remarried was the one who taught me most of the bigoted lessons I learned growing up. He taught me to hate everyone who wasn't Muslim. He was a bigot of the highest order.

Luckily I started watching Jon Stewart at an early age and he kept me intellectually honest lol

[hlthe2b]

4. Ahh, I see... I was confused.

I hope your mother is out of that situation now, as well.

If you don't mind my asking, have you been able to see your father in the Florence facility-- now that you've reached adulthood?


Thanks for sharing.

[LiberalVoice]

5. Yes, thankfully she has.

Since I was seven years old I have visited him in different prisons. Like Rikers Island, the Federal prison in Manhattan and a few times I spent entire weekends (three days and two nights) in a cottage surrounded by barbed wire fence INSIDE Attica state prison. You could even rent movies and we'd pretend we were a normal family.

Although I haven't seen or spoken with my father in about fifteen years. I'm currently in the process of making a documentary about coming out with my life's story. My hope is that the conclusion of the film will be my confronting him in prison. We'll see.

As you can imagine I have a lot of questions. lol

Zak

[hlthe2b]

7. That must have been confusing for a child...

I know I'm approaching that line of what you may not wish to discuss, and I certainly respect that, but it seems like you had very warm feelings toward him as a child, yet haven't seen or spoken to him in more than a decade. Have your feelings changed towards him? I guess I'm just hoping that societal reactions are not majorly influencing your decision to break ties with your father, though certainly your own denunciation of his views might lead to that result.

[LiberalVoice]

8. It's something I've thought about for the last twenty years.

For the first six years of my life he was an extraordinarily caring father to me. He was kind, he loved to laugh and make jokes.

It was the last year before he went to prison that he became more hard lined. That's when he started consorting with the blind sheik Omar Abdulrahman.

Honestly when I think of my father I still see the man I loved before he went to prison. The guy who'd take me down to the corner for my favorite ice cream.

But at the same time I think back to all the hardship he cause my family, and so many other families. What's hardest to think about in the context of my family is how hard he made life for my mother. Leaving her saddled with three children, death threats, poverty. It was hard enough growing up Muslim in this country without all the add-ons involved with being the son of El-Sayed Nosair.

The minute he decided to put his ideology above his family and the lives of all the innocent people who were forever damaged by his actions...he stopped being my father.

Thank you for your questions. I don't mind answering them at all. :)

[hlthe2b]

9. Thank you for all your honesty and interest in helping others

understand. I certainly can put myself in your place and think I would feel very much the same. You've certainly come out "on the other side" of this whole experience as a very thoughtful and mature individual. I'm glad you are telling your story. This country has a long way to go in developing understanding of those who are Muslim, the broad diversity that that entails, and to recognize that the families and friends of those who become extremists are every bit the victims as those that they may target.

Best wishes.

[H2O Man]

6. Recommended.

Outstanding. Thank you for sharing this.

[LiberalVoice]

15. Ty for the rec. n/t

[smokey nj]

10. Thank you for sharing this, Zak.

[LiberalVoice]

11. Thank you for the support.

Ps. Your tag line made me lol

[smokey nj]

12. Happy to oblige on both accounts.

I admire your courage and resilience.

[pinboy3niner]

14. K&R for your great story, Zak

That must have been liberating, perhaps even cathartic, for you to be able to speak openly and honestly for the first time.

It's good to see your story and your message of understanding and tolerance getting attention. The documentary project sounds exciting. I'm looking forward to see it when it's finished.

Great story--and an important one! :thumbsup:

[LiberalVoice]

18. Majorly Cathartic...

I want prepared for how empowering this experience would be. The documentary will be be filmed over the next few years. I am sure there will ups and downs but in the end I just hope my message is heard. Thanks for the support. I cannot tell you how much it means to me:)Thank god for DU!!

[felix_numinous]

16. K & R Wow, this is beautifully written.

"The minute he decided to put his ideology above his family and the lives of all the innocent people....."

Somehow these words jumped out at me and seem very relevant in today's world. Thank you for sharing your story, Zak.

[LiberalVoice]

17. I hope I can help others understand...

...that although I was subjected to that violent, intolerant ideology as a child, I didn't become fantasized. Hopefully that broadens some peoples perspective.

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[Scurrilous]

19. Kick

:kick: