Shama Farag: Stop Asian Hate

As a Muslim who lives as a minority in a country I call it home, I know fear. I know how it feels like when you go out, either you fear being attacked or being looked at as a threat. I remember when the pandemic started last year, and while shopping at one of the grocery stores, I walked through the aisle. I ran into an Asian lady who stood still in her place, looking at me for 20 seconds. The look in her eyes tells it all. "Are you scared of me? I don't have the virus!" At the moment, I wished I could take my facial mask off and let her know that I wasn't afraid of her, and I hoped that she wasn't afraid of me either. I wished her peace and safety. The virus has no nationality.

And when I heard about the Atlanta shooting, I was appalled and perplexed. How dare we live in a world where either we are afraid of someone or someone is afraid of us? When is this supposed to end? And how can we offer a genuine support system for each other? How can we offer sincere help to one another?

Do you know why I care? Because I have been there. I can relate. I see your pain. I feel your fear. I hear you!

If you don’t get the idea behind solidarity and why we should stand firm for hate upon anyone, especially minorities, do you know why we should say Stop Asian Hate out loud?

Let me tell you a story that my grandma would tell me to urge me to stand up for others the same way I stand up for myself.

Once upon a time, there were three bulls. A white bull, a red bull, and a black one. They were friends living altogether on a spacious farm.

A hungry lion was living nearby. He would come hemming and hawing every day. The lion was desperately looking for a fulfilling meal. The lion thought about how he could eat the bulls, but it seemed hard because they were united and never left apart.

One day, the lion saw the black and the red bull waiting without the third white bull involved. He came close and told them that their white bull friend looked so bright and he would make them look like an easy target for hunters. The lion suggested to get rid of the white bull or let him go. Even better, the lion pointed out that the farm was better shared between the two bulls rather than three.

The two bulls thought, and eventually, they agreed that there was no need to keep the white bull with them anymore. They reached out to the lion the next day and inquired about getting rid of the white bull. The lion told them wickedly: “I will take care of it, just make sure to leave him all alone.”

The lion waited while the white bull was alone, then he attacked the white bull and ate him. The white bull didn't even resist the attacker because he never expected that his friends would sell him out.

A few days later, the lion got hungry again; he managed to play the same game. First, he failed when the two remaining bulls were together. They fought him together and kicked him out. So, the lion planned to meet the black bull alone and convince him to leave the red bull alone. The lion said that the farm would be all for the black bull alone. The black bull was hesitant, but in the end, he thought it might be a good idea to have the farm for himself.

Hence, the lion attacked the red bull and devoured him.

A few days later, the lion came back, trying to attack the black bull. The black bull wanted to stop him. The black bull fiercely resisted.

The lion mocked him and said, "You were eaten once you let the white bull be eaten.”

Just like that. As the old saying goes, “Evil prevails when good people do nothing!”

Now, it's time to change our narratives. It's time to show our respect and support for each other. It’s time to take hate against anyone seriously and stand firm for each other’s safety. This is how we create a sense of belonging for whom was hurt and this is how we create a room for ourselves to feel needed, connected and loved. This is how we build a real connected community!

“ A person is either your brother in faith, or your equal in humanity.” Imam Ali.