Having the final words with Meriden’s Record Journal over the Mosque Controversy
Wallingford Mosque - A controversial Proposition logo by Record Journal
Allahu alam (Only Allah knows best). [While quite long-winded, Please read in full & share your thoughts, issues, insights, etc. below.]
Alhumdulilah, I have been noted and quoted by my hometown newspaper Meriden’s Record Journal on many occassions. Since I was raised by a very proud and active family in the community, it wasn’t uncommon to find my siblings or my name or picture in the local news.
Coverage ranged from being listed as a honor student, photographed for our involvement in sports, leadership and community services, etc. and even having the opportunity to show-off our 3-foot upo (Filipino squash) from my parent’s amazing vegetable garden!
They (Record Journal) even followed my professional career when I became the youngest appointed public health official in the country when I was the Deputy Director of Health in Hartford, CT in 1998.
Now, I’ve never shyed away from the press because it’s free publicity; but more importantly, it is our opportunity to “educate the public” through our “rights of free speech”.
So, I’ve always taken the opportunity to utilize the press to educate others no matter which “new” career path I faced in my very ecelectic professional life.
From promoting a new public health campaign, educating the public about their options during a foreclosure, helping moms work from home successfully, developing one’s internet brand, etc. But, nothing compares to the closing remarks shared in today’s article, entitled “Both sides adamant in mosque dispute”.
“Some kind of prejudice”?
Ponn M. Sabra is the administrator of the Salma K. Farid Academy in Hamden, which is looking to start in September as a full-time learning center for children from 3 to 12 and an after-school center for those up to 18. It will be the first Islamic academy in New Haven County, she said. Born and raised in Meriden, Sabra is the daughter of a Buddhist father and a Catholic mother. She was raised a Catholic and attended Saint Joseph School, in Meriden, and Mercy High School, in Middletown, graduating in 1991.
Sabra, who is also an author, earned a degree in biology from Providence College and in 1998 received a master’s degree in public health from the University of Connecticut. After getting her master’s degree, she converted to Islam.
“The very essence of Islam is there is only one God, and that god is God,” she said. “I always believed that, and Muhammad is the messenger, the very last messenger.”
Sabra, a Meriden resident again after moving from Toledo, Ohio, said “traffic is really a moot issue” when it comes to the proposal in Wallingford. “We anticipated opponents, we didn’t expect ‘No Mosque,’” she said. “When you choose that word, its equivalent is saying no church or no synagogue.
“When they chose to use that word, it’s hard to feel that there wasn’t some kind of prejudice.”
“I’m amazed that you can think we’re doing anything less than noble,” she said.
Now, a Lot was revealed in these few sentences; and Khir, insha’Allah will come out of these words.
I haven’t even publicly shared my name in this blog because…well, too many reasons to list that are ALL irrevelant right now!
I was interviewed by 2 reporters that equalled approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes of our time.
After years of media exposure, along with taking media training courses, I wasn’t prepared to find all these bits and pieces of our varied conversation to be pulled out in such a way to expose some very personal facts of me and my family.
So, today’s news coverage is and will always be very personal to me and my family.
Subhanallah, commiting my family to the Salma K Farid Academy project was a very personal choice. And with the very ambitious goals the Farids and I have set for ourselves, I should’ve anticipated some personal moments…I just didn’t expect them to “come out” so soon 
Allahu alam.
Now chosing to cover with hijab 4 years ago (this Ramadan, insha’Allah) was a very public and personal devotion to our beloved Allah SWT…but, taking on this role at Salam K Farid Academy has only amplified my family’s exposure to be “public” and more “personal”. While humbled by this great responsibility, I’m graciously asking your continued du’as.
During both of my interviews, we discussed in great details my views of Women in Islam, and my feelings about how I can speak against the ignorance of our preceived oppression. We also discussed how I feel we can better educate the public about the pure beauty and simplicity of Islam. While these topics were not discussed in the article, I know now that these are topics are of grave importance. And, while “personally” hard to discuss openly and publicly–I Must!
Only now; after reading their article, can I truly feel the strong duty and obligation I have to Allah SWT to take this role far beyond a “job” as I serve as a mere example of what all American Muslim Moms face each and every day as we walked our days living solely and proudly for our beloved Allah SWT.
So, whenever we are given the opportunity to educate others even if our gut would rather comfortably say nothing and sit in our own comfort-zone of silence…we can not any longer!
At the very least we must always think about our children and how we can instill pride, honor, confidence, and self-respect…if we don’t exhibit it ourselves.
I was never silent, nor hide behind anyone or anything…I just wasn’t prepared to openly allow the press to share my family’s religions, the timeline of my reversion (not “conversion”) to Islam…nor come out to seem “defensive” in any way.
But, the press does its own thing, putting into “context” in their terms.
With this strong realization, may WE always have the final words Sisters! Let the dialogue begin and forever live on in this dunya for one and only goal of the akhira. ~ Ameen
Share, share, and share some more in the comments area below.
P.S. In the internet-business, it never “came out” that I am a Muslim…when asked, I shared; but I’ve always separated religion and business. Now, there’s no way around it…so, insha’Allah, I’ll be more open about things. For example, here’s a bit about Me And, here’s the Academy’s cut & paste of the “good” news in the article.
