Conversations with America
Conversations with America: Moustafa Bayoumi
David Schulman
NOVEMBER 29, 2008
- Moustafa Bayoumi
- (Neville Elder)
- Enlarge This Image
Web Resources
Related Stories
- Conversations with America: Concluding the Conversation
- Conversations with America: le thi diem thuy
- Conversations with America: Oliver Sacks
- Conversations with America: Annette Gordon-Reed
More From David Schulman
In Brooklyn, there are several different neighborhoods that have relatively large concentrations of Arab Americans and of Muslim Americans. Probably the most important one is Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. And then the older neighborhood in Brooklyn where there are a lot of Arabs and Muslims would be the downtown Brooklyn area around Atlantic Avenue. They sell a lot of cassette tapes and pamphlets, and there's Chinese food that's halal.
Halal is a religious way of slaughtering meat so that it's religiously sanctified; it's similar to kosher. Halal restaurants also won't serve pork or any pork byproducts, and they also won't serve alcohol.
One of the interesting things about the Muslim community in Brooklyn is its multinational character. Some of the Chinese halal restaurants are run by Chinese Muslims. We have Muslims really coming from all different parts of the world, and coming here and creating an American Islam.
One of the elements that's very exciting about it is that it's less and less ethnically identified. In the older generation, you'd have a Turkish mosque, you'd have the Albanian mosque, you'd have the Arab mosque. But if you talk to the young people, they are really interested in the fact that they can connect with people from all over the world as Muslims, and as Americans.
The war on terror has really alienated a lot of American Muslims, who feel that they are at the center of an American law enforcement practice that makes them immediate objects of suspicion. So immediately they are made to feel not at home. And you can find this along the street life in Brooklyn.
If I could take Obama with me anywhere in Brooklyn, I would have to take him to some of the restaurants. Maybe this Yemeni restaurant where they serve most delicious foul, for breakfast. Foul is favabeans that have been mashed up Yemeni style, and it's absolutely delicious. We could sit there and I think we could talk about the war on terror policies - how they've really distorted what real life is like for Muslims, both in the United States and across the world.
MDC is the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park in Brooklyn. And MDC is a prison. Following the terrorist attacks, several thousand people were swept up by the government, and then placed in detention. Many of them found their way into MDC. And in the mail wing, there were several who, as reported later on, were horrifically abused.
In my book I talk about Rasha and her family. Rasha was 19 when she was arrested. She had no idea when she was going to get out. And of all the people I've talked to, I think Rasha is the most excited for an Obama presidency. It's not surprising to me, because if you haven't understood what it means to have your civil rights trampled upon, it's only an abstract idea. But if you do know what it means, then it's an extraordinarily important thing you can never really let go of in your life. And so I think it's extremely important to consider those kinds of reactions to Obama. And that in fact places a strong burden on him as president. And I think we have to keep pushing that, that a civil rights agenda must also be at the core of his presidency.
-
- Music Bridge:
- She Walks In A Dream
- Artist: Takeshi Nishimoto
- CD: Monologue (Buro)
Comments
Comment | Refresh
From uweeuywy, AL, 08/20/2014
Hello to every one, its truly a fastidious for me to visit this site, it contains helpful Information. dbcdkdcedbag
From uweeuywy, AL, 08/20/2014
This kind of game gives a real experience of deefedfccbac
From etwuwuoo, AL, 08/20/2014
Fantastic website. A lot of useful information here. I'm sending it to a few pals ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thank you in your sweat! ddffebddaffa
From etwuwuoo, AL, 08/20/2014
Ultimately, a dilemma that I'm passionate about. I have looked for data of this caliber for the previous various hours. Your internet site is greatly appreciated. debffddkdbdf
From yiruuiyp, AL, 07/19/2014
Thank you for your blog article. Great. cgadgcbbedbc
From yiruuiyp, AL, 07/19/2014
Thanks for this article. I might also like to say that it can end up being hard if you find yourself in school and merely starting out to create a long credit rating. There are many learners who are only trying to endure and have long or good credit history are often a difficult issue to have. fegfckedcacd
From wuypoiwu, AL, 06/30/2014
insecticide permethrin side effects in cats aaeaaededged
From wuypoiwu, AL, 06/30/2014
you have a terrific blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my weblog? dcgkegkegckc
From oeytyutw, AL, 06/30/2014
I think this is one of the most significant information for me. And i'm glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent D. Good job, cheers eacdadbebcef
From oeytyutw, AL, 06/30/2014
I would definitely not recommend these as ways to break the ice however. dacafdfdddfe
From wyiiuwyt, AL, 05/12/2014
Its really a great and useful piece of information. Im glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing. gedggddbcefe
From wyiiuwyt, AL, 05/12/2014
There are some interesting closing dates on this article however ddeeccgcbdgb
From epteyyyi, AL, 05/12/2014
Great article post.Really thank you! Fantastic. kfcaakkkcddg
From epteyyyi, AL, 05/12/2014
you may have an important weblog here! would you prefer to make some invite posts on my blog? dkeeecbbbcfe
Post a Comment: Please be civil, brief and relevant.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. All comments are moderated. Weekend America reserves the right to edit any comments on this site and to read them on the air if they are extra-interesting. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting.
You must be 13 or over to submit information to American Public Media. The information entered into this form will not be used to send unsolicited email and will not be sold to a third party. For more information see Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.