Growing up Muslim after Sept. 11 test of faith (AP)

FULLERTON, Calif. ? In many ways, Yousuf Salama is a typical teenager: He lives for football, worries about acne and would rather dash off to see "Captain America" with friends than spend one more minute with his mother.

He's aware, however, that his actions in particular can have greater meaning.

Yousuf is a Muslim, one of only two in an all-boys Catholic prep school in Southern California. He has been asked if he's a terrorist and routinely shrugs off jokes about bombs and jihad.

"Sometimes I feel like I take it upon myself to be a better example," he said on a recent evening after returning for a weeklong football camp.

Yousuf is among thousands of children who navigate every day the subtle and complex challenges that come with growing up Muslim in a deeply traumatized post-Sept. 11 America. Some were still in diapers and others in grade school when hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon a decade ago, but their childhoods have been deeply touched by the pain and anger of a nation struggling to come to terms with a day that, for them, represents the worst perversion of their faith.

For some, like Yousuf in California and others across the country, the bullying, the hard stares and endless defense of their identity has nurtured a deeper faith and a maturity and resilience that surprises even their parents.

"I tell them that when they're out in the world, they represent the best of our community, they are our faith ambassadors," said Kari Ansari, who was pregnant with her youngest child on Sept. 11 and lives outside Washington, D.C with her family. "They will have learned to have compassion for people who maybe don't even deserve that kind of compassion ? dealing with bigots and dealing with prejudice ? and that's a great life lesson."

For Ansari's oldest daughter, Aneesa, that lesson colors her earliest memories.

She started attending a private Muslim kindergarten in Denver just days before Sept. 11 and it shut down for two weeks after angry protesters gathered outside. It eventually reopened, but an armed security guard stayed on campus for almost a year.

Today, the 15-year-old is deeply invested in her religious identity and exudes a quiet pride at being Muslim. She began wearing a head scarf in public without prompting in the fifth grade and has never removed it despite being cursed at while waiting in line at Ikea, stared at and pressured at school, she said.

Aneesa goes to the library during the lunch hour so she can observe the holy month of Ramadan (a month of no food or water from sunrise to sundown) and said she prefers to spend time with other Muslim teens to avoid the pressure to drink and do drugs.

Her mother worried that her young daughter would be pitied or discriminated against for wearing the hijab. But for Aneesa, wearing the head covering was a rebuke to those who dwelled on her differences and minimized her faith. Even at 11, she said, she was adamant that it was her choice and her identity.

"I have enough strength, I guess, to not be afraid of who I am," Aneesa said. "It's this pressure to change, people kind of hint that you don't have to wear a scarf at school, they ask if your parents make you.

"Combatting that makes you a stronger person," she said.

When the family moved from Denver to a new school in the western suburbs of Chicago, her younger brother Sajid suddenly found himself the only Muslim boy in his grade in a tiny school district.

For three years, from the fourth to the sixth grade, he was relentlessly bullied by dozens of students who ganged up on him, called him a terrorist and ridiculed him for his faith.

In a sixth-grade art class, a group of boys passed him a note showing a drawing of the twin towers, with the words "Look familiar?" written below. On another occasion, he was walking his sister home in the snow when other students ambushed them with icy snowballs. One hit his face, leaving a bloody gash on his cheek.

Sajid's grades plummeted and attempts to get adults to help led to more abuse, so he stopped telling his parents about what was going on.

"I just kind of felt like, `Why was I born at a time when people didn't understand?' I didn't have any problem with being Muslim or being born that way," said Sajid, now 13.

"Sometimes, I felt it was unfair that I was born at a time when all this was happening," he said. "It's hard to explain that you're not the stereotype that's put out."

The Ansaris eventually moved to northern Virginia and put their children in a bigger and more diverse school district where Sajid has thrived.

Today, Sajid is open with classmates about his faith, explaining that he can't eat pepperoni because Muslims don't eat pork and talking with friends about the terrorist characters that represent the enemy on war-themed video games.

"When you are a person of faith you look at your life circumstances and every situation that comes up is a trial or challenge to you in your faith," said Ansari, who works as a freelance marketing consultant. "We believe it's God's way of saying, `What are you going to do about this? Are you going to succumb to it or rise above it and show what the true story is?"

In Southern California's Orange County, Yousuf Salama, his 18-year-old sister Sarah and his 21-year-old brother Omar have spent years navigating the same types of challenges at their private, Catholic prep schools. Their parents sent them there because of the top-notch education and same-sex environment.

One of Yousuf's friends asked if he was a terrorist after watching a TV program on Islamic extremism.

His older brother, unusually tall and lanky for his age, was called "Twin Tower" at a seventh-grade flag football camp and quietly endured an endless loop of jokes: Do you have a bomb in your backpack? When do you leave for jihad?

These days, those memories barely raise an eyebrow in the family's upscale suburban home, where their parents juggle a home business, their children's sports practices and part-time jobs as well the nightly prayers at the mosque during Ramadan.

On a recent night, the children, Omar's new wife and their grandmother gathered to break the Ramadan fast with heaping plates of lamb and chicken kebobs, sliced grilled eggplant, humus and a thick chocolate cake for dessert.

"How have we been living for the past 10 years?" asked Anita Bond-Salama, their mother.

"There's no answer, there's no magic formula," she continued. "My husband and I have just dealt with things very matter-of-factly: This is what happened. There's good and there's bad in the world. And unfortunately there's bad people who represent our religion but our religion doesn't say that."

Omar was 11 when the airplanes were hijacked and of the three siblings, he has the clearest memories of that day and its aftermath. He remembers thinking at the time that the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan would change his life, too.

Over the years, he learned to restrain himself from physically confronting anyone who made fun of him, but he had his hardest test as a high school senior ? six years after Sept. 11 ? when a teacher asked him to read aloud in class. A fellow student leaned in, he recalled, and whispered: "Does your religion allow you to read?"

"I was this close to climbing over my seat and really messing him up," Omar said.

He remembered thinking on that occasion and on many others that he should not react violently.

"If I did that ... the whole school would be thinking in the back of their mind, `Oh, there goes another Muslim. There goes Omar again, a typical Muslim ? violent and angry,'" he said.

Omar started high school "football crazy" and every bit the jock. He played for his school's powerhouse football team, fasting during Ramadan while doing two-a-day workouts.

Over time, as the teasing got to him, he distanced himself from school friends and spent more time at the mosque. By his senior year, he had quit football and devoted himself to studying his faith so he could better explain Islam.

He attended more prayers, stopped swearing and improved his grades, which had slipped to Cs and Ds.

"If I'm being attacked by an individual or even just a curious individual, I have to be able to answer. I can't just say, `I don't know.' It made me pick up a book," he said. "In that sense, it's changed my life."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/religion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110820/ap_on_re_us/us_sept11_growing_up_muslim

ut josh groban rent saving private ryan ludacris slutwalk slutwalk

Real Estate Marketing Focused ?Top 10 Search Engine Positioning ...

Real Estate Marketing Focused ?Top 10 Search Engine Positioning Secrets Version 2.0? Downloadable E-Book Now Available










Yonkers, NY (PRWEB) October 24, 2005

Client By Design, LLC ? Guerrilla Marketing Coach, Richard Bailey releases an updated version of his downloadable PDF E-Book dedicated to top 10 search engine positioning and Marketing secrets for Real Estate Web Sites.

Recognizing the rising costs of advertising and Public Relations, Client By Design?s new E-Book provides Real Estate professionals with do-it-yourself search engine optimization and search engine submission and business promotion techniques to deliver an increase in targeted traffic and prospects to their web sites.

In addition to providing instruction and examples focused on optimizing Web Pages for both paid and organic search engines and non-traditional methods of announcing web sites, this E-Book guide also contains links to important resources and tools used by Web Page Optimization experts to get the best search engine positions. It also goes a step further and covers topics related to getting affordable public relations on a local as well as national level to attract customers looking for Real Estate services.

Not limited to search engines, some of the techniques revealed in this guide will even allow users to get noticed by the media (online, print and broadcast) and other organizations looking for speakers and presenters.

?We have been approached by many clients looking for ways to boost their Real Estate Marketing. They want to add tools to their marketing plan that will help them save time and money. This downloadable E-Book provides the know-how and resources for any real estate professional to increase the number of visitors to their web sites by making it easier for prospects to find their sites. We want their phones to ring. By putting this guide in E-Book format, a Real Estate web site owner can download this book and gain instant knowledge to attract targeted prospects,? says author/speaker and Guerrilla Marketing coach/consultant Richard Bailey.

The interactive (web enabled) and printable guide is published in an easy to read Adobe Acrobat PDF format and can be purchased ($ 97 U.S.) for immediate download (delivered by LEAH-Merchant, Client By Design?s own electronic software delivery system with free updates available) from the web at:

http://www.ClientByDesign.com/agent.html

About The Author and Client By Design, LLC:

Client By Design develops methods and technology to attract customers. Richard Bailey, (CEO) is a professional Marketing and Technology consultant specializing in Internet and Search Engine Marketing.

# # #





Attachments



Vocus?Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Source: http://epublishinghq.com/2011/08/real-estate-marketing-focused-top-10-search-engine-positioning-secrets-version-2-0-downloadable-e-book-now-available/

airbnb seattle weather spawn sleep apnea guacamole guacamole mortal kombat legacy

Skip Hop Zoo Pack Little Kid Backpack, Owl Reviews ? Fashion-Expo.com

Skip Hop Zoo Pack Little Kid Backpack, Owl

  • The Zoo Pack is the little kid backpack where fun meets function
  • Roomy main compartment
  • Insulated pouch for snacks and adjustable mesh bottle pocket
  • Easy to clean lining
  • Padded, adjustable comfy straps

Skip Hop Zoo Pack BackpackThe Zoo Pack is the little kid backpack where ?fun meets function!? Whimsical details and durable materials make this the perfect on-the-go pack for kids on-the-go. This backpack is BPA free, Phthalate free, and PVC free. It features a roomy main compartment, insulated pouch for snacks, adjustable mesh bottle pocket, and padded, adjustable comfy straps.

List Price: $ 20.00

Price: $ 19.99

13163 MALAYSIA MALAYSIAN AIRLINES LOGO LUGGAGE BAG TAG

Find More Luggage Bag Malaysia Products

Source: http://www.fashion-expo.com/2011/08/18/skip-hop-zoo-pack-little-kid-backpack-owl-reviews/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=skip-hop-zoo-pack-little-kid-backpack-owl-reviews

maserati kodak smurfs smurfs mark wahlberg the fighter jude law

Michelle Malkin ? This exists: The Department of Labor ...

Did you know there is such a thing as the ?Unemployment Insurance Hall of Fame??

The Department of Labor holds a gala event for new inductees. The next one is coming up in October. Via Rebekah Rast at NetRightDaily with a hat tip to Adam Biteley:

In 2010, the unemployment insurance (UI) program celebrated its 75th anniversary. To commemorate, a new awards ceremony was introduced. The Department of Labor (DOL) established the UI Innovation Awards and the UI Hall of Fame to recognize the outstanding work of individuals and state UI agencies.

The 2011 awards ceremony will be held Oct. 17-20 at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, R.I. The going rate for a junior suite with two king-sized beds during the convention is $119 a night, not too bad. Of course since this is a federal government department, you can assume your tax dollars are paying for the convention as well as probably contributing to the UI Hall of Fame celebration.

A request of the budget for this convention from the organizer of the awards ceremonies at the Department of Labor went unanswered. Americans for Limited Government (ALG) is currently working on a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to find out the cost to taxpayers for this event.

I have the PERFECT logo image for this hall of fame glorifying government subsidies that reduce the incentive to find jobs?just borrow the pointless locked gears from the Smithsonian Institute?s ?Department of Innovation:?

Source: http://michellemalkin.com/2011/08/17/this-exists-the-department-of-labor-unemployment-insurance-hall-of-fame/

uca uca crush krav maga search brownie brownie

Patents morph into assets with price tag - Singapore Law Watch

THE wireless mobility sector is witnessing a major battle among industry leaders. The battleground is not on store shelves but at law courts around the world and the weapon of choice is IP (intellectual property) patents.

Companies promoting the Android mobile operating system (OS) are facing a number of patent-infringement cases. Google has been sued by Microsoft and Oracle. Apple has gone after HTC and Samsung, while in turn it has been sued by HTC. At the centre of all these court cases is the desire to either protect market share or deny the same to competitors. Apple has temporarily denied Samsung the opportunity to sell its highly anticipated 10.1-inch media tablet in Australia and Germany on the grounds that it infringes Apple-owned IP that goes into the iPad. However, as one IP expert noted, almost all innovation in the Internet and mobile-phone space has been patented and so any new incumbent, such as Google with its Android OS, can be a target for IP-infringement action.

Irrespective of the merits of these cases, it is useful to remember that the system of IP patents has been put in place to protect innovation and to ensure that the patent owner is rewarded for the time and effort put into innovation. This system has, by and large, worked well.

What we are now seeing is the morphing of patents into physical assets to be bought and sold among companies for strategic requirements, including at times the need to deny competitors the advantages of incremental innovations which build on existing state of the art. Companies are paying hard cash to enlarge their patent treasure trove, all in the name of protecting market share.

Earlier this year, when the Canadian telecom equipment supplier Nortel Networks put up its 6,000 patents for sale, Google made an initial bid of US$900 million. However, a consortium comprising Apple, Microsoft and other technology giants eventually grabbed them for as much as US$4.5 billion in cash. This suggests that the premium they paid was as much to deny Google access to the technology as to enrich their patent portfolio. Undeterred, Google has recently bought 1,000 patents from IBM. More recently, Google's CEO Larry Page has admitted that one of the reasons the company is paying US$12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility is to get access to its huge trove of patents - 17,000 approved and 7,500 pending approval.

The lesson here for Singapore companies is that patents have evolved from being just a legal means to protect innovation to an asset that can be acquired inorganically and used for competitive advantage. Judicious investment could ensure that patents become assets with immense appreciation potential. There are a number of technology companies that could be good buys for their hoard of patents. Also, firms with valuable patents should also make sure they make effort to monetise the intrinsic value of these patents.

Source: Business Times ? Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Permission required for reproduction.

Source: http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/remweb/legal/ln2/rss/legalnews/72939.html?utm_source=rss%20subscription&utm_medium=rss

chocolat haiti james franco kellan lutz cheap car insurance cheap car insurance aed

Panda Antivirus, Panda Internet security, Panda Global Protection ...

Panda Internet Security 2012 is the security suite that lets you use the Internet for everything, like shopping and banking online, with total peace of mind and without interruptions. It protects you from viruses, hackers, online fraud, identity theft and other known and unknown threats. It also keeps your inbox spam-free, and allows you to surf the Web privately and securely with the new Panda Safe Browser. Your children will navigate safely on the Internet with the improved Parental Control. Enjoy maximum protection against all kinds of Internet threats with Panda Internet Security 2012.

It is NOT ok to contact this poster with commercial interests.

Source: http://www.cathaylist.com/usa/1/posts/11-Internet-Web-Services/53-Internet-Web-Services/532746-Panda-Antivirus-Panda-Internet-security-Panda-Global-Protection-.html

ks world war z eg thales abracadabra abracadabra my way

Benefits Of Security Camera Systems Los Angeles | Intellectual ...

The city of Los Angeles in Southern California is known around the world for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the celebrities who call this unique city home. However, most other residents have a very different tale to tell, which is why security camera systems Los Angeles are a necessity to those who live there.

In fact, LA happens to be one home to one of the highest rates of crime in the world with many referring to it as The City of Gangland. Every day, law-abiding citizens become innocent victims of crime by theft or damage to property.

One proven deterrent to would-be vandals is the installation of these cameras. Statistics indicate that the presence of surveillance devices on a property will significantly reduce the potential of robbery and vandalism. Most criminals would weigh up the risks, targeting a property that appears to have no alarm system installed.

CCTV devices, such as cameras and alarms, provide peace of mind to businesses, acting as a third set of eyes on the property when no one else is around. For those who possess significant items of value, surveillance cameras prove to be the top device on the market that significantly stops robbery and break-ins.

Residential properties can also benefit from the installation of surveillance devices. In a city, such as LA, where many possess handguns, devices such as a camera can help identify visitors who are knocking at the door, allowing people to make a decision to answer it.

Cameras come in all shapes and sizes, and firms offering solutions to assist small businesses and homes, right through to multinational corporations. Those with security camera systems Los Angeles all agree that having surveillance devices installed helps make home and office a much safer place.

Looking to find the definitive source of information on security camera systems Los Angeles?

Source: http://intellectualarticles.com/home-improvement/bath-and-shower/benefits-of-security-camera-systems-los-angeles

the last airbender star trek lollapalooza watch free movies online watch free movies online standard and poor nationwide

The Treatment for Most Known Health Issue ? Gum Disease | Health ...

Many people think gum disease is simple gum problem. If you are one of them, then you must think twice. Gum disease has been a widely known issue in the almost all countries of different age and gender. Many believe that this type of problem only happen to adults. However, studies show that age does not matter. Teenagers can also acquire this type of gum problem.

It all starts when a person forget to brush his or her teeth. Every day when you neglect to properly brush or floss bacteria will develop. As a result, your gums will become red, swollen or inflamed. There are also times when your gums will bleed when brushing your teeth. It becomes too sensitive to touch. Furthermore, if your gum disease worsens you will have receding gums or you will lose a tooth.

When your gums are red and inflamed, this is called Gingivitis. It is the first stage and the mildest gum disease. This can easily be treated through proper brushing and flossing. In addition, you can use mouthwash to flush bacteria from your mouth. Moreover, when you gums recede and you start to lose your teeth then this marks the second stage which is the Periodontal.

The tissues and bones supporting your teeth are already infected. Once you notice that you have these symptoms schedule a dental check up from a professional dentist. In this way, your doctor will be able to give recommendations on what you should do about the problem. There is a possibility that you will undergo a non-surgical or surgical operation depending on how severity of the gum disease. Furthermore, during your scheduled dental check up, you dentist may suggest a prophylaxis or dental cleaning to clear out dirt and bacteria in your mouth.

One must not take this gum problem lightly because this may be symptoms of more serious health problems. Human veins are interconnected to the different parts of a person?s body most especially the heart. Gum disease when untreated will lead to heart diseases and diabetes. Home treatment is good however seeking the opinion of a professional will make you feel more confident that you will get well. Moreover, the dentist will ensure close monitoring of your progress without this you will not know how far you have gone through the treatment. Do not be scared in telling your dentist the problem. Who knows they might have patients who have worst gum disease than you have. Gum disease is a growing problem. Therefore you don?t need to be ashamed.

This entry was posted on August 14, 2011, 5:52 pm and is filed under Diseases. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://carebeautytips.com/articles/the-treatment-for-most-known-health-issue-gum-disease/

nfl lockout gina carano kristin cavallari nfl lockout news nfl lockout news watermelon watermelon

How to Find the Best Indoor Soccer Shoe | classicalworkshop.com

The game of soccer is one which is primarily played with the feet. Soccer can be played in the outdoors where the space is wide and open, or indoors such as the gym or a recreational gaming facility. Since you will be using your feet for playing, it is important that you get the best indoor soccer shoe for indoor soccer games. There are many brands sold out there, and it does not suffice to say which one is the best. The best indoor soccer shoe will be determined by the soccer player. Just make sure to find one which you are comfortable with. Indoor soccer shoes resemble low-cut, lightweight sneakers. They usually feature a flat, rubbery-type bottom for better traction on indoor courts and fields. So make sure that when you are planning to play soccer indoor, get indoor shoes because these are usually required by many indoor soccer facilities when playing on artificial turf, so the turf does not get torn up.

Source: http://www.classicalworkshop.com/sports-recreation/team-sports/how-to-find-the-best-indoor-soccer-shoe

cheap trick zeus bayonetta jk rowling religion religion betty white

Best Hotels In Paris - Health and fitness tips, Health information ...

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Hotels in Paris are some of the most booked hotels in the world. Paris is a wonderful city and it is a dream destination for everyone, apparently. Paris has been traditionally considered the city of romance and love and In fact, Paris is the European capital of culture and the world, where the politics, history and modernity and art, fashion and science are not meet. Are you searching for
best hotels in paris? As one of the largest tourist destinations in the world would usually be, Paris is known for its range of hotels to suit all the tastes.

Every season the same way you can find any ranges of hotels in paris so that you can find the cheapest of them to make it easy and save on your stay at a luxury hotel Rivoli Street offers the best comfort and service. Using well-organized transport systems in Paris, you can easily get all the highlights of the Hotel Paris in Paris. Highlights of Paris are generally known such as wonderfully build of Eiffel Tower, the royal palaces, the famous Notre-Dame de Paris and the great museums of the Louvre and Versailles and the roads world famous Champs-Elysees The charming garden in Luxembourg and the oldest universities in Europe - Sorbonne, the village of La Villette techniques and much more.

Source: http://www.eldonping.com/2011/08/best-hotels-in-paris.html

steve carell cell phone internet explorer 8 download internet explorer 8 download finding nemo malware trinidad