Time For Awkward People To Meet

farahhhh:

imperfectwriting:

I went to the mall, and a little girl called me a terrorist. 

My name is Ela.  I am seventeen years old.  I am not Muslim, but my friend told me about her friend being discriminated against for wearing a hijab.  So I decided to see the discrimination firsthand to get a better understanding of what Muslim women go through. 

My friend and I pinned scarves around our heads, and then we went to the mall.  Normally, vendors try to get us to buy things and ask us to sample a snack.  Clerks usually ask us if we need help, tell us about sales, and smile at us.  Not today.  People, including vendors, clerks, and other shoppers, wouldn’t look at us.  They didn’t talk to us.  They acted like we didn’t exist.  They didn’t want to be caught staring at us, so they didn’t look at all. 

And then, in one store, a girl (who looked about four years old) asked her mom if my friend and I were terrorists.  She wasn’t trying to be mean or anything.  I don’t even think she could have grasped the idea of prejudice.  However, her mother’s response is one I can never forgive or forget.  The mother hushed her child, glared at me, and then took her daughter by the hand and led her out of the store. 

All that because I put a scarf on my head.  Just like that, a mother taught her little girl that being Muslim was evil.  It didn’t matter that I was a nice person.  All that mattered was that I looked different.  That little girl may grow up and teach her children the same thing. 

This experiment gave me a huge wakeup call.  It lasted for only a few hours, so I can’t even begin to imagine how much prejudice Muslim girls go through every day.  It reminded me of something that many people know but rarely remember: the women in hijabs are people, just like all those women out there who aren’t Muslim. 

People of Tumblr, please help me spread this message.  Treat Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Taoists, etc., exactly the way you want to be treated, regardless of what they’re wearing or not wearing, no exceptions.  Reblog this.  Tell your friends.  I don’t know that the world will ever totally wipe out prejudice, but we can try, one blog at a time.  

this is so perfect in absolutely every single way.

(via busdriver)

It’s been awhile!

  • A: Age. 21
  • B: Where I’m from. Malaysia
  • C: Where I would like to live. Los Angeles
  • D: Favourite food. Nando’s hot 1/4 chicken with Peri chips
  • E: Religion. Islam
  • F: Sexual orientation. straight
  • G: Single/taken. taken…
  • H: Favourite book. The Little Prince
  • I: Eye colour. Brown
  • J: Favourite movie. The only one I can think of right now is The Avengers…
  • K: Favourite TV show. DEXTER. REVENGE. 
  • L: Favourite band/singer. Phantom Planet. Alex Greenwald.
  • M: Random fact about me. I like sewing.
  • N: Favorite day of the year. Friday
  • O: Favourite colour. Yellow
  • P: If I have any pets; if so, their names. Babbily (bunny), Bobbily(bunny), Li Kai(African Grey)
  • Q: What I’m listening to right now. cars outside.
  • R: Last movie I’ve watched. Rise of the planet of the apes.
  • S: What’s my ringtone. Black Treacle.
  • T: Favourite male character from a TV show. Dexter from Dexter.
  • U: Favourite female character from a TV show. Emily Thorne from Revenge.
  • V: What my name means. I don’t know. My mom got it from Star Wars.
  • W: Favourite superhero. Spider-man.
  • X: Celebrity crush. TYSON RITTER FOREVER AND TODAY.
  • Y: My birthday. June 10
  • Z: Ever self-harmed? NOOOOOOOOOOO