Summer Experience: Exploring Downtown Phoenix

Sunday, June 12th, 2011:

"People are of two kinds: either your brothers in faith or your equals in humanity"-- Imam Ali (a.s.)

This saying is a close saying to me..
Whenever I see myself about to judge people, I remember it..
I think I am good at remembering it, but I am not sure how I am doing, unintentionally, to people..

The reason I am writing about that is the situations I have been coming across: people not looking at me as another human being who has different believes than them..
I used to not think about it, and expected it when I first moved to the US..
Whenever I face it, I just say they just do not know me, and it is only some people..
The only thing I will do, which is what I see to be the right thing to do, is educate them, and educate the community more..
I tried to do as much education, participate in programs, and support any ideas for educational program..

However, that does not seem to be helping the issue..

I feel obligated to do something that will change the way people look at me, at us, or how they treat their equals..

My dreams are big, and I know some of them are impossible, but it keeps hope lit in my heart..

It gives energy, and lead me to do what I believe in..

For now, I will continue hoping, and doing what I do because learning does not have to come from classes or educational programs only, but by leaving something behind..

In Arizona, just a few days after being here, I was welcomed by being called a terrorist, asked to leave, and what I am planning to do..

It reminded me of my last day in Corvallis, when a group of guys told me to go back where I came from because they are "sick of seeing me"..

I am not sure what they mean by any of what they say, but I know they do not know me..

I just wish them the best, and hope that one day they will know what I do or who I am, by me I mean anyone they would say that to..

Away from the sad part of my day, which I did not know how to deal with..

I just talked to my family for a long time today..

Then I went to downtown Phoenix today..

I finally got my pass to the public transportation, and went there right after getting it..

I went with my roommate, and saw only some of the downtown..

We went around part of Arizona State University..

ASU had news thing that show their students accomplishments, and the one thing stayed in my mind is that there is a student who got 39 awards this year (I do not know how anyone can forget that)..

Then we went to Arizona Center, which I really like..

We ate dinner there, then we went back home, and that marks the end of my day, and a long night a head to go to bed late again..

I will let the pictures talk here

In the way to downtown