Bazaars and Belonging

 

Today, from 4 to 9 pm, Dar Al Taqwa Islamic Center is hosting a Pre-Ramadan Bazaar.

Ramadan begins the evening of March 22nd. If you don’t know much about Ramadan, here’s an article that will give you the basics.

10 Things non-Muslims should know about Ramadan, Jennifer Preyss, Victoria Advocate 

I do not know the significance of a pre-Ramadan Bazaar event but I can tell you they are held all over the world, so this is not simply a Howard County thing. It’s a part of a much larger tradition.

This is Dar Al Taqwa.

In 2019 I attended a vigil here in memory of Muslims killed in mass shootings in their mosques in New Zealand. Over the years it has been the target of hate and community criticism. 

This week County Executive Calvin Ball marked International Day to Combat Islamophobia with statements on his social media accounts.

Last year, the United Nations adopted a resolution which designated March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Today, on this inaugural observation, we re-commit to not only ending anti-Muslim bigotry, but all religious discrimination in our community and beyond. 

Hate has no home in Howard County, Maryland, our nation, or our world. We stand with our Muslim community against any acts of hate, and encourage us all to spread love to one another.

In response, a local anonymous troll (who presents in blackface) asked:

Do you have a job? Or just activism on the tax payers dollar?

What a bitter, small-minded response to a statement of inclusion and respect.

I noticed this week that one of the local elementary schools was celebrating “Belonging Night.” As I looked at the photos it became apparent that this was what my child’s elementary school had called “International Night.” I’ve been pondering that ever since.

As well intentioned as having an International Night may have been, whenever they started having them, there’s also something vaguely othering about it. America is the norm. Everything else is “International.” It’s a rather binary view. “Belonging Night” touches on the different ways that everyone “belongs”: to family, family heritage, school community, and more. It’s about both the joy of who you are and the interconnectedness of all of us.

Honoring that makes for better schools. It also makes for better communities. When people feel a sense of belonging they are more likely to participate in community events, civic initiatives, even run for public office. A sense of belonging fosters the connection and trust that promotes people to become informed about local and to vote.

It’s not just about having one’s own culture or family traditions validated. Equally important is experiencing other people’s cultures and traditions being given that same treatment. So, to put it in a rather simplistic way:

It’s not merely that “they” feel important. It’s also that we experience how people who are different from us are important. Valuable. 

It’s a learning experience for us if we are paying attention.

Ramadan begins at sundown in March 22nd. Our community has many members who will be observing.

It can be a learning experience for us if we are paying attention. Not interrogating our Muslims friends or coworkers, mind you. Observing, learning, thinking. Maybe even doing some self-directed research.

If any of my readers are interested in enlightening me about Pre-Ramadan Bazaars, I’d love to know more.