Ramadan

Last night the girls and I attended an event put on by the Islamic Center of Central Florida Center for Peace called "Building Bridges, Breaking Bread Banquet". For us, this event held a high significance.

We were lucky enough to be included in the event due to the organization of our fellow LIFE member and good friend, Sue Dolamore. Last year Sue's sister, Julie, included Sue and her daughter Ivy in this event and Sue had so many good things to say about it that we were encouraged to attend this year. Last year, Sue, Ivy, Julie; this year Sue, Ivy, Julie, Me, Jordan, Makenna, Cynthia, Sadie, Eliot, Lisa, Torin, Gareth, Tammy, Hannah, Nick!

The evening was so very respectful, interesting, gracious.

It started off with Outreach Director, Bassem Chaaban, welcoming us. Imam Muhammed, the local Imam, welcomed us. Then the first speaker was a female college student telling us what Ramadan means to her, how she integrates the "traditional" meaning of Ramadan into a more personal meaning. Imam Muhammed spoke about Then Bassam spoke about Ramadan, giving us more information about Islam in general and Ramadan in particular and explaining why the banquet has meaning to him and to the Muslim community.

We were then served a lovely meal of rice and hummus, bread, chicken, shish ke bob, salad and drinks. After dinner a visiting Imam from Baltimore spoke to us about his program, his personal program and work involves traveling and sharing with the world about what it like to be an Imam in America. This very educated man was born and grew up in Syria. He came to the United States and has become a US citizen. His experience in the global world is amazing. He described to us how important one of the 5 pillars of Islam, Pilgrimage, is and how he translates that to mean travel. By travelling, he has the opportunity to interact with Muslims all over the world. Let's just say that as an American, he is not always warmly welcomed. "Death to American!" is sometimes how he is greeted. But, one thing to say, one thing to learn, is that by doing his traveling, he can speak to others, he can share how America has given him many opportunities and how not every American supports George Bush's stance on the war. The are amazed and shocked, first that a Muslim can even practice in America, but then that there is education, openness, acceptance, etc.

This Imam, and many of the other Muslims there last night, share the feeling that many of us do that the working together, the peaceful gatherings, the cooperative behaviour do not make the news. But in the words of this Imam "no one will report of this banquet tonight, of this gathering, but if, God forbid, someone gets hurt, it will be all over the news." Yes, it's true. In many ways, and in many places.

For me, the overall feeling of the evening was so wonderful. There was a respect of all religions, a general practice of seeing that we are more alike than we are different. And, moreover, a feeling that killing and hating and war in the name of God was not how to be a good Muslim, not the intention set out in the Quoran. I most certainly share this feeling. It was a very hopeful and healing and educational experience. I left with the feeling that this is the way to peace. It may be slow, and it may be small, but it is there.

I was very thankful for this moving opportunity.