Comments on First Born Son: the politics of names

Thanks Omar, building bridges to understanding wha...

2008-10-04T11:40:00.000-04:00

Thanks Omar, building bridges to understanding what a great aim.
My mother was a Christian and father was a Muslim too so I'm constantly fighting with myself! One grows up seeing a lot of prejudice - from both sides.I've often wandered about changing my name but haven't done so as I think prejudice is pretty ugly. The only prejudice I have is against prejudice itself! I love people which is not to say I don't want to change some of them. I've met people from all over the world and at the end of the day, I've learned you don't change things with intolerance. People are people and all seeking essentially the same thing - a fulfilling life full of love and joy. It makes me sad to hear of inhumanity and my strategy is often avoidance. I try to keep positive and keep interactions on the plane of simply living rather than dealing with weighty subjects that are fraught with difficulty. I also resort to humour often and try to stay focussed on what is common rather than what is divisive.
The other thing which helps is to view things as a doctor would. I remember hearing once of a Muslim doctor who saved a Christian child's life. I'm sure a Christian or Jewish doctor would do the same for a Muslim child. LOVE is what matters most to me.
At the end of the day if we could all just simply care for each other and alleviate the pains that come from life in our own small and imperfect ways.

i really like your name..!!!actually not so wise 2...

2008-04-22T08:36:00.000-04:00

i really like your name..!!!
actually not so wise 2 comment on a serious post..!!!

luvzz..
Raj

Omar, interesting post and ensuing comments. I'm c...

2008-03-12T16:46:00.000-04:00

Omar, interesting post and ensuing comments. I'm curious about your upbringing by a Muslim father. In what sense was he a Muslim? What I mean is, a Muslim who allows his son to baptized and brought up a Christian in the Methodist tradition can't be a practicing Muslim in any serious sense of the word, or so it seems to me. Conversely, a Christian parent who would have the child raised a Muslim would be hardly recognized as a Christian in any serious sense of the word.

I hope that is not too personal of a question. I am simply curious.

wow, good stuff omar. reminds me of something we w...

2008-03-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

wow, good stuff omar. reminds me of something we would discuss out at highbridge. :-)

Thank you, Omar. I found your story on the Sojo ...

2008-03-06T23:55:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Omar. I found your story on the Sojo e-mail sight. I appreciate you speaking as a personal witness to the hatred of Muslims(Or people different by culture or race). We as a nation have much work to do as a "Christian" Nation. I wonder as a a follower of Jesus Christ if we have forgotten the meaning of being "Salt" and "Light" in a world full of hatred, violence and prejudices? May you continue to speak out and be a voice for Truth and the love of Jesus which the world needs.
Walter+
P.S.: I love my name too!

great post, omar. love your name too.

2008-03-04T18:20:00.000-05:00

great post, omar. love your name too.

I have just found Melvin's blog and he linked to y...

2008-03-01T12:35:00.000-05:00

I have just found Melvin's blog and he linked to your's and I am so thrilled to find some mosaic in the blogosphere that seems to dominated by the status quo. Thank you both for using your voice to draw attention to these important issues.

I not old enough to remember personally, but I have heard that there was quite a stink when the Kennedy's ran for office because of their Catholic heritage. They broke through the religious ceiling for the "non-protestants" - and I'm sure there have been incredible Jewish politicians whose names I don't know that were the maidenhead that withstood the storm so that Joe Lieberman and others could serve their countries.

I know that the injustice of this and what you've endured seems so wrong, but your courage, and Barack Obama's here will pave the way for those who follow after us.

As a woman in the church I have no endured nearly what you have, but I am so thankful for those who went before me who challenged the "silent woman under God" status quo and made some churches safe enough for me to have a voice. I missed my chance to pastor, but will hopefully be paving the way for our daughters to have that chance.

Being on the cutting edge of change is never easy, but it is oh, so worth it. Thank you for standing in the gap for all of us so that the kingdom coming will be multi-cultural and a mosaic of all God's people.

to whomever it may concern, perhaps my feelings ar...

2008-03-01T12:08:00.000-05:00

to whomever it may concern, perhaps my feelings are fleeting but in this moment--after reading the asinine push-back you've gotten for your post at God's Politics & here on your own blog--I believe it needs to be acknowledged that ANONYMOUS & VIRTUALLY ANONYMOUS BLOGGING IS COWARDLY! ...particularly when the substance of one's comments is bigotry, self-interest and malice. it violates the basic ethics and premise of conversation, and whoever you may be, you shouldn't do it. if one is not in it for friendly exchange, then by all means, choose not to be in it, but stop running from site to site just to contradict others.

omar, thank you for your courage and vulnerability. i applaud and appreciate it. i've been wanting to respond to that "obama is a muslim" e-mail ever since my wife received it 2 weeks ago. my gut reaction was the same as yours, "so what if he is?" however, the strength of your personal experience lends even more credibility to that response.

i'd love to be in dialogue with you further. i've tried myself to raise questions of how christians use language to offend and oppress. feel free to reach out.

much love,
melvin

I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It touches on a t...

2008-02-29T23:33:00.000-05:00

I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It touches on a topic which these days isn't treated with the title of "racism" that it deserves.

Personally, I like your name and what it represents very much. It has meaning and tradition, which combine beautifully. I am glad you have learned to love and appreciate your name.

Omar, now that the racist name thing is out of the...

2008-02-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

Omar, now that the racist name thing is out of the bag, please blog on the Blcak Community literally naming themselves what looks like scrabble pieces thrown on the table RATHER THAN having a "white" name. Now that would be a good topic.

Donny

(cyber-persecuted by Sojouners/God's Politics)