I sped down the freeway eager and slightly anxious. My passenger, a student from my class and refugee from Iraq, texted on her cell phone while telling me about life back home. She talked about the danger there, her hopes to some day go back to visit (and only visit), her love for America and the green card she recently received. We were visiting her Iraqi friend (a student and refugee) in the hospital because she had been very sick; I was nervous because I had only met the family once and wasn't sure what I'd see when I arrived.
And then, the OregonLive app text came, 1 killed in stabbing on MAX train as man directs slurs at women in head scarves, witness says. I peeked at my phone for a second, quietly gasped and looked over at this young, beautiful girl in her lovely, purple hijab and felt an ache so deep thinking about what would happen next if I read the story. And then, slowly, the events unfolded about what happened and I found myself unable to breathe while I read the story of a man terrorizing two girls on the MAX and the outstanding citizens who tried to save them. If you know me well, I vocalize my feelings. I am not one to stay quiet. I like to speak up. But this attack against these women, the death of these innocent men and what we have learned about the attacker have left me speechless, unable to comment or process and struggling to find the words. So here are a few things I am ready to say...
And because I was in shock, I never told my passenger about what happened on the MAX. I know her teenage world is so different than mine. She has a love for the green card she received as a result of escaping persecution in Iraq. I hope she doesn't feel scared when she finds out about it. I hate myself for not telling her but I know if I did, I may not be able to hold myself together.
1 Comment
Kathy Hawthorne
5/29/2017 09:35:35 pm
Nicely written! I do very much care about the Muslim community here in Portland, especially our students.... this is a free country. No one should live in fear of persecution
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