You Don't Know Me | Teen Ink

You Don't Know Me

January 25, 2012
By Amrun BRONZE, Al Sa&#39adah, Other
Amrun BRONZE, Al Sa&#39adah, Other
4 articles 0 photos 5 comments

When people see me on the street or in the store they know my religion, they think they know what I am. The words that come to mind are foreigner, arab, terrorist, opressed, raghead, ESL, moslem, and of course the always loved swear words. The fact is these people don’t know who or what I am, or why I dress the way I do. Yes I am a muslim, not a moslem, and yes I am half arab but I am also american, born and raised. I do speak English and can in fact understand those words you mutter under your breath as I pass. I am not opressed or forced to cover myself, I chose to wear the long baggy skirts and shirts with my hijab, my headscarf. I chose to wear my long Abaya that protects me from those uncomfortable, disgusting stares from the boys at school. I decided to wear my hijab and follow what my god, Allah, told me and my fellow Muslims to do. I am not an overtrodden beaten down girl whose family’s intention is to marry off before I’m 20. I am a strong young woman whose family pushes me to grow to my full potential and reach for the stars. When you see a Muslim woman on the streets dressed in a hijab, do not think you know her. Neither the stereotypes or her hijab can tell you who she is, only she can.


The author's comments:
I hope after people read this, they will think twice before putting labels to people realize that they don't know who a person is based on what they look like.

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This article has 2 comments.


on Mar. 4 2012 at 1:54 am
ILoveWritingAlot BRONZE, E, Other
3 articles 5 photos 57 comments

Favorite Quote:
Every end is a new beginning;<br /> What a caterpillar calls an end the rest of the world calls a butterfly;<br /> There never was a good war, or a bad peace.;<br /> &ldquo;People will believe anything if you whisper it.&rdquo;<br /> &ldquo;Where words fail, Music speaks&rdquo;

really nice work...people should  change what they think...i tottaly agree...awesome job...really liked it... :) plese continue writing and also try sending this to some news paper people need to be aware...

on Feb. 29 2012 at 8:54 am
I don't know you, but what I know from reading this is relateable to my own issues of being judge without anyone really trying to meet the true me they instead judge me and call me names like, fag, homo and other despicable names that no one should call someone else. So your piece is something that I can relate to and it's well written. So great job.