Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

Your daughter’s hijab was not pulled off on a train station

Your sister was not thrown down the stairs at the same location

Your niece’s lips were not lacerated by a cup thrown to her face – she still smiles well

The judge did not refuse your mother’s justice because of her hijab

The judge did not order her to take his injustice in order to get justice.

 

Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

Your son was not taken off a plane because he spoke in a different language

Your uncle was not shot by the police because he was black

Your nephew still goes to college and was not recruited with ISIS

Your mentally ill uncle was not shot by the police

 

Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

Your family was not stopped to board a plane going to Disney World and your vacation was not destroyed

You did not have to explain to your child that you are not a terrorist

Your family was not called and yelled a terrorist at the park

 

Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

You have not been declined a job because of your religion or ethnicity

You still have food on the table to you and your children – you have not gone to bed hungry

Your brother was not shot going to pray to the mosque

Your Masjid was not burned or vandalized by bigots and extremists

 

Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

There is some time before these problems touch you and your family

And you and your family have not become a victim so far

 

So

 

Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

You can be part of a positive change

Join NCCM or Think for Actions or any local or national organization

Work within your community to help bring a positive change

And if you don’t choose to volunteer today, then there is still some time before discrimination reaches you and your family

 

Till that…

 

Don’t worry about it, discrimination is not your problem yet

 

 

Dr. Mukarram Zaidi
Chair
Canadian Muslim Research Think Tank
Think for Actions