America Taught Me…

This is a letter from a former reader, Essam Al-Masri. He was upset with me and abandoned commenting and corresponding, but has come back. Hence, as a tribute to his return and to understand the full meaning of his letter, I put it between your hands:

Greetings, I hope you are doing well.

I read today your article “Glimmer,” and it is awesome. I am writing to you even though I told you long ago that I would not comment anymore on your writings after reading your article about teachers. I do not know if you remember me or not, but at any rate, I am the expatriate in the land of Uncle Sam with a longing for his homeland, Jordan. I feel that I have known you for a long time when I read your articles, which address what sometimes goes through the mind of every decent citizen. Nevertheless, I wanted to write you and tell you what I have learned in my expatriation here in America.

America taught me to sleep at a certain time every night to wake up for Fajr,* daybreak and prayer. Then I go to work early to perform my duties so that I deserve my salary. In America, I realized that working is, in reality, worshiping God in word and deeds. Actually, I learned in America that man was created by God Almighty in order to read, think, innovate and be worthy of being the Creator’s vicegerent on Earth. I learned in America that dogs that bark a lot do not harm, and that nations of many words and slogans do not have time for work and production.

In America, I learned and practiced, for the first time in my life, volunteering for the benefit of the society in which I live. I also learned that charitable donations and benevolent works are one of the pillars of human societies.

I learned that the donations can go to many projects and should not be limited to establishing houses of worship. I saw great universities and huge hospitals, all built with money donated by the rich and the middle class. I learned in America that your value in society stems from your giving, work, efforts and fortune resulting from your work.

I do not know why I am telling you all of this; I assume it is due to what I and all decent citizens suffer from when we hear and read about the corruption and all what is happening in our homeland.

Your brother,

Essam Al-Masri

*Editor’s Note: Fajr is the first of the five daily prayers in Islam, usually done in the early morning.