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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. The truth is that the words that I will write have been brewing inside me and around me for more than a few days. However, as most writers will probably understand, it is that simple moment that ignites inside to say "it is time to write", it is that moment that allows the ink to flow. My writing is an extension of my previous thoughts. It reflects my first visit to the United States Of America. As the plane landed, I looked out of the window, such lush greenery, beauteous lands. Beautiful lands, my views challenged me to think about the idea of a stereotype threat. A stereotype threat simply means that if a person is from a minority, a marginalized person, or someone who is living within the periphery of a society. This individual or group of individuals will be prone to a stereotype threat. For example: My ethnic roots are South Asian. My skin colour is "brown", I am prone to the threat of racism. The threat is not saying that I will be stereotyped, however, it is saying that the likelihood of me being prone to a racial slur, gesture, or maybe even an act of violence is likely to happen. I can definitely back this concept with my own personal experiences. Many of my readers have probably also experienced racism, it saddens me to think that we are still grappling with these kinds of issues in this century, it seems like these issues are somewhat resolved, but the truth is, it continues, on and on. Racism may not be displayed explicitly, but at the level of implicit, it exists. These may be seen through the lens of systemic. But what happens to a nation , what happens to a nation when it is stereotyped? We talk about individuals and groups, but what about nations? I am specifically thinking about this land, that my heart has touched, that my feet have walked upon. Many invasions have taken place overseas, and many acts of terror have happened, and continue to happen within this land. Ideas of fear will be posited, and there will be stereotypical thoughts about a nation. For example: before I visited America, I thought that I may encounter racism, or even Islamophobia. But wow! Can I tell you, it was the exact opposite, truly it was. Everyone that I met was so friendly and so loving, beyond measure. I was so astonished. It was remarkable. As I stood to view The White House I was even more speechless when I heard Arabic music playing. It was a real awakening, as this experience challenged my own implicit stereotype of a nation. I began talking with the people, listening to what they had to say about America, there were no hateful ideologies mentioned. As I take the time to think about my experiences, I take a moment to conclude. I have encountered many many prejudices. I think that I also had my own biases about this land, which were probably invoked because of what we see in the media. I am glad that I met with the people, I am glad that I walked this land for myself. My perspectives have shifted to that of the utmost love and respect.   These images were taken from my 2nd visit to Washington DC. They are from the Washington National Cathedral. The Archbishop of Cantebury, The Dalai Lama and Dr. Martin Luther King have delivered speeches from this podium. April 23rd, 2016 My experiences can be related to that of individual differences. We are all different in our unique sense. This is something that I have been saying for a long time. If we were all the same then I think that it would be very boring. Our difference is our own divinity. It makes us who we are as a human being. Just like that of a nation. We have our biases or prejudices, but to unlearn these we have to learn them, know that they do exist so that we can adjust our own ways of thinking for the positive. We can shift to a positive by getting to know the "other". When we interact with people of difference, engage in meaningful conversations at the level of heart - we can shift our own perspectives to realize that it is our humanity that unites us. When all is said and done, we are unique, we are different, yet all that we want to do as humans is to survive. This is the same of minorities as well as majorities. So why do we hate and hurt one another, if all we are trying to do is survive? Why should a majority be better than a minority, or why should a minority be better than a majority? It is with these thoughts I challenge you to get to know someone, or just engage in a conversation with someone who you would not normally associate with. Take the time to listen and maybe hug one another.  Image taken 24th April 2016, from the National Museum of Women in the Arts. http://www.nmwa.org/
Dedication: The words of this being are dedicated to the American people, thank you for loving me. These words are also dedicated to our leaders who are also striving for peace, you are the sages, and you know the truth, love Shazia.
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