Several days ago, I posted the above meme on my Facebook author page. By posting it, I wanted to see how many people were triggered by the words Arabic or forced. Just I as anticipated, I got some very interesting responses from some very appalled readers.
Please, allow me
to let you in on a little something I learned DECADES ago: Arabic numerals.
They are the basic numbers that all of us used, learning how to count and do
mathematics, beginning in pre-school and grade school. They are what we all
used when counting for teams in gym class.
I for one felt forced to use them as a small child. For that matter, I
felt like school was a prison until I reached seventh grade. I am grateful for
Arabic numerals over the Roman numeral system.
Until 1968 I was raised with
Lebanese-American and Arab-American neighbors and friends - Christians- not
Muslims as some of the neighbors I lived close to in later years assumed all
people of Arabic descent must be. Thereafter, at least once a month, we'd visit
an Arabic - American woman that prepared the most scrumptious lamb served in
pita bread. Once a week, as a toddler, I faithfully watched a Lebanese -
American woman as she graced the screen of my television: Marlo Thomas in That
Girl on Detroit’s own ABC channel 7. (I wanted to be her and yes, I remember the
sixties.) Her father, Danny Thomas, produced among other programs, a very
iconic, very All-American classic: The Andy Griffith Show.
I have
Japanese-American sisters, a German born mother who obtained her citizenship
before I was born, and had Mexican-American neighbors. My dad told me the
history of traditionally African-American foods and although I am not
African-American, those are my favorite foods. I can cook hot-wings and ribs
and banana pudding - oh my!!! (In Detroit those dishes were called "soul
food" but my family just called it Southern cooking.) I also enjoy making
traditionally Mexican-American recipes such as tacos and fajitas. I make a
great pico degallo also known as salsa fresca.
Back to math,
what is the common denominator in the nationalities I just mentioned above?
"AMERICAN". When my family enjoyed all these wonderful friends,
neighbors, relatives and their food, and by extension their cultures, we were
not appropriating. We were appreciating. Somehow we all got along. Then about
fifteen years ago, so-called do-gooders "doing good" came along and
accused we-the-neighbors (AMERICANS) of culture appropriation. I guess divide
and conquer is the mantra of their wrinkled souls. Please, for the sake of all
that is Holy - DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!
I choose to love,
eat, pray and visit. If you do as well, ignore those that spew hate and
divisiveness and just choose LOVE. Let's share a park bench, and a bagel
sometime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_numerals
