There was once a time, about 25 years ago, when becoming a wordsmith was my fervent goal. I tried to learn about all facets of the craft and imagined my ideal job sitting at my desk with my word processor in front of a huge picture window opening up to a gorgeous arboreal vision. I don't know how I lost that dream. It felt good and right at the time. And it was a good time.
Now I wonder where all the time went and now I find myself nearing the end of my railroad career never having made even the slightest dent as a writer. Is it too late? Only the Creator knows the answer to that question for He alone knows how long I have to live. But that has nothing to do with any decisions I make. I can't live my life assuming the worst or being paralyzed by the unknown.
I do envision myself a communicator of some sort, though I will try to avoid like a plague anything that has me in front of a camera or an audience. I will no longer engage in pathetic self-delusion about my abilities as a public speaker. I refuse to be a novelty act shown up in bold comic relief by more telegenic, mediagenic, and polished speakers. I will confine myself, inshallah, to the printed and spoken word, exploring blogs and podcasts as more palatable alternatives. Being behind a curtain in obscurity suits me just fine.
What are the issues that need to be addressed? What should I be talking about? True to form, I feel most comfortable on the road less traveled. I prefer to focus on our own country, the challenges it faces, and how Islam could provide solutions to its most vexing problems. There is a conversation that has yet taken place, a conversation in which American Muslims affirm the American-ness of our reality. We have to be part of the discourse for change and reform in this nation or we are doomed to become victims of the consequences of our insularity.
Our message of Tawhid, uncompromising monotheism, must be comprehensive enough to include all its implications, thereby showcasing Islam's holistic, systems-based view of existence and providing a comprehensive guide for social, political and economic reform.
It is essential to educate ourselves and the American public at large that an unwavering allegiance to One God implies holding to a standard which makes unbreakable the connection between morality and legality and between justice and legislation, obviating legal fictions like corporate personhood and the obscene inequality in wealth. Our views on social and family values are neither left nor right as we are strong advocates for the sanctity of the family without the Right's Christian overtones yet remain bulwarks against moral perversions which lead to social decay.
Allah's designation of mankind as His vicegerents on the earth entrusted with its care makes it imperative that we are inherently "green" in our approach to the environment, struggling to prevent anything which would alter the beautiful nature with which Allah created it.
And finally, I feel it is essential that we embrace unashamedly our Constitutional heritage seeking its refinement in light of Islamic principles with the unwavering objective of human development and public welfare.
Ahh, it feels good to get the gray matter moving again and my typing fingers have been considerately cooperative, alhamdu lillah. Inshallah, I may try this again soon.
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