Hi, I’m a Muslim

Hi, I’m a Muslim.

Now, if your view of me
Is the news of me,
And what you view of me
Is on your TV…
Then we have a lot to catch up on.

Last time I checked,
Hate was a social construct
Created to divide.

You see, you can’t be a Muslim
Without a smile so wide.

And you’re probably assuming
I’m devising
A plan at conveying
Something conniving.

You probably heard my middle name,
And it may drive you insane
When I say it’s Jihad.

No… literally.
That’s my middle name.

And I say it with no shame,
Because what the media wants you to see
Is not me,
But rather some sort of blame.

I’m just an ordinary brother in humanity
Searching for some inner peace.

And honestly… honestly,
I don’t think I can find it in the media,
Because the way I see it,
The media is the true beast.

But this is more than just me.

This is for all my brothers and sisters in humanity
Who know what it’s like
To be the victim of a verbal shooting spree…

Who know what it feels like
To be imprisoned,
Desiring to be free.

We all see hate.

So they asked for a solution.

With one word,
I give it:

Peace.

I don’t respond to ignorance
Nor arrogance
Except with peace.

A subtle, gentle word…

Because while hate produces
An internal disease,
Love produces love
With an internal ease.

You see, when I see the TV,
I see more than a Muslim problem.

I see a human problem.

When the hollowed shells of a bullet
Leave a man by his side
With no consequence…

When a man is refused aid
Because of his documents…

You see, I came to this country
With my family
In hopes of being free.

But now, when I flip on the TV,
I feel like they’re trying to imprison me.

Telling me to go back, you see,
As if I’m the problem…
And I’m simply blasphemy.

But again,
I respond with peace.

Because yes,
I come from the Middle East.

And no,
I’m not any sort of plague
Nor disease.

I’m just an ordinary brother
Looking to extend my peace.

So…

Salam.
Shalom.
Peace.

You see, it doesn’t matter
How you say it.

Because it’s sad
When in this world
You have to demand it.

All in all…
I can’t stand it.

When a brother looks to cross the street,
Not realizing tonight… tonight…
His mother will weep.

I mean, do I have to say it
In a poem so deep
To let you know
All I want is peace?

But for the benefit of the doubt,
I won’t shout.

Won’t conform to society’s form
Because of where I was born.

You see,
This is who I am.

And this is where I stand.

A human being.
A man.

Not conforming
To society’s plan.

So I guess I’ll leave you
With what I started:

Hi, I’m a Muslim.

Now, if your view of me
Is the news of me,
And what you view of me
Is on your TV…

Then we have a lot to catch up on.