Tag: Tolerance

Uzay/Space

“Death toll rises to 50 in New Zealand mosque shootings,”

“The gunman intended to continue his attack,”

“Manifesto filled with anti-Muslim Screeds-”

These are the words I read as I attempt to

Write a poem about an interview with my

Muslim brother.

I think back to the summer

My family welcoming him into our home

The laughs we shared after work into the late of night

Teaching each other new things

Protecting and Loving each other fiercely

Despite the obvious difference

In our skin and voice

When people find out that you are Muslim

They shift in their person

They go from friendly conversation

To barely saying anything at all

All because of what society has taught people to think

Uzay told me that if he could change anything about society

The religions would not be important

It would be who you are, what you do- that would be important-

And yet, the hatred is rooted so deep that

Senseless genocide seems to be the only response to difference

For a class about genocide, I am writing a poem about genocide,

Because I am reminded all the time that Uzay could be killed

For what he was born into– and not what he got to choose

Some say that Ignorance is bliss, but ignorance is far from bliss

Ignorance is the reason that I fear for the loss of my dear friend

Ignorance is the reason that muslims are universally stereotyped as violent

Ignorance is why 50 people that were trying to worship in their safe space

Are now dead

So when will it end?

Artist Statement:

Gabrielle Moss, Portrait of my little sister and our Turkish friends, St. Louis, April 2019. All Rights Reserved.
Gabrielle Moss, Portrait of Uzay as a baby, Istanbul, April 2019. All Rights Reserved.

I have never really written a poem, nor did I think I could, but passion made it seem like one of the easiest things that I have ever done. I seemed to have too many words for a narrative that made sense, so this free verse style of fragmented thoughts worked well to depict everything that was on my mind in the moment.

Gabrielle Moss, Portrait of Gabrielle and Uzay, Eureka, Missouri, April 2019. All Rights Reserved.
Gabrielle Moss, Uzay’s Family (Grandmother, Twin Sister, Mother, Father), Istanbul, April 2019. All Rights Reserved.
Gabrielle Moss, Uzay’s Family (mother, twin sister, father, older brother, Uzay), Istanbul, April 2019. All Rights Reserved.

During my interview with Uzay, I asked about some things that I saw firsthand during his time in the United States. The stanza that starts, “When people find out that you are Muslim-,” is in response to a question that I asked- “How do you find people react to your religion?” Over the summer I saw people meet my friend with hesitation, aware of his foreign ethnicity at first glance. They treated him so differently from me and my fellow native co-workers, approaching him with fear and lack of knowledge. Anytime I see things in the news like the New Zealand Mosque shooting- which is referenced in my poem- I am reminded of how vulnerable Uzay is in this world that doesn’t practice tolerance and universal acceptance. Much like the persecution of Jewish people for their religion, the Muslim people of today are facing dangers for their religious beliefs as well. Because of the connection I was able to draw between the experiences, I couldn’t think of anything better to write about for this project.

A Tolerant World

Imagine a world of tolerance,

The skies are clearer and the birds chirp louder,

Around the corner stands a little boy in a dress,

Unafraid of any judgment he stands prouder.

His mother holds his hand with strength,

She knows she can provide,

Her check is as much as any mans,

The years of sexism she took in stride.

Across the street stands a couple,

The color of their skin is not the same,

But the love is real and the hearts beat loud,

So between these two souls there is no shame.

Down the road sits a mosque, in front of it stands a church,

Two religions that have been side by side since birth,

No longer is there animosity between them,

They both promote love on this vast and holy earth.

A young girl approaches the doors to school,

Not fully a citizen, nor on a vacation,

She speaks a different language,

New to this country and new to education.

Her parents came here to work and live

Their new neighbors offer a helping hand to acclimate,

Bridges are built so this family can feel safe,

And between the children a friendship is what they’ll create.

This world can exist for both you and me,

Effort and tolerance establishes a strong foundation,

We can build this life for a brighter future,

A better city, a nicer state, and an even greater Nation.

Katey Johnston, a depiction of Brad Moser and Katey Johnston, Overland Park, March 2019. All rights reserved.

On a Wednesday afternoon in February, I sat down to digitally interview a man by the name of Brad Moser. He was kind enough to lend me a hand for an interesting class assignment. The assignment was to speak with someone different than yourself; for Brad and I that difference was religion. He is Mormon, while I grew up Methodist. The questions I asked him to answer were personal, but as I found out, he is an extremely open individual. Proud of his religion, and how it has shaped both him and his family, it has made the obstacles it brings worth it. This interview allowed me to connect my class work to his life. The main way I connected was through the misunderstandings of his religion. In class, we have discussed how many of the stereotypes and myths surrounding Judaism are false, or untrue, in today’s world. One stereotype that follows those in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that they all have multiple wives. This is not true for this religion today. Brad believes these stereotypes still exist today due to people’s indifference and unwillingness to educate themselves. The inspiration for my poem comes from our discussion on creating a tolerant world. Brad believes that at some point we can become what he calls a “Zion society”; in order to get there, we must first educate. Brad works in education himself and this is why he stresses the important role that this plays in creating a tolerant world. The poem is my imaginative world of this tolerant society; where everyone is allowed to be themselves and are tolerant of all others and their differences.