Reflections
I tell my daughters all the time don’t be extreme, in anything.. So when we discuss their views and I hear them referring to themselves as feminist, I remind them again to not be extreme in their positions. Islaam is about being balanced.. But then I remember myself growing up.. There was a motto drilled in my head growing up, “Anything boys can do, girls can do better!” And I sure did set out to prove this too! I was the one that refused to play softball because it was for girls! No! I played baseball with the guys.. And not that, “she’s a girl! Put her in right field!” No… I played one of the most important positions on the team! Short-Stop.. When I would come up to bat, the guys would all come in close thinking I couldn’t hit! I smashed that Grandslam in their faces! (Grandslam is when you hit a home run with the bases loaded) I made it to the all-stars game.. I saw that in Jr high, the jazz band was ONLY guys, and I DID NOT like that! I played clarinet and wasn’t THAT a jazz instrument? I asked the teacher if I could switch to the Jazz band, he told me there is no music for the clarinet in jazz band.. I looked at him like he was lying to me! I responded with, “well isn’t that a clarinet being played in the JAZZ song the pink panther?” He tells me yes, but the school doesn’t have Jazz music for clarinets.. Fine! Give me a Sax and I will teach myself how to play over the summer, and I will be ready for Jazz band the 1st day of school! I did too! I taught myself that summer how to play alto sax! 1st day of school teacher tells me, “Sorry we have too many alto sax players”.. Are you kidding me?! Fine! Give me the tenor sax and I will teach myself that one too! I had my very first solo that year too.. On the tenor sax in Jazz band! I played tackle football with the neighborhood boys and smashed them! You hear me?! SMASHED EM! I challenged and fought and battled with guys all the way up to when I became Muslim.. So I now reflect over all of this and realize, it’s easy for me to tell other Women to not be extreme in their feminist position, because I Already fought my battles and won.. But not all women can say they have! And until that happens, I will sit back and continue to say, you go girl! Do the damn thing!
