In the wake of the recent Orlando tragedy, conservative pundits everywhere are trying to use it as a platform to show how dangerous radical Islamic terrorists are. However, their cries for war and vengeance shouldn’t drown out those voices who offer their love and support for the Orlando victims. Specifically, the voice of those Muslim-Americans who care deeply about the tragedy and its impact.
Muslim-Americans are just as horrified and outraged by this atrocity as the rest of us. Vice President at Merrill Lynch, immigrant from Egypt, and Muslim-American, Mahmoud El-Awadi reaches out to show support for those victims in the tragedy by donating blood in Orlando. This is all in spite of the fact that he, and other Muslims, are fasting during Ramadan, meaning they are not eating or drinking all day.
It is citizens like Mahmoud that prove that people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities in America really can pull together to help one another. Shortly after the Orlando shooting Mahmoud released this status on Facebook, and it’s gone viral:
“-Yes my name is Mahmoud a proud Muslim American.
-Yes I donated blood even though I can’t eat or drink anything cause I’m fasting in our holy month Ramadan just like hundreds of other Muslims who donated today here in Orlando.
-Yes I’m angry for what happened last night and all the innocent lives we lost.
-Yes I’m sad, frustrated and mad that a crazy guy claim to be a Muslim did that shameful act.
-Yes I witnessed the greatness of this country watching thousands of people standing in 92 degree sun waiting on their turn to donate blood even after they were told that the wait time is 5-7 hours.
-Yes this is the greatest nation on earth watching people from different a ages including kids volunteering to give water, juice, food, umbrellas, sun block. Also watching our old veterans coming to donate And next to them Muslim women in hijab carrying food and water to donors standing in line.
-Yes together we will stand against hate, terrorism, extremism and racism.
-Yes our blood all look the same so get out there and donate blood cause our fellow American citizens are injured and need our blood.Yes our community in central Florida is heart broken but let’s put our colors, religions, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political views all aside so we can UNITE against those who are trying to hurt us.”
These are powerful words, and hopefully ones that will inspire others to forget about any preconceived notions they may have about what Muslim-Americans do for this country.