Sowing and Reaping of Destiny

Another incident observed was during the World Cup football match between
Iran and the United States in 1998. Iran was leading after half time by 2 goals
to 1. My grandchildren in New York, who were watching the game on
Television along with their parents, soon lost interest in the game. One after the
other, quietly they started retiring to their bedrooms. When told by their parents
that after all it was only a game and anything could happen until the last minute,
their response was: “Yes, we know it is only a game. But America is losing!”
As Americans, it was too hard for them to accept defeat! This happened in two
distinctly separate homes. In Britain, similar reaction is noticed among Asian
youths. During cricket matches between England and India or Pakistan, they
are resolutely cheering the English team.
Many young Muslims, men and women, have been fully integrated into the
European and North American societies. They include a healthy number from
among members of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri communities who can trace
their settlement in the West to not more than forty years. Apart from a variety
of professions they have specialized in, many have acquired respectable
positions in the corporate world. Others have joined the public services, in the
academia and in scientific fields. Some have acquired religious training to fill
the roles as home grown local religious leaders. Some may join the armed
forces as a G.I., or be accepted in Sandhurst or the West Point as Officer Cadets.
Already a few have joined political parties and are active in local politics in the
U.K., Canada and the U.S.A. There are few who have also acquired positions
in local public life. In years to come it would not be surprising to see individuals
from the Community who are elected as members of local Councils and even
as members of Parliaments or as Congressmen and Senators. In their outlook
and devotion to duty, youngsters born in the West operate as indigenous, loyal,
British, American or Canadian citizens. For a small community of just over
110,000 individuals spread out in different parts of the world, the Community
can look upon such promising individuals with a sense of pride and satisfaction.
Election of President of Obama as President of the United States of America has
fried the imagination of youngsters everywhere. It also speaks well of the
American system at the same time for the degree of maturity and tolerance
displayed by the electorate. If a Kenyan of African decent born in America can
become President of the United States, there is no reason why our children
cannot similarly assimilate fully into the local societies and aspire for the
highest office. That is how our children are thinking. We need to recognize and
encourage such outlook.
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