Investing in People

Think back to the last time you were able to share a real conversation, of depth, with someone. Not the baseless trivial pleasantries we use, ad nasuem, to maintain relationships at bare minimum and, seemingly, make you dumber in the end. The kind you have with someone who shares, emphatically, the same ideologies as you, or deeply opposes them. It doesn't matter, either way, because something is ignited that hasn't been in a while. And all the while during this lengthy, tutelage descending discourse, you've managed to abandon 5 incoming calls and a hamburger patty left on the burner for close to two hours. That's the good stuff.

I was able to connect, in this way, with one of AIF's active fellows, Shahidah. We talked about everything from how people are desensitized by the news, which stemmed from a story in the news, to work and family woes. The article, in particular, was about a Saudi woman who was imprisoned for 9 months, along with her two children, for refusing to leave her husband after her half-brothers petitioned for her divorce.

Not satisfied as only a topic of conversation, Shahidah also detailed how I could take a more active role, as will I do for you. But this week, go the extra mile and give a piece of yourself to someone else. Invest in people because sometimes the greatest impact may be preceded by one phone call...or fax.

Here's a link to the interview with Fatima Bent Suleiman Al Azzaz: http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlemc.aspx?cp-documentid=20153794
Send a fax to: His Majesty, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at 011-966-1-491-2726. For a sample letter and more information, go to EqualityNow.org.

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Abyan

American Islamic Fellowship

blog@americanislamicfellowship.com