She is a Muslim, covers her head and is a firefighter in NYC


Being who I have become by virtue of the battering of years gone by, I have developed a keen sense of appreciation for the extraordinary, the beauty, the passion and the energy that defines us humans and the occasional pleasantness that I come across while reading or listening to the news, or at times an odd chance of cheerfulness that characterises our existence

This is a monumental period of US history

This is the time America is busy heralding a new era, breaking ice with archenemy Cuba, rebuilding bridges with Iran, and, perhaps, about to elect its first woman president

Things, in some respects, are really looking up and our current president is finally able to man up and take a stand on matters that should have been dealt with sometime ago

Yes, I’m aware that it’s not all that rosy and that the country’s image abroad has suffered tremendously beyond 9/11

But trust me, it hasn’t been easy for this country to dust off and keep going on without taking drastic measures to safeguard its integrity and secure itself from any future attack on its people and territory

Obviously, all such measures have come with a price and concerns have often been voiced about stereotyping of Muslims or people from the Middle East being branded as terrorists or those with suspect intentions or simply not loyal to the country

Justice, liberty and freedom for all and more importantly, a chance for everyone to survive and thrive in a respectable manner are the paramount concerns of those running the affairs of this nation

Jobs, for the most part, are based on merit and although sifarish (request or reference) does work wonders here as well, strict regulations are in place for those hiring to ensure that the high and lofty corporate as well as governmental standards are maintained and not jeopardised

The US has an extremely competitive culture when it comes to seeking jobs or offering ones services in the public sector, especially those that directly impact human lives

A minor screw up or a crack in the system can lead to historically precarious repercussions for those involved

No one is spared and public scrutiny and media attention often emotionally kill the nefarious elements even before they reach the court of law to be tried and punished

You must be wondering what the purpose is of this sudden spurt of nationalism and positivity

Well, recently, I came across a news story involving an 18-year-old girl, named Ahlam Ahmed, who wanted to become a fire-fighter, all five feet and 105 pounds of her, in New York

She is a girl of a strong resolve and even a stronger will to succeed and fight against the odds despite her fragile physical structure

A case of tiny but mighty, Ahmed, who originally hails from the troubled country of Yemen, wears a headscarf and is a religious practitioner of Islamic faith

This story rendered me quite speechless, rather flabbergasted

I had to confirm and reconfirm from my sources if it was all true

How in the world can such a petite little woman even think of becoming a fire-fighter, a job that is generally the domain of super buffed-up hulks who can bulldoze any hurdles that come in their way? I thought hard about the situation, asked myself questions and finally got a simple answer – under the laws of employment in the US, no individual can be disqualified based on their race, background or physical appearance, which includes, amongst others, the height and weight of the applicant for a job

All that matters is a person’s willingness to work and prove themselves capable of meeting the minimum requirements and qualifications

Muslims in public service is neither a new phenomenon nor something unknown to American life

Muslims immensely contribute to the US economy and well-being

There is a quota system for minorities and oppressed classes of society – the phenomenon of Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) is strictly enforced – which does not jeopardise their chances to compete in the same market space and get jobs in government services

There have been rumours that hiring managers have sporadically hesitated in hiring folks with a stereotypical background but that does not hold true for a majority of jobs available out there

In any event, before hiring, the governments, federal and local, as well as corporations carry out thorough background checks of the applicants

In the larger scheme of matters, whereas laws help and provide us with an infrastructure, their implementation is what is more important

If the execution of laws is not effective and enforcement mechanisms are weak, moral and ethical corruption sets in

This is an everyday struggle that the American culture is faced with and that is why folks like Ahmed are drafted into the mainstream public life – given an opportunity to make a difference not only in their own lives but people’s lives as well

Time, people and societies change; life is an ever-developing evolutionary process and there are no constants in dynamic cultures

Change is name of the game

Ahlam Ahmed is a perfect example of the eternal thrust to make America better and brighter for all

Of course, nothing is or will ever be perfect but Ahmed’s story depicts a philosophy of one success at a time

It’ll take time for things to get better and many more Ahmed-like stories to make a long-lasting impact

Needless to say, the level of optimism must stay high for America and Americans to start accepting diversity and embracing different cultures with open arms



Date:20-Apr-2015 Reference:View Original Link