“The Old Man and the Block of Mud from Bangladesh”- A True Story

By Mazeda Uddin : NY : Our city’sethnic landscape is extraordinary. Whether you’re Chinese, Spanish, or Indians,you can find another person from your country, your city, and your village andeven from your block back home. New  York City is one of the largest cities in the world.Immigrant communities have paved the bedrock of our city and then we gained thedefining American privilege, which is the vote.

New York City is ahub of political action and individual votes are powerful and for this reason,there are translations for specific languages. As populations of other minoritygroups grow at such a staggering rate, it is time to acknowledge this as a factand take action. It follows that the least that can be done is that communitieswhose first language is not English be granted the same opportunity ofpolitical decisions and representation in our city. Not just as Americans, butalso the city’s workers of different ethnicities need the fundamental right tovote and that cannot exist without understanding what they are voting for. Thisis impossible with a communication gap, and something as crucial as a languagebarrier as an obstacle is the equivalent of disenfranchisement.

We ask forconsideration. We ask for equality when it comes time to vote. Let usunderstand what we’re voting for. Please join us in making every single votecount and every voice heard.

Sub: THE NEED FOR THE MUSLIM ELDERLY HOME

It is a fact of modern day America that our elderly are not treated the same way most of us were raised, cradled in their caring arms, fed, clothed, and educated. Instead of taking care of our grandparents or parents who are elderly citizens of this same freedom-loving nation, we leave them to be somebody else’s responsibility. We drop them off at facilities like school children and don’t see them for weeks or months at a time, which is an example of the best case scenario. We are not sure if their needs are being entirely met at these elderly homes and whether or not they are they have the facilities to take care of themselves. Some situations are as grave as to not allow for running water, individual sleeping quarters, private bathroom stalls, or any iota of privacy whatever. It’s time we acknowledge these issues specifically as they relate to what the elderly want and need and the lack thereof.

I have been an interpreter in public schools across the city, heavily involved in the school system by aiding those with language barrier issues to have their children register for school, currently directing a teaching program called SHEBA, devoted to giving recent immigrants the chance to learn English, so my defense in every way has been ever-present. Just this past Friday, I extended my help for the immigrant community to legislative services by presenting my case for inclusion of the Bengali language on the election ballots. Believe it or not, I am also full-time a mother of five children!

That has never stopped me from taking in fellow countrymen and those in need and providing shelter and food. However, in addition to the above, as both a student at BMCC and a teacher’s assistant at the institution, I have also found time to be involved in SECCS and be part of the Mayor’s Office’s Adult Education program. Politically, I have also tried to remain active. I campaigned for Hon. Daniel Dromm, NYS Comptroller Joseph DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

I have followed my 30 year long calling to serve to communities across the city,  and I know that it is time for a change especially for our aging parents and grandparents. They are Muslim Americans should be free to pray at this facilities, to practice their religion, to fast, to eat halaal, and most importantly to avoid hateful discrimination. We need a Muslim Elderly Home, designed for prayer and practice of religion, without risking the brittle health of the aging generation that has left us decent livelihoods. I have always felt this way, but what I saw on the train, what moved me to write this to you, brothers and sisters, really confirmed what must be done.The other day, I witnessed a young man apologizing profusely to his father who was in a wheelchair and the father, disheveled and clearly in his last few years if not less was repeatedly pardoning his son. They were speaking Bengali. The son was apologizing that he had to drop off his father at a shelter because his wife did not want the old man living with them and being responsible for taking care of him. I started to speaking with them, as I had been sitting right beside them, and I noticed a block of mud or dirt, I asked the father what it was for. He said that since there was no running water, he was going to use this block of dirt to replace the real ritual, which is acceptable in grave circumstances where there is no water. He said he also could not pray most of the time, as there were 7-10 people staying in the same roon. The old man was practically homeless and abandoned, not just by family, but by the very system that is designed and designated to cater to the basic needs of those that only have so much time left in their lives. I knew then that I have a new endeavor.