9/11...

I had a "fluffy" post planned for today...all about lunch at a new Thai place with Susan and Shannon, my Crossfit victory, and an update on the kids. But, then I looked at the date...and I wondered if I should talk about a question that some of you have asked and I bet some of you wonder about, but haven't had the nerve to ask: Do you have safety concerns because you live in a Muslim country?

So on the anniversary of 9/11 it seems appropriate to talk about this.

9/11 is a date for Americans that is indelibly etched in our brains. I was teaching high school that day and my parents were actually traveling by plane. I remember sitting in the a/v room and watching live news coverage. I remember waiting to hear where my parents were and that they were safe. I remember having meaningful discussions with students about how they were feeling. I remember watching new coverage for days and my heart breaking.

And each and every year, I continue to think about that day and the effects it has had on my life. Life changed in the U.S. We began to experience what so many other countries had already experienced.

Fast forward 12 years to when we were first asked to come check out Malaysia. I only had a brief idea of where it was located. I knew nothing about its culture. People in Blaine's company referred to it as "Asia Lite." I started doing my research. I started reading. But, I'll say it - I didn't really think about the religious aspect of life here in Kuala Lumpur - oh, except for that one time, on our first visit over here, where Blaine walked into a Muslim prayer room thinking it was the men's room and we both had a good laugh.

I went to Cargill's culture training and learned that, yes, approximately 65% of the population of Malaysia is Muslim. I started reading more about Islam and what it means, what the practices were, learning about the holy days that are celebrated. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm much better informed that I was before.

And, now that I've been here a month, I'll be honest that I still don't think about the religion thing too much. Oh, maybe when I go to buy some pork or pick up a bottle of wine and the price is sky high. But, when I'm walking around Publika or at the gym, I don't wonder if the person next to me is Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist...heck, I have no idea! (Except for the women who wear hijabs...that one is a gimme.) I do wonder about people I see. I wonder if they have a family or children, I wonder what they do for a living, I wonder if they are happy...the same stuff I wondered about when I was back in the States.

I also know that deep in my heart, there are good people and bad people. There are good Christians and bad Christians. There are good Muslims and bad Muslims. There are good Jews and bad Jews. (You can fill in your own religion here.) A person may be defined by their religion, but a religion is not defined by a person.

So let's bring it back to the question that some of you have asked: Do you have safety concerns because you live in a Muslim country? I do not have safety concerns because I live in a Muslim country. Religious tolerance is widely practiced here. With a culture made up of Malays, Chinese, and Indians - it needs to exist so that people can co-exist. It's not to say there are not issues. Just today I read online about a lawsuit going on here in Malaysia regarding the use of the word Allah and the Catholic Church. (If you're interested - you can read more here.) And my friend, Brian, about 10 days ago, told me about some of the things he's been reading in the paper in regards to Islam and elements of extremism occurring here in Malaysia. But, once again, I bring it back to good people vs. bad people - not the religion. (Afterall, do all Muslims think that all Christians are members of the Westboro Baptist Church?! Please tell me no!!)

I'm by no means a Pollyanna or a person who sees things through rose-coloured glasses. I do have safety concerns. But, these are due to the fact that I live in a big city. I live in city where there is crime - pickpocketing, burglaries, break-ins, purse snatching. These same crimes exist in every big city and you just need to be cautious. In no way does it make me fearful. It makes me aware. Nothing wrong with being aware. Anyone who lives in a metropolitan area should be conscious of what is going on around them.

So there you have it. I do not fear the culture I am living in. I have a healthy awareness of what is going on around me due the fact that I live in a big city.  And, I hope you'll keep your questions coming! (So many of them are thought provoking!)