Dear Mr. Trump:
What is the common character among these leaders: Mandela, Mother Teresa, King, Lincoln, Keller, Ghandi, Frank, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Abraham, Dickinson, Mozart, Curie?
Based on your campaign, you should pay attention to a paradigm that would negate hateful and divisive rhetoric; restore people's faith in you as the leader of the free world.
Embracing this paradigm will empower you to counter racism, inequality, dishonor, inhumanity, injustice, lack of grit, lack of compassion, and lack of decency. It's mightier than any social creed, political party, economic leaning, or religious affiliation.
It's always been, always is, and always will be.
Man has lived for it since carving his name into stone. All of us desire it and deem life without it worthless and tired. We make the greatest sacrifices to attain it, and take the greatest leaps to retain it. Of the inhabitants of this planet, seven billion prefer to live under its gracious wings.
LOVE
This paradigm is love. Love for each other, love for the source of life, and love for humanity's high virtues. This love must be whole, not encumbered by negative ideas, motifs, themes, beliefs, or creeds.
Mr. Trump, you must love regardless of religion.
I grew up in a loving Muslim family. Now I deem my path to God as love for mankind with my heart, mind, body, and soul. You must love, not just tolerate, all religions. You must honor our freedom to allow the coexisting of diverse faiths. And no, Islam does not automatically mean terror. The Islam I grew up embracing deems terror evil and reprehensible. It loves all people, respects all people, and honors all
people - including you.
Mr. Trump, you must love regardless of race.
I happen to be somewhere between black and white, otherwise known as brown. (I love being called brown. Don't tell anyone, but my skin is lighter than some Caucasians.) I am an Arab-American who respects the diverse races of this big-ole melting pot/wok/tajine. Did you know our insides look the same; pigmentation is only skin-deep? Our colors make a brilliant rainbow of humanity, without the deluge of racism and droughts of tolerance. Kindness, inclusion, and charity empower the morays of this resilient arc of mankind.
Mr. Trump, you must love regardless of nationality.
While my Arabic family in Syria showered me with love and affection absurd, I grew up noticing limits on my thoughts and expressions. In 1984, I immigrated to the United States. 32 years later, I literally kiss the ground every morning for the mere privilege of basking in this vast land - booming with dreams, thriving with hopes, flourishing with aspirations. Despite my intense fervor to adopt American ideals, a few will occasionally degrade my Arabic origin. I have two wishes: For my children to never encounter the act; for people to believe love knows not the difference between English and Arabic, white and brown, humus and peanut butter.
Mr. Trump, you must love regardless of orientation.
I have precious friends across the range of partner-preference. All work hard to define humanity with their compassion and love for mankind. All try to live with dignity and respect for one another, for people of all creeds, and for the least of these. All aspire to be philanthropists, charitable, and volunteers. I cherish my friends. Who they chose to love is not my business, its love's business. Like Khalil Gibran said: "When you love you should not say, 'God is in my heart,' but rather, 'I am in the heart of God'. And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you, directs your course." (Gibran is a Lebanese poet. His book, The Prophet, has sold 5000 copies a week since it's printing in 1923).
Mr. Trump, you must love regardless of gender.
In 1992, 1996, and 1999, I was gifted what I deem the most precious and most cherished: My three children, Zade, Dury, and Demi. They have reaped the benefits of living in America with aspirations unquenchable, liberty unfathomable, compassion immeasurable, and stars touchable. When my 16-year-old daughter manifests her dreams, she will live a life full of virtues and free of insults. I will relish her becoming a productive and honorable citizen - equal to her brothers.
Mr. Trump, you must love regardless of socioeconomics.
A few live with a myriad of conveniences, most exist paycheck to paycheck, and some don't even receive a paycheck. Helping those less fortunate does not mean big government, Democratic vision, or liberal principles; it means you consider them human beings regardless of how poverty found them. They are unable to revise their lineage.
Mr. Trump: You must love first, love second, love third, rule fourth.
Love is the only paradigm that will result in harmony among you and us - your citizens.
For more, visit http://arabinalabama.com/
To contact Karim, email him at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com