Indecisive

After finishing the book, "The Submission" by Amy Waldman, I felt very indifferent. Good and bad. Right and wrong. These juxtaposing feelings left me at the end of the novel. After Mohammad Khan's grueling fight for justice and equality, he gave in. Khan had given up his life to show the nation that he should build the memorial for the September 11th attacks. Residing in hotels, disconnecting his phone, and barely showing up for work, all for the contest. But in the end, was it all worth it? He dropped out of the contest, gave up his fight. To prove what? A innocent Muslim American women died for the fight. Mohammad could not walk down the street without starting an argument with a pedestrian against his design. And he gave up. But, twenty years later, Khan lives as a successful business man. Owning his own firm, designing buildings for major individuals. Good and bad. Right and wrong. He should have won. He should have fought. But at what cost? These numerous questions raced in my head afer finishing the novel. I'm indecisive.

The Sunday Night Dinner

Not regularly does the Black family gather around the dining room table. But this past Sunday, there remained no other option. "Family night!" my mom exclaimed. A way to trap your kids inside, take away all electronic devices, and just sit and talk. Through the course of my meal, we chatted about colleges, applications, some more colleges, and......colleges. Eager to change the topic of conversation, I introduced my family to Mohammad Khan from Amy Waldman's novel, "The Submission." After explaining the fictional controversy faced in the novel, I asked my parents their opinions on the topic of morality. The conflict being a Muslim American winning a contest to build the memorial for the September 11th attacks. Right or wrong? Both Mom and Dad thought intensely, chewing their food slowly and glancing at the ceiling. And, not surprisingly, they both held the same opinion. "He won fair and square." They both felt, however, that many families of the deceased would feel hurt and betrayed by a Muslim building the memioral for their loved ones, due to the fact that Muslims remained the ones who took their family member away. But, however deep the feelings against him, Mohammad Khan remained the victor. This universal confict truly uncovers the issues with different religions and races aparent in today's society.

The Question of Morality

Ever since the attacks on September 11, 2001, Muslim Americans live as a target for blame and critizism for their religion. I personally have watched Muslim Americans go through rigorous pat-downs at airports, witnessed Americans pointing and staring at women clothed in traditional Muslim headscarfs, and seen the discrimination Muslim Americans face when they bare the name Mohammad or Aamir. Amy Waldman's novel, "The Submission," uncovers the prejudice Muslim Americans faced after the horrifying attacks. After submitting his design in the anonymous contest for choosing the memorial for the September 11th attacks, Mohammad Khan won. Well, kind of. After the selective jury, who picked Khan's design, "The Garden," learned the name of the Muslim winner, everything went haywire. The American public did not want a Muslim American designer to build the memorial for the thousands of lives lost in the tragety caused by Muslim terrorists. Khan, urged to drop out of the contest and abdicate his win, stood strong. I believe that Khan's actions remained morally correct. Winning the contest fair and square due to his astonishing design, Khan deserved to win the contest. Background check after background check, interview after interview, Khan remained an innocent, clean-cut American. Although the news of a Muslim designing the memorial caused the families of the deceased great alarm and hurt, the true nature of a contest already ran it's course and chose it's winner. Now, the question of morality begins.