The Apostate (18 page)

He took a deep breath as the first question came from a middle-aged white woman in the second row:

“Why are women treated like second class citizens in some Muslim countries?”

This was one of the anticipated questions, and his answer came without hesitation.

“Religions like Islam are worldwide, but people may worship in different ways, based on local traditions that have grown up in time. Here in the U.S. Muslim women are treated like any other women. Abroad, some ancient traditions are still being honored, but change is emerging despite misleading headlines and articles. Education is the key. Media in the U.S., indeed throughout what is called The West, are unfortunately predisposed to cultivate the darkest suspicions about Islam. We hope everyone will read with more discerning eyes.”

The woman seemed dissatisfied and was allowed the usual follow-up question.

“Do you disapprove of honor killings? Of stoning, which only happens to women?”

Another expected question. But the evening was young.

“Yes. These practices will come to an end as some Islamic countries catch up to The West. But when you speak about honor, what about the lies told about Islam? That we are a violent religion, that we revere death more than life, that we cultivate terrorism. Where is the honor with that?”

This was the line of counter-attack he was supposed to pursue. Ray hoped he wasn't overdoing it. He felt his face turn semi-molten with sincerity as he lambasted media for the damaging misperceptions it regularly dispensed to an easily duped public.

The next question came from an elderly black man in the rear of the third row.

“Why are more young men in this country being recruited as terrorists? There have been numerous incidents.”

“True,” Ray had to admit, not at all surprised by the question. “But these are isolated incidents and not a pattern as the media would have you believe. There are violent people from different religions and ethnic groups in various circles in the U.S. What about the vigilantes on the border with Mexico? What about the murders of doctors who do abortions? What about the tragic bombing in Oklahoma City? My point is that some things about Muslims are made up or exaggerated by many members of the media. Lurid headlines bring readers. Readers bring advertisers. We applaud capitalism, but this is capitalism at its worst.”

No follow-up question came. And then Ray was thrown for the proverbial loop by the next question, which came from a young woman in the first row. No one had foreseen this question which, now asked, seemed quite obvious.

“Would you say the same things before an audience in Pakistan? Or Yemen? Or Somalia?”

His hesitation in replying must have been obvious, Ray realized, but he recovered quickly. “No. Of course, not. My remarks would address local issues, but then media often confuses situations in these nations as well.”

The woman, perhaps a student, still tried to pin him down with her follow-up question: “So you would talk about terrorism, honor killings, and the second class status of women in their societies?”

Polite but combative in manner, the feisty young woman stared at him as if he were pinned to a verbal mat.

“I would advise them that the best way to build up their societies is to modernize and outdo The West. I would give them the example of nineteenth century Japan abandoning many of their traditional customs to quickly modernize and become an economic powerhouse able to be on equal terms with The West. I would say all this is possible while still being faithful Muslims.”

Considering he was speaking extemporaneously Ray was satisfied, even proud, of his answer. But the woman seemed less than pleased. There was no way to please everyone. Meanwhile, he was keeping on track with his central theme: blame misunderstandings and misperceptions on media. In accusing media of too swiftly condemning Islam with misleading articles, he hoped to bring about a strong counter-attack on him. In effect, media would make him the fiery young Islamic convert Perkins now seemed moderately ready to accept as a seminal change in his mission. From obscurity to fame, and with whatever came with the latter after-effect.

“You seem to be attacking media,” a thin man with glasses in the first row said more as a statement than question. “But the incidents that have been written about are true. Do you dispute their accuracy?”

“No, not their accuracy, just the spin put upon some stories in some publications. Some newspapers and magazines, as I'm sure you all know, are more right wing than others. They write about patriotism while creating divisions. This is why I believe it's time for a Muslim truth squad. Just as in political campaigns, when one candidate immediately challenges another's assertions, American Muslims should fight back and correct misimpressions.”

There!—Ray realized, he had stated something that was sure to be controversial—a Muslim truth squad! This might be a bombshell even with the imam and Tariq as he had never mentioned this idea to them. Abra would be surprised, too. Now that the fire had been lit, he was going to throw another combustible item into the media furnace.

“Moreover, while I'm here talking about the Muslim community in the U.S., I think it's also time to create a Muslim Peace Corps. This would be just like our other Peace Corps, just composed of American Muslims who can go abroad, on a non-religious basis, not to seek conversions, but to help with building homes, environmental issues, educating the young,
etc.
They can go to Islamic countries and to other countries where many Muslims live. France and Germany come to mind immediately.”

Another bombshell! Two far from modest ideas, bound to generate controversy, were now unleashed. If he had gone too far, it was too late. Ray was sure the town hall meeting was being covered by the local press, and whatever they ran would be picked up by wire services and disseminated nationally.

“How can you be sure such a group wouldn't attempt to get people to convert?” came an immediate question from a young man in the top row waving his hand. “Doesn't Islam seek to expand?”

“Such a group would be non-religious,” Ray repeated. “Islam is already the world's fastest growing religion.”

“Then why make such a group to only be Muslims?” a middle-aged woman in the first row asked.

“Such a group would represent the United States and not Islam. Didn't the Japanese-American community provide a Nisei regiment or such in World War II? Weren't they fighting for the U.S.? Anyway, it's just a thought for discussion, but I do think it has merit.”

No follow-up question was asked. The session was drawing to a close. Another anticipated question emerged, this time from a bespectacled middle aged man in the second row. “Why is Islam so violent? Why does it have so many people ready to be suicide bombers?”

Ray nodded with a sad expression. “Only a very small percentage of Muslims are violent or ready to be terrorists. Most Muslims reject the acts of this group. Unfortunately, their acts can be truly terrible, and in these cases, the media is correct in their coverage, though they often fail to identify the splinter group responsible. To blame everyone who is a Muslim for the acts of a deranged few isn't right. Would you react the same way if all Catholics or Protestants were blamed for the acts of a few? I don't think so.”

“So you don't condone Al Qaida and everyone who follows them?”

“Absolutely not,” Ray answered the follow-up question.

Finally, when he thought the question he thought most obvious might never be asked, an elderly, frail looking woman in the first row made an effort to make her voice louder. “What convinced you to convert?”

“Thank you,” Ray said. Using his most sincere tone and expression, he responded, “No religion is perfect, but as I looked into Islam—really looked into Islam—I was extremely impressed with its sheer purity and simplicity. No other religion produces the same feeling of universal brotherhood. Islam gave me an anvil, a base, on which to base my life that I didn't feel before. I don't know how to explain it more simply or honestly.”

Ray turned slightly toward all three sections of the audience. Everyone seemed respectful though their faces were subdued as if the jury were still out, at least on his reasons for conversion. On the other hand, he suspected that both the truth squad and peace corps ideas had fizzled here. No matter, he thought, the media reaction would be more electric. The rest of the two-hour session went along the expected lines, with questions about the
hijab
and
burka
, blasphemy laws, concepts of heaven and hell, divorce, and even female mutilation. Whenever possible, Ray invoked his accusation of a meddlesome press more intent on selling papers than telling the truth.

At last, his maiden forum came to a merciful close. The applause was generous and much appreciated. Ray waited for many people in the rows to stand and file out into the two aisles leading to the rear exits. Then he joined Abra and Tariq.

“Great!” Abra said, giving him a quick kiss.

“Yes,” Tariq said. But his agreement seemed troubled as they prepared for the drive back to Los Angeles.

***

Tariq, who was driving, now offered a comment on the meeting. “It went as expected,” he said as if this statement, gone over and finalized in his mind, sized the evening up sufficiently.

“I think using Japan was a master stroke,” Abra complimented, topping Tariq's mild back-up. “Did you think of that beforehand?” She sat in the front of the car, a late model Honda, with Ray by himself in the back seat.

“No,” Ray admitted. “It was off-the-cuff.”

“Allah inspired you,” Tariq said.

“Yes,” Ray agreed.

“But your words on a truth squad and peace corps? Where did they come from?”

Tariq took his eyes off the road for an instant to glance back at Ray. Traffic was light and Tariq drove at the legal speed.

“Also inspiration,” Ray said, hoping he was right.

As hoped for, newspapers pounced on his anti-media criticisms, accusing him of the bias he threw at them. Mission accomplished, Ray thought with satisfaction. He was being branded as a Muslim advocate stirring up trouble in the good old homeland. No doubt he was being investigated as a potential
jihadist
if not just branded as a hothead to watch. Few papers neglected to mention that he had converted to Islam, with the not so subtle implication that worse was yet to come from his disloyal and turncoat lips.

Both the Truth Squad and Muslim Peace Corps notions had generated a rash of headlines and articles. Condemnation was the major response, though the measures were considered to be a foolish attempt of satire in some quarters. The truth squad was criticized as another version of using an offensive to deflect the realities of any negative incidents linked to American Muslims, particularly the recruitment of native born Americans as jihadists and terrorists. The concept of a Muslim Peace Corps was derided as a transparent attempt to use such an organization to seek both converts and terrorists and to put a transparent cloak over the vicious misdeeds of the latter. It was a doubleheader of denunciation. Some newspapers even devoted editorials, slamming the noxious notions in the process.

However, on the plus side as far as he was concerned, requests had come for interviews with newspapers as well as appearances on television and radio shows. His plan to be seen as a radical Muslim was working. Citizen Dancer, an American Muslim at work!

Perkins, however, seemed less than delighted, only advising, “Don't get out there too far.” Whatever that meant was uncertain, but meanwhile Ray was determined to plunge ahead.

The imam, Ray was glad to learn, thought the session went well. But his input came from Abra and Tariq, and the latter, true to his nature, gave Ray just a passing grade when they met for a critiquing session a day later. “This was your first time, but in the future you must not be so timid in your responses.”

“Timid!” Ray raised his voice in ire. “We agreed on what the strategy was and it's working.”

“Ray wasn't timid!” Abra protested as well. Her dark eyes glared with indignation at her uncle.

“I'm talking about the future,” Tariq came back, a scowl marking his glowering face. Obviously, he felt it was two against one, and one of his opponents was his own niece.

On the subject of the future, Tariq was right, Ray realized. More town hall meetings, all in California, were subsequently approved by the imam. But the timing for each meeting, in deference to Abra's wishes and his job, were spread out so that Ray would never be gone for a prolonged period. All town hall forums were scheduled during weekends.

“I can't go with you all the time,” Abra said, “but my love will always be with you.”

“I'll call you every day I'm away,” Ray promised. “And I won't be that far.” Her love was a consolation and a stab at the same time. All this subterfuge had better pay off in saving lives, Ray thought, steeling himself to submerge his ambivalence.

He had set himself an imposing mission, one whose implications and consequences were still unknown.

Then two other reactions to his initial foray came, one from Perkins for a meeting and the second from Benson at work. While the summons from Perkins came first, the session with Benson happened earlier.

***

“When did you become a Muslim?” Benson asked, and his manner was far from friendly, not that Ray expected a different response.

“I thought about it a great deal, obviously influenced by my wife, who is a Muslim, and I decided that despite the excesses of some splinter groups, I really admire the sheer purity of Islam.”

Ray had rehearsed these lines several times and he thought he delivered them with credible sincerity.

“That's all well and good,” Benson said, a bit taken aback by this declaration. “I saw your letter to the editor in
The Times
. That was surprising but okay, given your marital or pre-marital situation. But these newspaper stories about attacking media. What's going on, Ray?”