Salvation
through Education
By Azam Khan, MD
Kingman, AZ
In the post-9/11 period, the Muslim community
in America is being viewed with a certain degree
of suspicion for alleged ‘home grown’
terrorist cells. Every now and then we hear about
some doubtful activity in different parts of the
country or the world. Fortunately though, no sizeable
threat has materialized here since 9/11. However,
a certain degree of profiling has been experienced
by a majority of the members of the Muslim community
on a daily basis; at work place, airport security
checkpoints, schools, etc. There is not much we
can do about it, unless we are able to prove that
we are reliable and credible partners in the development,
prosperity and security of America. I believe
that education is the means to establishing such
credibility in this partnership.
Like any other parent, the education of children
enjoys primacy in all my strivings. I am a proud
parent this summer because the achievements of
two of my children have fulfilled my dreams. My
daughter Uzma has finished her residency at the
Albany Medical Center in New York and is now licensed
to practice medicine in the State of California
and ready to pursue her professional career. My
other daughter Aqsa has graduated from the medical
school at the University of Arizona, and has now
begun her post-graduate education at UCLA Medical
Center. Like me, many other parents have similar
stories to tell about the educational successes
of their children and all of them deserve to feel
proud and be congratulated.
I have a genuine respect for my adopted homeland
and its citizens for having opened its door to
immigrants like me. America has provided so many
with opportunities for success and treated them
well. A great majority of the eight million Muslims
in this country are peace-loving and share the
pain and agony suffered by this country and the
rest of the world. Loss of life and property suffered
by Muslims is significant as well.
Approximately 500 of the 3000 victims who lost
their lives in the World Trade Center bombing
were Muslims. Countless abroad vanish every day
due to war and terrorism. However most of the
Muslims here in America suffer because of the
ideological deviations of a few around the globe.
It is the actions of those few that cast a shadow
over the entire community. Their hearts go out
to the victims of all tragedies, and they do not
wish any repetition of 9/11 and hope that wars
would soon come to an end.
I believe that education is the means of success
and salvation for the Muslim community. Many of
the eight million Muslims in this country are
top professionals and key figures in the communities
they serve. What if the two million Muslim homes
in America adopted policies whereby every child
would receive the highest attainable education.
I can visualize nearly four million children,
going through different steps to become one of
the top professionals in this country. Then there
would be no shortage of scientists, physicians,
lawyers, scholars, engineers, journalists, businessmen
and financial wizards among them. This is the
most effective tool for eliminating the shackles
of poverty, illiteracy, and suspicion. And I am
confident that these children would not join hands
with the forces of extremism because poverty and
illiteracy tend to breed radicalism and fundamentalism.
These educational aims need to be applied to our
homeland as well. The Pakistan Government recently
announced a budget for the next fiscal year and
I noted with regret that only Rs. 24.5 billion
out of 1.88 trillion shall be spent on education,
including post-graduate and doctoral programs.
These figures (Rs.150 or $ 2.5 per capita) are
shockingly low. They make up such a meager amount
when you compare it with the defense budget of
Rs. 275 billion (Rs. 1800 or $30 per capita).
By contrast, India spends a little more than twice
the amount of Pakistan’s per capita expenditure
on education and health and nearly half per capita
for defense.
Education is the only means of prosperity and
salvation for a society that suffers from illiteracy,
ignorance, poverty, hunger and disease; which
have a terrible tendency to result in violent
outbreaks of extremism, regionalism, sectarianism,
and feudalism.
So let us all make a commitment that no child
shall be left uneducated among our community.
Let the spirit of charity and volunteerism guide
the way for a brighter future.
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