Two U.S. born Muslim women decided to have lunch at Austin’s popular Kerbey Lane Café last Sunday. Leilah dropped off her friend, Sirat. While Leilah was parking the car, Sirat stepped inside to get a table. An elderly white man inside the Café watched Leilah park the car and turned his attention to Sirat while he was waiting for his table.

“She should just go back to Saudi Arabia where she came from,” he said.

“Would you repeat what you just said?” asked Sirat.

“She should just go back to Saudi Arabia where she came from,” he repeated. “And the same goes for you,” he continued. “Do you have a gun on you? Just go ahead and shoot me,” he said.

By this time a Kerbey Lane employee seated him at a table. When Leilah and Sirat sought help from the employees about this man’s abusive words, they said there was nothing they could do. Leilah decided to approach the man, and he didn’t hold back. In front of the entire restaurant, he said the same things to her as he did to Sirat. And not one person stood up for them.

Sirat, in tears, turns to Leilah and says, “Just go. Everyone knows we were told very racist things, and this restaurant doesn’t feel the need to address it because who cares about us?” And somebody called out, ‘Nobody.’ And we left because it was true.”¹

Leilah, a Kerbey Lane Café Customer

These ladies went to Facebook to post their thoughts after being the victim of bigotry. They said, “We have never felt more dehumanized and humiliated than I did this morning.” They stated that the patrons silence was the most painful part of their experience.

Their story forced me to consider whether I would have defended them or not. Would I have been so stunned that I would have become one of the silent onlookers? What about you?

It’s obvious that tensions are rising in America. We take for granted the freedom and protection we enjoy in this country. But acts of terrorism are now too close to home, and we don’t feel the same safety in our own homeland as before. Muslim Americans, who have legally immigrated to America, are feeling increased hostility and persecution toward them. We read about radical Islamists who commit acts of terror, and we wonder if our Muslim neighbors share their ideology. It’s hard not to be prone to this kind of thinking. However, many of our Muslim American citizens are like us. They want to build a life for their families and enjoy peace and freedom. They want to make a meaningful contribution to our society through their work. They want their children to have the same opportunities to build their own future like we did.

How does our Christian faith inform us in this situation? These women experienced hostility and ill-treatment because of their race and perceived religious beliefs. Here are several passages to consider as possible applications:

Psalm 41:1 “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak.”

Psalm 72:13-14 “He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in His sight.

Psalm 82:3-4 “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

I wouldn’t classify these women as “needy or oppressed,” but I do think they were the weaker in this situation. I believe God calls us to defend the weak, but how should that have looked at the café? If anyone had made a stand for these women, would that have provoked a man who was already antagonistic? Would a defense of these women escalate the situation? What if the man was carrying a gun? I bet there were patrons who wanted to help, but didn’t know what to do. Thus, they remained silent. Unfortunately, I think I would have been one of them. I wouldn’t want to endanger others by intruding in the situation.

But remaining silent is also problematic. As Simrat Jeet Singh, an assistant professor of religion at Trinity University rightly stated:

“Not speaking against prejudice when we witness it sends the message that we do not feel strongly enough about our values to stand for them. Remaining silent sends the destructive message to perpetrators that we agree with their actions, while also telling those who are targeted that we believe they should be victimized.”²

If a Christian response demands that we defend these Muslim women, as they deserved, how would it have looked? I am earnestly seeking an answer because this may not be the last time a situation like this could arise. There are multiple variables to sort through. I look forward to your thoughts. You may comment below.

Blessings,

Lee Ann

¹http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/muslim-woman-recounts-bigotry-at-kerbey-lane-cafes/npddn/ 

²http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/opinion/singh-silence-at-kerbey-lane-speaks-volumes/npfMz/

The post 12.14.15 Would You Have Defended Two Muslim Women? appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.