American Muslims— still far from finding a national voice
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| June 19, 2021 |
During Eid afternoon, my wife and I dropped by for an intended quick visit at the Washington-area residence of Professor Akbar Ahmed—maker of the movie “Jinnah,” with the legendary Sir Christopher Lee portraying the Quaid—and his wife, Zeenat. It lasted 4 hours. Time simply sped by.
His children and grandchildren were there. We sat outside in the garden on a particularly balmy day, with the birds warbling and a cool breeze enlivening. Zeenat had prepared a rambunctious high tea, with an assortment of goodies befitting the celebratory end of the Ramadan fast. These were magical, non-transactional moments. Of friendship, conviviality, probing conversation, and spontaneity.
Hovering over it was the bloody eruption in the Mideast. One marveled at how few and far between were such sessions, particularly during the time of the pandemic. It brought renewed meaning and appreciation for the 1972 book, “Felled Oaks,” by French philosopher André Malraux, which I encountered during my university days. It captures a trip Malraux undertook in December 1969 to meet Charles De Gaulle at his country home in the village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, 160 miles from Paris. That afternoon of conversation was forever enshrined in the book.
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