(from a recent trip to Washington DC)
There’s this thing I need to say. When I travel, most of those who serve me at the airport are immigrants. At least people of color. Today was no exception. I met Abu just now at Dulles international. He’s from Bangladesh. Muslim. I hesitated in asking more than just doing my transaction. Didn’t want to make a mistake or a fool of myself. Geeez Lars, get over your self preoccupation.
“How do you feel about what’s going on sir?”
I finally mustered the courage. He responded, gently. Timidly. Not a tone of anger or recrimination or anything of the sort. He said,
“it’s heavy, not good.”
Then we talked about how we both yearned for understanding and love between different groups. Since he’s Muslim we talked about our respective faiths and how it teaches us to love others. It was an important conversation for me in these tense days. Abu is a real person. He cares. He gave me the best smile I’ve seen all day.
