I needed time to make up my mind
Should I write about it or not
How can I write about it, without talking about the people involved?
I have learnt to back off, to think about things, to pray, before letting the words flow out of my mind, into the paper or on the screen
I used to write things down quickly, to think about the interest of my words, only after having them under my eyes (and having let yours read them)
Should I write about it or not
Can it be of any inspiration to others?
I don’t know.
I just decided that maybe these don’t have to be inspiring words
I just decided that maybe you can help me, maybe you can share advice
It’s about religion.
Not about me and my search
It’s about Mister Pop
It’s about Mister Pop’s dad. About HIS religion. About rules and about things you must do. And things you are not allowed to do, to eat, to think about.
It’s about what we want for Mister Pop
I wish him to grow up knowing about religion in general
I wish him to learn about Islam, Christianity and Judaism. About Buddhism and other spiritual paths of life.
I wish him to learn about Christmas, Ramadan, Yom Kippur.
I wish him to be able to make up his mind, to choose what’s best for him, to think by himself, not follow a path that might not be the right for him.
But his dad has another point of view.
Mister Pop must change his name
Mister Pop must have an Arabic Name
Mister Pop must eat Halal food
Mister Pop must do this or that
I MUST do this, respect his choice, respect his religion, respect his culture
Some might think it’s not a big issue
Some might think that I should just let things be the way he wants them to be
It’s an issue for me
It’s an issue because I feel oppressed by his view
I feel oppressed by his behavior
I feel oppressed by the way he is treating us
I feel oppressed by his way of saying “you must”
I am dealing with this, talking
Trying to discuss things peacefully
But nothing will change
And I won’t give in
I gave in too many times already
We are playing a hard battle
And I am sad to see that religion is being part of this battle
It’s even at the center of it
But when I feel completely overwhelmed
I remember that God’s love and mercy are infinite.

Credit image – Pinterest