I believe that part of Mrs. Laura Bush’s personal strength comes from her firsthand knowledge of the toll of breast cancer. I am sad to report that my mother also developed breast cancer and passed away on September 30th 2007 due to complications. For my mother, cancer was a taboo disease that was not discussed, and she did not have any awareness or knowledge of it. She might have survived if her cancer had been diagnosed earlier, but awareness for her segment of the population is very low.

We at Muslims For America wish to thank Mrs. Laura Bush, our gracious First Lady, for bringing to light a subject that has been too long in the dark. She has raised the issue with grace, dignity, and in an appropriate manner, bringing it to the forefront on her tour of the Middle East. Breast cancer is the leading of cause of death for the women in middle east. Women are afraid to go to physicians because they are scared that if the label of cancer is applied to them that their husbands will divorce them or their families disown them — such is the level of ignorance about cancer in the Middle East.

Mrs. Bush met survivors of breast cancer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia a few days ago. As a token of their appreciation, they presented Mrs. Bush with a long black head scarf adorned with pink ribbons on both the edges symbolizing the awareness and prevention of the disease. Mrs. Bush acknowledged the gift and honored the women by letting them drape the scarf around her head. Even though the West regards the head scarf as a symbol of oppression, Mrs Bush’s willingness to adorn the scarf around her head showed her sensitivity to the Arab and Muslim culture on an issue that she wanted to bring attention to. It was the right move and successfully harnessed a vestige of Arab culture for a greater purpose. Read the rest of this entry »

We wish Eid Mubarik to American Muslims and our friends around the world.

Let’s celebrate the end of Ramadan, when all Muslims try their best to do good deeds and help the needy.

We fast, we pray, and above all we remember that all comes from God.

May the love and peace of RAMADAN stay with us all year.

Our Best Wishes to everyone for a peaceful and healthy year.

Muslim girls show their henna decorated hands as a part of Eid-al-Fitr festival preparations in Karachi October 12, 2007. The Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (PAKISTAN)