Anisah_of_So_Dakota

I am a Muslimah living in America; guided by Allah to Islam.. been Muslim for over 20 years, alhumdulillah. Not a newbie. Help other reverts when I can as they enter Islam. I'm a public speaker; a city official; a community advocate; the founder of a couple not-for-profit groups; and a WIFE, Mother & Grandmother. Alhumdulillah.

Heritages: American, Danish, Irish, German, Islamic, English, African American, Native American

Languages: English, English

About Me:
Salaam.

I'm an American Muslimah. I have been Muslim for over 20 years. I have been active in my Muslim community & larger community in general for years, working for justice & social responsibility.

Some people like what I do, and others get attitude cause I "rock the boat". Generally those getting pieved by my work are those benefiting from the the injustices (including some Muslims). I'm the person who annoys those who want to make our American masjids social clubs & cultural centers for specific ethnic populations & treat all the other Muslims who aren't of that culture or ethnicity like they are invading the building. Sorry, but the masjid is NOT an exclusive club for elitists or racists! Its a house built for the worship of GOD, not the worship of individuals' egos. So I am more than willing to stand up to those who mistreat their fellow Muslims in their desires to be worshipped for their dunya trappings of life.

I also work in issues such as poverty & family rights. I manage to pieve quite a few in that too it seems, which is sad cause Muslims especially shouldn't be wanting to hold down the weak or poor, but unfortunately it goes back to the worship of something other than Allah. And unlike many Muslims, I'm willing to stand up and even be an outcaste -- and speak out against such behavior as that is what I believe takes far more courage than sitting in a group gossipping about someone behind their backs.... which seems to be the way some Muslims are willing to do it... but are willing to stand behind the abuser in public giving him or her their full social support. To me, such Muslims are part of the problem. I have little time for such cowardly behavior. So, yes, I'm outspoken & forward in my behavior. I seek only the pleasure of Allah & if that isn't popular, so be it. I'd rather be on that side of the issue come judgement day.

Hobbies:
My hobbies are gardening, horticulture, flower arranging, interior designing, writing poetry & sewing. I also love to read good literature & study religion. I also volunteer quite a bit, helping nonprofits that help the poor. These include Islamic Relief, Tuull Dimtu, Sisters Need a Place, Can-Do.org and One Spirit organization.

Islamic Relief I've done work with for several years starting in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and later in South Dakota organizing their Day of Dignity project in 2006. I've been involved with Can-Do since 2005. Currently they are working to help the poor in central South Dakota, who are at great risk. You can check out what we are doing by visiting the webpage at www.can-do.org and looking up Crow Creek project. They have a video also about the project.

I'm also the founder of an interfaith women's organization called Covered Women 4 God, which uses yahoo egroups to communicate. It is for women only -- NO MEN are permitted to join the group. Its so that women who cover as part of their faith can talk with other women who cover for religious reasons. The group has members from all over the world and numerous faiths, but all are learning from each other & sharing their experiences as covered women.

I also LOVE doing genealogy (study of my family ancestry). I have been more involved in that in the last few years. But I've helped my mom in the genealogy since I was quite young.

Many foreign Muslims assume us Americans don't know anything about our heritage, but that's not necessarily the case. I can not only state the names of my ancestors, I am am to provide a great deal of historical documentation about their lives. While America is a large country with people from all over the world, it doesn't mean there aren't people in America who love tracing their family lineage just as much as someone from some foreign country. We just happen to acknowledge a greater diversity in our lineage than say someone whose entire family comes from Egypt or from Somalia. Its an aspect of America that I think is far more ISLAMIC than many Muslims consider. Each generation of Americans are becoming more & more ethnically mixed, blurring the lines of ethnicity, culture, nationality, race, etc. They are becoming GLOBAL citizens with ties to multitudes of nations... and that is good for us all in the end, in my view. Its hard to hate a group of people if you have family from that group.

Movies:
I like movies such as Sci-Fi, educational, and some dramas. I would like you to take a moment & watch & listen to these elders as they speak of their cultural beliefs.

Books:
Quran, Hadith, books on Ethnic dress, history, Women's Studies, Women in Islam books, world Religion books, Gardening books, Landscaping books, Alternative energy books, books on Sewing, books on weaving & embroidery, books on woodworking, books on metalsmithing, craft books, philosophy books, sociology books, animal husbandry books, and so much more

Music:
I like nasheeds most of all. If you'd like to network with me, please feel free to come to facebook.com and search for me under the name "Anisah David". I am open to halal communications with everyone, insha Allah.

TV:
I like CSI series, I love the cooking shows and I love national geographic channel as well as Star Trek series

Interests:
Charity work with needy children Charity work with the poor Charity work with abused families I love horticulture & gardening. I love to grow house plants & experiment with growing plants or propagating plants that people usually don't work with in my area (such as raising a madarine orange tree in South Dakota, or avacado trees.)

Quotes:
Allah is the Best of Planners

Other:
Please help us help the Indigenous People of America (Native Americans) who are equivalent to the Palestinians & the Tibetans. Few Americans, including immigrant Muslims seem to be concerned about the harsh injustice that has continued to take place against the Native Americans. While many think they get "taken care of" the facts are far from the truth. Not all reservations are "rich" due to casinos-- this is especially true on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which are both located in South Dakota. Please visit www.can-do.org and read about what we are trying to provide for these people. Its not fancy things, but basic things like heat in the extreme cold winters (-0 degrees c., or -15 below zero Farenheit.) These people literally have been having their elders freeze to death do to power companies shutting off their heat! Here is just a small bit of data regarding the Sioux (tribal name) people: *Sioux Men have the world's lowest life expenctancy at 44 years. * the Sioux death rate is the highest in America; * the Sioux infant mortality rate is three times the US average; * one-fourth of Sioux children are fostered or adopted by non-Indian households - a willful Americanization policy to destroy their culture and racial existence; (its part of the genocide that continues to take place with little concern by the world's people, including Muslims) *Sioux have epidemic levels of disease and illness * median income is a shocking $2600 to $3500 a YEAR! for a family * 97% of the Sioux live below poverty line - unmatched anywhere in the world accept by other indigenous peoples * most families can't afford heating oil, wood, propane or any way to heat their homes even though the reservation provided to them after their lands were taken away, is in severely cold region of the USA * unemployment is at 80% or higher due mostly because there are few jobs even available in the region of their small reservations or close enough for them to drive to, IF they have a car to get to work (there is no public buses either) * government funding for job creation is lost through corruption at all levels of the government federally, state, county & tribal * Housing is so inadequate that many elderly die each winter from hypothermia (freeznig to death), yet this is the housing built by federal contractors (often without insulation) * one-third of all homes lack clean water and proper sewage systems * 40% of housing has NO electricity * 60% of homes have no telephones so they have no way to call for emergency assistance if it is needed * 60% of homes are infected with potentially fatal black molds, but they can't afford to pay for it to be removed or to revent it from becoming established due to the lack of money to pay for the chemicals to kill it or prevent it. * an estimated 17 people on average live in each family home, which is designed for about 5 people - many with only two or three rooms; some homes built for six to eight have up to 30 living in them due to the housing shortage. * teenage Sioux suicide is 150% higher than US national average, in part due to their sense of no hope -- * the tuberculosis rate for Sioux is about 800% higher than the US national average * cervical cancer is 500% higher than the US national average * diabetes is 800% higher * * the US federal commodities food program provides sugar-rich foods that cause high rates of diabetes, heart disease, and other preventable illnesses & diseases -- though they know of its negative health affects & cause of death (sounds to me like its part of the genocide plan) So as you can see, these people need help & Muslims (especially those living in the US) need to seriously consider helping these people. We ask that you visit www.can-do.org and view the video regarding Crow Creek project. One of the men interviewed is Brother Victor David, who is a Muslim brother in South Dakota working on this project. You can also get involved with Islamic Relief's Day of Dignity project on Crow Creek Sioux reservation each year by contacting www.irw.org or contacing Brother Victor David in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.