Two Cultures MeetBy Erin Uy Latino, Muslim youths share their heritage via human relations program. When Endy Galindo, 12, takes snapshots of her life, she photographs parked Cadillacs in her neighborhood and her younger siblings. Her new friend, 11-year-old Mariyah Saiduddin, takes photos of herself wearing a hijab, traditional Muslim attire, and glasses. Galindo, a Mexican-American, and Saiduddin, a Pakistani-American, lead different lives, but they recently learned that they have common interests. "It's cool because you get to learn that everyone has a different culture and that they speak their own language," Galindo said. Similarities are cool too, said Saiduddin, who learned that she and Galindo share a deep love for their friends and family. Through the Latino-Muslim Exchange project, an Orange County Human Relations Commission program to link youths from different lifestyles, ethnicities and economic backgrounds, more than 60 students met Thursday to share what they learned. Willard Intermediate School in Santa Ana hosted guests from New Horizon Elementary, an Islamic school in Irvine, to celebrate a school year's worth of sharing through dialogue, art and creative writing. The connection allows youth to gain insight of other people and recognize their own identities, said Rigo Maldonado, project director for community programs. The exchange program has included gays and lesbians, African-Americans and some religious groups. The commission this time around focused on Latinos and Muslims in response to the experiences the groups shared after Sept. 11. Some Hispanics whom people mistook as Middle Eastern were harassed, said Maldonado, noting that many minorities understand what it's like to be marginalized. For many Willard students, a visit to New Horizon for an Arabic celebration in April was their first encounter with a Muslim peer, said Michael Miller, a Willard teacher. While they discussed their differences in culture and religion, they also shared their common interests: pizza, basketball and a lot of laughing. That's important, because Muslim-Americans are often unfavorably misrepresented by the media or generalized by people who are unfamiliar with the religion, said Dina Eletreby, school head of New Horizon. "At the meat and heart of it, we really are the same," she said. "I am Orange County" By Mariyah Saiduddin; sixth-grader, New Horizon Elementary School I am from the light brown tiles on the floor My grandfather's colorful paintings Hanging on the walls The Harry Potter posters staring at me from above my bed My noisy and annoying alarm clock Ringing at 6:35 a.m. I am Orange County // I am from the barbecue full of smoky meaty smells The pond full of red, orange, yellow and black koi fish The waterfall's soft and soothing sound Ringing in my ears The crows cawing and flapping their wings from tree to tree I am Orange County // I am from our neighbor's black poodle The children laughing and playing in the park The dark skinned boy who walks to school every morning My little laughing sister I am Orange County // I am from my dad telling me to go to bed My grandmother's cooking scents Wafting through the house Attracting hungry mouths My grandfather's paintbrush creating wonderful worlds My mom studying in her room I am Orange County // I am from the trip to Pakistan That taught me more Urdu My mom teaching me about life My teachers giving me knowledge to me The prophets of Allah who taught me Islam I am Orange County |