1ST MYTH: AMERICAN MUSLIM CHARITIES ARE TREATED LIKE OTHER CHARITIES
WHEN JESUS SAW the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him: Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“… Blessed are you, when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely, on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
(New Revised Standard Version, Matt. 5.1-2, 11-12)
The Transfer
It’s early Friday morning, September 22, 2006. I get a phone call from our bank saying I must come in immediately. The bank has said it cannot execute a crucial wire transfer I’ve sent to help Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
I’m hoping to clear this up quickly. Local food suppliers need to get paid before our people can distribute the provisions among a desperate population. Because it’s Friday, and I need to make the congregational prayer by 1 p.m.
I’m at the bank by 9:15 a.m. A bank officer who knows me ushers me into her office and sits me down. I ask her about the transfer problem. “Well, Mr. Demir, our bank cannot make the transfer because Pakistan is not a country.”
I’m momentarily stunned into silence. Is she giving me an early morning ribbing to lighten things up? No laugh. Her straight face shows no trace even of a smile.
“Uh. Ms. … I – well – you see – Pakistan is a country. I –.”
“No. Pakistan is not a country, and we can only send wire transfers to recognized countries.”
I’m dumbstruck. Did something happen today to Pakistan? Did it renounce its nationhood? Change its name? Was the entire country raptured? Evangelicals were right after all. Did it just vanish? Is this one of those dreams where next thing you know I look down and I’m still in my pajamas? What?
“Uh. You know, Ma’am. Pakistan, you know, is a country. It’s right over there by those other Stan countries: Afghanistan. Tajikistan. Uzbekistan. Right above India on the map. Next to Iran. A little bit by China. Well, it doesn’t border Tajikistan, really, there’s this little strip — ”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Demir. Pakistan is not a country. We can’t send money to a place that does not have proper national channels, you understand.”
“No, Ma’am. Honest. We actually have done so much good relief work in Pakistan. It is a country.”
“No. It doesn’t appear on our list of countries, the ones we recognize. We can only transfer to recognized countries.”
“No. Ma’am. Really. Pakistan is part of the United Nations. It’s actually a big country, lot of people.”
At that moment — I swear this is the truth! — she has this television going, high up on the wall, and who comes on it? Here walks up President George W. Bush, on screen, in a press conference. And who strides up next to him? Pervez Musharraf, then-president of Pakistan. (Does he know his country has gone missing?)
It’s a miracle! A sign! Problem solved!
“There! You see? That man on the left, next to President Bush. He’s president of Pakistan. The country.”
“I’m very sorry, Mr. Demir. I know what you’re trying to say, but I don’t make these lists. Just, Pakistan isn’t a recognized country. So we can’t send your wire. I’m sorry.”
“No. Wait. You see that green flag, next to the American flag, has like a crescent moon on it? That’s Pakistan’s flag, the country flag. The two presidents are meeting, the two countries.”
Bush is talking. He’s saying the word “Pakistan” again and again.
“My hands are tied, Mr. Demir. It’s not in my control. Let me put you in touch with the department that handles our wire transfers.”
She makes the call.
“Oh? Oh. Oh, I see.”
Hangs up.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Demir. (Laughs) Pakistan is a country. (Laughs again) That wire transfer’s fine. It’s the Palestine one that has the problem.” It’ll be a long morning.