live for many people, but Muslims do not believe it is the way of God. We just have
a different way of living; we do not compare people with one another. We avoid
comparing ourselves to others because everybody is beautiful his or her own way.
Birthdays make us stand out the wring way.
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Mom? If I had a party and I could choose my friends carefully, believe me, that
would not happen to me!
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Well, dear, we always think we can control any situation, but we are misleading
ourselves all the time! Since my little pearl has a short memory, I will be your
memory. You remember when Ann did that? She said she would invite only her best
friends. I remember you were one of them!
Su frowned and parted her lips in frustration.
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Yes, I remember well mom, she said sadly. Ann thought she was some kind of a
princess. She said we were lucky to have been invited because she was very selective
towards her friends. And then she received so many gifts and so many compliments
that she did not really appreciate them. Nobody could tell her the truth; I mean she
did not behave very well to us, but we had to be polite. I thought I liked her, but I
changed my mind! See, I made a doll for her with corn leaves. Two weeks after I
found it in the trash after her mother and her had cleaned the room. I do not think I
can forget this all my life!
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But if I invited only one friend to my birthday? Would it be ok, mom?
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Don’t you think it would be boring?
Su sighed, at last convinced:
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I know, Mom, I noticed birthdays are only fun when there are a lot of people and we
feel important. Birthdays are great when we are like the center of the world. But
people get jealous and all, or they just come to see where we live and to see our
parents. Everybody wish it would be the day for his or her birthday, not somebody
else’s birthday! Some people like birthdays and parties because they meet new
friends and they have a good time, but among these people there are always people
who cannot help behaving poorly. So, I guess I prefer to have a few true friends and
always share instead of no knowing what people think of me and be troubled about it.
And I also prefer these friends to be like me, to be like Muslims afterall.
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So, did you make up your mind what you are going to do next time your teacher gives
a birthday party for you?
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Well… I think I will tell my teacher we do not celebrate birthdays because we are
Muslims and it is not our ways. If she does not understand, I will tell her my bad
experiences about birthdays.
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Well! Su. I do not advise you do that. Your teacher is a nice person and she might
get offended. See, she does not understand our ways because she has always done
differently. She might think you are judging her. And she expects you to be happy
about the birthday she is going to give in your honor. Just say Muslims do differently
and, believe me, she will understand!
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So, I cannot be myself and be frank?
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No, you cannot, because you respect people. See, Su, Christians have their ways too.
You do not judge people’s ways; you just do not approve of them. You know it is fun
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