#  CityWatch Today: Kindness … A Mark of Faith

     Details    Abby Zimet   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         April 25 2019       [WORLD WATCH](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch)   - [  Previous Article **CityWatch Today: Trump Stands by Charlottesville Remarks, White-Nationalist Violence Becomes an Issue for 2020** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17571:citywatch-today-trump-stands-by-charlottesville-remarks-white-nationalist-violence-becomes-an-issue-for-2020&catid=332)
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> **GUEST WORDS**--In a sordid world, a moment of glad resistance.
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> Shaymaa Ismaa’eel, a 24-year-old Muslim woman and behavioral therapist who works with autistic children, [attended](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/23/love-in-the-face-of-bigotry-woman-takes-smiling-stand-against-islamophobic-protesters) the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) convention in D.C. this weekend; outside, a mob of angry goons protested with signs like "You Need Jesus!" and “Islam Is A Religion of Blood and Murder!" and some handy made-up quotes from John 3:16 that served their ugly purpose.

 She walked past them throughout the conference, but they stayed on her mind; in the wake of the New Zealand mosque shootings, she[ says](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/23/love-in-the-face-of-bigotry-woman-takes-smiling-stand-against-islamophobic-protesters) she and her friends who wear hijabs have alternately felt unsafe, defiant and determined to spread love: "We are getting more unapologetic - we want to stand up for ourselves."

Finally, she felt she had to act: "I wanted them to see my joy.” As the men shouted she was going to hell and "You know it's a cult when you're walking outside wearing pajamas!" - say what?! - she crouched gorgeously before them, posed, glowed, and flashed a peace sign.

The resulting photo, which she posted on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ShaymaaDarling/status/1120624558657163264) and [Instagram, ](https://www.instagram.com/shaymaadarling/?utm_source=ig_embed)prompted an outpouring of [support. ](https://twitter.com/owaizdadabhoy/status/1119647319203491842)“I smiled in the face of bigotry, and walked away feeling the greatest form of accomplishment,” she wrote.

In tribute, she added the words of the prophet Muhammad: "Kindness is a mark of faith."

*(CityWatch guest columnist, Abby Zimet, writes for Common Dreams … where this commentary was fist posted.)*

*-cw*

  - [  Previous Article **CityWatch Today: Trump Stands by Charlottesville Remarks, White-Nationalist Violence Becomes an Issue for 2020** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17571:citywatch-today-trump-stands-by-charlottesville-remarks-white-nationalist-violence-becomes-an-issue-for-2020&catid=332)
- [  Next Article **CityWatch Today: At Risk—the Idea of America** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17526:citywatch-today-at-risk-the-idea-of-america&catid=332)
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