Angels on Earth

I left out one weird/interesting fact about myself from last week's list. I wasn't sure if I wanted to share, but then I saw something on Friday that seemed a sign from God, as if to say, "yes, share it."

I was walking out of the mall, after making a quick dash in to grab something from the Disney Store (they were having a huge sale) and noticed, sitting on the bench right outside was a man with down syndrome and his older father. I got teary-eyed immediately. This is my weird fact, whenever I see mentally retarded people, I either cry or get teary. I want to go up and hug them - protect them from the evils of the world, a world which they seem so innocently oblivious too.

Perhaps it is also that I feel we share a similar experience. Growing up as a gawky, ugly Indian kid, I was teased unmercilessly. People can be so cruel and I have dealth with a lot of crap, but than to see people mock and make fun of the mentally retarded, is beyond indecent. How can you do that?! It is one thing to make fun of me, I can fight back, but these poor people, they don't get your stupid sarcasm and your scorn, they think you are being friendly or nice. Stop it! Just thinking about it makes me choke up.

I firmly believe those with Down Syndrome and mental retardation are angels God has put on earth. In Islam there are no "bad" angels, all are God's servants, they see the good in life, the grace of God in everything.

A distant uncle of mine in India had Down Syndrome, he visited America when I was a baby. My mother says that he treated me with such care, I never had a better baby-sitter. One day my mother came into my roomt to find he had rearranged all the clothes in my baby bureau, just trying to be helpful, God bless him. He died a few years back and I firmly believe he lives in eternal happiness with all the other angels.