Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1184232
J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 9 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M | 8 7 The Maconites tell our story. This project was originally funded by The Downtown Challenge Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia created to implement the Macon Action Plan through a series of grants to local businesses, nonprofits, individuals and government entities. To read the Macon Action Plan, visit MaconActionPlan.com. See full stories at: themaconites.com Fatima: "When you meet someone in our language, which is Arabic, you say 'salam,' which is peace. So that's the first thing you say when you meet someone. So it should be a peaceful religion." Azzam: "If you hear that a religion tells you to go and hate people, that's not a religion. That's something that people made up to stereotype other groups of people. If people act with violence towards others in the name of religion, they have a really big problem understanding this religion. That's why we see … whatever you see in the news … those people are using the name of religion, let me put this … 'Islam,' as a way to just say that 'we do this because of Islam.' But, if you read the scriptures and the Quran, you will see that it's so peaceful. It's a guideline that tells you how to deal with other people and how your lifestyle will be more accurate to live and to perceive others. In the Quran … there is a verse that says, 'You have your own faith, and I have mine.' And, 'You're free to practice yours, and I'm free to practice mine.' This doesn't divide us as humans. We're still humans in the beginning and end. We all are born the same way; we're all gonna die almost the same way. It's not just a religion or a gender or color that could not let me talk to you or even hate you. You know what I mean?" — Fatima and Azzam "I teach mathematics and an integrative class called Building Community, which is a writing class. It has nothing to do with mathematics and is our sophomore-level required course. We actually have students who are volunteering down at Daybreak, spending time down at Daybreak, which is Macon's day center for the homeless. I think if you pay attention when you're teaching, you know that your students are of all different kinds of backgrounds. And so if you're open to sort of knowing them, you're going to be sharing with them. I mean, the students are all learning, whether it's expanding their view of mathematics or expanding their view of Macon or their world. Macon's been working really hard over the years to build its downtown, bring it back. I think it's essential to do that. You know that has to extend to the outlying neighborhoods in Macon. There is a huge amount of work to be done. But, that means there's somewhere to go; there's work to be done. I like the neighborhood that I live in, that it is actually mixed. I like talking to people who are different. I think that people should recognize how much Macon is blossoming right now." — Margaret