Qasim RashidOct 29
I remember when I was maybe 10-years-old a classmate asked me how many aunts and uncles I had?

I thought for a minute about the size of our congregation at the mosque and all people I called auntie and uncle—because that’s what we were taught to call anyone our parents age—and responded “Idk I guess maybe 35 or 40?”

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Show threadQasim Rashid
My classmate was shocked…until I explained it was a term of respect for our elders, not literally referring to our parents siblings.

A 10 year old understood this concept just fine with one explanation

Anyway, the people attacking Zohran Mamdani for calling his father’s cousin his “Aunt” are likely the same Islamophobic bigots that made her fear for her safety due to culturally intolerant xenophobes, & likewise they should just admit they have literally Nothing of substance to hit him on.

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Oct 29 at 1:45amWeb
Show threadGunnarOlaiOct 31

@qasimrashid

It's not just a Muslim, or Arab, or Desi thing either. I'm Norwegian, from a Christian family. My father's cousin and his foster brother were always uncles to me and absolutely no one thought that was the least bit strange. My wife and I have also been uncle and aunt to our friends' children when we took a similar role in their lives.

Show threadGunnarOlaiOct 31
@qasimrashid Sure, I would not say 30 or 40, but the only reason to insist it's strictly about a specific close familial relation is to drive a wedge where no wedge needs to be driven.