Comments on: Guest Post: Halima Voyles on the Pakistani-American Dream

By: Halima Voyles

Halima Voyles — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:14:54 +0000

I just saw all these comments today – having not visited the post since last May. I am touched by all the outreach above, and thank you for your kind comments.

The story had a good end! My father worked with an Immigration Rights lawyer in Maryland and talked with the FBI, and apparently all is now “fine.” His employer jumped into the fray and provided a letter and documentation of how the trips were employer-sponsored. The FBI quickly stopped its interrogations.

America is a wonderful nation, but we have a long way to go in terms of how we handle “differences.” Aggression breeds aggression. There has to be a better way of weeding out the bad guys! Thank you again! You guys made my day!

By: Cecilieaux Bois de Murier

Cecilieaux Bois de Murier — Sat, 22 May 2010 10:59:57 +0000

The point about Timothy McVeigh spoke to me as someone baptized Catholic.

It is an outrage that the government is trampling over your constitutional rights as U.S. residents.

By: Taybeh Chaser

Taybeh Chaser — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:08:53 +0000

I’m also sorry about what you are going through, and want to say thanks for putting up the links at the end, as they will certainly come in handy for someone reading this. I’d also like to say, on a side note, that your post was beautifully written.

By: Rzep

Rzep — Sat, 15 May 2010 04:34:58 +0000

What an important post. Thank you for linking to your constitutional rights. I live in Canada but many people are not aware of their own rights and that you can refuse authority figures entry into your own home, at least.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

By: viajera

viajera — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:55:36 +0000

Halima – I’m so sorry to hear you and your family are going through this. Thanks for sharing your story, as I’m sure many people are not aware this is going on.

I wish I could say that I’m surprised, though. I was dating and living with a young Pakistani man in San Francisco in September 2001. Even in a city as liberal and progressive as San Fran, and even though he was the opposite of the stereotypical Muslim terrorist (atheist, clean-cut, fashionably dressed, etc) he faced a lot of harassment – death threats by phone, fearful or angry glares from passersby in the streets, harassment by cops, etc. I can only imagine what it’s like now after the Times Square incident.

Hang in there, and I hope this calms down and you’re able to live in peace again soon.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:16:18 +0000

I’m so sorry that you and your family (and all Americans of Middle-Eastern descent…oh heck, all non-white people, for that matter) have to go through that. But thank you for sharing with us. This is a great piece.

By: PetiteXL

PetiteXL — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:11:30 +0000

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope it gets re-posted a lot. I think if more people can see the damage and upset this kind of interrogation can cause, it will open their hearts and minds.

By: Tall-in-Heels

Tall-in-Heels — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:26:03 +0000

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is why it’s so important to stand up to those who argue that we should do away with Constitutional protections in “certain” circumstances. It’s not that they’re failsafe, always applied fairly, or without flaws; but at least they’re something.

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:15:53 +0000

I just got around to reading this. Thank you for writing it. I’m not sure what else to say other than I’m sorry.

By: afteriris

afteriris — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:13:13 +0000

This is horrifying. I’m so sorry and angry that you are being subjected to this.