Immigrants in Iowa show hate has no place in our state

Last December, Hillary Clinton spoke in Iowa City about Syrian refugees and Islamophobia. She said that hate filled rhetoric is 'contrary to who we are as Americans. And she said that Iowa has a history of welcoming immigrants.

My family came from Syria as immigrants in 1880. When my great grandfather made his decision to leave Syria as a teenager, he told his family and friends he heard that 'Iowa has good people - I'm going to America!” He was told the streets were lined in gold, but the truth was Iowa had rich black soil. My great grandfather, Joseph Habhab, rode the hills and valleys of Iowa in his three-piece suit selling his produce from his horse and buggy. Traveling he discovered Iowans' rich character. Great grandfather's Syrian culture fit in well with Iowa culture because he was hard working, friendly and honest. He was welcomed into many homes in his travels across the state.

In 1934 Syrian immigrants including my great grandfather founded the Mother Mosque of America in Cedar Rapids - the oldest mosque in America. Later he returned to Damascus and married Shaffea and had nine children. During the Great Depression, they practiced 'The Golden Rule” of hospitality by baking Syrian bread for new immigrants and 'hobos” traveling Iowa by rail. As a child I remember relatives taking turns standing at the kitchen stove waiting for the next batch of Syrian bread to be taken from the oven. My great uncles and grandfather came daily to get vegetables from their gardens to share with needy people in the community and travelers passing through. My great grandfather Joseph later opened a grocery store survived the Depression and saved and invested his in land in downtown Des Moines and Iowa farmland hoping to create a better life for his children.

Many of his sons, grandsons, great grandsons and even great, great grandsons went on to serve in the armed services. My great uncle Anver served with the 34th Infantry. Anver was honored with a Purple Heart and Silver Star. He smuggled his dog 'Shorty” in a duffle bag during World War II later publishing a novel, Shorty at War. My cousin Albert guided by the saying, 'Act as if what you do makes a difference - it does,” became the first Syrian American to be appointed by Gov. Bob Ray to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Before Albert's appointment, he was the longest-serving mayor of Fort Dodge. My cousin, William, joined the Peace Corp later helping settle refugees coming to Iowa. I volunteered in 1993 to work with Bosnian refugees, teaching them the richness of Iowa culture. The Bosnian, mostly Muslim refugees, are prospering in Iowa and give back to the communities they live in.

Muslim immigrants are just like any immigrant who came to this country to build a new life and deserve a chance to prove themselves without being prejudged.

' Joy Beadleston, of Iowa City, is a community activist, advocate, writer and poet. Comment: joybenevolence@gmail.com